10 of the Best Family Campsites in the UK

Whether you prefer a wild weekend far removed from the madding crowd or a packed resort with countless forms of entertainment for you and the kids, we’ve got something for you in our run-down of the 10 best family-friendly campsites in the UK:

Go Wild!

If you aren’t worried about having access to loos, showers or wifi then go off-grid and enjoy some wild camping. Heading off into the back of beyond is a real adventure and one of the very best ways for you and the family to escape life as you know it.  

1. Wild Camping in England and Wales 

If you want to pitch-up on land in England or Wales, you’ll need permission from the landowner but many are amenable as long as you steer clear of livestock and take your litter away with you. However, you can camp anywhere on Dartmoor without permission as long as you’re 100m away from any public roads or restricted areas.

2. Wild Camping in Scotland

The attitude to wild camping north of the border is much more laid back. You have the freedom to roam the highlands and islands and pitch-up anywhere on open land as long as you camp responsibly.

The only exception to this is East Loch Lomond, which has had to put some limitations in place due to the high numbers of happy campers that have been going there.  

Go Wild (but with a Few Creature Comforts)

If you like the idea of getting away from it all with the family but also like the idea of having access to basic facilities, then these two sites are ideal.  

3. Trehenlliw Farm, Pembrokeshire

This little-known campsite sits on a 115-acre sheep and cattle farm and offers toilets, showers and running water. You can hang out onsite and enjoy the peace or venture out to explore the local beaches, mountains and market towns.

Trehenlliw Farm doesn’t have a website but you can book online via 4Campsites or the Camping and Caravanning Club.

4. Welsummer Camping, Kent

This eco-camp in Kent offers families the opportunity to enjoy the space and freedom of the great outdoors and the comforting soundtrack of crackling “campfires, birdsong and giggles,” along with a few comforts including toilets, hot showers and even a baby bath, plus there’s a shop selling organic goodies.  

Get Active 

If you want to go camping but also have some onsite entertainment for the kids, then either of these campsites could work for you:

5. Kelling Heath Holiday Park, Norfolk

At this campsite in Norfolk, you can enjoy some peaceful woodland adventures as well as plenty of organised activities for the kids.

With the option to camp in your own tent or tourer or hire luxury lodge accommodation, you’re free to explore the woods and heathland of this resort by bike or on orienteering walks, or you can play tennis, hang out at the adventure playground or visit the health and fitness club.

With a shop, restaurant and bar onsite, this campsite has everything you need to just arrive, relax and have fun with the family.

6. Barn Farm Campsite, Peak District

Much like Kelling Heath, Barn Farm gives you the opportunity to camp in an idyllic location with a few onsite activities for kids. However, go beyond the campsite in any direction and you’ll find all sorts of outdoor activities for every member of the family.

Within a short drive, you could go abseiling, mountain biking, canoeing, orienteering and paintballing or have a go at archery, caving, or a selection of watersports. You can even pop into Bakewell for a tasty lunch and a wander around the shops before heading back to the peace and quiet of your tent.

Be Entertained

There’s something very appealing about arriving, pitching your tent and not having to leave the campsite until the holiday comes to an end. Both of these sites have enough onsite entertainment to ensure you and the family can do just that:

7. Port Ban Holiday Park 

The Scottish coastline has some of the most beautiful, unspoilt shores of the UK and at the secluded and peaceful Port Ban Holiday Park in Argyll, you’ll get to enjoy all the opportunities of the coast with all the comforts of a well-established camp.

Family activities on offer include cycling, fishing, tennis, canoeing, crazy golf, an outdoor play area and indoor games hall, but if you do venture outside the campsite, you have the whole west coast of Scotland to explore.

8. Cofton Country Holidays, Devon

This 4-star campsite has been designed with families in mind. Onsite, you’ll find a huge variety of activities for everyone including a swim and splash pool, sauna, gym, amusement arcade, fishing lakes and an outdoor adventure area and playground plus a selection of evening entertainments in the onsite bar and restaurant.  

Please Everyone!

Finding a holiday destination that suits everyone is a challenge, particularly if you’ve got toddlers and teens to entertain but these two campsites should satisfy the hardest-to-please members of any family!

9. The Star, Alton

There are plenty of facilities and activities onsite but it’s The Star’s location that makes it something special.

As a gateway to the both the peace and tranquillity of the National Peak District and the white-knuckle thrills of Alton Towers Theme Park, everyone can get exactly what they want from the family holiday.

10. Pinewood Park, Scarborough

Fancy something a bit different? Then head to Pinewood Park y’all, it’s the only campsite in the UK that has a Wild West theme!

A choice of onsite accommodation means you can take your own tent, hire a cabin or stay in a cowboy wagon or Indian tipi and once you’re up and about, you can head to the beach, the countryside or into Scarborough town to find entertainment that suits everyone.

Whatever kind of family adventure you decide to go on, you can find all the camping equipment you need including everything from tents and sleeping bags to portable BBQs and picnic hampers, instore at B&M.