Camping | 8 Of The Best Family Camping Sites In The UK - Mpora

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Camping, Bushcraft & Survival

Camping | 8 Of The Best Family Camping Sites In The UK

What's a camping trip without the family? Families will love these family camping spots, whatever you're looking for, no matter the weather.

No longer is the UK family camping about being crammed in to a tiny tent to avoid the rain, or going on holiday only to end up doing the dishes.

Thanks to pillars of the modern world, global warming and technology, camping in the UK is getting easier and drier. And because we’re a thoughtful bunch at Mpora, we bring you the lowdown on great camp sites for families with our eight best family camping sites around the UK.

While we can’t guarantee the weather, this is England after all, we’ve managed to find something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for something remote, pristine beaches, a great view, activities to soak up your children’s limitless energy or just some comforts for the more hotel minded.

Family camping trips are great for families on a budget, providing you know the camping options best suited for you. Children love the outdoors and little explorers can go on magical adventures with not very much. Pillow forts move aside, the Great British family camping trip is back and it’s never been easier for families to enjoy.

And when you’re done, check out our encyclopaedic article, Camping: Everything you need to know.

1. Best Campsite for Beginner Families in the UK: Perran Sands, Cornwall

Based on the North Cornish coast, and Perran Sands is great place to kick start a love affair with camping, especially if you have small children. Owned by campsite giant, Haven, this site has modern facilities to help your holiday run smoothly, including an on site shop, laundry, dish washing area, baby changing and shower blocks. There is even a touring warden team to help caravan ears hook up to the electric pitches.

The campsite itself is on a cliff top near a beach. With 344 pitches with parking space for each pitch, as well as beach houses, chalets, yurts, geo domes and safari tents, its a pretty big place. But that means that there’s loads of variety and you can join in as much or as little as you like to the site.

“Perran sands is also one of a few blue flag beaches in the area and is surrounded by dunes.”

It’s also possible to bring your dog, and walking and cycling are big here, with plenty of trails surrounding the campsite. Perran sands is also one of a few blue flag beaches in the area and is surrounded by dunes. And you’re a quick drive from other famous Cornish surf spots and towns like Newquay, Falmouth, St Ives and of course Perranporth.

Prices start at £289 for a minimum three night stay in a deluxe caravan, based on two adults and and two children.

Prices for yurts start at £199 per family based on the same figures.

Touring pitches start from £67 and come with awning space and electric hook up. Basic grass camping pitches also have parking space and start from £55 without electricity.

And once you’re done here, check out our articles on camping hacks and the best campsites for beginners, for some great camping tips and everything you need to know on camping.

2. Best for family camping groups in the UK: Roundhill Glamping/ Firle Camping, Sussex

Roundhill glamping in the North Downs, Sussex, is a great place for groups and large families to go camping. Photo: Roundhill Glamping.

Planning a big group booking with other friends and family? Roundhill is perfect for this. But before you wince at the word ‘glamping‘, Roundhill are quick to point out that it’s ‘low key’ glamping that they offer. This might sound like a contradiction, but their easygoing campsite in a meadow is dotted with bell tents and two communal yurts and they offer private and communal camp fires. Their bell tents come with bunting, fairy lights and made up beds, which your little wood nymphs will enjoy if they’re afraid of the dark. And if it all sounds too much like a hotel, they have space for you to bring your own tent at close by sister camping site, Firle camping.

So why come if you don’t want to glamp?

“This is an area of stunning natural beauty, perfect for anyone who enjoys the outdoors and packed full of wildlife which the kids will enjoy.”

Firstly, you’re family camping in a national park. Roundhill is based in a valley in the South Downs, meaning it’s protected from the elements as well as being a sun trap. The layout of the site is great for groups of families or a birthday trip. This is an area of stunning natural beauty, perfect for anyone who enjoys the outdoors and packed full of wildlife which the kids will enjoy. The site is also close to bike routes and beaches among other activities, and every Saturday,more a small fee, the owners provide bushcraft courses so you can learn to light your own fire without matches or maybe build a fortress. Who needs Bear Grylls when you can do that?!

There is no electricity or cars on site, so the owners of Roundhill recommend bringing a cool box to store food. But they do provide bedding, coal, wood and mains water as well as a lift to your pitch or tent on arrival.

Prices start from £220 for a two night minimum stay in a bell tent at Roundhill. Firle charges £11.50 per night per adult and £8.50 per night per child for a pitch.

3. BEST FOR BUDGET FAMILY GLAMPING IN THE UK: Sloeberry Farm, Wales

Children will love Sloeberry Farm at Ceredigon, Wales, where lambs can be spotted being taken for a walk. What better way to spend a camping trip? Photo: Sloeberry Farm

Bill Bryson has a good reason to be obsessed with UK place names. This mildly amusing name for a campsite is trumped further down the list, but we couldn’t resist putting Sloeberry farm in here.

“Sloeberry Farm sits in a sheltered area with views across the countryside, a private lake and lots of places to explore.”

Similar to Roundhill, Sloeberry Farm in Ceredigon, Wales offers a similar vibe although slightly more paired down and with newly built eco-friendly lodges.

Not only will the name of this campsite please the parents (sloe gin anyone?), but the abundance of family friendly activities will keep kids amused, like the chance to see a lamb being taken for a walk on the nearby beach.

Sloeberry Farm sits in a sheltered area with views across the countryside, a private lake and lots of places to explore. Each tent comes with cooking equipment, bedding and floor matting and a fire pit for cooking dinner. The lodges also come with similar camping accessories. There are hot showers and toilets at the end of the meadow.

