Hot tub glamping in the United Kingdom

Glampers are spoiled for choice in the UK. Whether you want to chill out in a furnished bell tent, get back to nature in an eco-friendly glamping pod, or spend the night in a shepherd’s hut or gypsy caravan, you’ll find glampsites the length and breadth of the UK. And if you fancy something extra bubbly (no, not champagne…though that is welcome too!), why not opt for hot tub glamping? Not only will you be able to enjoy all the home comforts and mod cons of glamping—like a comfy bed, fast wifi, and heating or air-conditioning—but you’ll be able to end the day watching the sunset or gazing up at the night stars from a bubbling hot tub. Perhaps spend the night in a yurt in the Herefordshire countryside, stay in a wigwam with a campfire and hot tub in North Yorkshire, or combine hot tubbing and wild swimming in Devon.

Turn your glamping holiday up to 10 with the addition of a hot tub. There's no denying that a hot tub adds an extra element of luxury to the glamping experience. Whether you're staying in a family-sized yurt in the height of summer or a cosy shepherd's hut in the depths of winter, the lavish comfort of kicking back in a steamy hot tub is tough to top. Hot tubs can turn an ordinary glamping site into something very special, as they often offer the chance for outdoor bathing in the most magical of locations. We've discovered secluded hot tubs hidden away in the forest, rooftop hot tubs on top of treehouses, and waterside hot tubs that seem to merge seamlessly into the lake beyond.

Hot tub? Jacuzzi? Is there a difference? Well, not really, and when it comes to glamping, the difference is unlikely to affect your experience.

The term “hot tub” originally referred to the wooden, barrel-shaped tubs that became popular in the late 1960s—many of which can be found at glamping sites today. The earliest hot tubs were made from redwood as simple water tanks, almost like wine barrels, with steel hoops holding the boards in place. Wood-fired hot tubs, for example, are all the rage at glamping sites across the UK and France, perhaps because the water is heated with a real fire created with kindling and newspaper. Then, people began adding jets, proper heaters, filters, and pumps—and thus, the modern-day hot tub was born.

So, what’s a Jacuzzi then? Jacuzzi is, in fact, the family name of a family-owned spa manufacturer. The original founders made a pump that went over the side of a bathtub to produce a whirlpool effect, and years later, began making their own extremely successful hot tubs. Before long, the company name became synonymous with the product. Today, Jacuzzi isn’t even the top hot tub manufacturer, but nevertheless, the name has stuck. And there we have it: Jacuzzis are simply a brand of hot tub. All Jacuzzis are hot tubs, but not all hot tubs are Jacuzzis. Now you know.

Wood-fired hot tubs are relatively easy to light, though it can sometimes take three or four hours to heat one, depending on the initial water temperature and weather conditions. (A hot tub cover should be used to speed up the heating time if available.) If you have a wood-burner, you will already know the drill—hot tub stoves are lit the exact same way.

1. Build a fire with crumpled paper, kindling, and then small or well split, dry firewood. Kiln-dried wood gives the best results, while damp wood will be more difficult to light—the same is true for campfires, of course.
2. Light the paper and place the stove door to provide maximum draft.
3. Once the fire catches and the logs begin to burn well, add more to provide the fire with plenty of logs for fuel. This allows the fire to burn faster and heat the water quicker, though there are many factors at play, such as the size, dryness, and species of wood.
4. Overshoot the temperature? Just add some cold water from a hose or clean bucket to cool down the tub.
5. When you go to bed, leave a few logs on the fire and cover the tub to wake up to a steaming hot tub too. 

From lighting the fire and heating the water to getting in for the first time, the whole process of using a wood-fired hot tub is great fun. Slow down, relax, and enjoy it. After all, that's what glamping is all about.

Hot tub glamping is actually a growing trend. Whether it's the glampsites striving to stand out with ever more luxurious options, or it's simply due to customer demand for hot tub glamping holidays, there are now more glamping sites with hot tubs than ever before. The number of people searching for glamping with hot tubs online has risen too—it's one of the most popular searches on our website. This is good news for hot tub and Jacuzzi fans—if you like to sit and steam in a hot tub under the stars, there are plenty of places out there.