Globalmouse writer Louise heads for Secret Meadows Suffolk for a luxury family glamping experience.
Forget everything you know about camping, and even what you know about glamping. The luxury camping experience at Secret Meadows in the heart of Suffolk in East Anglia is really on another level. If you’re looking for luxury glamping in Suffolk then look no further.
Location – Secret Meadows Suffolk – Luxury Glamping in Suffolk, England
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The beautiful, huge, lodge tent with sofa, dining room table and wood-burning range welcomed us in after our long drive. And the gasps from the children said it all.
We had never seen a ‘tent’ like it.
It was more like staying in a beautiful old cottage that just happened to be under canvas.
This gives you that lovely feeling of staying in comfort, but with all the wonderful things about camping. The children are able to freely run around, you can have meals outside, barbecues and campfires.
The site itself is also very special indeed.
Secret Meadows isn’t a campsite, it is a wildlife conservation site.
Here the children ran around in the meadow right in front of the tent as we cooked in the evening, climbed the tree just beside the tent, and petted the free-range chickens.
And there was even an area at the back of our tent for building dens.
In fact, when it rained on our second morning the children were pleased – they just wanted to stay by the tent and on the site.
The tent was big enough for them to play hide and seek, and they loved the retro board games provided.
When the sun came out later that day we took advantage and followed the trails around the simply beautiful site to see more.
Secret Meadows Suffolk: Sleeps
The luxury lodge tent that we stayed in sleeps six people very comfortably.
In our room there was a divinely comfortable four-poster bed. In the next room there were bunk beds, and in a very sweet ‘cubby hole’ there was another double bed. That all the children desperate to sleep in.
The canvas was dark enough, and the site so quiet and cleverly arranged that you couldn’t hear other people at all. So there were lovely lie-ins to enjoy.
We also had our own ensuite at the back, including a brilliant hot shower.
The ‘living room’ area had a sofa we could sink into with a book. And a wood burner that we could use to cook or to heat the tent if needed on a chilly night.
We had barbecues and campfires and lit the wood burner and we had enough wood provided for our entire stay.
Glamping in Suffolk: Food
One of my favorite things about the site was ‘The Pantry’. An honesty shop stacked to the roof with delicious products from a local farm shop.
You simply take what you need and settle up at the end of your stay.
There was all you might need for your nightly barbecue. But also amazing cakes, bread and fruit and veg.
You can also hire some chickens at Secret Meadows. Each tent has a coop outside, and the free-range chickens wander around when you are there in the day and are so tame. And then you get the eggs for your breakfast in the morning.
There was a great barbecue for cooking, or the wood burner to use.
There was also a gas stove in the kitchen area so that you could easily make that essential first cup of tea in the morning.
Out on the decking there was a picnic table so you could sit and appreciate the amazing view.
The kitchen was so well stocked that along with the oven you could cook feasts if that was what you wanted to do.
There is a proper fridge too. And a large dining room table for rainy day eating, so I could see the tents being perfect for celebrating special occasions, or having a family get–together.
The Best Bits
The lodge tents at Secret Meadows are stunning, there was simply everything you would need provided. You just need to turn up and relax.
The Secret Meadows site is perfect for families.
I loved the way the children could run in the meadows, climb the tree, build dens at the back, say hello over the fence to the tame cattle and pick up chickens.
There is an abundance of wildlife on the site, and on one of our walks we visited the ‘hide’ where you can sit and use the posters to spot flowers, butterflies and birds. And note them in the book.
Worth Bearing in Mind
Take waterproofs so that you can get out and enjoy the beautiful site even if its raining.
Child Friendly?
I just can’t imagine a more child-friendly luxury camping experience.
The tents are very comfortable and you can easily keep warm and cozy. There are board games to play if it’s pouring, but the wide open spaces on your doorstep mean that there’s never a shortage of things to do.
Cars are not allowed to drive up to the tents (it’s a very short walk, and trollies or wheelbarrows are provided to transport your stuff).
It was a such beautiful, quiet site and I was happy to let my 13, 11 and eight-year-old head off together to explore.
Within the first day of our stay my 13-year-old asked if we could come back next year. And I was very happy to agree.
We are all dreaming of when we can return.
You can find out more about Secret Meadows at their website here and don’t forget to check out our guide to the best places to go glamping in the UK with kids.
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