Bell Tent Hire in York
The Complete 2026 Guide
Planning an event in York and wondering if bell tent hire is right for you? Whether you’re organising a wedding at a North Yorkshire country estate, a corporate retreat in the Vale of York, a private celebration, or festival-style accommodation, this guide covers what you actually need to know about bell tent and glamping hire in York and the surrounding area.
We’re Max and Ruby from The Glamping Group, a family business based near Malton. Since 2020, we’ve set up bell tent villages at 200+ events across Yorkshire. We’ve learned what works, what causes stress, what saves time, and what people wish they’d planned earlier.
This is not a sales pitch disguised as a guide. We’ll give you the honest truth about costs, logistics, what to expect, and whether bell tent hire makes sense for your event. If it does, great. If it doesn’t, we’ll tell you that too.
In this guide
- Why bell tent hire works so well in York
- What bell tent hire costs in York
- Types of events that suit bell tents
- What you get when you book bell tents
- Popular York and North Yorkshire venues for bell tents
- How bell tent hire works
- Tent sizes and capacity
- FAQs about bell tent hire in York
- Next steps
Why bell tent hire works so well in York
York and North Yorkshire are one of the best parts of the UK for outdoor events with on-site accommodation, and there are a few simple reasons why.
The venues suit bell tents
Drive 20 minutes in almost any direction from York and you’ll find country estates with proper grounds, converted barns with adjacent fields, and private gardens that work well for bell tent setups. The region has embraced outdoor celebrations, which gives you real choice when it comes to venue style and size.
We’ve worked around the Castle Howard area, across the Vale of York, near the North York Moors, and in private gardens everywhere in between. Many venues here have the space, access and permissions to make bell tents straightforward rather than complicated.
If you want to add links to venue examples, this is a good place to include a short list, each linking to the venue’s official site (insert URLs before publishing):
The weather is usually fine
Yes, it’s Yorkshire. Yes, it can rain. But bell tents are designed for British weather and perform well when they’re pitched properly.
Canvas bell tents are waterproof, breathable, and raised off the ground with groundsheets. They’re comfortable even when the weather turns. We’ve had weekends with heavy rain where guests stayed dry and cosy throughout.
Rain doesn’t stop weddings here, and it doesn’t stop bell tent events either.
The season lines up with events
May through September is prime outdoor event season in Yorkshire, and it’s also when bell tent hire makes most sense. Summer weddings, corporate away days, birthday parties, and festival-style celebrations all happen during the months when venues look their best.
We operate throughout the season, with pricing that reflects demand.
What bell tent hire costs in York
Let’s talk money. Bell tent hire pricing varies, but you should have a realistic range in your head before you start planning.
Weekend hire pricing
For a standard weekend hire (typically Friday setup, Sunday takedown), our 5m bell tents start at:
Empty Tent: from £145
Unfurnished bell tent
Classic Package: from £165
Bell tent with table, light and door mat
Luxury Package: from £190
Fully furnished and styled bell tent
You can then choose between real beds or airbeds, with bedding, towels and other extras added to suit your needs.
Prices vary depending on date, location and setup. We always confirm the full cost upfront.
If you want to link to your main York service page for people who want a shorter overview, add this once:
See our Bell Tent Hire York page: /bell-tent-hire-york/
What affects the final price
A few things influence where your quote lands:
Time of year
Peak summer weekends (June to August) are higher demand.
Day of the week
Weekday events are often better value than Friday to Sunday wedding weekends.
Number of tents
Larger bookings can work out better per tent.
Location and access
Distance from our base near Malton and how easy the site is to access.
Comfort choices
Beds, bedding, towels, and any extras you add.
The real beds vs airbeds choice
A lot of bell tent providers rely on airbeds or camp beds with toppers. That’s fine for some events, but it’s not everyone’s idea of a great weekend’s sleep. We offer both options – proper bed frames with quality mattresses for comfort, or airbeds when you want to keep things simpler and lower-cost.
