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Have a practice pitch in the garden so you know -

1. You have all the bits for the tent

2. Less stressful as there isn't a rush to get the tent up before dark.

3. How to get it all back in the bag!

Hope you enjoy your trip, but as others have said, will be cold at night at this time of year , we bought small heater for tent that uses gas canisters, wouldnt be without it. plus those foam mats under airbeds, good sleeping bags and blanket on top. Warm pj's to wear and ,before bed, layers of clothing and hats etc.

For the loo we have bucket with lid, cheap and essential ( see thread about pee bucket, last week i think, you,ll get a laugh )

If buy chance its too cold or wet, and you are debating whether to go again, please try again next season  when its milder and fine, its great fun, and you chat to some great people on holiday and on this site, enjoy.

What i did when we went a couple of weeks ago, was take a double duvet and put it on the blow up bed then get in and wrap it around you with a thick blanket on top. Dont put the whole thing over you get in the middle, if this makes sense?

I was toasty and warm.

Some good advice on here, but you would never find me family camping in the UK at this time of the year, or anytime of the year for that matter.

Although I do go camping, in the UK with my backpacking tents, either walking or cyclecamping, but that's a whole different ball of wax, to using a large family tent in the UK.

So for us camping with a large family tent, is pretty much restricted to a fortnight in the South of France, during July, when the day time temps are close on +40DegC, and the Sun shines all day long. (photo in gallery)

Each to there own of course, and I have done family camping in the UK, but decided, during a very rainey and cold camping August fortnight, in Cornwall back in 1978!, that I would never do it again, and I have stuck by that ever since!.

So I wish the OP the best of luck.

Hi Donna,

This time of the year can be cold at night and in the mornings so your best buy will be an electric hook up lead so you can plug into the campsite electrics and overcome the dark and cold. Read the sticky post on this site about having an RCD and about trying to use camping applances as often the AMP draw on domestic heaters is too high and might trip the system.

Sleep in socks , joggers, fleeces  etc ...... the old fella will love the six hours of unwrapping :)

Pick a site from the reports on here, see campsite search for your area and then read the reviews... saves getting stuck at a bad one and being put off.  If your only going for a couple of nights pre cook a few things like spag bowl, if your eating in .... then you can just warm it to go without all the hassle of a full kitchen.

Dont think you need to feel vulnerable on a good campsite , the other folk are better than any neighbourhood watch !  Think about where you pitch , look at the location and the trees, if they tend to bend one way you know where to head to be sheltered behind hedges and trees, if it gets windy having something to protect you and break the wind is a huge advantage........ but too close to overhanging trees can get messy if the feathered friends are busy.

Most of all chill and have a great time.