Top 10 UK Summer Camps

Best For: Teens

Camp Beaumont Camp Beaumont is a summer camp institution in the UK, having been around for  over 30 years. Using a balance of physical activities (in water and on land),  games and team building exercises, the overall goal is give campers a “chance to  build confidence, boost self-esteem and learn useful skills along the way. Camp Beaumont only  employs trained staff members who are fully committed to safety 100% of the  time. ‘The House’ is available at three locations across the UK: Colomendy  Valley, Grosenvor Hall , The Island , Pinewood  Sands ,Dearne Valley.

Best For: Watersports

Wickedly Wonderful is the children’s equivalent of a five-star hotel with an  open bar every night. It’s located on the West Sussex coast where your kids can  fall in love with water.
Website: www.wickedlywonderful.com

Best For: Academic

Oxford Summer Academy

The Oxford Summer Academy is a specialised program for 16-19 year olds who  want a taste of life at one of the world’s most prestigious universities.  Activities range from morning tutorials (in the classrooms they’ll be sitting in  one day), to afternoon electives that are designed to broaden students’ understanding of what they’ll be studying and how to excel in their chosen  fields. Candidates are lectured by Oxford graduates and graduates from other  prestigious institutions, who can impart practical wisdom gained from their  personal experiences. Cultural and historical excursions – around Oxford and  beyond – are also there to balance out the theoretical learning kids will be  doing. All in all, it’s a great opportunity to learn more and to mingle with  prospective classmates, which is a must for any teenager thinking about  applying.

Best For  All Round

XUK is the brand name for a number of specialised camp experiences that cater  for kids from ages 3-17, covering all personality types. Within the three main  focuses on Sport, Art and Drama, you’ll find a range of tailored camps that will  suit your kids and give them one of the finest holidays of their lives.
Website: www.xkeys.co.uk

Best For: Adventure

Ardmay House, Long Loch, Scotland

Ardmay House is the sort of adventure camp that makes adults jealous. Located  on the shore of Loch Long, a gorgeous set-up on the west coast of Scotland,  campers are presented with Lord Of The Rings type settings to branch out and try  new things. With activities like canoeing, climbing, beach art, fashion shows,  karaoke and Quiz nights, kids are brought closer to nature and their peers in a  fun, safe environment. The accommodation is in a refurbished Victorian fishing  lodge – a wonderful space for their imaginations to take flight.

Website: http://www.ardmay.co.uk

Best For: Drama

Cambridge School for Visual and Performing Arts

The Cambridge School for Visual and Performing Arts offer a summer course  that is open to all levels of acting experience. The one requirement kids need  is a desire to learn and develop their skills. Classes are fairly intense for  young scholars (up 35-40 hours per week), but if your children are serious about  a career in acting it is an entirely worthwhile experience. Lectures are given  by seasoned professionals who offer their practical experience in different  acting disciplines – from musical theatre to acting. The course lasts for two  weeks, with week one being all about a performance that will be executed during  week two, so your young thespians will get a chance to put their learning into  practice. There is also a 3-term Drama Foundation program for experienced actors  who are looking for something longer and more serious, which is an excellent  platform for getting into drama schools later on.

Website: www.csvpa.com/

Best For: Creative Technologies

Uppingham Summer School, Uppingham

The Uppingham Summer School offers an impressive variety of summer courses – from arts and crafts, to theatre (with a new ‘Glee Week’ that is certain to get  fans excited), cookery and sports. It was their Creative Technologies Powerhouse  that caught our eye when researching camps for this article.

Website: www.uppinghamsummerschool.co.uk/

Best For: Horse Riding

Wellington Riding

Wellington Riding is a full package: it is British-Horse-Society approved and  highly reputable, so parents can rest assured of their children being instructed  and looked after by trained professionals. And it’s based on a magnificent  estate in Hampshire, where clean air and gorgeous riding terrain are in free  supply. The residential riding holidays are open to all ages and experiences  levels, from beginners to advanced riders who want to hone their dressage and  jumping skills – even if you have your own horse and want to bring him or her  along for a holiday.

Website: www.wellington-riding.com/

Best For: Cultural Experience

Learn & Experience, Yorkshire

Learn & Experience focuses on giving kids from the UK and abroad a chance  to interact and have a good time with one another – an experience that makes  them “grow as individuals”. With half the campers coming from abroad, it’s a  golden opportunity for curious kids to put their geography classes into practice  without having to leave the country. The camp offers a host of in and outdoor  activities that will stimulate their minds and keep them off the couch over the  summer.

Website: www.learnexperience.co.uk/

Best For: First Time Campers

Mill On The Brue – Bruton, Somerset

First time campers are often nervous about what they can expect at a summer  camp: will I fit in, will I have fun, what will the people in charge be like?  And Mill On The Brue is the perfect place to settle their nerves. They offer  single day experiences, which give first timers a nice taster before committing  to a week there. Kids are broken up into manageable groups of 12 (at the most),  allowing them to make the most of the six daily activities on offer. It’s a  family run business with highly trained support staff, so first-time camper  parents can also relax.

Website: http://www.millonthebrue.co.uk/