Farm campsite with pods or bell tents
Add pods, shepherd huts or bell tents to your farm campsite for guests who want comfort outdoors.
- £10k-50k
- Part-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
3,343 UK companies in this field, 17% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 55300 “Recreational vehicle parks, trailer parks and camping grounds”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A fuller farm stay site that combines grass pitches with a few ready-to-use pods, huts or bell tents, so guests can come with little or no kit and stay for more of the year.
Your first three steps
- Speak to your local council about planning and any licensing needed for permanent or semi-permanent units
- Price one or two units and the groundwork, then work out how many nights you need to fill to cover the cost
- Take good photos, set up listings on booking sites and open with a small launch offer to gather reviews
Who pays
Couples, families and groups wanting a countryside break without bringing camping gear, often booking weekends and school holidays.
How it makes money
Higher nightly rates for each unit, often with minimum stays at busy times, plus extras like breakfast hampers, firewood and farm experiences.
Skills that help
- Hosting and guest service
- Cleaning and changeovers
- Online marketing and photos
- Managing bookings and budgets
Watch out for
- Planning permission, building regulations and licensing for units that stay on site, check with your council
- Public liability insurance and cover for the units themselves
- Fire safety, gas and electrical safety checks, and carbon monoxide alarms
- Business rates and tax treatment may change once you have paid accommodation, so check with your council and HMRC
- Higher start-up cost with no guarantee of bookings in quiet months
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: farm campsite with pods or bell tents
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to add glamping pods to a farm campsite?
Startup costs are typically around £10,000 to £50,000, depending on how many pods, huts or tents you add and how well equipped they are. Treat this as an estimate, and remember bookings are not guaranteed in quiet months.
How much can a farm glamping site earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on the number of units, your pricing and how often they are booked. This is revenue before costs, and quieter months may bring fewer bookings.
What rules should I check before adding glamping units?
Check planning permission, building regulations and licensing for units that stay on site with your council. Also check insurance for guests and the units, fire, gas and electrical safety, carbon monoxide alarms, and business rates and tax treatment with HMRC.
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Photo: lentemamaatje on Pixabay