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6 best tents for family camping holidays and festivals, tried and tested
Stay dry, whatever the weather, with these expert-tested tents
Tested by Yanar AlkayatFormer Fitness Group Testing Manager
Whether you're planning a Great British camping trip, travelling to sunnier climes or heading to a festival this summer, the best tents will protect you from the elements and keep you cosy while you kip.
Before making any big purchases though, there are a range of things to bear in mind. Size, weight and capacity are all important factors, but it’s also wise to consider what you’ll be using your tent for in the future, and how much you're willing to invest in your new holiday home.
Tents at the cheaper end of the spectrum will normally only have a single skin, which means less protection, but on the plus side, they are simple to set up, lightweight and easily transportable. Pricier tents, on the other hand, tend to have a double skin and are usually waterproof, with a more robust frame.
To help you decide which tent is right for you, the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute put them to the test.
Best tents for 2025
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How we test tents
We sent each tent to a family of keen campers and asked them to sleep in it as much as possible over a three-week period. They timed how long it took to pitch and dismantle and noted how clear the instructions were to follow, as well as marking them on design.
Testers also reported back on whether they had a good night's sleep, if there was adequate light and ventilation, and if they'd discovered any handy extra features such as storage pockets.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute lab, we tested each tent’s waterproof capabilities using a hydrostatic head machine (one of our more fun tests!). These are the ones we recommend for your next camping adventure.
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Score: 90/100
While some tents are a complete pain to put up, this design from Halfords was a breeze. They found the whole process quick and straightforward, thanks to clear instructions, four helpful colour-coded poles and pre-attached guide ropes.
Once pitched, this tent features two sleep pods that easily fit two people each, as well as a middle area for storage or living. This is an ideal pick for a four-person family on a short trip, but our tester wasn't able to comfortably stand up in it, so it wouldn't be great for a longer stay.
Other than that, the tent offered a good amount of light and ventilation, and it was generally hard to fault it.
Key specifications
| Berth: | 4 people |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (cm): | 53 x 20 x 20 (packed), 140 x 210 x 420 (pitched) |
| Weight: | 7.3kg |
| Season rating: | 1-2 |
| HH: | 2000mm |
Score: 81/100
Fans of glamping will love this luxurious tipi-style tent, which not only looks good but also features a removable top that can be used for stargazing.
That's not the roof's primary function though. It also helps with air circulation for comfort, and when the zip-in floor is removed, it means you can use an oven or campfire in the tent itself. That said, this feature comes at a price: the groundsheet is sold separately to the main tent structure, which isn't ideal.
Another slight downside is its weight, which made it inconvenient for our testers to carry from their car to the pitch site. But, it made up for it in spaciousness and standing height. This tent was also extremely easy to pitch, since it only requires one pole.
Key specifications
| Berth: | 6 people |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (cm): | 32 x 99 (packed) |
| Weight: | 11.8kg |
| Season rating: | Not given |
| HH: | Not given |
Score: 78/100
This tent comes with somewhat confusing instructions, but once you get over the initial hurdle, it’s relatively easy to pitch. The poles were a little difficult to fix, though.
The size of the tent was perfect for a family of four, thanks to its two separate bedrooms and spacious living room that you can stand up in. If you're looking for a larger tent on a smaller budget, this is our top choice – and it looks nice once set up, too.
Key specifications
| Berth: | 4 people |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (cm): | 60 x 26 x 26 (packed), H190 (pitched) |
| Weight: | 11.7kg |
| Season rating: | 3 |
| HH: | 2000mm - flysheet, 5000mm - groundsheet |
Regatta Kolima V2 6-Man Family Tunnel Inflatable Tent
Score: 76/100
Those who prefer an inflatable-style tent should look no further. This model was quick and easy to assemble, although our tester did find it quite difficult to deflate and pack up, as some air was left in the tubes.
Overall though, this tent’s design was top-notch. It's lovely and spacious, with separate sleeping and living areas, plenty of windows to let in natural light, and a built-in hook to hang up a light or torch.
Other handy features include handles on the bag, so you can carry the tent like a rucksack, and an included puncture patch for any mishaps.
Key specifications
| Berth: | 6 people |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (cm): | 96 x 40 x 35 (packed), 470 x 360 (pitched) |
| Weight: | Not given |
| Season rating: | Not given |
| HH: | 3000mm |
Vango Osiris 500 Tent
Score: 73/100
This Vango tent is made using single-use recycled plastics, but that's not all it has going for it. It features two queen-sized bedrooms, which each fit two people comfortably, and our testers were impressed with how much natural light the windows let in.
