CAMPING season is well under way and your next family camp trip awaits -complete with cooking on an open fire, sleeping under the stars and letting the kids run wild.
The right camping gear can make or break your family holiday – the most important of which is a good quality tent with plenty of space and useful features to keep everyone comfortable and happy.
A glamorous all-inclusive beach holiday abroad might be on many people's wish lists, but nothing can beat the great outdoors.
Especially here in the UK, where so many beautiful and picturesque locations throughout the country are waiting to be discovered.
Each camping location also suggests different activities: a stay in the Scottish Highlands calls for breath-taking hikes, and Wales offers relaxing beach strolls and beautiful valleys.
Ready for your next family camping adventure? You'll need a tent. We've rounded up 16 of the best family tents available to buy now – for a range of budgets.
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1. Vango Icarus 500 Deluxe family tent
- Vango Icarus 500 Deluxe Family Tent, £249 at Millets – buy here
Looking for a well priced tent that will still get the job done? The Vango Icarus 500 might be an option.
This five-person tunnel-style tent is made from waterproof materials, featuring tension straps for extra stability.
The tent should take just 12 minutes to pitch and includes a sleeping area that can be divided into two bedrooms – along with a porch for extra space.
2. Jack Wolfskin Travel Lodge RT 7 family tent
- Jack Wolfskin Travel Lodge RT 7, £681.74 at Camping World – buy here
The Jack Wolfskin Travel Lodge RT 7 is designed to accommodate seven sleepers.
It has two separate bedrooms and one large living space, and each of the three entrances features a double-door.
You'll also find six closable air vents and a porch with veranda awning.
3. Berghaus Air 6.1 Nightfall family tent
- Berghaus Air 6.1 Nightfall family tent, £599 (save 40%) at Blacks – buy here
Berghaus has manufactured outdoor clothing and equipment for over fifty years, with its headquarters located in Sunderland.
The brand's outdoor range has been praised by campers for quality and durability, and this Air 6.1 tent is no exception.
This extra large, six-person tent is brimming with great features and has plenty of space with a separate living area and blackout bedrooms to help everyone get a good night's rest.
The inflatable beams can be pumped up in no time and the quick release air valves make it super-easy to deflate when it's time to go home.
Plus, the full sewn-in ground sheet will ensure no cold drafts or moisture get in.
4. Eurohike Genus 800 Air family tent
- Eurohike Genus 800 Air family tent, £325 at Go Outdoors – buy here
Another quick-to-put-up option with inflatable beams, this Eurohike tent boasts a 15-minute construction time, leaving you more time to relax around the campfire.
This spacious eight-person tent has two bedrooms plus a living space so there's plenty of room for a big family.
It's also fully waterproof and flame resistant to keep you safe and dry.
5. Hi-Gear Zenobia 8 Nightfall family tent
- Hi-Gear Zenobia 8 Nightfall Tent, £425 at Blacks – buy here
The Zenobia Nightfall tent is designed to accommodate up to eight sleepers.
Featuring a fully waterproof design, the tent has two darkened bedrooms at either side of a social living area.
It has strong fibreglass poles to keep it steady and stable , along with a polyester flysheet and electrical cable access.
6. Coleman Octagon Blackout Tent
- Coleman Octagon Blackout Tent, £349 at Outdoor World Direct – buy here
The Octagon Blackout tent, as you've probably guessed from the name, blocks out 99 per cent of daylight from entering the sleeping area.
Its climate control design means it should be 5C cooler during the day and 1C warmer at night when comparing to the outside temperature.
The Octagon tent can accommodate up to eight sleepers, featuring plenty of ventilation thanks to 360 degree mesh windows.
Additionally, you can use it as a luxury glamping bedroom.
7. Quechua Arpenaz 4
- Quechua Arpenaz 4, £99.99 at Decathlon – buy here
Looking for something cheap and reliable? Then Quechua's Arpenaz 4 might be the one.
