first-time campers

A NORFOLK COASTAL CLASSIC

Posted on May 5, 2026

Blending tradition, variety, and year-round family-run excellence on the Hunstanton coast...

 

Located on the beautiful North West Norfolk coastline in Hunstanton, Searles Leisure Resort is one of the region’s most established and well-loved family-run holiday parks.
Known for its welcoming atmosphere, wide range of accommodation, and strong sense of tradition, the resort continues to attract families, couples, and holiday home owners seeking a classic British seaside escape with modern comforts.
Set against the backdrop of Norfolk’s sweeping coastline and famously sunny microclimate, Searles offers a complete holiday experience where guests can relax, explore, and enjoy a wide variety of on-site facilities and activities.

 

A TRUE FAMILY-RUN COASTAL RESORT
At the heart of Searles is its identity as a long-standing family business. This heritage is evident throughout the park, from the warm welcome guests receive on arrival to the ongoing focus on quality, care, and consistency across all areas of the resort.
The park is also a significant local employer, with up to 250 staff members working across the site depending on seasonal demand. This workforce plays a vital role in maintaining the resort’s high standards across accommodation, entertainment, dining, maintenance, and guest services.
This strong team structure ensures that whether guests are staying for a weekend break or a longer summer holiday, they benefit from a seamless and well-supported experience.

SEARLES LEISURE RESORT offers a traditional seaside escape on the North West Norfolk coast.

A WIDE RANGE OF ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Searles Leisure Resort offers one of the most diverse accommodation selections in the region, catering to a wide variety of holiday preferences and budgets. The resort features 153 holiday hire units, including well-appointed lodges and comfortable holiday homes designed to provide a home-from-home experience close to the sea.
For guests seeking a more flexible or traditional outdoor stay, Searles also offers dedicated touring and camping facilities, including pitches for tents and tourers. These areas are popular with returning visitors who enjoy the freedom of outdoor holidays combined with access to resort amenities. In addition, the resort provides camping pods, offering an elevated camping experience that bridges the gap between traditional camping and lodge-style comfort.
These are particularly popular with families and couples looking for something a little different while still enjoying the outdoor environment. This mix of accommodation types ensures that Searles appeals to a broad audience — from first-time campers to long-standing holiday homeowners.

A complete holiday experience where guests can relax, explore, and enjoy on-site activities.

LEISURE, ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT
Searles Leisure Resort continues to enhance its guest experience with a wide and varied programme of activities designed to suit all ages and interests. Among the most popular recent additions are outdoor cinema experiences, which offer guests the chance to enjoy films under the stars in a relaxed and social setting.
This has quickly become a highlight of the seasonal entertainment calendar. Another standout activity is laser clay shooting, which adds a more adventurous and unique offering to the resort’s leisure programme. These experiences reflect Searles’ commitment to providing more than just accommodation, focusing instead on creating memorable and engaging holidays.
Alongside these, the resort continues to offer a full programme of family-friendly entertainment, ensuring there is always something happening on site throughout the season. Looking ahead, Searles is also developing a new range of safari-style bell tents, which will introduce a fresh glamping option to the park.
This addition reflects the growing popularity of experiential outdoor stays and will further diversify the resort’s already extensive accommodation offering.

SIDNEY THE SEALION AND HIS FRIENDS are always ready to make every guest smile, bringing fun, laughter, and unforgettable holiday memories at Searles!

A RESORT THAT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE
While Searles has a long and proud history as a traditional seaside holiday park, it continues to evolve in response to changing guest expectations.
Recent operational developments, including improved team facilities and enhanced infrastructure, have helped support a more efficient and guest-focused environment behind the scenes. With up to 250 staff working across the resort, this investment in people and systems plays an important role in maintaining the high standards for which Searles is known.
However, at its core, the resort remains focused on delivering enjoyable, high-quality holidays in a relaxed coastal setting — something it has done successfully for generations.

THE RESORT CONTINUES to invest in enhancing guest experiences across all areas of the park.

OWNERSHIP AND LONG-STAY APPEAL
In addition to short breaks and touring holidays, Searles is also a popular destination for holiday home ownership. The resort offers a dedicated ownership community, with a strong sense of belonging among owners who return year after year.
The introduction of a dedicated sales showground further enhances this offering, allowing prospective owners to explore available options in a more structured and accessible way.
This focus on ownership helps strengthen the resort’s long-term community feel and ensures a consistent base of returning guests who are deeply connected to the park.

DIVE INTO FUN at the swimming pool facilities, where guests can splash, relax, and make the most of every moment of their holiday.

