The emergence of glamping has turned world of camping and outdoor adventure on its head - why live without electricity and get bogged down in the mud and rain when you can enjoy all the fun of the outdoors and stay in luxurious and glamorous accommodation? Large numbers of festival-goers in the UK have also been asking themselves the same question, and this has led to a rise in boutique tents, yurts, pods and other quirky dwellings popping up at festivals around the country and which come as a welcome substitute for the standard pop-up tent.
In preparation for the summer ahead, we've sourced out some of the finest glamping options the UK festival scene has to offer.
The Boomtique Village at Hampshire’s Boomtown Fair - self dubbed as the maddest festival in the country - would appear to be the Mecca of the glamping world. Luxury facilities in the village include hot showers, wood fired saunas and hot tubs, hair dryers and straighteners, a relaxation lounge with charging points and above all – the promise of fresh, clean and fragranced toilets.
But alas, that is not all, the choices of opulent accommodation in Boomtown’s Boomtique Village seem never ending. Choose between majestic Tipis, beautiful Bell Tents, luxury Yurts, perfect PodPads, Royal Indian Shikar Hotel Tents and Bukuu Teardrop Pods hanging elegantly above the ground, all gifting you a unique way to experience the world’s largest pop-up city.
To discover more about Boomtown Fair and find out more about The Boomtique Village, visit BoomtownFair.co.uk.
If you are heading to Bestival on the Isle of Wight this year then we’d seriously recommend the Airstream RV hire for glamping with a vintage twist. Their spacious 34ft long motor homes are ideal for sharing between a few friends as they boast one full sized double bedroom and two fold down double bed, an en suite area with shower, sink and toilet, kitchen area fully equipped with fridge freezer, microwave, oven, grill, toaster and hob, a dining area, a lounge with tv, radio and DVD player and an outdoor awning to give shade from the summer sun.
There are a number of RVs to choose from and they all come fully decked out in 1950s style decor to give an authentic vintage feel to the vehicle. The Airstream RVs can also be privately hired for any other event, head over to Airstream-Hire.com to find out more.
The Pop Up Hotel at Glastonbury Festival is a perfect place to avoid the muddiness and grubbiness which is so typical of this iconic British music festival. Guests at this temporary abode are blessed with the romance of glamping while receiving the luxury services of a boutique hotel, making it the ideal place to be for those who need some extra TLC after a few days in the fields.
The luxury services and facilities on offer at the Pop Up Hotel include a breakfast buffet each morning, room (…or tent) service, a full restaurant and working kitchen, bars and lounge areas, hotel porters, heated shower and toilet tents, free WiFi, power sockets, free towel changes, car parking and 24hr security. What’s more, the hotel is situated less than a 10 minute level walk from the centre of the main arena, cutting out the treacherous late night drunken hike back to your tent. Visit ThePopUpHotel.com for more info.
V Festival may not be the first place you’d expect to see an exotic Bedouin dwelling, but for the right price you can swap your pop-up tent for this amazingly stylish boudoir. Hidden away in the V Style Field - a quiet corner away from the hustle and bustle of the main festival – these exotic Bedouin tents come with double canvas walls to keep out the warm morning sun, hand painted Moroccan wall hangings, king sized beds with 400 count white Egyptian cotton bed sheets and duvet, traditional brass lanterns, thick Persian rigs and authentic Middle Eastern decor to create an enchanting atmosphere for you and whoever you decide to share your tent with.
You’ll also be treated to fresh flowers, chocolates on pillows, a selection of chill-out areas, eye masks, ear plugs and torches, so all that’s left to worry about is which band to see next. Find out more about these luxurious Bedouin tents by visiting VFestival.com.
Suffolk’s Latitude Festival is home to amazingly quirky Gypsy Caravans for those looking for a festival experience with a difference. The festival – which is packed full of music, poetry, comedy, literary, cabaret and theatre – is set in a stunning rural landscape which is the perfect match for this unique style of luxury camping.
Each Gypsy Caravan comes with electricity sockets, can comfortably sleep four people and includes two double beds complete with bedding. Guests also have full cooking facilities and table seating so they can enjoy a hearty meal when taking a break from the four day party. Traditional decorations inside the caravan create a vibrant atmosphere within the trailer, and will no doubt give you a weekend you will never forget. There’s full information on both Latitude and the Gypsy Caravans on PinkMoonCamping.co.uk.