Listing sites
List on Hipcamp UK, Cool Camping and What It Costs
A plain guide to listing on Hipcamp in the UK, and what its ownership of Cool Camping means for you.
You’ve got a field, a couple of pods or a shepherd’s hut, and you want guests in as soon as possible. Hipcamp is one of the quickest ways to get a listing live, and it now sits behind Cool Camping too. Listing takes four steps, from signing up as a host to publishing your units. The fees and the Cool Camping detail are below.
How to list on Hipcamp
You create a host account, set up your property, add each unit you rent out and publish. Hipcamp’s own help pages walk through the setup, and it can be quick once your details are ready.
- Sign up as a host. Start from Hipcamp’s host sign-up and complete the form.
- Create your property. Add the location, a name and a description of the land.
- Add units. A unit is what guests book, such as a pod, a hut, a bell tent or a pitch.
- Publish. Add photos, set your prices and go live.
What happened to Cool Camping
Hipcamp bought Tripadee Ltd, the company behind Cool Camping, in May 2022, and Cool Camping listings can now be booked through Hipcamp’s website and apps. They are linked through ownership, but a Cool Camping listing and a Hipcamp listing are not automatically the same thing.
Before you set anything up, look at what Hipcamp currently says about Cool Camping listings for UK hosts. Your listing details, prices and calendar need to match wherever you appear.
What Hipcamp costs hosts
As of October 2026, Hipcamp’s UK help centre says listing is free and that Hipcamp takes 12.5% plus VAT of your earnings. Stripe separately charges a processing fee of 1.4% plus 20p. Hipcamp’s US pages quote different rates, so check the UK page for the current figures.
Compare that to your own site. With direct bookings you keep the money you would otherwise hand over as commission. One site we built brought 42 direct bookings in its first year, saving the owners over £3,000 in commission.
Think of Hipcamp as the shop window and your own site as the place you want guests to end up.
Who Hipcamp suits
Hipcamp suits small and pop-up sites best, because it gives you a place to be found before you have any search traffic of your own.
| Your situation | Hipcamp fit |
|---|---|
| Just opening, one or two units | Yes, a quick way to get your first bookings |
| Pop-up or seasonal site | Yes, little setup and easy to start with |
| Camping, farm stay or pods in a rural spot | Yes, this is the sort of stay Hipcamp lists |
| Established site with strong repeat guests | Maybe, depends how much of your busy time it fills |
If you also rely on Canopy & Stars or CoolStays, it helps to know which listings are actually bringing bookings before you add another.
How guests find you on Hipcamp
Guests browse Hipcamp’s listings by location, so how high you appear depends on how Hipcamp ranks them. A complete, well-photographed listing gives you the best start.
Listings don’t stop guests looking for you
Even when someone finds you on Hipcamp, they often search for your own site afterwards. They hope for a better deal, or they know you keep more of the money. If they can’t find you, they book through the listing, or go elsewhere.
That is the reason to have your own website alongside any listing.
Hipcamp fees and terms accurate as of October 2026.
FAQs
Can I list on Hipcamp as a UK host?
Yes. Hipcamp operates in the UK, and hosts list campsites, glamping pods and farm stays. You sign up as a host, create your property, add the units you rent out and publish. It suits small and new sites well.
Is Cool Camping the same as Hipcamp?
Not exactly. Hipcamp bought Cool Camping’s parent company in 2022 and Cool Camping listings can be booked through Hipcamp’s website and apps. If you want to be on both, check how Hipcamp currently handles Cool Camping listings before you assume one sign-up covers it.
How much commission does Hipcamp take?
As of October 2026, Hipcamp’s UK help centre says it takes 12.5% plus VAT of your earnings, and Stripe charges a processing fee of 1.4% plus 20p. Check the help page before you rely on the figures, as Hipcamp’s own pages differ between regions.
Is Hipcamp good for a pop-up or very small site?
Often, yes. Hipcamp says listing is free, and you can start with one unit. It gives a new site somewhere to be found while you build your own website. Just keep in mind guests often search for the owner’s site afterwards.
Get more direct bookings
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