Glamping units
Types of Glamping Structures for UK Site Owners
A plain-English look at each glamping unit type, what it means for you as an owner, and how to show it online.
You’ve got a field, a farm corner or a bit of woodland, and you need to decide what to put on it. There are a lot of options, and they’re sold very differently.
The main types of glamping structures are tents (bell and safari), yurts and tipis, pods, shepherd’s huts, domes and A-frames, and cabins or lodges. Tents are the lightest to install and usually the most seasonal. Insulated hard-sided units like pods, huts and cabins are easier to run in colder months. Whichever you choose, the way you present it online matters as much as the unit itself.
The types of glamping structures at a glance
Each type trades off cost, season length, planning questions and guest appeal differently. This table is a starting point, not a quote. Prices vary a lot between suppliers, so we’ve left numbers out.
| Unit | Feel | Season | Usual bathroom | Planning questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell or safari tent | Classic canvas, airy | Mostly spring to autumn | Shared or nearby block, some have en-suites | Often lighter, but check |
| Yurt or tipi | Round, communal, rustic | Mostly spring to autumn, some with a stove run longer | Usually separate | Check with your council |
| Pod | Compact, modern, simple | Most of the year | Often none, some en-suite | Check with your council |
| Shepherd’s hut | Cosy, characterful | Most of the year | Often en-suite or a private outbuilding | Check with your council |
| Dome or A-frame | Dramatic, photogenic | Most of the year | Usually en-suite | Usually the most to discuss |
| Cabin or lodge | Like a small holiday home | All year | Usually en-suite | Often the most involved |
Bell tents and safari tents
A bell tent or safari tent is a furnished canvas tent, with real beds, rugs and often a stove or a deck. It’s the cheapest way to get started for most owners, and it feels like camping with the hard work taken out.
The trade-off is the season. Canvas is lovely in July and harder to sell in January. Guests also expect a clear answer on where the toilet and shower are.
A safari tent is usually larger, raised on a deck, and often has an en-suite. If you’re mostly selling tents, a dedicated page matters. Our safari tent and bell tent website design page covers how we’d set that up.
Yurts and tipis
A yurt is a round tent with a wooden lattice frame. A tipi is a cone on poles. Both suit groups and families, and both photograph well from inside, with the light coming through the top.
Yurts are generally sturdier than a tipi and take a wood burner more easily, which can stretch your season. Both still behave like tents in cold weather, so say honestly how warm they are.
Glamping pods
Pods are small, insulated timber units with a bed, power and often a deck. They’re quick for guests to understand and simple to clean between stays.
Three pods on a farm is one of the most common starter setups in the UK. They’re compact enough to fit around a field, and they don’t ask guests to like canvas. If you’re going this way, see how we’d approach a glamping pod website.
Shepherd’s huts
A shepherd’s hut is a small hut on wheels, usually with a double bed, a wood burner and a bit of character. It gives you a cosy, heritage feel and works most of the year.
A hut is a single, characterful unit, so one strong page can carry it. Show the bed, the wood burner and the view from the door, and set out the sleeping arrangements and what’s included so there’s nothing to chase by email.
Huts are also small, so check the practical details early. Ask your council about planning, and think about where the bathroom will go, since many huts have a private outbuilding rather than an en-suite.
We designed a new site for Millie The Hut, a traditional-style hut and shack in the Welsh Marches. In its first year the site brought in 42 direct bookings, saving the owners over £3,000 in commission. Read the full story.
Domes and A-frames
Domes and A-frames are the statement units. They tend to have big windows, a proper bathroom and a “look at that” photo. They’re the units guests save and share.
They also tend to cost more to buy and install, and they often bring more planning conversations. If you’re thinking about this end of the market, speak to your council early. Our dome glamping website design page and the luxury glamping website page show how we’d present these properly.
Cabins and lodges
Cabins and lodges are the most like a holiday let. They sleep more people, usually have full kitchens and bathrooms, and run all year.
That makes them a different business from a field of tents. Guests compare them with cottages and holiday lets as much as with other glamping. Take a look at our lodge and log cabin website design page, or the holiday let website design page if you’re nearer that end.
Planning permission, in plain terms
Whether you need planning permission depends on the unit, how long it’s on the land, how often you use it and where you are. There’s no single UK answer. The rules differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and they change.
We’re web designers, not planning consultants, so please don’t take this as advice. Before you buy a unit, speak to your local planning authority or a planning consultant. If you’re at the very start, our guide on how to start a glamping business covers the wider picture.
How to choose
There’s no best unit for every site. The right one depends on your land, your budget and the guests you want. Run through this first.
If you’re adding to an existing site, think about what you can sell next to what you have. A second type of unit can bring in a different guest, but it also means more upkeep and more to explain online.
How to show each type online
Guests search for the unit they want, such as “shepherd’s hut with hot tub”, not just “glamping”. Give each unit type its own clear section with photos, sleeping arrangements, bathroom details and a booking route. Set out what’s included, so there’s nothing to chase by email.
For booking, an availability calendar that stays in step with listing sites saves you double bookings. We can sync calendars with Airbnb, Booking.com, Canopy & Stars, CoolStays and others, and embed online payments on your own site. If you want to compare options, our guide to glamping booking systems goes through them.
Listing sites are useful for being found, but they take commission. Over time, the aim is for more guests to book direct. Two guides cover that in more detail, how to market a glamping business and how to get more direct bookings.
FAQs
Do you need planning permission for a glamping site?
Often yes, but it depends on the unit, how long it stays on the land, and your local council. Some setups may fall under different rules from others. Rules also differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Talk to your local planning authority or a planning consultant before you buy anything.
Do you have your own toilet when glamping?
It depends on the unit. Some pods, cabins and lodges have a private bathroom, while many tents, yurts and huts use a nearby shared or private shower block, or a separate outbuilding. Say clearly on your listing and website which you offer, because it’s one of the first things guests check.
What are the four different types of tents?
There’s no official list, but common glamping tents are bell tents, safari tents, tipis and yurts. Strictly, a yurt has a wooden frame and a tipi is a cone shape on poles. Bell and safari tents are canvas with a fitted, furnished interior. Each sits differently on the ground and in the season.
Which glamping unit is best for profit?
There’s no single winner. Profit depends on what the unit costs to buy and install, how many nights you can fill, and how much you can charge. Insulated units usually suit longer seasons. Work out your own numbers for each option, and ask an accountant to check them.
Next step
If you’ve picked your units, or already have them and want more bookings, send us your website and we’ll tell you, for free, what’s stopping it getting bookings. Start with a free website audit, or get in touch if you’d rather talk first.