Choosing the right tent for a festival can be the difference between a comfortable, enjoyable experience and a nightmare of sleepless nights and soggy mornings. Whether you’re on a budget, camping with family, or need something to survive the mud and rain, this guide will help you find the best tents available to buy in the UK.
Best Overall: Vango Odyssey Air 500 Villa Tent
Why It’s Great: The Vango Odyssey Air 500 Villa Tent combines space, durability, and ease of setup, making it an excellent choice for festival-goers who want a hassle-free experience. Its inflatable poles mean no fiddling with traditional poles, and it can be set up in minutes, even by one person.
Features:
- Sleeps up to 5 people comfortably.
- AirBeam technology for quick setup.
- Built-in groundsheet for extra comfort and to keep out bugs and water.
- Large living area, perfect for storing gear or hanging out with friends.
Price: Around £500, making it an investment, but well worth it for frequent festival attendees.
Best for a Budget: Eurohike Avon 3 DLX Tent
Why It’s Great: If you’re looking for a tent that’s affordable yet reliable, the Eurohike Avon 3 DLX is a fantastic choice. It’s perfect for solo festival-goers or pairs who want to keep their spending in check without sacrificing on basic comfort.
Features:
- Sleeps up to 3 people, ideal for 2 with extra space.
- Easy and quick to pitch, with a dome design that’s stable in windy conditions.
- Built-in porch area for storage of muddy boots or wet gear.
- Lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry from the car park to the campsite.
Price: Priced around £80, making it a steal for what you get.
Best for Families: Coleman Meadowood 4L BlackOut Tent
Why It’s Great: For families heading to a festival, the Coleman Meadowood 4L offers a spacious and versatile option with separate bedrooms for privacy and a large living area. Its BlackOut Bedroom technology ensures that you’re not woken up by the early morning sun, making it ideal for getting some extra rest after a long night of music and dancing.
Features:
- Sleeps up to 4 people in two separate bedrooms.
- Large living area with standing room.
- BlackOut Bedrooms block out up to 99% of daylight.
- Strong fiberglass poles for stability in windy conditions.
Price: Around £320, offering great value for families looking for comfort and space.
Best for Ravers: Quechua 2 Seconds Pop-Up Tent
Why It’s Great: Ravers need a tent that’s quick and easy to set up after arriving at the festival site in the early hours. The Quechua 2 Seconds Pop-Up Tent lives up to its name, popping up instantly with minimal effort, so you can focus on getting the party started.
Features:
- Sleeps 2 people comfortably, making it perfect for quick solo getaways or cozy couples.
- Instant pop-up design means it’s ready in seconds.
- Lightweight and compact, easy to carry even after a long night of dancing.
- Good ventilation to reduce condensation.
Price: Priced around £60, it’s an affordable, hassle-free option for rave lovers.
Best for Rain/Mud: Berghaus Air 4 Inflatable Tent
Why It’s Great: Festivals in the UK often mean rain and mud, and the Berghaus Air 4 Inflatable Tent is built to withstand the elements. Its inflatable poles are not only easy to set up but also incredibly stable, making this tent ideal for unpredictable weather.
Features:
- Waterproof with a 6000mm Hydrostatic Head, keeping you dry even in heavy rain.
- Inflatable beams replace traditional poles, making setup a breeze.
- Spacious living area for hanging out when the weather turns.
- High-quality materials ensure durability and longevity.
Price: Around £400, a worthwhile investment for those who frequent wet and muddy festivals.
Best Lightweight: MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Tent
Why It’s Great: For those who prioritize weight and packability, the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 is the perfect choice. It’s ideal for festivals where you’ll be carrying your gear a long way, or for those who like to travel light.
Features:
- Weighs just 1.7kg, making it one of the lightest tents in its class.
- Quick and easy to pitch with color-coded poles.
- Two doors and two vestibules provide ample storage space.
- Excellent ventilation to keep you cool during summer festivals.
Price: Priced around £400, it’s a premium option for those serious about lightweight camping.
Best for Privacy: Decathlon Arpenaz 4.1 Family Camping Tent
Why It’s Great: If privacy is a priority, especially when camping in busy festival grounds, the Decathlon Arpenaz 4.1 offers a separate bedroom and living area. It’s a great option for small groups or couples who need a bit more personal space.
Features:
- Sleeps 4 people with a separate bedroom and living space.
- Easy to pitch with color-coded poles.
- Good ventilation with multiple windows and mesh screens.
- Affordable and reliable, perfect for festival use.
Price: Around £150, a budget-friendly choice for those who value privacy.
Best Overall Gigantic Tent: Dometic Rarotonga 601
Why It’s Great: The Dometic Rarotonga 601 isn’t just a tent—it’s a behemoth. Perfect for those who want to bring their entire home setup to the festival, this tent offers an insane amount of space, multiple rooms, and a ridiculous amount of headroom. At 60kg, it’s completely impractical for most festival-goers, but if you’ve got the muscle and the dedication, it’s a hilariously awesome option for living large.
Features:
- Massive living space that sleeps up to 6 people comfortably.
- Multiple rooms for ultimate privacy and organization.
- Inflatable poles for surprisingly easy setup given its size.
- Superior ventilation and blackout bedrooms for a good night's sleep.
Price: Around £1,500, it’s the tent equivalent of arriving in a limo—it’s excessive, it’s ridiculous, but it’s undeniably cool.
Final Thoughts
Festivals are about freedom, music, and memories, not wrestling with a tent that’s falling apart or keeping you soaked. So why not invest in a setup that matches your vibe? Whether you’re a weekend warrior on a budget, a family looking to turn the festival into a bonding experience, or a rave renegade who needs a crash pad before the next sunrise, there’s a tent here for you. The right tent means no more waking up in a puddle or fighting with poles at 4 AM—it’s your fortress, your sanctuary, and your ticket to a stress-free weekend.
Pick your gear wisely, because in the wild world of festivals, your tent isn’t just where you sleep—it’s home. See you on the field, campers. Let’s make those sunrise moments count.
