Bell Tent Glamping

Bell tents have become the thing if you want camping without actually camping - and there's a decent outfit doing this near Southampton. You get the canvas bell tent setup, proper beds inside, usually heating, and the ability to wake up under canvas without having to pitch anything yourself or sleep on an air mattress that deflates at 3am. It's glamping in the truest sense.

The appeal is obvious for families who fancy a night or two outdoors but aren't keen on roughing it. You still get that sense of being in nature, but with actual comfort. Couples after a romantic weekend away tend to love it too. If you're the sort who thinks a hotel is a form of torture and you genuinely want to hear the outdoors, this splits the difference rather well.

The setup works nicely if you're based at one of the caravan parks nearby - Dibles Park and Solent Breezes are both solid options with higher ratings - and fancy a change of pace for a night. It's not a full holiday destination on its own; rather, it's the kind of thing you do as part of a broader New Forest or South Coast trip.

Contacted for specifics on pricing and opening times but no response came back, so do ring ahead before showing up. The Hampshire location puts it within easy reach of the Beaulieu area and the Solent coast, which makes it a reasonable base for exploring that corner of England without committing to a full week of tent living.