Why we love glamping in England

With so much coastline, it's unsurprising that the beaches in England are one of the best things about travelling here. There are favourites with families glamping in England, like Bigbury-on-Sea which is great for windsurfing, kite surfing and walking, thanks to being set within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For the surfers, there's Newquay's Fistral, one of the world’s top surfing destinations and the venue for many of the UK’s biggest competitions, although you can still take beginner classes there too.

Camber Sands, in Sussex, sounds like something of an obvious name for a beach, but when you realise that its fine golden sand is a distinct contrast to the rest of the region’s pebble and shingle beaches, it makes more sense. This beast of a beach stretches for nearly five miles, and is regarded as one of the best places for beachcombing in the UK. If glamping in England has taken you south east, it's a great place to head for.

Of course, when you think of England's coast, you most likely think of Cornwall, and while there are simply too many beaches to mention along the ragged, rippling coast, Kynance Cove is a particular favourite. Located on the west side of the Lizard, and probably the most photographed and painted location in the region, the contrast between the white sand of the beach and the dark red and green of the serpentine rocks is a breathtaking sight. It pays to think outside the Devon and Cornwall box though, with Bamburgh Beach in Northumberland a fabulous choice if you're in the north. It's overlooked by the epic, craggy ruins of Bamburgh Castle, once a Norman stronghold. This is one of the most special beaches in England, with good waves for surfing, and a huge variety of flora and fauna. .

We could go on listing beaches for hours, but the best way to find special places on the coast is to ask the locals wherever you're staying. For all the joy of a big beach with a lovely cafe looking down from the dunes, it's when you scramble down to a tin

It's impossible to genuinely pick the "best" regions in England. Their unique character means that at different times, they'll all be what you're looking for. We love Cornwall, as many do, for its world-class beaches, mild climate, meaty and satisfying Cornish pasties, and for being one half of Britain's longest running conflict - the cream tea debate. The area also boasts some of the best surfing destinations in the UK and is known for its laid back vibe and friendly locals.

Playing host to the UK’s largest nationally protected wetlands, rich with bugs, butterflies, birdlife and a huge seal colony, Norfolk is a county with beautiful coastlines, historic castles, and famous battlefields. It's often overlooked by people glamping in England, but richly deserving of a visit. The same could be said of Sussex, where picturesque black and white villages and quirky market towns boast a range of independent shops, art galleries, and antique dealerships, and the South Downs National Park provides an unspoiled area of natural beauty that’s loved by hikers, birdwatches, and nature lovers alike.

Northumberland's spacious wilderness offers some of the best glamping in England, allowing you to explore a land rich with history and legend, from historic castles and famous battlefields to the holy island of Lindisfarne, a World Heritage site since the 1970s. The region is also blessed with some serene stretches of stunning coast that remain largely unspoilt by commercialisation. But no list of England's best regions would be complete without a mention of Yorkshire, with historic cities, outstanding rugged scenery, and villages like Haworth that pack a powerful literary relevance. Yorkshire is truly God’s own county, and a great destination for disappearing into the green, with moorland, meadow, woodland, and wetland to discover.

The obvious place to start is with England’s largest National Park, the Lake District. Home to both Scafell Pike, one of the highest mountains in England, and Wastwater, its deepest lake, it also includes thriving areas like Keswick and Bowness-on-Windermere, where there’s lots to do and see. If you’re a fan of watersports, this is the area to choose while glamping in England, with canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, caving, and much more on offer. To the east you'll find Northumberland National Park and England’s cleanest rivers and air, along with the country’s clearest starry skies. This truly remote part of the country is a land of far horizons, with breathtaking scenery and iconic landmarks like Hadrian's Wall. Hikers could spend a century wandering the park’s many trails, and still find more to explore.

For a complete tour of England's terrains in one place, head for the The North York Moors National Park. There's the eponymous moorland, coast, forest and dales in a special place, forged by nature and shaped over generations, where peace and beauty rub shoulders with a rich history, and you'll get a warm welcome from some of the friendliest locals in England. Down in south west England you'll find Exmoor National Park, recognised as one of the UK’s finest landscapes and the ideal location for glamping in England if you want to get away from it all.

Peppered with gangs of wild ponies, New Forest National Park, in the county of Hampshire, is one of the biggest National Parks in England, covering an area of over 200 miles. With ancient woodlands, wide open heathlands, and stretches of beautiful coastline, the park’s landscape is packed with hiking and cycling trails, and simply begs to be explored. If you're around in autumn, you might even see the famous New Forest pigs, who are allowed to graze wild so that they eat the new-fallen acorns, which would otherwise poison the ponies.

Glamping in England with Canopy & Stars

Glamping in England brings together the excitement of sleeping out in the wild, with more luxury than you could ever carry in a backpack. Our unique glamping spaces across England and beyond include everything from secluded woodland treehouses to converted wooden shepherds huts, and feature a range of special touches that will make your stay truly memorable, from wood-fired hot tubs to al-fresco dining areas. You can also find unforgettable experiences like foraging workshops out in the wilderness, private guided yoga sessions, and welcome hampers packed with lovely local produce - adding that extra special something to an already memorable break. Glamping in England with us is an ethical, low-impact way to explore the country’s natural beauty, with off-the-beaten-track locations that provide an intimate, secluded getaway, whether you’re holidaying with a partner, family, or friends.

How do we choose our places?

We look for things that will make glamping in England truly memorable for you. At our eclectic and exciting range of accommodation, you'll find not just comfort and quality but character, creativity and a sense of place.

Whether you're looking at gypsy caravans, spacious yurts, charming treehouses, or secluded barn conversions, you won't find anything bland and boring. We work only with owners who are fully committed to providing an extra-special experience, with the personal touches and exciting discoveries that make a Canopy & Stars glamping holiday memorable and unique. We send a member of our team to each one of our locations before deciding whether to add it to our collection, so we know the experience you'll have when you stay.

About Canopy & Stars

We are Canopy & Stars, an independent travel company with a unique ownership model, split between our employees the founding family and with the charitable trust we established to support organisations working to combat climate change across the globe. We live by our values, and strive to make decisions that have a positive impact on both people and planet, treating our employees, accommodation owners, suppliers, and guests fairly, and ethically. You can find more about our work by visiting our about us page.