Camping with kids: the parents' guides
Everything we know about taking babies, toddlers and children under canvas: sleep, food, packing, rain and joy. Written honestly, checked carefully.
Start with your child's age, then raid the rest. Every guide links to the campsites in our patch that suit it best, and the two printable checklists remember your ticks on this device.
Ages & stages
Camping with a baby: the honest UK guide
Camping with a baby: an honest UK guide to the best age, safer sleep in a tent, warmth at night, feeding off-grid and choosing a baby-friendly campsite.
Read the guideCamping with a toddler: survive and love it
Camping with a toddler? How to pick a safe site, toddler-proof your pitch, handle naps and bedtime under canvas, and genuinely enjoy it. A practical UK guide.
Read the guideFirst time camping with kids: a step-by-step plan
First time camping with kids? A step-by-step plan: garden dry-run, choosing a first site, one-night trials, simple food and what to do when it goes wrong.
Read the guideWhat is the best age to take a child camping?
Best age to take a child camping? There is no perfect age, but some years are kinder than others. Honest verdicts from newborn to teens, band by band.
Read the guideSleep
How to keep a baby warm camping at night
How to keep a baby warm camping: layers, sleeping bag togs, ground insulation and night checks for UK tents, plus the heater mistake you must never make.
Read the guideWhere do babies sleep when camping?
Where does a baby sleep in a tent? In their own travel cot, same safer-sleep rules as home. How to fit it, blackout tricks, naps and small-tent alternatives.
Read the guideThe camping bedtime routine that actually works
Kids won't sleep camping? A realistic tent bedtime routine for UK families: light, noise, the 5am wake-up and what actually settles children under canvas.
Read the guideFood
The 3-day family camping meal plan
Family camping meal plan for 3 days: every breakfast, lunch and dinner, a cool box method that keeps meat safe, home prep and a no-shame pub fallback.
Read the guideCamping food ideas children actually eat
Camping food ideas for kids: easy breakfasts, picnic-board lunches, one-pot dinners, snack schedules and cool box safety from a UK family camping guide.
Read the guideCampfire cooking with children, safely
Campfire cooking with kids: family fire safety rules, jobs by age band, and five easy starter recipes from marshmallows to dough twists and foil bananas.
Read the guideHacks & play
50 family camping hacks that actually work
Family camping hacks: 50 tried and tested tricks for packing, pitching, sleep, food, mud and morale with children in tow, all built for UK weather.
Read the guideRainy day camping with kids: the survival guide
Camping in the rain with kids can still be a great trip. Practical tent admin, the puddle-suit kit list, ten screen-free activities and when to call it a day.
Read the guideCamping games for kids: zero kit, maximum wear-out
Camping games for kids with zero kit: field games, scavenger hunts by age, torch tag rules, campfire circle games and quiet wind-down ideas for bedtime.
Read the guideChecklists
The baby camping checklist (printable)
Baby camping checklist: a printable, tick-as-you-pack list covering safe sleep kit, feeding, nappy changing, warmth layers and first aid under canvas.
Read the guideThe toddler camping checklist (printable)
Toddler camping checklist to print and tick off: sleep kit, clothes, mealtimes, nappies and potty, safety and the five things parents always forget.
Read the guidePlanning tools
The family camping kit list
The master packing list: non-negotiables, off-grid additions, hook-up comforts and the child-happiness kit.
Open the kit listWhen to camp: month by month
Lambing, bluebells, regattas and frost: time your family's trip to the good bits of the year.
Read the calendarCompare all 40 campsites
Every site and every facility in one sortable table.
Open the table