THE NORFOLK COASTAL EXPERIENCE
One of Searles’ greatest strengths is its location. Hunstanton, often known as “Sunny Hunny,” is one of the East of England’s most popular seaside destinations, offering traditional charm, sandy beaches, and stunning sunsets over the Wash.
Guests staying at Searles benefit not only from the resort’s facilities but also from easy access to Norfolk’s wider attractions, including coastal walks, nature reserves, and nearby historic towns and villages.
This combination of resort-based amenities and regional exploration makes Searles a strong all-round holiday destination.

 

A LASTING COASTAL FAVOURITE
Searles Leisure Resort continues to stand out as one of Norfolk’s leading holiday parks thanks to its combination of scale, variety, and strong family values. Its ability to balance tradition with modern guest expectations ensures it remains relevant in a competitive and evolving holiday park market.
From its wide range of accommodation options and diverse activity programme to its strong sense of community and coastal location, Searles offers a complete holiday experience that appeals across generations.
As it continues to evolve, one thing remains unchanged — its commitment to delivering memorable seaside holidays in one of the UK’s most iconic coastal settings.

Searles Leisure Resort
01485 534211
www.searles.co.uk

A WIDE RANGE of accommodation ensures Searles caters for families, couples, and returning owners alike.

EVOLVING FACE OF OUTDOOR LUXURY

Posted on November 12, 2025

Glamping is a Growth Opportunity for Holiday Parks, Caravan Parks & Campsites...

Glamping holidays are undeniably different from any other kind. From treehouses and cabins to yurts, huts and safari tents, each location offers a unique slice of outdoor living.

Each site offers its own unforgettable moments — the delighted laughter of children dashing around the picnic table, the thrill of letting go on a river swing, or the gentle hum of conversation and the soft clink of bottles around a flickering campfire.

For holiday park operators, glamping represents far more than a pretty view or quirky accommodation style — it’s a powerful, profitable evolution of the outdoor leisure market.

THE RISE (AND STAYING POWER) OF GLAMPING
What began as a niche luxury trend has now become a cornerstone of the UK holiday park offering. Glamping has matured into a mainstream, multi-generational travel experience that blends comfort, adventure, and sustainability. In the wake of the pandemic, when travel restrictions reshaped holiday habits, British staycations surged — and glamping was perfectly positioned to meet the demand for safe, nature-rich escapes.

That momentum hasn’t slowed. According to VisitBritain, interest in outdoor accommodation remains high, particularly among younger families and couples who value experience over excess. Glamping is no longer a temporary craze; it’s the new benchmark for outdoor luxury — and a serious business opportunity.

Park owners who once relied solely on touring pitches or static caravans are now finding that glamping units not only attract new audiences but extend the season and strengthen year-round revenue. For many, it’s a diversification strategy that futureproofs their park while elevating guest experience.

It's a powerful, profitable evolution of the outdoor leisure market.

BUSINESS BENEFITS FOR PARK OPERATORS
For those managing or developing holiday parks, the business case for glamping is strong.

Increased Occupancy and Higher Margins:
Glamping units typically command higher nightly rates than traditional camping or touring pitches. Their premium feel justifies the price point, while their comfort and weather resilience mean they’re occupied for longer stretches of the year.

Longer Seasons:
With insulated pods, eco-cabins and heated safari tents, operators can open earlier in spring and stay open later into autumn. All-weather glamping means less reliance on the fickle British summer.

Appeal to New Demographics:
Glamping attracts a broad mix — from young couples seeking weekend getaways to multi-generational families looking for shared experiences. Many guests are first-time campers drawn in by the promise of luxury touches like en-suite bathrooms, hot tubs, and proper beds.

Upselling Opportunities:
Once guests are on site, there’s scope to increase revenue through optional extras — hot tubs, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, spa pods, or guided activities. Glamping lends itself perfectly to personalised experiences.

A Strong Marketing Edge:
Visually striking and social-media-friendly, glamping units make perfect marketing material. Eye-catching imagery of stylish lodges or twinkling nights under canvas resonates across social media and online booking platforms, helping parks stand out in a crowded marketplace. For parks aiming to refresh or reposition their brand, glamping can instantly enhance visual appeal and storytelling power.

MODULAR AND OFF-GRID designs combine sustainability with modern convenience.

TYPES OF GLAMPING UNITS & WHAT’S TRENDING
The modern glamping landscape is wonderfully diverse. Operators can now choose from a wide range of structures to suit their landscape, budget, and guest profile.

