UK - English (£)
We’ve rounded up the top 5 Summer Camp organisations around the UK so you can see what’s best for your kids, all in one place.
Overnight camps are huge in the USA but there are also plenty of great options for children within the UK, too. With many of us having only had exposure to them via TV (Camp Rock, anyone?), treating your kids to one of these fun adventure camps will give them fantastic memories well into their adulthood.
It’s worth noting that all the companies below are all registered with Ofsted and put their staff through enhanced DBS checks upon hiring as well as the training they need for the activities. Several of the larger camps are part of other accreditations and trusts pertaining to children’s safety outdoors.
1. PGL Adventure Holidays
The largest in the UK with 8 static sites, hosting 2-7 night camps for ages 8-16. The usual kit list is required along with a sleeping bag and PGL recommend pocket money of about £5 per day maximum for their gift shop and treats. All bedrooms are accessible though some course activities may not be. Their meals are fully catered with lots of choice and they can provide alternatives for picky eaters as well as for dietary requirements. Menus in the French locations differ and include kids making their own packed lunches.
Outside of their standard adventure camps, they also host a cooking camp, pony school and a theatre camp.
Prices range from £300~ for standard activity camps up to £1000~ for pony-riding camps, depending on the age range and length of stay.
2. Camp Wilderness
Camp Wilderness boast 7 UK locations with 3 or 5 day outdoor camping trips for kids and also a family option. They separate their camps for 8-12 year olds and 10-14, so kids in the middle can choose dependent on where they feel most comfortable. This camp’s specialty is to get kids to spend more time outdoors “in the wonders of nature and honing their bushcraft skills” as per their website.
Prices range from £250-550, with all meals included and cooked by experience Field Cooks who specialise in campfire cooking. Due to it being camping food, there’s less variety if your child is a picky eater. Each site has a slightly different approach to dining, so check where would be more suitable for their needs.
They have a kit list for each camping course that will let you know what your child needs to bring with them, as it may differ to indoor lodging camps like PGL.
AAT's Summer Camp Kit List
Here's what we've researched is needed for overnight summer camps!
All sites state to label your kids clothes ready for their adventures, as they are not responsible for lost property.
Note that they all suggest the clothes should be old and ones you don't mind getting filthy etc.
(If the camp you've chosen has specific activities, please always consult their website or leaflet for any extra items needed.)
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*many sites warn against jeans as they are hard to dry and are also quite heavy when wet.
**each company suggests different amounts based on what they offer.
3. XUK Camps
Mainly based out of one site in Wiltshire, they have a variety of courses that cater not only to adventurous kids but also parents wanting their time to be more educational or low-key (like XUK’s arts and crafts camp). They also offer in-person and online EFL courses for children studying English as a second language. All courses are available for ages 8-17.
Their summer camp is more American-style - designed to host kids for multiple weeks, with a weekly price of £1,160 and optional extras (like going to a theme park etc) & packages available.
Their site states they promote healthy eating and also have two BBQs a week for the campers.
4. Supercamps UK
A day-camp company who run out of many schools around the UK, for ages 5-12. Supercamp’s system is slightly different in that they have a per-day pricing (£50~60) and schedule activities around sports, crafts, sponsored Lego play and then an educational activity specific to that location (science, cooking, bushcraft, football or dance). Parents will need to provide healthy, nut-free packed lunches and snacks and to drop them off/pick them up each day. They pride themselves in being a screen-free environment, keeping kids busy with activities so they don’t get bored. It’s worth noting a lot of their staff work in schools or are teachers outside of the summer holidays.
Each of their school locations have varying facilities so check what your preferred location has available and pack day bags accordingly.
5. Camp Cooper
A summer camp based out of two locations in Scotland, giving more long-term summer holiday coverage for kids ranging 7-16; they also provide a Teen Leadership program for 15-17 year olds.
It’s an American-style summer camp that gets the children to choose an elective which they will focus study into around the fun-packed adventures and trips they go on over July and August. They have kids join from all over the world so it’s great for forming new friendships and learning about different cultures and building teamwork etc.
Pricing for a longer summer camp can be quite high (1 Week Camp: £1,410 & a 2 Week Camp: £2,815 or an extended 4 week say for £6,055) however they do offer a Scholarship if you can provide evidence of financial hardship etc (limited spots available), to reduce the costs up to 50%.