We’re probably all in agreement that we want to make 2021 extra special if we can.

With the uncertainty of going abroad, we’re planning as many UK family staycations as we can when travel allows and we hope some of the below will help inspire others to enjoy some of these amazing holidays, breaks or weekends away with the family too, once the tier system has eased.

For this post, we’ve mainly focused on places with self-contained accommodation rather than hotels as we have not only always enjoyed camping and glamping, but we have found these felt safer during Covid.

Some of the below do have some shared facilities, but with the Covid-secure measures in place, they really have been fantastic this year, plus they’re a great way to get outdoors and explore nature too.

Please note, these are personal recommendations. Please check individual websites for Covid restrictions / refunds due to Tier changes, as well as Government Guidance on travel to/from your local area.

Notgrove Holidays

(Cover photo from Notgrove Holidays)

Notgrove is a stunning little village in the Cotswolds, surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful views, while remaining close by to some fantastic visitor attractions and quaint little villages.

Notgrove offers high quality glamping pods and safari tents as well as beautiful barns. We’ve stayed in the glamping pods twice now and will definitely be back.

Not only do they provide everything you need alongside a warm welcome and sparkling clean facilities, but there is plenty to do for all the family, whether you want to relax and play on the lawns, take a walk, enjoy the local bike trails, or head off on adventures. There’s even a games room and outdoor climbing frame, football goals, and beautiful animals to visit from your pods!

Check out our full review here but if you’re looking for a weekend away or holiday with the family, we really do recommend Notgrove Holidays. Visit their website to find out more.

Stonehenge Campsite

We finally had the joy of staying at Stonehenge Campsite this year, somewhere that really can offer a special and unique camping or glamping experience for all the family on a safe, clean and award-winning campsite.

We stayed in one of their festival pods, but you can also enjoy everything from a Hobbit Pod to a Moon Pod, and even in 2021 they are now including an Airstream – an absolute dream of mine!

The toilet and shower facilities were fantastic, extremely clean and with everything we needed while we were there, and the staff were just so friendly and welcoming, helping make it a stay to remember.

We were on our way to Dorset, but the Stonehenge Campsite is a great base for exploring some fantastic family-friendly attractions and locations, such as Longleat, Stonehenge, Cheddar Gorge and more.

We will definitely be back in 2021, but check out our review of our 2020 visit to Stonehenge Campsite to find out more or visit their website here.

Gloworm Festival

If you’re followers of our blog and social media, you will know we are the biggest fans of Gloworm Festival and we are counting down the days til August 2021.

Gloworm Festival will be able to offer you the ultimate family staycation with a difference – non-stop entertainment for all the family alongside a child-friendly campsite, music, fairground, activities and more in the beautiful Thoresby Park.

For an even more special experience, why not upgrade to some glamping while you’re there?

This year promises to be even bigger and better than ever, so read about our 2019 experience here and grab your festival tickets here.

Safari Lodges at West Midlands Safari Park

New for 2021 are the absolutely stunning Safari Lodges at West Midlands Safari Park. Imagine waking up to an elephant strolling past your window! There are eight brand-new lodges opening this year.

Your stay includes breakfast and dinner, tickets to the safari park, and the choice to upgrade to VIP tickets too for an extra special stay.

With the choice of a two-storey Elephant Lodge for up to 5 people or a one-storey Cheetah Lodge for up to 6 people, this really will be a unique stay for all the family.

Find out more about the Safari Lodges here

Brook Meadow Lakeside Farm

Another place on our 2020 To Do List which is now making a move to our 2021 list is the Brook Meadow lakeside farm campsite in Leicestershire.

Set on the banks of a lake, Brook Meadow is a working farm with lakeside lodges, camping and glamping options, a lakeside cabin and more. They even have a secluded bell tent accessible via its own footbridge – something we have our eye on to try out!

For those looking to camp, there are electric, grass and hard-standing pitches, as well as beautiful, clean facilities. What’s more, we also love their eco strategy and support for the environment and nature.

There is even a hen house to collect your eggs, trails on site for dog walking, fishing, and an outdoor cinema in the summer!

Find out more about Brook Meadow here.

Wootton Park Tree Pods

Set in 350 acres of farmland, Wootton Park Glamping Pods look absolutely fantastic and such a unique place to stay with the family, including glamping pods in the trees!

