Choosing a campsite
For families: look for facilities (hot showers, clean loos, a shop), a safe flat pitching area and activities nearby. For couples or solo: you may prefer a quieter, wilder site. Websites like Pitchup, Cool Camping and the Camping and Caravanning Club have the most comprehensive UK listings. Always check reviews for drainage — a waterlogged field in July is miserable.
Kit priorities
Tent quality is the single biggest variable between good and bad camping. A cheap tent leaks. A good tent in UK summer is a breathable, double-walled tent rated to 2,000HH minimum hydrostatic head. After the tent: a sleeping bag rated to the lowest expected overnight temperature, and an insulating mat (cold from below is worse than cold from above). Use our free camping checklist to pack systematically.
Sleeping warm
Three factors: sleeping bag temperature rating (use a 3-season in UK summer), insulated sleeping mat (R-value 2+ for summer, 4+ for colder months), and sleeping in clean dry layers. Eating a decent meal before bed also raises core temperature. Most people who sleep cold are on an uninsulated mat, not in an inadequate sleeping bag.
Our picks compared
| Pick | Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick | Family tent 4-man waterproof UK | The tent | Check price → |
| Bag | Sleeping bag 3-season comfort rated | Sleeping warm | Check price → |
| Mat | Insulated sleeping mat camping | Cold ground insulation | Check price → |
| App | Met Office weather app camping | Weather planning | Check price → |
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