How to book family camping in the U.K

If you are new to family camping, you are probably wondering how to book family camping in the U.K!

Gone are the days of flicking through a paperback campsite directory with little detail and grainy black and white photos. U.K camping sites today have their own websites and social media and there are also several camping booking sites.

This round up of campsite finders in the U.K will help you find the perfect pitch for your family camping trip. 

Pitch Up

This is a comprehensive website covering campsites in the U.K, Europe and the Americas. 

The Pitch Up search engine is easy to use and allows you to input your accommodation, preferred location and dates plus there is a useful advanced search option. 

A special offers page for last minute bookings is useful for late availability bookings.

Pitch Up has no booking fees and the benefit of instant confirmation which is useful when demand is high.

We have stayed at several U.K campsites found through Pitch Up and have found the reviews to be accurate and helpful. 

Cool Camping

This U.K campsite finder is a tent orientated site covering the U.K and Europe. 

It caters for all camping styles with an easy to use search engine and has useful categories such as beach sites or riverside sites if you are looking for inspiration. 

I like their ‘almost wild camping’ section which is helpful for families looking for more basic sites. 

Each destination comes with a ‘things to do’ blurb and the information on individual sites is detailed with lots of useful gallery photos.

We have stayed at several sites advertised on Cool Camping and have always found details and reviews to be accurate. 

Camping and Caravanning Club

This site is worth a visit even if you do not use it to make a booking as it is packed with useful information on topics ranging from insurance and safety to tips for camping with kids. 

The website includes club sites run by the Camping and Caravanning Club, Certified Sites (small, member only sites), woodland sites and ‘listed’ independently owned sites. 

It also includes glamping and self catering options as well as ‘ready camps’ which are pre erected, fully stocked tents that are not as glamorous or as expensive as glamping but not as basic as camping.  

The Greener Camping Club

The Greener Camping Club aims to promote sustainable, responsible and eco friendly camping.

It lists privately owned sites with renewable energy powered facilities, recycling or wildlife habitats. Sites tend to be smaller and more basic with limits on numbers ensuring a quiet camping experience. Do not expect swimming pools and evening entertainment!

The Greener Camping Club is a membership site costing £10 per year per family and only members can stay at the sites listed.

At present there are limited sites unless you are looking to camp in Wales though this well intentioned site is expanding quickly and I am excited to see it develop.

Nearly Wild Camping

This is a members only, co-operative organisation with membership costing £20 per family for one year.

Nearly Wild Camping currently lists 160 sites across the U.K aimed at campers seeking a ‘wilder, secluded and quieter camping experience’ with the club operating on a ‘leave no trace’ principle. 

Many sites are not official campsites but are privately owned, rural land which is exclusively opened up to Nearly Wild Camping members.

Sites are vetted and landowners are required to have third party insurance in place and abide by Nearly Wild Camping terms and conditions. 

It is important to read reviews and descriptions carefully so you know in advance what to expect. Insurance

This is a great initiative to help campers looking for isolated, back to nature sites whilst supporting rural small businesses.

We are looking forward to our first stay at a Nearly Wild camping site very soon!

Campsites.co.uk

Campsites.co.uk has over 3,000+ campsites listed on their easy to use website. It features back to basics camping sites through to glamping sites with hot tubs. Whatever your camping style or group, you will find something on this website to suit you.

You can filter for dog or kid friendly sites, sites with swimming pools or fishing facilities and sites with unique accommodation such as domes or shepherd’s huts.

I like the detail given in the campsite listings which also each contains lots of photos so you can get a good idea of what to expect from your chosen site.

You can book on campsites.co.uk with a low deposit and there are no booking fees.

UKcampsite 

This site has a huge list of U.K and French campsites but the search engine is basic and feels clunky to use as you have to filter/select as you work your way through a U.K map.

ukcampsite is very useful for finding potential sites in your chosen destination. Although details on individual sites is basic and there are very few photos the listing does include website links and contact details. 

It is not the best ‘one stop’ campsite booking website but is good for inspiration and to see a range of different types of sites. 

Facebook groups

Never underestimate the power of social media!

Ask for recommendations of family camping sites that fit your requirements in camping groups, family travel groups as well as groups associated with the local area that you wish to visit.

Internet search and Google Maps

Many smaller campsites have basic websites that may not appear on large booking sites and some campsites will not have a website at all. 

An internet search for campsites in your chosen destination will throw up results that you will not have seen on other booking sites or, to find sites that do not have a website, check out Google Maps. 

Zoom in on the area you wish to visit and jot down names of local campsites. A quick internet search will find their contact details.

We have discovered several tiny campsites through Google Maps but bear in mind that without reviews, there is always a risk as to what you might find.

Tips on how to book family camping in the U.K

Decide what type of campsite you want and be prepared to be flexible on location. There is no point staying in your desired location but in a campsite that you hate.

Read reviews carefully, preferably reviews from other families. Find your chosen campsite on a range of websites – are the reviews consistent?

If you want a good night’s sleep, search for campsites that do not allow single sex groups such as hen or stag parties. Parties/large groups = noise = a bad nights sleep.

Always book through the booking site or the campsite website, never via a private transfer. If the owner wants a private transfer, the site could be a duplicate scam site.

Essential questions when booking family camping in the U.K 

How big is the campsite? How many tents/people could be your neighbours?

Does the site allow children – not all campsites do and it is best to find out before you arrive with a car full of kids!

What are the arrival and departure times?

How big are the pitches and how much space is encouraged between pitches? Are the pitches level? On grass, hardstanding, hay or gravel? Will you have room to sit outside with camping chairs and a table?

Does the campsite have EHU?

Can you bring your car to the pitch (called car camping in camping lingo) and if not, how far will you have to lug all your stuff? 

Does the site have water taps/toilets/showers/washing up stations and where are they? Do you have to pay for showers?

Are games allowed or is there a play area for games?

Where is the nearest shop?

What are the rules like? Is there a noise curfew, no rules at all or a list of rules 100 feet long?

Are you allowed a fire/BBQ?

Are dogs allowed – fine if you have a dog, not if you don’t like barking.