Ultimate Camping Essential List UK

If you’ve spent hours gathering and packing equipment and supplies, travelled a considerable distance to reach your destination... and then discovered that you forgot the tent pegs, tea bags, your cooking stove, and several other camping essentials – a relaxing escape can quickly turn into a stressful experience. That's why we've put together the ultimate camping essentials list, specifically tailored for the UK camper. With this comprehensive guide, you'll be ready for whatever nature throws your way.

A Quick Look at the List of Camping Essentials

• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Camping lighting
• Outdoor power sources
• Entertainment
• Dog supplies
• Cooking and food supplies
• Clothing
• Hygiene essentials
• Personal identification and money
• GPS devices
• First aid kit

Tent

A tent is probably the most important piece of equipment on your camping essentials checklist. It will keep you dry and protected from the elements. For tent camping with the UK weather in mind, you will also need a groundsheet or tarpaulin, plus a flysheet, poles, and guy lines.

These are the most essential items for a tent camping checklist:

• Tent, poles, and guy lines
• Groundsheet or tarp
• Flysheet
• Windbreak
• Tent pegs (plus spare pegs)
• Mallet
• Dustpan and brush
• Doormat
• Rug for tent floor
• Hot water bottle(s)
• Carbon monoxide alarm

Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag is another vital piece of gear to take camping. Although you may feel like you don’t need a sleeping bag on warm summer nights, it can still get cold, so we always recommend taking a lightweight, breathable one for summer.

• Sleeping bags and bedding
• Camping pillow
• Sleeping mat
• Camp bed or air mattress

Camping Lighting

Campsites and tents can get very dark at night without city lights, so camping lights are essential.

• Torches
• Lanterns (battery/wind-up)
• Headlamp
• Spare bulbs and batteries

A camping light will come in handy on dark nights. Either way, don’t forget to add the batteries and spare bulbs to your essential camping gear list!

Outdoor Power Sources

It's inconvenient to camp off-grid, as so many essential devices rely on power these days, like phones, cameras, power lights, and air pumps. A high-capacity portable power station can help power your camping gear multiple times, providing peace of mind and extra convenience – even running a portable fridge at campsites.

If you're planning a longer trip, solar panels and car charging cables are fantastic options to enhance your portable power station. A solar panel can recharge your power station during the day, while a car charging cable enables you to use the car cigarette plug for recharging.

Adding this outdoor power gear to your list of camping essentials ensures you can stay off-grid for longer.

• Portable power station
• Solar panel
• Car charging cable

Additional Resources

• How to Choose the Best Portable Power Station for Camping?
• How to Get Electricity When Camping?
• 3 Best Portable Power Stations for Camping in the UK
• 4 Best Solar Panels for Camping

Entertainment

A high priority for camping is ‘something to keep you entertained on holiday’. There's more to camping than arriving at the campsite and pitching tents. What you do after that sets the difference between a dull and exciting camping trip. Not all of these are necessary items on an essential camping list, but they are fun things to bring!

• Board games
• Musical instruments
• MP3 player and tablet
• Pack of playing cards
• Toys for children
• Bikes
• Frisbee
• Sporting equipment

Dog Supplies

Camping with your dog is a great way to explore the outdoors in a whole new way. That said, camping with dogs does require a fair amount of preparation since you’ll want to make sure your pooch is safe, well-fed, and comfortable on your journey.

• Waste bags
• Leash/restraint
• Cleaning essentials
• Food bowls
• Dehydrated dog food
• Dog water bottle
• Outdoor toys
• Dog bed
• Dog bed cover
• Medication (if required)
• Emergency vet details

Cooking and Food Supplies

Sharing a delicious meal under the stars or enjoying your morning cuppa with the sunrise is one of the greatest joys of camping.

