✅ Essentials Checklist
- Large family tent (allow one 'room' per couple + storage)
- Sleeping bags sized for children
- Roll mats or inflatable sleeping pads × everyone
- Children's waterproofs — jacket and trousers
- Wellies in children's sizes
- First aid kit (include children's paracetamol)
- Sun cream for children SPF50+
- Insect repellent (child-safe formulation)
- Reusable water bottles × everyone
- Rainy day activities (colouring, cards, simple games)
- Favourite comfort items from home
- Night light for children's sleeping area
- Camping stove + easy family meals
👕 Clothing Checklist
- Children's waterproof jacket and trousers
- Wellingtons in correct sizes
- Warm layers (kids lose heat faster)
- Multiple changes of clothes (mud happens)
- Warm pyjamas
- Comfortable shoes for site activities
⭐ Nice to Have
- Camping cot or travel bed for under-3s
- Portable travel high chair
- Baby monitor (if needed)
- Small paddling pool for hot days
- Scooters or bikes for site exploration
- Badminton set or frisbee
- Glow sticks for evening fun
- Tupperware for snacks
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tent do I need for a family of four?
A 4-person tent is the minimum but will feel cramped with kids and kit. A 5–6 person tent with a separate bedroom pod is much more comfortable, giving parents space when children sleep. Look for tents with a porch for wet kit storage.
What sleeping bag do children need for UK camping?
Children need a child-sized sleeping bag — adult bags are too long and lose heat at the bottom. A 3-season rating (comfort to around 2°C) works for most UK summer camping. Very young children may need an extra blanket.
How do you keep kids entertained when it rains at a campsite?
Pack card games, colouring books, and a few small toys specifically for tent time. Many campsites have activity rooms or communal areas. Embrace puddle jumping rather than fighting it — the right waterproofs make rain an activity, not a disaster.