Priced at £99.99, this four-person easy-pitching tent has a seated living area and bedroom space.
The flysheet fabric has UPF 30 fabric, featuring waterproof properties and restricting some UV rays.
8. Outsunny Camping family tent
- Outsunny Camping Family Tent, £159.99 (30% off) at Amazon – buy here
This 4-8 person tent from Outsunny, has two rooms separated by a detachable divider so it can be removed and made into one larger space if needed.
The mesh windows allow a breeze to keep the tent cool and the body of the tent is coated for UV protection and also waterproof if the weather's not on your side.
It's also super-easy to pitch and has strong fibreglass poles that will keep the tent stable and secure.
9. Vango Aether Poled 600XL family tent
- Vango Aether Poled 600XL Tent (2022), £399 at Outdoor World Direct – buy here
Another great option from Vango, this technical poled tent can sleep up to six but would perhaps be more comfortable for a family of four with additional living space.
The tent has full standing height and two separate areas as we all as a canopy, ideal for cooking and providing shelter from showers if needed.
Plus, this tent is part of the new 'earth' range from Vango with a focus on ECO fabric, which is manufactured from single-use plastics.
10. Latourreg Pyramid Round family Bell tent
- Latourreg Pyramid Round Bell Tent Canvas Yurt Tent, £428 at Amazon – buy here
If you're looking for something a bit different – and a more traditional camping experience – there are many benefits to a traditional cotton canvas bell tent.
Bell tents have become increasingly popular as boutique camping and 'glamping' has exploded over the last few years.
Bell-tent fans claim once you've slept under 100% cotton canvas, you won't go back!
This canvas yurt tent has space for two queen size beds or one queen size with two singles.
One of the main benefits of cotton canvas bell tents is that you can safely have a stove inside and this yurt tent comes with a 1pc stove jacket on the side wall.
11. Gonex 4-6 person family tent
- Gonex 4-6 person tent with porch, £129.99 at Amazon – buy here
This Gonex tent has a spacious porch and awning so you can enjoy being outdoors as much as possible, whilst still having shelter from the elements.
It's easy to transport and simple to put up with a roof supported by three poles that arch and fit into the corners at the base.
This tent has a large door and vent for easy access and plenty of fresh air – along with UV protected polyester – to keep you cool in hotter weather.
12. Olpro Winchenford 3.0 8 berth family tent
- Olpro Winchenford 3.0 8 berth family tent, £419 at Amazon – buy here
The largest poled tent from the British tent company, Olpro – the Winchenford 3.0 can sleep up to eight and would be ideal for a large family.
This durable tent is made from waterproof, rip-proof polyester and the ground sheet is sewn in to stop any cold drafts getting in.
It's gota bedroom at each end and a large living area in the centre – plus, the canopy provides extra space where you can fully enjoy the great outdoors whatever the weather.
13. Hi-Gear Emperor 12-person Polycotton family tent
- Hi-Gear Emperor 12 Person Polycotton family tent, £620 (save 44%) at Millets – buy here
If you'd like to treat yourself to a classic cotton canvas tent, the Emperor tent from Hi-Gear could comfortably sleep a large family plus a few friends thrown in too.
Campers, or 'glampers' often prefer cotton canvas as it's durable and breathable, providing excellent protection from UV rays but also retaining heat to keep you nice and toasty in the night.
At 6m x 4m, the emperor tent has an impressive amount of space and head room to make it feel like a luxury camping experience – and is a steal at almost half price at Millets.
14. Buxton six-person Waterproof family tent
- Buxton six-person Waterproof family tent, £259.99 at Mountain Warehouse – buy here
Ideal for family camping trips and currently on offer at Mountain Warehouse, the Buxton six-person tent has two bedrooms at either end and a generous living space in the middle.
The insect mesh doors and vents allow plenty of light and air to flow through the tent – without any bugs!