Weather-wise, it kept our test family warm on a cold day, and the cross-bracing straps prevented the tent from bending in the wind.
The instructions were a bit unclear, but this one wasn't heavy, despite its generous size, and makes for a lovely family tent overall.
Key specifications
| Berth: | 5 people |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (cm): | 73 x 34 x 34 (packed), 195 x 330 x 465 (pitched) |
| Weight: | 15.3kg |
| Season rating: | 2 |
| HH: | 3000mm |
Score: 71/100
This five-person tent felt spacious, helped by the separate sleeping and living areas. There's also adequate storage space, which isn't always a given.
Even though it's a large piece of kit, it went back into its carry case with ease. However, it was quite heavy and uncomfortable to carry, so it's not one for bringing on a hike.
The basic instructions and knotted up guide ropes made the pitching process harder than it needed to be, but it is a more affordable buy than many of the others on this list, and it has everything you need for a family getaway on a budget.
Key specifications
| Berth: | 5 people |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (cm): | 26 x 71 (packed), 490 x 265 x 165 (pitched) |
| Weight: | 13.5kg |
| Season rating: | Not given |
| HH: | 3000mm |
Things to consider when buying a tent
Size: All tents will specify the number of people they can sleep but we advise going up a size – so using a three-man tent for two people, for example – if you want a little extra room for bags or equipment. Many have a porch to store muddy boots and larger tents will sometimes offer social or dining areas, too.
Weight: The weight of your tent will determine the type of camping trip you can do. Anything around 5kg or less is best for festivals or short camping weekends where you may have to carry it for longer distances. Larger tents of up to 20kg are more appropriate for campsites you can drive to with several people helping to pitch it.
Season rating: This doesn’t mean how many seasons it can be used in, but is a rating of a tent's ability to deal with different weather conditions. For example, a tent with a 1 season rating is fine in warm conditions and possibly a light rain shower but not much else, whereas a 4 or 5 season tent will keep a person and their gear safe from extreme winter conditions. Not all brands use this rating, but we've specified in each review when available.
HH: This means “hydrostatic head” and is an indication of how waterproof a tent’s fabric is. It measures how much water the fabric can hold before it starts to seep through, as well as the water pressure it can withstand before leaking starts. A basic tent’s flysheet is usually around 2000mm and a groundsheet is 5000mm or more. A tent with a 5000mm reading will protect you against heavy rainfall or a constant downpour.
How to pitch your tent
We recommend you practise pitching your new tent before your trip, especially if it’s an inflatable option or particularly large. This will stop any confusion (and arguments!) when you reach the campsite.
Guylines – pieces of string or cord that secure your tent to the ground – are essential for stopping your tent from collapsing, especially in high winds. Make sure they’re pulled tight in the same direction as the main poles and check them regularly for correct tensioning, as they expand and contract when the temperature and wind changes.
Always try to face your main door away from any large open spaces on a campsite too, as this will stop the wind from tunnelling through.
And don’t forget to clean and wash your tent once you're home, and leave it to dry completely in the garden before packing it away. This will stop mould and mildew from growing when in storage.
The verdict on the best tents
Our winner, the Halfords 4 person Vis A Vis tent, is easy to set up and affordable, making it ideal for short family breaks.
If you fancy splurging on a luxury option, the Nordisk Alfheim Tent with its tipi-style design looks the part, plus it's easy to pitch and will fit up to six people.
Prefer an inflatable option? The Regatta Kolima V2 Tent won't let you down.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
We’ve been testing products at the Good Housekeeping Institute for 100 years, so we know quality when we see it. We put each and every product through rigorous testing, both in real-world and lab conditions to provide unbiased reviews you can trust.
Kim Hawley our senior sleep and wellness tester, who oversees all our health and fitness reviews, including anything to do with outdoor adventure! Kim is a level 4 qualified personal trainer, has a nutrition qualification and has worked in leading health clubs across the UK.
We put each and every product through rigorous testing, both in real-world and lab conditions, to provide unbiased reviews you can trust, from the best walking sandals to the best camping chairs.
19 May 2025: This article was updated to reflect the latest prices and stock levels. We've also added links to other relevant Good Housekeeping articles.
Priyankaa is our sleep and wellness expert, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges. She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more. Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Yanar was our former health and wellness tester.
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