Bell Tents

What a bell tent is

A bell tent is a round tent with a low upright wall all the way round and a roof that rises to one tall centre pole, with a smaller pole holding up the door. The shape gives you room to stand across most of the floor and space for real beds round the edge. Bell tents are heavy and made to stay up for a while, which is why so many are used for glamping and long stays. Several here are sold as yurts, the same round shape, and two of those stand on a steel or galvanised iron frame.

Choosing a size of bell tent

A bell tent is sized by the diameter of its floor, the distance straight across. The cotton canvas bell tent here comes at 3m, 4m, 5m and 6m across. The large family bell tent is 400 by 400cm and 240cm high, for 4 to 10 people, and weighs about 20kg. The luxury bell tent yurt splits about 7m² into a bedroom and a living area. Because the wall is low, beds and bags go round the outside and the middle is for standing, so choose by the beds you want to fit, not only the people.

Canvas, cotton or polyester

• Cotton canvas breathes, so it stays cooler in sun and drips less condensation, and the cotton canvas tent here is rated PU5000. See canvas and cotton tents.
• 900D Oxford cloth is a heavy woven synthetic. The two Oxford yurts here are sold as waterproof and mould-resistant, one rated over 3,000mm. See Oxford fabric tents.

New cotton canvas can let a little water through at the stitch holes until it has been wetted and dried once or twice, which swells the threads shut, so pitch it and hose it down before the first trip. Synthetic fabric does not need this. Whatever it is made of, dry a bell tent fully before packing it away, or it can go mouldy.

Pitching a bell tent

Two people make it easy. Peg out the groundsheet or floor in a circle with the door zipped shut, put the centre pole and door pole inside, raise the centre pole, then peg the wall and the guy lines all round, pulling it even. A bell tent this heavy needs good pegs and a mallet. The modular bell tent here can be joined to others to make a bigger camp.

Questions people ask about bell tents

Can I use a stove in a bell tent?

Not in these: none of the bell tents here has a stove jack. A stove belongs only in a tent made for one, with a carbon monoxide alarm. See hot tents with a stove jack.

Are bell tents good for glamping?

Yes, and they are the classic glamping tent. See glamping bell tents and tent rugs and carpets.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when that tent usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.

More to look at

• Glamping bell tents
• Tipi tents
• Safari tents
• Canvas and cotton tents
• 10-man and larger tents
• Tent mallets
• Guide: Bell tents and glamping
• Guide: Tent care: cleaning, drying, storing and repairs