All you need to know about glamping

The term “glamping” (glamorous camping) has been knocked around for some four or five years now, and while many considered it to be a passing fad to begin with, it has certainly proven that it’s here to stay.

Not only does the UK boast an ever-increasing number of glamping sites, but the global travel restrictions brought on by COVID-19 have forced many Britons to opt for holidays on home turf, making glamping an attractive option for those who find staying close to nature the best way to relax.

Image via Julio Humada

We decided to test the trend out ourselves and paid a visit to Home Farm Glamping near Elstree to see what the fuss is all about. 

Image via Julio Humada 

What it says on the tin. It’s just like camping but without all the less-than-comfortable aspects of the great outdoors, like getting tangled up in your sleeping bag or attempting to start a fire with sticks and stones like a contestant on a survival TV show.

Picture-perfect yurts and bell-tents decorated with fairy lights, scattered across boundless green fields—it’s like finding yourself in the middle of a French fairy-tale film. Each tent has a private seating area with a fire pit to facilitate a full-fledged night-time stargazing fantasy.

Inside, you’ll find a large and comfy double bed and lots of tastefully decorated nooks and crannies, with small but adorable touches like mini book exchange shelves.    

There’s nothing quite like a BBQ out in nature and the guys at Home Farm Glamping make it as fuss-free as possible. Each tent and yurt is equipped with its own BBQ and charcoal—all you need to bring are your own firelighters to make the fire-starting process a bit smoother.

Image via Julio Humada

In terms of food, you’re welcome to bring your own, as there is a communal kitchen which includes everything you might need to cook breakfast, lunch or dinner (within reason, of course), including a supply of tea, coffee, sugar and milk.

The full English breakfast, catered by Sainlo Events 

However, if you feel like really treating yourself, you have the option to pre-order your meals with the catering company next door. You can either take your meal in their pop-up café tent, or pick it up and bring it back to your tent. We opted for the full English breakfast and were certainly not disappointed; generously portioned and fresh, it truly embodied the essence of a homemade fry-up.

We won’t blame you if you get queasy at the very thought of no showers or bathrooms when camping out in nature. With glamping though, that’s the last thing you need to worry about. Home Farm Glamping offer six squeaky-clean units, each with its own shower, loo, sink and heated towel rail.

They’re located not too far from the tents and are shared between only 12 tents so you’ll never have to worry about queuing for the bathroom. 

Image via Julio Humada

One of the biggest perks of glamping though is that it’s one of the most eco-friendly ways to holiday. Home Farm Glamping pride themselves in being green and using as little electricity as possible. Therefore, you will find decorative LED battery operated lights, tea light lanterns and a torch in your tent as an alternative to electric lights, while the generator that powers the showers runs only between 8-11am. Don't panic if you need to charge your laptop or phone, though, as there are designated power points in the shared barn. 

With 150 acres of gorgeous farmland, lakes and woodland to explore, we’re not sure what else you could wish for! However, if your heart still desires some other forms of entertainment, you can find two quaint local pubs within walking distance of the campsite, where the patrons are always up for a friendly chat and a laugh.  

There’s also a kids’ play fort in the woods, croquet lawn, plenty of open space to play football, a badminton set and ping pong table if you’re into your sports.

And if you’re in the market for something a touch more extravagant, you can book a whole host of group activities ahead of your stay: from yoga to wine tasting, via spa workshops, the world is your oyster.

Image via Julio Humada 

No matter how glamorous this camping experience is, don’t forget that you’re still out in nature. If the very thought of sharing your tent with a spider or a bee makes you hyperventilate; or if the idea of a magpie treating the top of your tent like its own private amusement park is unthinkable—this may not be the experience for you.

These are small things to endure considering how wonderful the rest of the experience is—but if you’re on the extreme opposite side of the spectrum from Bear Grylls, start small, book yourself in for one night and see how you get on.

Prices start from £80 per night for two adults in a Bell Tent, Mon-Thurs this September. To book your stay, visit homefarmglamping.com

Read more: 10 Campfire cooking ideas 

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