The tent is also easy to pitch in one as a flysheet and inner tent – the inner tent and bedrooms are separate from the flysheet, which makes the tent more breathable and reduces condensation.
15. Skandika Hammerfest Family Dome Tent
- Skandika Hammerfest Family Dome Tent, £179 at Amazon – buy here
Perfect for a family of four, this Skandika Hammerfest dome tent has two cosy sleeping pods and a central living space.
It's super-easy to put up and will withstand the elements with waterproof sealed seams and a sewn in groundsheet to reduce draughts and damp in the tent.
This tent also allows plenty of air flow on hot summer nights with air vents and two entrances – plus, mosquito mesh to keep the bugs away.
16. Cascade Habitude 6 Family Camping Tent
- Cascade Habitude 6 Family Camping Tent, £599 at Blacks – buy here
If you're setting off on an adventure with your family, this six-person tent would make a great basecamp.
Although it's compact, it has a high ceiling and the shape maximises the space inside.
It's also really lightweight and easy to carry – and made to withstand different conditions – from the 'stay dry' floor to the rainfly kickstand vent – allowing air to flow through the tent.
What is the best tent for family camping?
This really depends on how big your family is and what kind of camping you intend to do.
Consider your priorities and what features would be most useful to you – those with younger children may prefer separate areas for sleeping and blackout bedrooms can be really handy.
If you're backpacking or hiking, a more lightweight, compact tent would be more practical.
The right family tent has to not only correspond to your current demands, but be able to adapt to future ones too: if you're splashing out a hefty sum, you want to make sure that the tent will serve you for years to come.
We really liked the Berghaus and Vango tents, where you get plenty of nice features for a good price.
How to buy the right family tent
Here are the main things to consider prior to purchasing a family tent.
Budget: a family tent will be an investment and it doesn't come cheap. It's important that you spend your hard-earned money wisely.
More expensive family tents tend to be more durable, due to the better quality materials used, meaning they might serve you for longer.
There are some cheap family tents that can do the job well, but they might be less likely to stand any changing weather conditions.
Prior to your trip, we'd suggest testing out your family tent somewhere local or in a garden if that's possible. This way you'll better see whether the tent is going to serve you well, as sometimes images and descriptions can't portray the full picture.
Sizes and space: if you'll be mostly using your tent just for sleep, you probably won't need a lot of indoor space, but we'd suggest opting for one with a good porch to store your other camping gear or wood for a campfire.
Planning to hang out a lot at a campsite? Choose a light and spacious family tent.
You also need to think about how many bedrooms you might need: everyone wants to have a little bit of privacy.
Generally, the more bedrooms you've got in a tent, the more storage space you have, which will come in very handy when you need to unpack for a few days' stay.
But 'tent palaces' can be bulky: even if you're heading off with a car with a massive tent onboard you need to consider the overall weight.
Some campers tend to get two family tents: one with plenty of separate bedrooms for longer outdoor trips; and one for one-nighters which would be much smaller and compact.
Extras: if you want to create a truly comfortable experience, you might want to get some extras like tent porches, extensions, carpets, and footprints.
Always research whether your chosen tent has handy features – like awnings, storage pockets, hanging points, vents or porches – that can make your camping experience much more enjoyable.
What is the best winter tent for families?
There are many tents that are specifically designed for cold weather conditions so head to specialist suppliers such as North Face, Mountain Warehouse and Go Outdoors to review their year-round or four-season tents.
Keep an eye on tent features that will keep you warmer such as a sewn in groundsheet – and carpet – to keep drafts out, hardwearing, durable materials that will retain heat and climate control properties. Also, a good quality sleeping bag can certainly help you keep warm overnight.
What is the best size tent for a family of four?
A four-person tent is often comprised of two separated spaces and should be sufficient for a family of four.
However, depending on the age of your kids, how much stuff you intend to take or how much privacy you'd like; you may decide to go for a lager tent with a living space and sleeping areas.
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