Your guide to 'Champing', a new way to enjoy a budget family break
Zoe Craig
Associate Editor (Local)It's family-friendly, dog-friendly, and budget-friendly too, as kids under 15 go FREE this summer... Would you try champing for your next family getaway?
There's a new way to enjoy an unusual family-friendly holiday in the UK: champing.
Read on to find out what champing involves, how family-friendly and dog-friendly it is, and if it's the right choice for your family.
What is champing?
Champing is simply camping ... in a church.
Champing was invented in 2016 by the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT), the charity that looks after Anglican churches that have been closed and are considered at risk.
The scheme benefits everyone: on one hand, these gorgeous churches provide a unique and exciting place for families to stay; on the other, the charity gets essential funds required to keep these beautiful buildings in good condition.
Where can you 'champ'?
There are more than 20 churches around England and Wales on the champing website where you can enjoy an overnight stay.
These include churches in Northamptonshire, Dartmoor, and Essex as well as Cumbria, Norfolk, Angelsey and Lancashire.
How popular is Champing?
For those of you who like to get in on a new trend early, you're in luck. Just 1,500 people spent the night 'champing' with the CCT last year. And around 200 dogs.
Wait, DOGS can go champing too?
Yes! Champing is very dog-friendly and dogs stay in these special churches for free.
Do I have to share the church with anyone else?
No. When you book champing, you get the whole building for you and your family. Some churches offer champing for groups of 4, or 6 and some even larger groups of 12.
What about champing with kids?
Champing is perfect for kids looking for an adventurous place to stay. While there aren't any cots or changing facilities, like with camping, it's still a fun place for little ones to have a unique overnight experience.
Children can roam and explore the entire church and church yard, but you need to be aware that the building and grounds are still a consecrated space: rowdy games of football and so on are not allowed in the church yard.
In fact, kids can champ for FREE this summer
And, if you book a champing break between now until the 3 September, up to 4 children can stay for FREE! Simply choose the 'free child stay' when booking.
What's included when you go champing?
There's a kettle, crockery and cutlery, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and sugar; and of course – a corkscrew. Just don’t forget your milk!
There'll also be camp beds, chairs, one or two electrical sockets, lanterns, candles, and... a loo.
Bedding and breakfast are additional extras, available in certain churches only.
Sounds amazing. Are there any downsides to champing?
Well, champing is NOT about spending a luxurious night with all mod-cons. Champing is still like camping, in terms of facilities. Just remember:
- Churches can be cold, just like sleeping under canvas. Layers are recommended!
- There aren't any curtains in churches, so you'll be up with the sun, just like camping, albeit with more sunshine pouring through stained-glass in the morning
- You can't cook inside the churches, so it's snacks and cold food only, really
- There's no running water at most churches; bottled water is supplied from AquAid
- That loo we mentioned... it'll be 'rustic': waterless and eco-friendly
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