What Insurance Do I Need to Run a Campsite in the UK?

Insurance isn't the most exciting part of running a campsite, but it's one of the most important. Without the right cover, a single incident could bankrupt your business overnight. Yet many campsite owners — particularly those just starting out — are either underinsured or paying for cover they don't actually need.

Here's a practical guide to the insurance you need to run a campsite in the UK, what it typically costs, and where to find specialist providers who actually understand the outdoor hospitality industry.

The Essential Policies

1. Public Liability Insurance

This is the non-negotiable one. Public liability insurance covers you if a guest, visitor, or member of the public is injured on your site or if their property is damaged due to your negligence.

Examples of claims this covers:

A guest trips over a guy rope in the dark and breaks their wrist
A child falls from play equipment on your site
A tree branch drops onto a guest's car during a storm
A guest suffers food poisoning from your on-site shop or cafe

Minimum cover: £5 million is the industry standard for campsites, and many councils require this as a condition of your site licence. Some larger operators carry £10 million. Don't go below £5 million — the premium difference between £2 million and £5 million is typically minimal.

2. Employer's Liability Insurance

If you employ anyone — even seasonal staff, part-time cleaners, or casual workers — employer's liability insurance is a legal requirement. You must have at least £5 million of cover (most policies offer £10 million as standard).

This covers claims from employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their work on your site. Failure to have this insurance can result in fines of up to £2,500 per day.

Important: If you're a sole trader with no employees, you're exempt. But the moment you hire anyone — including a teenager to help with grass cutting over summer — you need this cover in place.

3. Property and Contents Insurance

This covers the physical assets of your business: buildings, facilities blocks, reception areas, equipment, and contents. Standard home insurance won't cover commercial property used for a campsite business.

Make sure your policy covers:

Toilet and shower blocks — including fixtures, plumbing, and electrical systems
Reception buildings and any on-site shops or cafes
Equipment — lawnmowers, tools, maintenance equipment
Signage and site infrastructure — fencing, lighting, roads
Stock — if you sell firewood, camping supplies, or food

4. Business Interruption Insurance

Often overlooked, this covers your lost income if something forces you to close temporarily. Imagine a flood damages your facilities block in April — without business interruption cover, you lose an entire season's revenue with no compensation.

This policy typically pays out based on your projected income for the period you're unable to trade. For a seasonal campsite, this is particularly important because a closure during peak months has a disproportionate financial impact.

Additional Cover for Glamping and Holiday Units

Glamping Unit Insurance

If you have glamping pods, shepherd's huts, yurts, bell tents, or safari tents, you need specific cover for these structures. Standard property insurance may not cover them because they don't always classify as permanent buildings.

Key considerations:

Replacement cost vs market value — make sure you're insured for the full cost of replacing a unit, not its depreciated value
Storm and weather damage — particularly important for soft-sided structures like bell tents and yurts
Theft and vandalism — both to the structure itself and the contents inside
Guest damage — accidental or otherwise, this happens regularly

Tip: Keep a detailed inventory of every item in each glamping unit, with photos and receipts. If you ever need to make a claim, this documentation makes the process dramatically smoother and faster.

Hot Tub Cover

If you offer hot tubs, you need specific liability cover. Hot tubs create additional risks — Legionella, burns, slips, and electrical faults — that standard public liability may not fully cover. Most specialist campsite insurers offer hot tub add-ons.

Typical Costs by Site Size

Insurance costs vary significantly based on your site size, facilities, location, and claims history. Here are typical annual premium ranges:

Annual Insurance Costs (Approximate):

Small campsite (5-15 pitches, basic facilities): £800-£1,500/year
Medium campsite (15-50 pitches, shower block, shop): £1,500-£3,500/year
Large site (50+ pitches, multiple facilities): £3,500-£8,000/year
Glamping site (4-10 units with hot tubs): £2,000-£5,000/year
Mixed site (pitches + glamping + facilities): £3,000-£7,000/year

These figures include public liability, property, and contents cover. Employer's liability typically adds £200-£500 depending on payroll size.

Finding Specialist Insurers

Don't just go to your local insurance broker — most high-street brokers have little experience with campsite and glamping businesses. You'll get better cover and often better prices from specialists.

Specialist campsite insurers in the UK include:

NFU Mutual — strong on agricultural and rural businesses, particularly if your campsite is part of a farm diversification
Towergate Insurance — offer specific leisure and tourism packages
Alan Boswell Group — holiday park and campsite specialists
Leisuresure — tailored packages for outdoor hospitality and caravan parks
Adrian Flux — cover unusual structures like yurts and tree houses

Get at least three quotes, and make sure you're comparing like for like. The cheapest policy isn't always the best — check the excesses, exclusions, and what's actually covered.

Common Insurance Mistakes

1. Underinsuring Your Assets

If you insure your glamping pod for £15,000 but it would cost £25,000 to replace, you'll only receive a proportional payout. Review your cover annually and update values as costs change.

2. Not Declaring Activities

If you offer activities like archery, bushcraft, swimming, or horse riding and haven't declared them to your insurer, your cover could be voided entirely. Always disclose every activity available on or through your site.

3. Assuming Events Are Covered

If you host weddings, festivals, or large gatherings, your standard campsite insurance probably doesn't cover these. You'll need separate event liability cover.

4. Ignoring Cyber Insurance

If you take online bookings and store guest data, you're handling personal information subject to GDPR. A data breach could result in fines and claims. Cyber liability cover is increasingly relevant for campsite businesses that operate online booking systems.

Tips for Keeping Premiums Down

Maintain your site well — insurers may inspect your site, and a well-maintained operation is a lower risk
Document your risk management — fire safety checks, tree surveys, electrical inspections, and health and safety assessments all demonstrate you're managing risks proactively
Install security measures — CCTV, secure fencing, and good lighting can reduce premiums
Pay annually — monthly payments often include interest, making them 10-15% more expensive over the year
Bundle policies — many insurers offer discounts when you take multiple covers together

Record keeping matters: Use your booking system to maintain records of guest numbers, incidents, and maintenance schedules. Platforms like CampManager make it easy to keep organised records that insurers love to see — and that make claims processing much smoother if you ever need to make one.

Review Your Cover Annually

Your insurance needs change as your business grows. If you add new units, install a hot tub, start offering activities, or hire additional staff, your existing cover may not be adequate. Set a reminder to review your policies each year before renewal, and always notify your insurer of significant changes mid-term.

Insurance isn't glamorous, but it's the safety net that lets you run your campsite with confidence. Get the right cover in place, keep your documentation organised, and you can focus on what you actually enjoy — welcoming guests and building your business.