Family-friendly glamping is a great way to enjoy outdoor adventures with the kids without all the hassle of camping. Forget buying expensive equipment, packing the car to the rafters, and putting up your tent in the pouring rain!
All the hard work has been done for you with ready-made glamping pods and tents to keep you protected from the elements. Add to this extra features such as all the bedding being included, wood burners, and outdoor firepits, and you’ve got the recipe for a fantastic family holiday away. All that’s left to do is relax and concentrate on spending quality time together.
At YHA, we have family-friendly glamp sites in some of the best locations across England and Wales, making the most of the gorgeous countryside, meandering coastline and incredible views which we are so lucky to have.
Choose from stargazing in quirky Landpods, sleeping under canvas in our premium bell tents, or cosying up in our festival-style tipis.
Read on to find out why glamping is the perfect choice for a fantastic family holiday and which glamp sites are great for kids.
Why you should choose glamping for your next family break
If you love camping but don’t like roughing it with the kids, then glamping might just be for you. There’s all the excitement of an epic adventure and something completely different from what you’re used to at home but with a number of added comforts.
When you glamp with YHA, no one has to miss out. All of our glamping accommodation is dog-friendly, so you can bring your four-legged friend with you too. It’s £5 per night per dog, and you can bring up to two dogs with you.
One of the many benefits of glamping with YHA is that you can make free use of the hostel’s facilities too. Chill out in our social areas at night, enjoy a beer or two and play board games with the kids.
We know that eating out with the whole family can be expensive, especially when you’re away on holiday. Making your own meals in our well-equipped self-catering kitchens can really help you to save. Our kitchens have everything you need to cook up a storm, including pots and pans, microwaves, ovens, hobs, fridges, crockery and cutlery.
And if you really can’t bear to do all the cooking (you are on holiday after all!), many of our glamp sites also have on-site restaurants and cafes where you can grab a light bite or indulge in a hearty classic. YHA food is fantastic quality and reasonably priced, and kids eat for just £1 with our special offer.
Our glamp sites are in rural locations and often have large grounds where the kids can run free and just play. Let them make friends with the other children whilst you grab a glass of wine with the parents from our licensed bar.
In addition, many of our glamp sites also have their own dedicated facilities such as toilets and shower blocks so you won’t have to queue if you need to go, even during busier times.
Glamping in the UK for families
YHA has glamping sites for families in some of the UK’s holiday hotspots. From the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales to the stunning coastline of the Pembrokeshire National Park and the dramatic fells of the Lake District, you can get closer to nature and make the most of your time together amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK.
1. Enjoy outdoor adventures in the Lake District
The Lake District National Park is the perfect place for a family break in the great outdoors. Tire the kids out with fell walks, wild swimming, and water sports before returning to your snug glamping accommodation.
YHA Hawkshead is an excellent option for families with children. The atmospheric glamping village is set in extensive grounds, and the hostel has spacious social areas where kids can play if the weather isn’t on your side.
The glamp site is home to camping pods, cabins, tipis, and bell tents, so you have plenty of options for a stay with a difference. Try the tipis – stylish canvas tents that you don’t need to put up yourself. Inside, these spacious tipis sleep up to four people on a double and two single futon beds so they’re great for small families. Bedding is included, and there’s a lockable coffee table chest where you can leave valuables like the kids’ tablets and your car keys.
There’s also a wood burner to keep you warm when the temperature drops. You’ll get a free pack of wood for your stay, and you can buy more from reception if you need it.
The hostel is ideally located for activity breaks with the kids. The nearby Grizedale Forest is home to endless forest trails suitable for walking or mountain biking. There’s also a Go Ape here with four different experiences to choose from. If your kids are adrenaline junkies, then try swinging through the trees on the Treetop Challenge or the Zip Trekking Adventure. If you’d prefer to keep your feet on the ground, take a look around the Sculpture in the Forest exhibition.
It’s not all adrenaline-fuelled adventures. YHA Hawkshead is in the heart of Beatrix Potter country, so you can explore the many attractions dedicated to the famous children’s author.
2. Discover Shakespeare’s country at YHA Stratford-upon-Avon
Literary buffs and culture vultures will find plenty to do in Stratford-upon-Avon, the town where William Shakespeare was born and is buried. Head to Shakespeare’s birthplace to see the bard’s half-timbered family home, and you can even visit the school where he was inspired to become a playwright.
YHA Stratford-upon-Avon is just two miles from the centre of town so you have easy access to the attractions, shops, and restaurants here.
Back at the hostel, you’ll find one of our favourite glamping sites for families. The bell tents and camping pods are set in the hostel’s beautiful grounds, which comprise three acres to explore. Parents can grab a drink from the licensed bar and sit outside while watching the children play.
For wholesome evenings, gather the family around the outdoor fire pit, where you can tell stories and toast marshmallows while enjoying stargazing. Then, get comfy in your bell tent, ready for a fantastic night’s sleep.
3. Have a family beach holiday in Broad Haven
Try one of our Pembrokeshire locations for glamping with kids near the coast. Nothing beats a beach break with the kids, so bring the buckets and spades, pack a picnic, and head for one of Wales’s beautiful Blue Flag beaches.
YHA Broad Haven has an unrivalled location, just a stone’s throw away from a swathe of golden sand. Children will love paddling and swimming in the calm waters here before heading to the shore to build some sandcastles.
If you get tired of the beach, you can pick up the coastal path from the hostel’s front door or walk half a mile over the sand at low tide to Little Haven and have a wander around the quaint cottages and quayside here. There’s also Haven’s Beach Café on-site, where you can indulge in some delicious food while you take in the stunning sea views – bliss! Stash your car keys somewhere safe. You actually won’t need to venture far with a stay here.
4. Take in sea views at YHA Manorbier in Wales
YHA Manorbier is our other location in the Pembrokeshire National Park, and it’s another excellent choice for a Welsh seaside holiday. With glamping for families, views over the sea, and easy access to coastal walks, there’s so much to love here.
YHA Broad Haven and YHA Manorbier are both home to our unique Landpods and camping pods. These quirky family glamping pods provide all the excitement of camping with protection from the elements and some added features.
There are two double beds inside, sleeping up to four people. We know how much stuff you need when you travel with the children – extra clothing, toys, snacks, etc – so there’s a huge and handy storage area under one of the beds – perfect for a game of hide and seek too!
Perhaps the most interesting feature of the Landpods is their canopy roof, which can be opened and raised. On warmer evenings, kids can enjoy the sights and sounds of nature as they drift off to sleep or look to the stars in the evening and see which constellations they can spot.
5. Wander in the woodland in the New Forest
YHA New Forest is a perfect pick for a rural getaway with lots of beautiful countryside to explore. It’s situated right on the edge of the Hampshire village of Burley, so you can pop here for thatched cottages, tea rooms, and cider farms.
Kids will love the activities on offer here, which include walking, cycling, and horse riding. Experience the beauty of the New Forest National Park on horseback as you ride the bridleways and tracks over open heathland.
The national park is also home to around 3,000 New Forest ponies. These ponies can roam freely throughout the park, and their grazing helps protect the New Forest’s landscape. Children will love spotting these cute animals – keep count during your holiday and see who can see the most!
YHA New Forest offers a wide range of glamping accommodation, including bell tents, Landpods, wooden camping pods, and American-inspired Airstreams.
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