As another on our hopeful list for 2021, the Wootton Park Tree Pods give you a touch of luxury as they contain everything you need, including toilet, shower facilities and more, all in your beautiful contained space, surrounded by views of the stunning countryside.

Wootton Park Pods have mega pods, a 2-bed super pod, woodland pods and we have our eyes on the tree pods that are 11ft in the trees, including your own private hot tub on the decking!

As fans of glamping pods, we love how you have your own space to relax, both indoors and out, and self-catered facilities, making them fantastic to enjoy with the family for a weekend break or holiday away.

Check out the Wootton Park Pods website for more information or follow them on Instagram – we love following their page thanks to the beautiful images and wellness information they share too.

Hideaway Hut, Nash End Farm

One of our favourite Airbnb finds was this beautiful wooden iglu hut close to Gloucester, one of the only of its kind in the UK.

This was totally different from anything else we had stayed in thanks to its shape and very remote location – it was just stunning!

It was situated on a working farm, in its own plot of land, so although the hut sleeps 2 in its very cosy bed, you can bring tents to camp with family on the little field. At the end of the field was a very lovely sheep, who Lily loved to sing to every morning and night too!

The hut itself had a BBQ, bench outside, as well as toilet and shower facilities, table and chairs, and a kitchen with microwave inside. There was full power and even a TV! There was absolutely everything you could need, and the family on the farm were so lovely.

The village nearby was so pretty too, with local pubs for some food, and even a tiny library in a phonebox at the end of the road.

You would certainly need a car to get here, but for a peaceful weekend away, I could not recommend somewhere like this enough.

Find out more about Nash End Farm here

Barlefield Glamping

Our first adventure in 2021 (Covid permitting – fingers crossed!) is to Barlefield in Leicestershire. It may be close to home for us, but whether it is near or far, any adventure is exciting for us.

Barlefield Glamping is totally unique and appealed to us for several reasons. Firstly, you have the whole field to yourself, so nothing is shared and you have total self-contained accommodation.

Secondly, it looks just stunning!

You have two beautifully-decorated caravans in your very own field, both fully-equipped with everything you need for your stay and, depending on the size of your family group, you can invite family and friends to stay in the field in their tents too.

There is also so much to do on the farm, with animals to enjoy and plenty of space for all the family to enjoy.

To find out more about Barlefield Glamping, click here.

Wilderness Campers

High on our wishlist for 2021 is an adventure with the amazing Wilderness Campers. If you’re looking for campervan hire in Leicestershire, look no further than Wilderness Campers.

A small, family-run business, Wilderness Campers offers VW Campervan Hire in one of their two beautiful campervans that are dog-friendly, family-friendly, and all ready for whatever adventure you wish to head on.

Whether you choose an adventure with Gibby or Roo, they are both comfortable, fully kitted out for night and day, and can come with optional extras such as a bike rack for up to 4 bikes, camping table and chairs and even a portable toilet.

For more on Wilderness Campers, visit their website or follow them on Instagram for some enviable photos!

Roarsome Adventures

We’re huge fans of the brand Dinoski, kids’ skiwear made out of plastic bottles that not only functions awesomely, but looks super rad too (we’ve seen it in the flesh at many London Ski & Snowboard shows!).

In 2020, Dinoski launched their very own glamping adventure, converting an American schoolbus into what can only be described as a family staycation dream!

Adventures on the Dino Bus were sold out last year during the school holidays, and look to be sold out again this year, so be quick if you want to get involved with the family.

The Dino Bus was converted by the awesome Jim and team at ShredandButta (we massively recommend them after our years snowboarding!) and the bus is situated on Osea Island, your very own island, just over an hour from London and only accessible at low tide via an ancient Roman causeway.

Complete with a Roarsome Activity Programme during half term, with treasure hunts, target shooting, campfire cooking lessons and bushcraft workshops, the bus sleeps a maximum of 4-5 people (min stay two nights) and has everything from Simba mattresses to a games table!

What’s more, the team at Dinoski have now set up Roarsome Adventures, with family-friendly glamping, UK staycations, a ski chalet and even yachting in Croatia on the lineup already!

To find out more, you can sign up onto their waiting list or keep an eye on their Instagram page.

Woodland Escapes, Shropshire

In our top three on our 2021 wishlist is Woodland Escapes in Shropshire. Set in 45 acres of beautiful countryside in Shropshire, Woodland Escapes has us completely drawn to their Star Dome and Tree Dome – totally unique luxury domes with everything you need for your stay.