You can choose:
- Real beds with proper frames and quality mattresses
- Airbeds for a simpler and lower-cost option
Real beds cost more but make a big difference for multi-night stays. Airbeds are fine for single nights, festival-style setups, or tighter budgets.
It is genuinely worth thinking about who your guests are and what type of event you’re running.
Our guest booking system
If you have lots of guests, admin is usually the hidden headache. Who wants a tent, who is sharing, who wants a bed, who has paid, who has dropped out.
Our guest booking system lets guests book and pay for their own tents online. They select their tent setup and comfort choices, then you can see everything in one place.
For weddings and events with 20+ guests, this usually saves hours of back-and-forth.
Types of events that suit bell tent hire in York
Bell tents are not just for weddings. Here are the main event types where we see them working brilliantly.
Weddings and weekend celebrations
Bell tent villages are popular for York and North Yorkshire weddings for a simple reason: they keep people together on-site.
Instead of scattering guests across different hotels, everyone stays at the venue. The celebration becomes a full weekend experience. Evenings feel more social, mornings are slower, and guests tend to stay longer because they are not dealing with taxis and drives home.
We work regularly with wedding venues across North Yorkshire:
Wedding bell tent hire: /weddings/wedding-bell-tents/
Corporate events and team retreats
For corporate retreats, bell tents can be a strong alternative to hotel blocks, especially if your venue has land.
They create a more relaxed experience than a conference hotel, and they keep the group together for team bonding across a full day or weekend.
Corporate event bell tent hire: /events/event-bell-tent-hire/
Festivals and community events
Bell tents scale well, which is why they work for festivals and community events. A bell tent village creates instant atmosphere and gives guests weather-protected accommodation that feels organised.
Festival bell tent hire: /festivals/festival-bell-tents/
Private celebrations and family events
Milestone birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, private parties, garden festivals. If you are bringing people together from different places, bell tents make it easier for everyone to stay over without needing hotel logistics.
What you get with bell tent hire in York
“Bell tent hire” can mean very different things depending on the provider. Here’s what it means with us.
The bell tents
Our standard tents are 5m bell tents. They’re heavy-duty canvas, waterproof, breathable, and comfortable for weekend stays.
5m tents are suitable for up to 4 people, depending on the sleeping setup.
We also offer 7m bell tents for larger groups and VIP setups.
Comfort choices
Comfort is where bell tent hire becomes glamping. You can build the setup to suit your budget and your guests.
Options include:
- Real beds with proper frames and quality mattresses
- Airbeds for a simpler and lower-cost option
- Bedding including quality linen and warm duvets
- Towels hand and bath towels available
These can be selected by guests through the booking system, or chosen in bulk if you’re booking tents directly.
Setup and takedown
We handle delivery, setup, and takedown, and we coordinate with your venue if needed.
Setup is usually the day before your event, and takedown is usually the day after. Exact timings depend on access and schedule, and are agreed in advance.
Popular York and North Yorkshire venues for bell tent hire
A common question is: will bell tents work at our venue?
Usually, yes, as long as you have:
- Relatively flat ground
- Space for tent pegging or an alternative if hardstanding
- Vehicle access for delivery and setup
- Toilet facilities on-site or arranged nearby
The best venues for bell tents tend to be:
- Country estates and rural properties
- Barn venues with adjacent fields or paddocks
- Private gardens with enough lawn space
- Festival sites and open grounds
If you want, this is a great place to include a short venue list and link each to the official venue website (insert URLs before publishing). Keep it selective. A few trusted examples are better than a massive list.
How bell tent hire works
Here’s the process, from first contact to takedown.
Step 1: Enquiry
Send your date, location, rough guest numbers, and the type of event.
You can also use the York page enquiry route:
Get a quote: /bell-tent-hire-york/
Step 2: Quote
We’ll provide a quote that shows:
- per-tent pricing by package
- travel and delivery (if applicable)
- comfort choices and extras
- full total confirmed upfront
Step 3: Planning
As your event approaches, we finalise:
- tent numbers
- layout and positioning
- comfort choices and any extras
- setup and takedown timings
If you’re using guest booking, guests select their own options and you can see progress in one place.