A stay in one of the site’s bell tents starts from £70 per night for four people and can be booked through Airbnb or Pitchup.com.

A three bedroom lodge costs £125 to rent per night and sleeps up to six people.

4. Best For Beach Loving Families in the UK: Bideford Bay campsite

Take your water babies out to Bideford Bay in North Devon for blue flag beaches, baby waves and beautiful coastline. Photo: iStock.

If it’s white sandy beaches, surf, hills and water sports you want out of a camping holiday, then north Devon is one of the best areas in the country for this.

Bideford Bay Camping is close to all these things, as well as being a great family spot and caters to everyone else in between.

On and off the beach, water sports feature heavily at this campsite, with in door and outdoor pools and a water flume. Ideal for families with small children and water babies who might be ready for the waves after a quick splash! Not that we’re suggesting you chuck them in the deep or choppy end.

Park Resorts are, at the time of writing, offering short breaks for June from £99. Two nights in a bronze caravan with double and twin rooms, allowing pets, start from £120, also during June.

5. Best For Ticking All The Boxes in the UK: Park Foot, Lake District

Ullswater in the Lake District is a beautiful place to go for family camping. Photo: iStock.

This may be the unicorn of camping sites. Not only is Park Foot in the totally beautiful area of Lake Ullswater in the Lake District, there’s heaps to do and great value for money.

The site has three camping fields, each with something individual to offer whether it’s adventure, lake views or BBQs.

“Pooley Bridge is one mile away, which is great if you want to cycle around the hills on the mountain bikes available to hire.”

The owners pride (or at least boast on the website, we’ll let you be the judges) themselves on a friendly atmosphere and the park is aimed at families and couples. As it was voted AA holiday centre of the year 2015, we’re going to assume their claim is true.

And there’s lots of activities to get stuck in to including horse riding, hiking, trail running, lake swimming, boating, biking, sailing, fishing and nearby Aira Force waterfall to enjoy.

Services include general camping facilities such as laundry, gas hookup, showers, running water and waste disposal. The town of Pooley Bridge is one mile away, which is great if you want to cycle around the hills on the mountain bikes available to hire.

Based on two adults and two children under 16, one under four and a dog, a touring camper pitch with electric hook up will cost £52.00 for a two night minimum stay. A tent or non electric pitch for the same will cost £36.00 for a two night stay.

The owners have pointed out on the website that most of the camping is on the hill, but there is some flat camping, so it would be worth booking early if you wanted to guarantee this.

They also offer cottages and lodges to hire. These are popular and availability is limited throughout the summer, however prices range around £360.00 for two adults, three children and a dog for a 7 night stay. Visit their website for more information.

 

6. Best For Green Families In The UK: Deepdale Backpackers and Camping, Norfolk

Going green on holiday doesn’t have to be tricky. Deepdale Backpackers and Camping go out of their way to help you have a more sustainable trip. Photo: iStock.

“This could appeal to both families with older and younger children.”

Ok, it’s a hostel as well as a campsite, but the camping here is off the beaten track and an award winning eco-tourism campsite.

Set around the north Norfolk coastline, Deepdale actively encourage guests to enjoy the environment with walking, hiking, cycling, kayaking, kiting and watersports. Their website has ideas for things to do and going with their green reputation, it also has loads of info on sustainability for travellers.

This could appeal to both families with older and younger children as there’s also a good range of accommodation on offer, with hostel rooms, camping and touring pitches that have solar power electric hook up and ‘shepherd huts’.

Visit the Deepdale Backpackers website for more information and to book.

7. Best For Robin Hood and Your Merry Little Men in the UK: Trentfield Farm, Nottinghamshire

Your little Robin Hoods and Maid Marions will enjoy the magic of Sherwood Forest and the Major Oak at Trentfield Farm. Photo: iStock.

If you’ve ever wanted to join Robin and his band of merry men, or if you’re children currently do, then this is a great spot for a family camping trip.

Based on the River Trent, in the hamlet of Church Laneham, this campsite is great for exploring the legendary Sherwood Forest, the Major Oak and is also close to Lincoln.

Boasting a few freebies along the way, Trentfield has all modern facilities in this family camping and touring site. They describe themselves as being a quiet, family focused site with no designated play areas for children, because like chickens, ‘free range is best’.

And as no one puts baby in a corner, there’s plenty of activities. Everywhere. Take them for a tree climb at the high wire park, go for a cycle or visit one of the many CAMRA pubs in the area. Visit the Major Oak, which was supposed to be the base for Robin Hood’s band of men, or

Call Trentfield Farm for camping prices on 01777 228 651.

8. Best For Entertaining Place Names in the UK: Sandy Balls Holiday Village, New Forest, Hampshire

Camping can be a magical way to spend a family holiday. Stay in a safari tent like this one, at Sandy Balls. Photo: iStock.

Sandy Balls [har har] is a holiday park providing five star lodges, camping pods, pitches and caravans.

“At Sandy Balls there is always plenty for families to do.”

Let’s get over the name for a minute and focus on the fact that this is pretty much Centre Parcs without the price tag. A pitch for two adults and two children costs from around £50 for a week in June.

Sandy Balls caters for all ages and there is a hefty dose of entertainment on offer ranging from activities like water sports, archery, kayaking, biking, clay pigeon shooting, bug hunts and Nerf wars.

There are also crafts like tie-dying classes, biscuit decorating, woodwork, and even DJ school. There are also two swimming pools, a gym, exercise classes and a spa,sauna and jacuzzi.

To quote Sandy Balls on more time, “Personal electronic hand held games will be surplus to requirements!”

May your balls stay sandy.

 

Do you have anymore beautiful family camping sites to suggest? Share it with us!

 

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