From Tent to Tranquillity
The best UK glamping sites don’t compete with the outdoors — they complement it. They offer the same immersive connection to nature as traditional camping, but with added layers of comfort and care. For couples, families and reunions, they’re a basecamp with benefits: a place to dry your boots, stretch your legs, and sleep deeply before the next adventure. And it’s not just about physical recovery. The wellness trend is reshaping the sector, with many sites offering breathwork sessions, forest bathing, and nutrition-led menus designed to support active lifestyles. It’s a shift from “just somewhere to stay” to “somewhere that helps you stay well.”
Sustainability at the Core
Many of the most exciting UK operators are leading with sustainability — using solar power, composting loos, and locally sourced materials to minimise impact and maximise authenticity. Guests aren’t just passive consumers; they’re part of a regenerative experience that respects the land and the communities around it.
This variation — rather than homogenisation — is what makes the sector so dynamic. From remote shepherd’s huts in Snowdonia to treetop cabins in the Scottish Highlands, no two stays are the same. And that’s exactly what today’s travellers are seeking: unique, story-rich experiences that align with their values.
UK vs USA: A Different Kind of Wild
While glamping is a global trend, the UK version is a very different beast to its American cousin. In the US, vast tracts of land allow for sprawling sites, looser planning restrictions, and large-scale operations that often resemble boutique resorts.
In contrast, UK glamping is shaped by tighter planning rules, limited geographical space, and a stronger emphasis on landscape sensitivity. Sites here tend to be smaller, more intimate, and often owner-operated — which fosters a deeper connection between host, guest, and place. Costs per night can be higher in the UK due to land values and regulatory overheads, but this is often offset by the quality of experience and the personal touches that define the sector. The US currently leads on digital integration and AI-driven guest experiences — from predictive booking tools to fully automated site management — but UK operators are catching up fast, often blending tech with a more personal, story-led approach.
Local Escapes, Big Impact
One of the defining features of UK glamping is how close to home the adventure often begins. Over 30% of guests travel less than 20 miles to reach their chosen site, making glamping a hyper-local escape that fits neatly into busy lives. Stays are typically short — two to three nights — and frequently tied to celebration events like birthdays, anniversaries, or mini-moons. It’s less about ticking off distant destinations and more about creating meaningful moments close to home. In contrast, glamping in the US often involves longer journeys and extended stays, with guests travelling hundreds of miles to reach remote wilderness lodges or national park-adjacent resorts. The UK’s compact geography and dense population centres make it uniquely suited to this kind of spontaneous, experience-led micro-adventure — a trend that continues to drive demand.
From Grassroots to Growth Capital
Historically, UK glamping has grown incrementally — shaped by passionate owner-operators, repurposed farmland, and a shoestring approach to innovation. With limited access to industry-specific finance, many sites evolved organically, often built by hand and refined through guest feedback rather than investor spreadsheets. But that’s changing. Larger investors are now entering the UK market, bringing capital, polish, and scale to a sector that’s proven its resilience and appeal. We’re seeing the rise of fully finished, design-led sites with strong branding, integrated tech, and clear market positioning — often built from scratch rather than retrofitted. While this brings new energy and professionalism, it also raises questions about preserving the sector’s diversity, authenticity, and connection to place — something GITA UK continues to champion.
GITA UK: Raising the Bar
At the heart of this evolution is GITA UK — the sector’s leading voice for standards, transparency, and ethical development. Whether it’s tackling planning reform, championing fair pricing, or curating best practice, GITA is helping operators deliver experiences that are not only memorable but meaningful.
As one of GITA’s co-founders, I’ve seen firsthand how the sector has matured — from a niche curiosity to a serious contributor to rural economies and outdoor tourism. And we’re just getting started. With double-digit growth and increasing demand for wellness-led, off-grid escapes, the future of UK glamping looks bright, bold, and beautifully varied.