Step 4: Setup
We arrive, set everything up, and confirm it is ready before guests arrive.
Step 5: Your event
Guests arrive and stay on-site. You enjoy the weekend.
Step 6: Takedown
We return and remove everything, leaving the site tidy.
Tent sizes and capacity
5m bell tents
Suitable for up to 4 people, depending on your sleeping setup.
Best for:
- couples
- small families
- small groups
- most wedding guest accommodation
7m bell tents
Suitable for up to 6 people, depending on setup.
Best for:
- bridal party or VIP tents
- families who want more space
- larger group sharing
- a premium “wow” tent
If you want a quick rule of thumb for planning: we can help you work out numbers based on your guest list, and the booking system can also guide this if guests are booking individually.
Frequently asked questions about bell tent hire in York
How much does bell tent hire cost in York?
Weekend hire starts from £145 per tent, depending on the package and date. Final pricing varies based on location, comfort choices, and setup. We always confirm the full cost upfront.
How far in advance should we book?
For summer weekend dates, earlier is better. If you have a peak-season Saturday, it is worth checking availability as soon as you have a venue and date.
What if it rains?
Bell tents are designed for British weather and perform well in rain when pitched properly. They are waterproof, raised off the ground, and breathable to reduce condensation.
If you want to include a single external reference, add a Met Office link about typical conditions in the York area (external link placeholder).
Can elderly guests use bell tents?
Often yes, especially if you opt for real beds and position tents closer to facilities. Bell tents are tall and spacious, but guests do need to step over a small threshold at the entrance. If someone cannot manage camping-style accommodation at all, a nearby hotel may be more suitable.
Do we need toilets and showers?
Most venues already have toilets. If you are using a private site without facilities, you will need to arrange portable toilets, and showers if you want them for multi-night stays.
We really like Nomadic Washrooms which have a Leeds depot.
When do you set up and take down?
Setup is usually the day before, and takedown is usually the day after. Exact timings depend on access and your event schedule, and we coordinate this with your venue.
Can you set up bell tents at any venue?
We can set up on most grass sites. Hardstanding can be possible but may require alternative anchoring. We’ll confirm suitability with you and your venue before booking.
Do you deliver outside York?
Yes. We’re based near Malton and regularly work across York and North Yorkshire, and further across Yorkshire and surrounding regions. Travel costs vary by distance and are agreed in advance.
See a full list of locations here
How many bell tents do I need?
It depends on how guests are grouping themselves. As a rough guide, 5m tents can suit up to 4 people depending on setup. We’ll help you work out a sensible number based on your guest list.
How many tents can you provide?
We can supply anything from a handful of tents to large villages, depending on the date and how far in advance you book.
Do guests need to bring anything?
That depends on the setup chosen. If bedding and towels are included, most guests only need an overnight bag, toiletries, and a phone charger. We can provide a simple guest “what to bring” list before the event.
Do your bell tents have real beds or airbeds?
Both options are available. Real beds are best for multi-night comfort, airbeds suit simpler and lower-cost setups.
Getting started with bell tent hire in York
If you’re thinking bell tents could work for your event, the next step is simple.
Send us:
- your date
- your venue or area
- rough guest numbers
- event type
Then we’ll confirm availability and quote clearly.
One final thought
Bell tent hire is popular in York and North Yorkshire because it solves a real problem: how to keep guests together on-site, without turning the weekend into taxi schedules and scattered hotel rooms.
When it fits the venue and the guest vibe, it works brilliantly. It turns accommodation into part of the experience, not an afterthought.
We’re Max and Ruby. We run The Glamping Group from our base near Malton. If you’re planning something in York or North Yorkshire and you think bell tents might suit, get in touch and we’ll tell you honestly whether it’s a good fit.
Phone/Text: 07400 258 588
Email: hello@theglampinggroup.com
