Glamping in Kent

Glorious Kent is a delight for glamping. It's known as the garden of England for a reason and there's no better way to experience this southeasterly county than getting into the great outdoors. Thankfully, nowadays, there are plenty of places to stay too, with more and more glamping sites opening their gates to visitors every year. As always, we've been out and about checking them out in order to to bring you the very best. Driving down narrow country lanes, lighting our campfires and bedding down in yurts and tipis across the county. Discover our pick of the best glamping sites in Kent here and book your next adventure online today!

If you like a bit of comfort with your camping, how about glamping in Kent instead? You get to enjoy the great outdoors without the faff of pitching your own tent. This also means it’s great for anyone who wants to try camping without investing in all the gear. The range of glamping accommodation in Kent is ever-expanding and you can choose from simple bell tents to luxuriously kitted-out yurts. If staying under canvas is part of the point, you could also consider tipis and safari tents too. All are great options for summer glamping – and if they are fitted with a log-burning stove can work well in autumn too.

Moving up the luxury scale, shepherd huts in Kent are a popular option and a fitting way to stay in a county that’s a patchwork of farmers’ fields. But if you want something even more quirky, look out for gypsy wagons, vintage vans, treehouses and geodesic domes – the range of glamping in Kent is ever expanding so who knows what will pop up next. If you’re camping outside of the summer season, you might prefer one of these more solid options and perhaps somewhere insulated and with a log burner to boot. One of the advantages of glamping is that extends the camping season in to the cooler months. The level of luxury varies from place to place so the choice is yours but make sure you know what to expect. The more basic glamping sites will simply put the tent up for you but expect you to bring bedding while others will provide everything you need to stay from toiletries to fluffy towels.

The History of Kent

For pilgrims, missionaries and conquerors alike, Kent has for millennia been both Britain's primary conduit from the continent and first line of defence against invasion. It was here that Caesar landed in 55 BC, and where, in 597 AD St Augustine arrived on his mission to bring Christianity back to England. In the 12th century Thomas à Beckett was assassinated in Canterbury Cathedral, turning it into one of the biggest pilgrimage centres in Christendom, while Henry VIII, built Chatham Dockyard, which later became the base of the Royal Navy. The Battle of Britain was fought in the skies above Kent's rural hop gardens and Wealden market towns, while the Dunkerque evacuation was planned from bunkers beneath mighty Dover Castle, visible from miles away at sea. Yes, just a hop away from the capital, and within a croissant’s throw of the continent, Kent has seen its fair share of action and has been at the forefront of the nation's history. Today it continues to host the main crossing route to the continent – both ferries and trains alike – as well as offering an agricultural heartland for the South East of England. Along with sheep farming and arable agriculture there are also vineyards to be found. In all, it's the perfect back-drop for a 21st-century glamping break.

Glamping Accommodation

There's no set pattern to the glamping accommodation on offer in Kent. In summer bell tents are particularly popular, light and airy they are both comfortable and cool, while safari tents offer a far larger option for families and are usually divided into multiple different rooms. Yurts and tipis provide nights under canvas, as well, while, in winter time, glampers generally look for something more sturdy and better insulated. Wooden pods are perhaps the most weather-proof option, while shepherd's huts allow a similar amount of space but have that extra bit of charm and romanticism. There's a great sense of heritage about shepherd's huts, too – they have been used by working shepherd's in Kent sense the early 18th-century and, while today's versions often include en-suite facilities and miniature kitchens, they still have a great historic connection to their surroundings. Yet, whether you see yourself as the bell tent type or more of a gypsy caravan fan, you'll also discover that, when it comes to glamping, there's also a whole host of quirky options that don't fall into any of the usual categories. Fancy tree-houses, converted buses and old shipping containers that have been transformed into somewhere new and interesting to stay. We've seen it all and every year we're amazed by the new inventions and new accommodations that open up to glampers. Who knows what will be next? But we can guarantee, you'll find out about it first on the Hipcamp website.

Our Favourite Things to Do in Kent

– Sample English sparkling wine at one of the county's native vineyards.– Visiting the White Cliffs of Dover and hiking the coastal path.– Eating fresh fish and chips in Margate.– Picnicking in the grounds of Churchill's old home at Chartwell House.– Getting lost down Whitstable's famous narrow alleys.– Soaking up the views with a walk in the High Weald. – Exploring the streets and shops of historic Canterbury (and visiting the cathedral).– Experiencing the weirdness of a wander at Dungeness.– Counting sheep in the Kent Downs.

About

Whether it's a bell tent by the beach or a shepherd's hut in the Kent Downs, discover the best glamping in Kent here – with every site specially chosen by the experienced Hipcamp team.