A well-thought-out camp kitchen takes the hassle out of meal prep, while a shopping list of essential camping food can make camp cooking a breeze along with the following core items:

• Stove and fuel (propane/charcoal/firewood)
• Matches/lighter/fire starters/newspaper
• Cooking pots and frying pan
• Cooking utensils (spatula, tongs, skewers, grill forks, etc.)
• Cutlery (knives, forks, spoons)
• Crockery (plates, bowls, insulated mugs)
• Sharp knife
• Chopping board
• Camp sink or dish pan
• Soap (including dish soap)
• Bin bags
• Cool box/cooler
• Kitchen roll/paper towels
• Toilet roll
• Tea and coffee
• Condiments (seasonings, sugar, etc.)
• Cooking oil spray/Pam spray
• Tin foil/heavy-duty aluminium foil
• Breakfast cereal
• Antibacterial wipes or spray
• Hand wash
• Large water jug and water bucket
• Thermos
• Campfire grill/BBQ grill
• Can opener/bottle opener
• Folding table
• Ziplock bags/containers for food storage
• Potholders/oven mitts

Clothing

Before you start your trip, check the weather conditions at the campsite in detail and pack clothing that suits those conditions. For the UK, layering is key. A moisture-wicking base layer, insulating mid-layer, and waterproof outer layer will keep you comfortable.

• Waterproofs
• Spare trousers
• Warm fleece or jumper
• Walking boots
• Several pairs of warm socks
• Flip-flops (for the showers)
• Wellies
• Sufficient underwear
• Shorts
• T-shirts
• Long-sleeved shirts
• Hat (for protection from the sun or cold)
• Scarf and gloves
• Sunglasses
• Sleepwear
• Swimming costumes
• Beach towels
• Dirty laundry bag

Hygiene Essentials

Many items on your camping essentials list are things that usually litter bathroom cabinets, as campers need to keep themselves "fresh" or "clean". Consider bringing your own camping shower and then pack everything you’d need to use, from towels to soap, shampoo and conditioner to deodorant and a comb.

Don’t forget to take a full supply of any medicine you need, along with wet wipes, insect repellent (and bite cream – expect the unexpected!), together with sunscreen (and after-sun, for the same reason).

• Toothpaste and brushes
• Shower gel or soap
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Hand sanitiser
• Lip balm
• Towels
• Deodorant
• Hairbrush or comb
• Hair ties and/or clips
• Feminine hygiene products
• Toilet paper
• Tissues
• Wet wipes
• Camping shower
• Medication
• Sunscreen and after-sun
• Insect repellent
• Bite and sting cream
• Contact lenses and solution
• Cosmetics
• Small mirror
• Hanging toiletries bag

Personal Identification and Money

Always carry some form of ID, and it's wise to have some cash on hand in case card payments aren't accepted.

• Personal identification
• Cash
• Booking confirmation
• Insurance
• Breakdown recovery
• Driving licence

GPS Devices

A GPS receiver is an essential outdoor tool for hikers and other backcountry explorers. A GPS can give you vital information about where you are, where you've been, and where you want to go.

• Maps and directions
• Compass
• Sat nav

First Aid Kit

A well-stocked first aid kit is vital for handling any minor injuries. Ensure it includes bandages, antiseptic wipes, plasters, tweezers, pain relief, and any personal medication.

• First aid kit
• Tweezers
• Multi-tool

Before Leaving Home...

Give your car some much-needed TLC by checking all tyres, including the spare, then checking the oil level and topping up the fuel tank. Indoors, ensure nothing is left in the fridge or bin that could grow mould while you're off camping, water any plants, persuade unsuspecting neighbours to accept emergency spare keys, and feed any stay-at-home pets, or make other arrangements.

Ready for Your Next Camping Trip?

And finally, before embarking on your next camping trip, you will need to make sure you have the right camping products for the weather and environmental conditions you will be enduring. Before you head out, double-check your camping essentials list, pack smart, and enjoy your adventure.

Download Your Camping Essentials Checklist

Want to make sure you’ve got everything covered? For your convenience, we've compiled this entire checklist into a handy PDF. Download our complete camping essentials checklist in a handy PDF format HERE.