7 of the best beach tents to protect your babies and kids at the seaside

Easy to set up and good for sheltering away from the typical British weather, a beach tent is a brilliant accessory for summer outings, whether you're heading to your local beach or on holiday abroad.

So, to help you decide which beach tent is best for you and your family, we've assembled a list of the best, all of which have been tried out by our top testers club.

For holiday inspiration, take a look at the best family hotels in Tenerife or the best undiscovered beaches and places to visit in Spain.

Best beach tents at a glance

• Best compact tent: Babymoov Anti-UV Tent, £36.95
• Best open tent: Argos Pro Action Pop Up Shelter, £25
• Best budget buy: Chad Valley Bright Stars Baby Sensory Pop Up Play Tent, £8
• Best for changeable weather: Jojo Maman Bebe Infant Sized Sun Protection Tent with Mosquito Net, £45
• Best for shark fans: Free Swimming Baby Pop Up Baby Beach Tent with Pool, £19.99
• Best for packing up small: Ludi Beach Tent with Pool, £32
• Best for the whole family: Trespass Kingsbarn Pop Up Beach Tent, £34.99

Jump to:

• What to look for when buying beach tents
• Best beach tents

What to look for when buying beach tents

Size – Depending on what you're after, the beach tents in our list vary in size. You'll find some that are small enough for infants, for two kids or so, and then others that are big enough for the whole family. Something to bear in mind though is that the bigger tents won't always fold down as compact as a smaller tent.

Extra features – As standard, you'll get a storage/carry bag with your tent but some beach tents have other extra features such as mosquito nets, mini integrated pools and pegs to help keep the tent in place and not blown away by the wind. You may also get pegs included which keep the integrated pool in place. Some of the options in our list below also include mini integrated pools so that your baby won't miss out on water fun while keeping cool and sitting inside the tent on the beach.

Sun protection – It makes total sense for beach tents to come with sun protection material as essentially, 90% of the time you'll be using your tent outdoors in the sun. Most of the tents in our list have a UPF of at least 50 to keep your child protected from harmful sun rays while they play in the tent. We still recommend that you apply sun cream as specified on the packaging throughout the day to protect your child from sun damage.

Privacy options – It can also help if the tent can be zipped or fastened, giving you a private spot to breastfeed, change a nappy, or get your kids out of a wet swimsuit into a fresh change of clothes.

Ease of fold – Since there is a knack to folding down beach tents, it's best to practise at home before using it. Follow the instructions that come with the tent and try it a few times if you're not so confident.

Here’s our pick of the best beach tents for 2024

1. Babymoov Anti-UV Tent, £36.95

– Best compact tent

Available from: Natural Baby Shower

Weight: <1kg | Sun protection: Yes, UPF 50

Pros:

• Compact design
• Mosquito net
• Closure
• Easy to set up

Cons:

• Not big enough for a group

This Babymoov tent has a number of simple but effective features that will keep you and your child safe while on holiday or at your local beach. The tent comes with a mosquito net to protect little ones from mosquitos and provide some privacy. There's also a ventilation window on the back and the tent features a lovely nautical design perfect to get you in the mood for the seaside.

It's easy to put back down once you get the hang of it – luckily the directions are printed on the label so you always have a reminder.

2. Argos Pro Action Pop Up Shelter, £25

– Best open tent

Available from: Argos

Dimensions: L200 x W120cm | Sun protection: Yes, UPF 50

Pros:

• Open for easy access
• Easy set up
• Generous footprint

Cons:

• No closure for privacy
• No mosquito net

Whether you're playing out in the garden or taking this along to a camping trip, this tent is a good option if you just want a bit of shade from the sun, as opposed to using the tent for privacy. It has a wide open entrance so kids can freely go in and out as they please without having to faff around with opening it. Although it has an open entrance, the tent has a generous footprint with a larger floor covering than some others on the list. The tent offers sun protection of UPF 50, which will help keep kids safe on sunny days, but do remember to also ensure they wear sunscreen and a protective sun hat.

