Camping checklist UK: what to pack for a night out

Forgetting one small item, such as tent pegs, a lighter or a head torch, can spoil a camping trip more than bad weather. This camping checklist works through a trip system by system, from shelter and sleep to cooking, light and first aid, so you can tick things off as they go in the car or the rucksack. Add the festival or wild camping extras at the end if they apply to you.

Shelter and sleep

• Tent, poles and pegs. Pitch a new tent at home first so you know every part is there. A pop-up dome tent with an outer fly is quick to put up at a campsite.
• Something between you and the ground. Cold comes up from below, so a self-inflating sleeping mat matters as much as the bag.
• Sleeping bag suited to the season. Check the rating on the product page against the night-time temperatures you expect. Our 3–4 season envelope sleeping bag is a roomy option for car camping.
• Pillow. An inflatable camping pillow packs down to almost nothing.
• Spare tarp or groundsheet for a dry porch or a place to cook out of the rain. See the 3m x 3m waterproof tarp.

Prefer to sleep off the ground? Our new hammock camping collection has hammocks and tarps.

Camp kitchen

• Stove and the right fuel for it (check the fuel type on the stove listing)
• Lighter or matches, plus a backup such as a ferro rod fire starter
• Pan or mess tin cook set, and a camping kettle for brews
• Mug, plate or bowl, and cutlery
• Water carrier, such as the 5L collapsible water carrier with tap
• Food for each meal, plus a spare. Expedition and ready meals only need hot water or no cooking at all
• Washing-up liquid, a cloth and bin bags

Never use a stove or barbecue inside a tent, porch or awning. Cook in the open, on stable ground, away from anything that could catch. Browse the full camp kitchen range.

Clothing by season

• All year: waterproof jacket, packaway waterproof overtrousers, a warm layer, spare socks and something dry to sleep in.
• Spring and autumn: add a hat and gloves for the evenings, and a thermal layer for sleeping.
• Summer: sun hat, sun cream and a light layer for when the sun goes down.
• Winter: see our winter layering guide before you go.

Lighting and power

• A head torch for each person, for example the rechargeable 450 lumen head torch
• A lantern to light the tent or table, such as the 280 lumen LED camping lantern
• A charged power bank and cables. Compare options in power, lighting and communication

First aid and safety

• A first aid kit you know how to use, such as the 133-piece waterproof first aid kit
• Any personal medication, plus insect repellent and sun cream
• A whistle, and the campsite's address and postcode saved on your phone

More options are in first aid and hygiene. Buying for a camper? See our survival kit gift guide and the gifts for campers and walkers collection.

Comfort extras

• Folding chairs, such as the lightweight folding camping chair
• A folding camping table
• Dry bags to keep spare clothes and electronics dry, such as the roll-top waterproof dry bag

Festival extras

Check your festival's rules before you pack, as many restrict gas, glass and tent size. Useful extras include a poncho, a waterproof phone pouch, a power bank and a lantern you can find your tent by. Our festival camping essentials collection gathers them together.

Wild camping extras

Wild camping means carrying everything and leaving nothing behind. Pack lighter, add a way to treat water such as a foldable squeeze filter bottle, and check the access rules for where you plan to go: they differ between Scotland and the rest of the UK. See the wild camping kit collection.

Printable camping checklist

• ☐ Tent, poles, pegs (and a few spare pegs)
• ☐ Sleeping mat, sleeping bag, pillow
• ☐ Tarp or groundsheet
• ☐ Stove, fuel, lighter and a backup fire starter
• ☐ Pan, kettle, mug, plate, cutlery
• ☐ Water carrier and drinking water
• ☐ Food for every meal, plus a spare
• ☐ Bin bags, washing-up kit
• ☐ Waterproof jacket and trousers
• ☐ Warm layer, hat, gloves, spare socks
• ☐ Head torch per person, lantern
• ☐ Power bank and cables
• ☐ First aid kit and medication
• ☐ Sun cream, insect repellent
• ☐ Chairs and table (car camping)
• ☐ Dry bags
• ☐ Campsite booking details and address

Camping checklist FAQs

What is the most commonly forgotten camping item?

Small things go missing most often: tent pegs, a lighter, tin openers, torch batteries and phone cables. Keep a checklist with your kit and tick it off as you pack.

Do I need a sleeping mat if I have an air bed?

An air bed is comfortable but can feel cold, because the air inside cools overnight. Many campers add a blanket or mat on top. A self-inflating mat combines padding and insulation in one.

Can I cook in my tent porch if it is raining?

No. Stoves and barbecues can produce carbon monoxide and can set fabric alight. Cook in the open, or under a tarp pitched high and open on the sides, well away from the tent.

Is wild camping legal in the UK?

It depends where you are. Scotland's outdoor access rules allow responsible wild camping on most unenclosed land, with some local restrictions. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you generally need the landowner's permission. Check the current rules for the area before you go.

How much water should I take camping?

It depends on the weather, the site and how you cook. Find out whether the campsite has drinking water taps. If you are wild camping, carry enough to reach your next reliable source and a way to treat water you collect.