What to pack for a family glamping trip

Glamping is the perfect option for a family adventure holiday. Children will love the novelty of staying in a pod, hut, or tent and sleeping under the stars. Parents will enjoy all the fun of camping but without any of the stresses and some added home comforts. 

Forget trying to keep the kids occupied while you contend with putting up a tent in the rain during an unpredictable UK summer. All the hard work has been done for you with our glamping accommodation. Choose from sleeping under canvas in one of our bell tents or festival-style tipis, or pick our Landpods for a quirky night’s stay.

If you’re heading off on a glamping holiday for the first time, it can be difficult to know what to bring with you. You won’t need as much stuff as when you go camping, making for a more comfortable car journey or a more manageable ride via public transport. However, there are still some essentials that you’ll need to pack. Read on for our family glamping packing list so you know exactly what to bring with you – and what you can leave at home.

No family members miss out at YHA

When you glamp with us, no one in your family has to miss out. If you have a dog, you can bring them with you too! Most of our glamping accommodation is dog-friendly, and you can bring up to two dogs with you for just £5 each per night. 

Pups will love our rural locations with miles and miles of epic walkies before returning to the glamp site and stretching their tired legs in front of the wood burner or outdoor firepit.

Remember to bring a lead, poo bags, a bed and blanket, and towels if you’re bringing your dog…oh, and the dog itself, of course!

What to take when you are glamping as a family

Heading off on a family glamping break this year? We’ve put together this handy list to help make sure you’ve got everything you need to have a fantastic family trip so you can concentrate on spending quality time together.

Top tip: check the hostel page to see what’s provided at each glamp site. Each hostel is unique, and so facilities may vary from location to location.

Food for a glamping break

If you’re planning to self-cater when you go glamping, you can bring your own food with you. Lots of our glamp sites have BBQ areas that you can use to dine al fresco or self-catering kitchens for when the weather isn’t great. 

Our self-catering kitchens come complete with fridges and freezers where you can store perishable food items. Some of the glamping accommodation also has storage areas for dry items like biscuits or crisps. 

Quick and easy family meal ideas include pasta bakes, curry, chilli, stir fry, or jacket potatoes. 

Get the whole family to muck in or take it in turns to cook each night, rating the best meal at the end of the holiday. You might have to draw straws to decide who does the washing up! 

If you’re super organised, you may wish to prepare meals at home and freeze them to eat during the trip.

It’s a good idea to bring a cool box with you too, if you have one. Then, you can pack a picnic and eat on the go. You are welcome to store your ice packs in our freezers.

If you’ve booked one of our bell tents, tipis, or Landpods with a fire pit outside, then don’t forget to bring the marshmallows to toast. For a simple s’mores recipe that kids will love, try placing a marshmallow and a piece of chocolate between two digestive biscuits – delicious!

Toiletries and towels

Although our glamping accommodation doesn’t have en-suite bathrooms, you’ll have easy access to our clean shared bathrooms inside the hostels. Lots of our glamp sites also have dedicated toilet and shower blocks for glamping guests to use.

Remember to bring towels and toiletries like shower gel and shampoo. If the weather is nice, suncream is essential, too. You may also want to bring after sun or moisturiser to cool warm skin. 

If you’re going on a coastal break, you may want to bring additional towels for the beach so you can keep the sandy ones separate. Most of our hostels have the option to rent towels if you want to save space in your luggage.

What clothing to bring on a glamping holiday

Waterproof clothing: As with any UK break, you’ll need to pack clothes for various weather conditions based on the season and the forecast. It’s advisable to bring a waterproof coat with you, no matter when you travel, as the weather here can be changeable, and showers can appear out of nowhere.

Layers: You’ll probably spend lots of time outside during your glamping trip, so you should bring plenty of layers. Additional hoodies and jumpers are nice to pop on when the temperature drops in the evening so you can enjoy sitting outside for longer.

Walking boots or trainers: Depending on what type of glamping holiday you’re having, you may wish to bring walking boots with you, especially if you are going to be doing some hill walking. Regardless, you’ll probably be getting your steps in, so a comfortable pair of trainers is a must.

Sliders, flip flops, or wellies: You should bring a pair of shoes that you can slip on and off easily. These are convenient if you need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night or just to nip in and out of your tent or pod. Bring sliders or flip flops if the weather has been dry or wellies if it’s been wet, as you may need to walk across some grass, depending on the glamp site.

Pyjamas: It may be chilly during the evenings or in the mornings, so sleeping in PJs can help keep you warm, even if you wouldn’t usually at home.

Toys and games

Bring a selection of their favourite toys and games to keep the kids busy. Most of our hostels have large outdoor areas where children can burn off some energy, so outside games are welcome. Books and packs of cards are great for both kids and adults alike.

Many of our hostels also offer board games in their bars and lounges, and glamping guests are welcome to use them whenever they like. Your kids can make new friends when you meet the other families staying while the parents indulge in a drink at the licensed bar.

Extra blankets

If you want to make your glamping experience super cosy, then add a couple of extra blankets to your packing list. These come in handy if you feel the cold during your stay, and you can also wrap up in them while sitting outside.

Foldable camping chairs

Some of our glamping accommodation has outside seating. For example, our Landpods have a bench outside where you can perch, and there are often picnic tables on the glamp site itself. However, you may wish to bring your foldable chairs for added comfort. They’re also useful for off site beach days and picnics.

Torch

Although most of our glamp sites are well lit, you may still wish to bring a torch with you to help with those late night toilet trips or making your way back to the glamp site after an evening out.

Reusable water bottles and coffee cups with lids

Reusable water bottles are a must-have when glamping. You can fill them up from the hostel or an outside tap at some glamp sites, and they will help keep you and your family hydrated for free during the day’s activities and overnight. Bring some hot drink cups with lids, and you can make a brew in the hostel kitchen in the morning before bringing it back to enjoy in the comfort of your glamping accommodation. It sure beats the morning run to your local coffee shop!

Solar-powered power bank

While we appreciate that glamping is a great opportunity to stay away from screens, you may still need your mobile phones and tablets. A solar-powered power bank can keep devices charged when access to power is limited.

Some of our glamping accommodation offers USB points, but you may still want to bring a power bank with you for when you’re out and about.

What you can leave behind when you go glamping with YHA

Unlike camping, you don’t need to pack your car to the rafters when you go glamping. The kids will be pleased that they don’t have to balance any luggage on their knees and that there’s plenty of room for their toys, tablets, and games.

Pots and pans

Our glamping guests have access to the hostel’s self-catering kitchens, so you won’t need to pack everything but the kitchen sink. Pots, pans, plates, cutlery, and appliances like ovens, hobs, and microwaves are all provided, so you have everything you need to cater for the whole family. Self-catering is an excellent option if you’re looking for a budget family break, as it can really save the pennies when you’re not eating out for every meal.

Sleeping bags and pillows

Forget the sleeping bags, blow-up beds, and pillows. Inside our glamping accommodation, there are real beds, and all our trademark cosy bedding is provided. Bell tents sleep up to five people in a double bed, two single beds, and a single futon. 

Landpods sleep four people in two double beds, and tipis also sleep up to four in a double and two single futon beds. If you’re travelling for a large family holiday or a special occasion, you can book several of our tents or pods. All of these are fantastic options for a break away with the family.

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