Safari Tents & Lodges:
Spacious, durable and visually impressive, safari tents remain one of the most popular choices for parks seeking a balance between luxury and authenticity.

Pods & Shepherd Huts:
Compact and efficient, these offer year-round comfort with minimal maintenance. Perfect for couples’ retreats or smaller sites.

Yurts & Tipis:
These structures deliver a strong connection to nature, ideal for parks promoting wellness or off-grid stays.

Treehouses & Elevated Cabins:
Offering a real wow factor, these premium options can command top-tier rates and create social-media buzz.

Modular & Off-Grid Designs:
The latest trend is flexibility. Many new glamping solutions incorporate solar panels, compost toilets, and rainwater harvesting — appealing to guests who value sustainability.

Luxury Touches:
Modern glamping is about more than quirky shapes — it’s about finish and feel. Think en-suite bathrooms, kitchenettes, underfloor heating, Wi-Fi, and private hot tubs. Guests increasingly expect the comfort of a boutique hotel combined with the adventure of the outdoors.

Design Trends:
Natural materials, earthy tones, and minimalist luxury are shaping the new look of glamping. Operators are investing in aesthetics that blend seamlessly with the landscape, creating “Instagrammable” destinations that double as marketing assets.

EN-SUITE BATHROOMS, KITCHENETTES, and hot tubs are now expected features in premium glamping, photo credit to Canopy & Stars.

Clear Sky Safari Tents Deliver Comfort, Charm, and Strong ROI for Holiday Parks
The UK glamping market continues to thrive, with guests seeking experiences that combine comfort, adventure, and sustainability. Over the past few years, expectations have shifted significantly: visitors now want high-end luxury in outdoor settings — complete with fully furnished interiors, high-quality bathrooms, and reliable, weatherproof accommodation.

Holiday park operators are responding by investing in durable, stylish Safari Lodges that meet these higher standards while still offering guests an authentic connection with nature. At Clear Sky Safari Tents, the Luxury Canvas Lodge range remains especially popular among UK holiday parks and landowners. These versatile lodges combine charm and comfort with impressive ROI.

Their spacious layouts, flexible configurations and robust build make them an ideal solution for parks looking to broaden their appeal while maintaining operational efficiency. A recent Clear Sky project at Sandringham has demonstrated this success first-hand.

The park introduced 15 Safari Lodges — including DDA-compliant options — to provide a mix of accommodation for families, couples, and accessible stays. Guests have praised the combination of comfort and rural charm, reinforcing the growing demand for premium outdoor experiences.

What sets Clear Sky apart is their end-to-end service — guiding operators through every stage of development, from planning permission to installation. Their expertise ensures that each project is not only visually stunning but commercially sound, helping holiday parks achieve long-term success in the evolving glamping market.

OUTDOOR DECKS AND PRIVATE HOT TUBS offer opportunities for upselling and premium guest experiences.

SUSTAINABILITY & THE ECO APPEAL
For today’s guests, sustainability isn’t a bonus — it’s an expectation. Glamping fits naturally into this ethos, allowing operators to embrace environmentally responsible practices while enhancing guest experience.

From off-grid technologies and solar power to rainwater collection and eco-friendly waste systems, glamping lends itself to green innovation. Many glamping structures are built from sustainable materials and designed to have minimal impact on the landscape. In some cases, they can be removed seasonally, leaving little trace on the land.

Operators are increasingly joining Green Tourism and similar accreditation schemes, using these as selling points for eco-conscious visitors. By adopting circular economy principles — sourcing locally, using renewable energy, and minimising waste — holiday parks can appeal to the growing demographic of travellers who want comfort without compromise.

PODS AND SHEPHERD HUTS offer compact, efficient accommodation with year-round appeal, photo credit to Canopy & Stars.

THE FUTURE OF GLAMPING
As the UK leisure industry continues to evolve, glamping stands out as one of its brightest success stories. Its strength lies in adaptability — the ability to merge luxury with simplicity, and innovation with sustainability.

For park owners and managers, glamping is both a creative and commercial opportunity: a way to reimagine the guest experience, attract new audiences, and generate reliable, repeatable income.

With quality suppliers such as Clear Sky Safari Tents helping operators deliver premium results, the sector is set to remain one of the most exciting growth areas in outdoor hospitality. In 2025 and beyond, glamping isn’t just redefining how people holiday — it’s reshaping how holiday parks thrive.

Clear Sky Safari Tents
Tel: 0333 241 2660
www.safaritentsandlodges.com

Canopy & Stars
www.canopyandstars.com