8 Next-Level Glamping Retreats in the UK

Back in our elementary school days, nothing got us higher up the popularity totem pole than having a tricked-out treehouse. Last summer, architect Keith Brownlie unveiled the The Woodsman’s Treehouse at Guy Mallinson's Crafty Camping site—aka the perfectly grown-up, elevated answer to our childhood infatuation. The woodland West Dorset stunner starts with a pier-like boardwalk that leads glampers into a space that rivals most homes. There’s a king-size bed, double-ended copper tub, rotating living room fireplace, deck with a wood-fired pizza oven, and a separate spa deck with a hot tub and sauna. Scoring a reservation at the one-of-a-kind treehouse requires much patience and persistence, but you can also book a luxury, adult-only stay in one of Crafty Camping's tipis, huts, yurts, and bell tents. All accommodations are kitted out with their own private deck, king-size bed, and proper loo. Added bonus—the site puts you in perfect day-tripping distance of the English Channel's Jurassic Coast.

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If environmentally-friendly is a phrase that really gets you going, you’ll love Mulino Lodge & Pods. The outfit’s three eco-powered digs run off of a wind turbine on a rural, working farm where your only neighbors are grazing sheep. The cozy pods are simple and compact, but well suited to their surroundings with large French doors that open to Carsington valley and the hamlet of Atlow below. When you’re not camped out around the firepit or enjoying the view from your deck, nearby Ashbourne, Derby, Nottingham, and Sheffield are eager for explorers. You can also go for a walk, hike, or bike through immediate Peak District National Park, and follow it up with a drink at Kniveton’s local village pub, The Red Lion.

For an idyllic Welsh retreat, head to Redwood Valley on the England-Wales border in the region of Powys. There, a treetop cabin (with a private deck that looks out over the valley) and two 19-foot yurts (one a Mongolian ger and the other a Turkmen bentwood yurt) spread out on 25-woodland-acres full of 400-year-old oaks, redwoods, and, come spring, blankets of bluebells. Once you’ve read the book you packed and cooked an adequate campfire meal, get a taste of the local community by heading into Presteigne, the closest town; there you’ll find a collection of indie shops, wine bars, and neighborhood pubs. At night, make a detour to nearby Knighton’s observatory. The Redwood Valley is a dark sky site, so even those far from 20/20 vision will be able to spot more than a thousand stars with just their naked eye.

Toasty fires, twinkling fairy lights, and loads of playful bunting await at Humble Bee Farm in Yorkshire, just a stone’s throw from Scarborough. The family-run farm stows glampers away in stylish wigwams, bell tents, and nomadic yurts, and regularly hosts free events like stargazing, nature walks, and holiday-themed get togethers. For the ultimate experience, go for a Running Water Deluxe Wigwam which comes with a private, Scandinavian wood-fired hot tub. If you go out for the day—York, Whitby, and Dalby Forest are all totally doable—you can even call the farm to have your hot tub warmed up ahead of your arrival.

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In the heart of England—right at the crosshairs of Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire—this Holycombe glamping retreat unfolds across five verdant acres, and on the very spot where Whichford Castle once stood. Eclectically decorated yurts, old-school gypsy caravans, retro airstreams, and quirky bell tents are yours for the picking and choosing while communal areas include an outdoor kitchen, shower room, and bathroom. Outside of the site, adjacent Whichford Woods is an enchanting diversion; pull on your wellies and follow one of the paths through fields of bluebells and under chestnut and hazelnut trees. Post-walk, head into town to The Norman Knight for an ale and some English pub grub.

Cardigan Bay offers everything on our Wales wishlist: seaside hamlets, sandy beaches, rugged cliff walks, 11th-century castles, quaint pubs, and warm and welcoming locals. Sloeberry Farm, on a sheltered wildflower meadow near Aberporth Beach, is the perfect place to soak up all the region has to offer. Drop your bags in your bell tent or canvas lodge and fire up the BBQ, crack a bottle of wine, or anything else that helps you unwind, and prepare for unrushed days and lamp-lit nights. Traveling with friends or an extended brood? This summer, Sloeberry introduced the Grandfather Bell Tent which sleeps five.

Memory foam king-size mattresses with Egyptian cotton sheets, wood-burning stoves, blanket chests, en-suite bathrooms, and private, parasol-covered wooden decks with bistro tables and chairs: this is what 5-star glamping looks like. Set on a wooded knoll overlooking Dundas Castle’s loch (not even 15 minutes from the center of Edinburgh), this luxe retreat is—as far as we’re concerned—the supreme way to experience the great Scottish outdoors. Outside your canvas cottage, enjoy al fresco meals, exploring the 400-acre Dundas Castle Estate, and don't miss out on stellar stargazing.

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With a locale just 5.5 miles down the road from Stonehenge, this eponymously-named Wiltshire campsite holds the title as the attraction’s closest caravan park. Simple glamping pods, huts, and bell tents feature private decks and tidy little lawns separated from other sites by stone walkways, wooden fences, and mini gardens. Start your days by catching the sun as it peeks through the iconic stones, then spend the afternoon checking out Salisbury Cathedral, the Roman Baths in (...drumroll...) Bath, and the beaches in Bournemouth. Looking for something extra special? Drop by mid-June each year and you’ll find the Stonehenge Summer Solstice Festival in full swing.