The Star Dome boasts a beautiful star gazing window, while the Tree Dome is nestled amongst the trees, keeping you at one with the surrounding nature.

Complete with living area, bed, private bathroom with toilet as well as a kitchenette, this is truly a place to escape with a touch of luxury. Just be quick, as they get booked up fast!

Find out more about Woodland Escapes here.

Cloud Nine Glamping

I don’t know how we’ve only just come across Cloud Nine Glamping but it sounds absolutely epic! Starting at £132 per family per night, Cloud Nine Glamping offers the ultimate summer getaways with a difference in Dorset and Norfolk.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing trip away, time for the parents, activities for the kids, or all of the above, Cloud Nine Glamping promises it all.

From bell tents to tipis, Cloud Nine provides everything you need, for a different range of budgets, while still offering all the fun of their holidays, including added extras such as paddle boarding, a wellness area, creche, silent disco, free daily games, scavenger hunts and more.

Check out Cloud Nine Glamping’s website or follow them on social media for some stunning images from what to expect on their family breaks.

Cotswold Farm Park

We’d booked to stay at Cotswold Farm Park in December to enjoy their light trail, however we were thrown into Tier 3, so unfortunately we weren’t able to visit. Having visited Cotswold Farm Park in the summer, we knew instantly it would be an amazing place to stay, so we’ll definitely be rebooking in 2021!

Cotswold Farm Park campsite has a whole host of options for your stay, including glamping tents, camping pods, lodges, and camping pitches too.

Surrounded by the beautiful Cotswold countryide and alongside Cotswold Farm Park itself, it is the perfect place to explore as well as enjoy the fantastic farm park. You also have all the facilities you need, such as a camping essentials shop and modern showers, toilets and washing up areas.

What’s more, I’d like to say how friendly all the staff have been – from when we visited, through to when we had to call them to sadly cancel our stay. We look forward to visiting in 2021.

Find out more here about the Cotswold Farm Park campsite or read our review of the Cotswold Farm Park.

Warwick Castle

For a fun weekend away for all the family, you should definitely check out the Warwick Castle Knight’s Village.

With breakfast included, evening entertainment and castle entry, as well as a Medieval themed restaurant, the Knight’s Village is a beautiful selection of wooden lodges with views across the River Avon.

Woodland Lodges sleep up to 5, with a double bed and bunk beds, separate bathroom with shower, and tea & coffee making facilities. There’s space for a travel cot too. If you’d prefer a little more room, upgrade to a Knight’s Lodges, with an open-plan style, these can sleep up to 7, having an additional sofa bed and with the double bed above on a mezzanine level.

There’s even an option to sleep in the Caesar’s Tower hidden in one of the castle towers.

For more information, check out the Warwick Castle website here.

Gulliver’s Theme Parks

For an affordable theme park break with the family, Gulliver’s Theme Parks really are a fantastic place to head. We’ve visited three of their four parks and stayed overnight at two of them – once in the pirate cabin at Gulliver’s Kingdom Explorer’s Retreat in Matlock Bath and three times now at the Gulliver’s Land Milton Keynes Adventurer’s Village.

We recommend the stay & play packages where you also get theme park tickets as well as your overnight stay in themed accommodation, from pirate cabins, dinosaur dens and beach dens to safari tents or even JCB diggers and princess themed accommodation!

They’re basic themed cabins, but with everything you need, as well as evening entertainment too such as marshmallow toasting around the campfire and movie nights (this varies). You also have play areas on site and staff have always been amazing, not to mention the fact the lovely family theme parks on your doorstep.

Find out more here about the accommodation at Gulliver’s Theme Parks.

Need some more inspiration?

For reviews of some of these and others of our favourite UK staycation destinations:

• Notgrove Holidays
• Stonehenge campsite
• Haven Holidays
• Middlehills Farm
• West Lodge Farm Park camping weekend
• Upperhurst Farm
• Gulliver’s Land Adventurer’s Village
• Butlins Just for Tots

Check out our favourite farm park and wildlife park campsites here

Click here to check out our family camping checklist

Click here to check out our tips for festival camping with the family

Click here for our top festivals not to be missed with the family in 2021

Looking to buy or sell your own campervan? Check out this website here!