3. Chad Valley Bright Stars Baby Sensory Pop Up Play Tent, £8

– Best budget buy

Available from: Argos

Pros:

• Very affordable
• Smaller size will be easier to set up

Cons:

• Can only take 1 child

Sun protection: Yes, UPF 50+

If you're on a tight budget, this is a super affordable option to take on holiday or keep in the car boot. It's very small and will probably only take one child at a time, but this could be a bonus: because it's on the smaller side it won't be a pain setting it up often if your child constantly wants to play in it in the garden or on holiday. The peep-hole design gives it the feel of a play tent, so that's quite likely.

4. Jojo Maman Bebe Infant Sized Sun Protection Tent, £45

– Best for changeable weather

Available from: Jojo Maman Bebe

Dimensions: H105 x W156 x D115cm (dimensions when folded up) | Sun protection: Yes, UPF 50

Pros:

• Mosquito net
• Closure for privacy
• Pebble pockets to weigh down the tent

Cons:

• Not ideal for a large group

This Jojo Maman Bebe infant beach tent is a great option for infants: it is a good size for them to sit, rest or play in. It also has a closure flap that can be unraveled and secured with velcro straps or rolled up for easy access. The closure is great for moments of privacy if you need to breastfeed or change your baby while on the beach. The closure also doubles up as a mosquito net to keep your infant safe from bugs and insects lurking about. This beach tent also comes with pegs to secure it, but also clever pebble pockets: place beach pebbles inside to help weigh down the tent while the wind is blowing.

5. Free Swimming Baby Pop Up Baby Beach Tent with Pool, £19.99

– Best for shark fans

Available from: Amazon

Weight: 698g | Sun protection: Yes, UPF 50

Pros:

• Fun design
• Ventilation on the sides
• Mini pool

Cons:

• Might be tricky to set up pool properly

Any shark fans will love the fun design of this beach tent! It features fins on either side and pointy shark teeth along the opening so your child can really have fun and get creative with imaginative play. The sides have flaps that can be rolled up to reveal mesh panels that lets in light and air while protecting your child from any flying bugs. Another cool feature is the integrated mini pool that can be easily filled with water fetched from the sea. Simply dig a small ditch in the sand to allow for the pool, and remember to always supervise your child while they play with it.

There are two colour options for this one – blue or pink – so your child can choose which one they prefer. With the automatic pop-up system, it's easy and convenient to set up and fold down quickly into its bag.

6. Ludi Beach Tent with Pool, £32

– Best for packing up small

Available from: Vertbaudet

Dimensions: L105 x W105 x H90 cm | Weight: 3kg | Sun protection: Yes, UPF 50

Pros:

• Fun design
• Compact carry bag
• Mini pool

Cons:

• Might be tricky to set up tent

Beach tents come in all shapes and sizes, and this one comes with square base and is joined in the middle with tent wires. While most of the other tents on the list fold down into a flat but rather large circular shaped bag, this one rolls up into a small, narrow cylindrical bag that may be better suited to being stashed in a pushchair basket or carried on public transport.

With this tent your child can also have the benefit of having the sea close to them without having to be too close: the integrated mini pool can be filled with water fetched from the sea and they can have their own splash fun under the tent's shelter.

7. Trespass Kingsbarn Pop Up Beach Tent, £34.99

– Best for the whole family

Available from: Trespass

Dimensions: H120cm x W220cm | Sun protection: Yes, UPF 50

Pros:

• Large size
• Water-resistant floor sheet

Cons:

• No closure

This tent is made for the beach and will make an excellent choice if you and your family all want to sit together in a sheltered spot. With a width of 220cm, this tent can certainly take more than just your little one. Keep all your family members protected from the sun rays with the UPF 50, one less thing to worry about as you enjoy some fun in the sun.

Though this tent doesn't have an enclosure, it's still a great option for bringing you all together and providing your family with an easy-to-spot beach base on a day out. As it's larger it does need more securing, so the tent comes with pegs and guy ropes to help keep it secure. It also has water-resistant floor sheet to prevent any slipping and sliding when in contact with seawater.