There is a significant increase in the cost of campsites across the UK, starting from basic pitches to those offering pre-pitched luxury shepherd's huts.
Prices of camp site pitches across the UK have risen steadily in recent years. READ MORE:Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site.
If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Sleeping in a tent seems like the ultimate cheap holiday, with no expensive hotel fees to pay and easy access to the great outdoors. But prices at UK campsites are putting that reputation at risk, with even basic pitches now costing a princely sum.
At the Beech Estate Campsite in Battle, East Sussex, for example, an 'off-grid pitch' in the first week of August is priced at £945, based on up to five guests sharing a woodland area with no electricity. Heading to Cornwall? The same peak-season week for a family of four at the St Ives Bay Holiday Park costs £601 for a non-electric pitch - and if you want the ability to charge your phone it'll cost £100 more.
Add in a spot for the family dog fuel and food, plus any new equipment needed for a comfy night and there's little change from £1,000. Is this Britain's most expensive non-electric tent pitch this summer?
A week's stay at the Beech Estate Campsite in Battle, East Sussex, costs £945, based on August prices With the biggest staycation summer predicted since the pandemic as the Middle East conflict continues to affect fuel prices it seems campsites, particularly in the South West, are taking advantage of increased demand by ramping up prices. In Devon, at the River Dart Country Park, an 11m × 11m spot is £644 for a basic pitch and £700 with electricity included.
Manor Wood Country Caravan Park in Chester is the most expensive site in the North West for the same week in August, according to camping website Pitchup.com. A non-electric space is priced at £406, while getting one with power costs £497. Taking a dog along incurs an additional fee of £21. And at Hunstanton Camping and Glamping in Norfolk, pitches with electricity are £569, while those who can do without will pay £511.
There are still cheap stays to be found, if you don't mind skipping a hot shower... The Bull i' th' Thorn in Derbyshire has a non-electric pitch for four in August for £100 for the week THE UK'S MOST EXPENSIVE TENT PITCHES IN AUGUST - AND THE CHEAPEST...
THE MOST EXPENSIVE: Beech Estate Campsite in Battle, East Sussex Non-electric pitch for four in August: £945 River Dart Country Park in Devon Non-electric pitch for four in August: £644 Hill Farm Camping in Braintree, Essex Non-electric pitch for four in August: £644 St Ives Bay Holiday Park in Cornwall Non-electric pitch for four in August: £601 Woolacombe Sands in Devon Non-electric pitch for four in August: £567 THE CHEAPEST: Cranford Oak Farm in Devon Non-electric pitch for four in August: £84 Aldridge Mill in Devon Non-electric pitch for four in August: £90.02 The Bull i' th' Thorn, Derbyshire Non-electric pitch for four in August: £100 Monarch's Way Campsite in Dorset Non-electric pitch for four in August: £105 Farmer's View in Cambridgeshire Non-electric pitch for four in August: £105 Based on a non-electric pitch for two adults and two children staying in a medium-sized tent for one week on August 1st on pitchup.com Bargain summer spots are available though - the Daily Mail found one pitch for the same week in August, on Cranford Oak Farm in Devon, for £2.40 per person, per night based on a family of five sharing - or £84 for the whole week.
While there are no showers, there are composting toilets. The camping landscape has changed significantly in recent years with sites offering far fewer traditional pitches in favour of more lucrative glamping spots - including pre-pitched luxury shepherd's huts and bell-tents.
Read More What it's really like to sleep in your boot using Aldi's £69.99 car tent - and why some sites ban it Campers rolling onto sites in motorhomes are also on the increase, with site owners giving up more land to the tourists that bring in more money. In March, online marketplace Gumtree said searches for campervans, motorhomes and caravans were up by 133 per cent since the start of 2026.
Car campers are also a common sight, with guests bringing tents that secure to the open boot of a vehicle via an elasticated hood and straps that hook behind the rear wheels. Wild camping remains illegal in England and Wales but with high costs at campsites it's unsurprising that some outdoor lovers are trying their luck with overnight stays for free in the nation's beauty spots.
Scotland's wild camping laws make it a more relaxed affair north of the border, provided you 'leave no trace' and stick to just a few nights. In North Yorkshire last week, a public space protection order was issued by the council covering many of the region's coastal resorts, including Scarborough and Whitby, after a rise in unauthorised overnight stays.
Local Councillor Heather Phillips said littering and anti-social behaviour by campers chancing their luck had cost the authority around £30,000 in clean-up costs in recent years. TIP FOR KEEPING CAMPING HOLIDAYS AFFORDABLESabina Voysey, Director General of The Camping and Caravanning Club, told the Daily Mail, that camping generally remains great value.
'Even during rising costs, camping is still one of the most accessible and rewarding ways to holiday and there are several ways to camp cost-effectively. ' Here's her top tips for ensuring you still get an affordable break this summer: Budget Camping Buys Pop Up Tent 2 Man £43.99 Was £54.99 Shop Folding Camping Bed £29.99 Was £43.99 Shop Sleeping Bag £19.99 Was £24.99 Shop Camping cooking set £14.99 Shop Camping Stove £25 Was £26.25 Shop Rechargeable Head Torch £12.99 Shop Deluxe Camping Chair £29.99 Was £49.99 Shop Folding Camping Table £25 Shop Waterproof Tent Cover From £19.99 Shop Camping Lantern Set £14 Shop
UK Campsites Rising Prices Campsite Pitches Glamping Spots Luxury Shepherd's Huts
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