When we set out to create Bugthorpe Grange Glamping, one of our primary goals was to design a space that would bring families together and provide the perfect environment for making lasting memories. From the layout of the site to the thoughtful details in each pod, we've focused on ensuring that every aspect of the glamping experience is welcoming, safe, and fun for guests of all ages.

Whether it's kids playing ball games in the open field, cosy evenings around the fire pit, or the little extras that make family stays comfortable, we’ve put family-friendly features at the heart of everything we do. Here's a look at how we've made Bugthorpe Grange a truly family-oriented getaway.

After some lengthy research, I found that the vast majority of glamping pods were only able to accommodate families of 4 with variations of 2 double beds or 1 bed and a sofa bed and so on. We are a family of 5 and I had decided early on that I didn’t want to create a space that my family wouldn’t have been able to enjoy so immediately most pods on the market were a no-go. I fell in love with MiPOD glamping pods after finding that they were making some of the biggest units on the market, pods that were more than spacious enough for a family of 5. I worked closely with them throughout the construction process making tweaks to the original blueprint to create the most family-friendly environment possible. The layout of the pods consists of a double bed with a single bunk over the top at the rear of the pod and another double bed towards the middle of the pod. The 2 sleeping areas are separated with a curtain in between and are on separate light switches so the little ones can go to bed at one end and the rest of the family can continue the evening without having to stumble about in the dark!

Reflecting on personal experience I understand the challenges of trying to entertain the kids every waking minute of the holiday when we parents want time to relax as well, sometimes a bit of time on the iPad or a few episodes of something on Netflix is what’s needed for those essential few minutes of peace and quiet! With that in mind, we kitted out our pods with free WIFI and smart TVs so there’s no need to panic about trying to get a signal strong enough for a hotspot in the middle of our field (although our phone signal is great here anyway!), just be sure to remember your streaming service passwords, login and enjoy. And don’t worry about charging all of your devices, there’s a USB plug in the reading light above each bed so you can all charge at once. 

Finding activities for the family can be difficult, especially in an area that you aren’t familiar with, we wanted to find a way to make visits with us as stress-free as possible which is what led to the ‘plan your visit’ page on our website, the interactive display will give you the address, website link and distance from Bugthorpe Grange Glamping for each of the attractions, it couldn’t be easier! We put a lot of time and effort into finding places that are ideal for families, from restaurants to theme parks we have suggestions to keep you busy for weeks, the ‘child-friendly’ section on our page is perfect for finding activity inspiration or picking a place to go if the weather scuppers your seaside visit plans! Alternatively, just hanging out here is also great for families, there is ample space for ball games in the field, a farm shop just a 20-minute walk down the road where the children (and parents!) can pick up an ice cream, not to mention the brasiers outside each pod, perfect for toasting marshmallows!

We receive a lot of bookings for families of 5 who haven’t had the opportunity to ‘glamp’ before due to the inaccessibility of the industry for larger groups, the feedback from them has been the most important and rewarding of all. We are so proud to have created a space that has been proven to work exactly as intended for families like ours, not to mention the bunk beds are always a hit with the kids!