Find the perfect pop up beach tent for summer

A pop up beach tent is the ultimate accessory for days out at the seaside.

pop up beach tent

by Tiffany Wallis |
Updated on

Heading to the beach? A pop up tent is a brilliant item to pack, not only to provide protection from the sun, but also as a shelter if the British weather doesn't play ball!

Whether you’re jetting abroad or going on a staycation in the UK, a pop up beach tent comes in really handy when it comes to sun protection for adults, pets and children.

Plus, it keeps the wind at bay, handy to avoid sandy sandwiches, and is the perfect shield from a summer shower. Tents also make a great landmark too when you are heading back from a paddle in the sea or a stroll along the dunes.

So, add a good pop up beach tent that won’t fly away in the wind to your beach essentials list.

We’ve scoured countless online retailers, taking into account UV protection, ventilation, user-friendliness, sturdiness, and budget.

What to look for when buying a pop up beach tent?

• UV protection

• Stability

• Ease

• Portability

• Size

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections. Why trust us?

Gallery

The best pop up beach tents 2021

bfull1 of 10

Bfull Pop Up Beach Tent for 1-2 Person

An affordable pop up beach tent for days at the seaside, this portable option is ideal for a day out.It's size is suitable for two people and the major selling point is that it can be set up in less than two seconds. There's no assembling involved and it's light to carry around. The UV pop up sun tent is SPF 50 so it can protect you from the sun and it is watertight so it will keep you dry on rainy days. There's also a door with a zipper which provides total privacy when closed so you can use the space to change or sleep.There's a curtain with a mesh back too and sand pocket on each side to provide more support when it's extra windy. A reviewer said, "Really excellent product, very well priced. The way it folds up means that it fits in the bottom of a suitcase, which is the best. It's also very light, so it doesn't kill your luggage allowance!" Dimensions: 165 x 110 x 153cmWeight: 0.95kg

pets at home2 of 10

PRIMAX Pop Up Tent Family with Anti UV 50+ UPF

No-one wants a beach tent that blows away in the wind so it's great that this pop up beach tent comes with a set of ground pegs. You can fill the side pockets with sand for extra stability and the easy to plant stakes mean you can secure this pop up beach tent just about anywhere. The Pets At Home PRIMAX option can also be set up and packed in a matter of seconds - and it comes in a fun, orange colour. It's family sized and there's even room for your dog too so it's the perfect pop up beach tent for your whole brood to enjoy a private cabana on the beach.It's multi-purpose and can be used in the garden or at the park for picnics too. The coated fabric offers a UV protection factor of 50+ which means it blocks out over 96% of harmful UV rays.Dimensions: 110 x 200 x 115cmWeight: 2.72kg

aldi3 of 10

Adventuridge Pop Up Tent

This Aldi pop up beach tent is suitable for two people and it's the perfect option for your next beach day. It's waterproof and comes with a ventilation window as well as a mesh mosquito net, so you'll be equipped for all UK weather eventualities. Come rain or shine! It's pop-up system means it can be erected within a matter of seconds and it can be packed away just as easily. It comes with a compact carry case with handles and an adjustable shoulder strap too. The Adventuridge pop up tent also comes with all the necessary pegs you might need to secure it to the ground - so you'll feel rest assured that your tent isn't going anywhere! Dimensions: 245 x 145 x 110cm Weight: 1.8kg

baby4 of 10

BABYMOOV Anti UV sun tent 50 + UPF protection - blue stripe

This anti UV pop up beach tent from Babymoov offers the highest UV protection (UPF 50+). Since it's designed to protect baby's sensitive skin, you can be assured it's offering the best level of protection.It's the perfect shield from harsh UV rays, wind and sand - plus it's easy pop-up system means folding, unfolding and putting it up is a breeze!It comes with four tent pegs to secure the pop up beach tent into the ground as well as a storage bag with a wide shoulder strap for ease. The large zipped opening is made from a fine mesh mosquito net for protection against insects and the two ventilation windows provide good air flow on warm days. It weighs less than 1kg so it's easy to carry too! Plus it's stylish striped design is trendy and makes it look different from any standard tent. Dimensions: 100 x 100 x 80 cm Weight: <1kg

decathlon5 of 10

Quechua camping shelter

If you'd rather not spend hours pitching your beach tent before you can use it, this is the one for you.It's quick and easy to put up, as well as simple to pack away when you're ready to head home. Giving you a hint with its name, Decathlon's 'two-second' camping shelter is perfect for one adult looking for some peace and quiet on a night away or two kids for shelter at the beach. It can even act as the ideal sleep spot for two children on their first camping sleepover in the garden.The pop up beach tent provides shelter from the sun with the fabric filtering UV radiation at a UPF of 30 and there's a large opening for ventilation too. You should also feel safe knowing it can withstand windy weather as Decathlon tested it in a wind tunnel on a rotating platform! A reviewer said, "Says 2 seconds and was 2 seconds. So easy to use and carry around."Dimensions: 110 x 150 x 110 cmWeight: 1.1 kg

krater6 of 10

Kratax Pop Up Beach Tent for 1-3 Person

This pop up beach tent is perfect for a family day out in the summer - as it automatically pops up and opens in 1 second and folds back down in only 3 seconds. It's not only the innovative pop up system that makes this Kratax tent a great choice; it's also rated UPF 50+ for UV sun protection due to its special silver coated fabric. The groundsheet is long enough for adults to lie down and relax plus the tent is easy and light to transport - it comes with its own travel bag too. There's also an open-door design, rear mesh window keeping the tent cool and it's wind-proof structure from the double dense interwoven mess design means it's suitable for all weather.External sand pockets and six metal nails keep the tent safely weighted down to the ground.Feel rest assured as all Kratax beach tents come with a 12-month warranty too! A reviewer said, "This is an excellent item that can be used as a play tent in the garden or a beach tent to protect the kids from the sun. It's really easy to set up, it simply pops up!"It folds down quickly making it great to throw in the car and is stored in a handy carry bag."Dimensions: 165 x 150 x 110 cmWeight: 0.95kg

mega pop up7 of 10

OUTSUNNY 1-2 man pop up beach tent

This pop-up beach tent does what it says on the tin. It pops up in seconds, and folds back down just as easily. It has a fibreglass structure so it stays in shape all day long. The two-man size makes it perfect for you and a friend to enjoy a beach day together. There's a large entrance at the front and free drawstring bags that can either be used to fill with sand for extra weight - or for extra storage for your belongings. Plus, you'll keep yourself protected as the UV tent features a full silver fabric coating for optimum protection while there's ventilation through the window at the back to keep you cool. The extended front floor provides extra space for you to sit and watch the world go by. At the end of the day, carry it home in it's round carry bag.If you're after something that does it all, this pop up beach tent does the trick.A reviewer said, "Don't normally write reviews - but just received this and pulled it out the bag, and it really did pop straight up! Seems good quality material, and big enough for 2 adults to sit in." Dimensions: 130 x 220 x 125 cm

pro action8 of 10

Pro Action Pop Up Shelter - UV SPR50 Protection

Argos' pop up beach tent is the perfect solution to shielding from the sun on a warm summer's day. This option gives you a UV SPR50 protection and it also keeps you protected from the wind and sand. It comes with tent pegs so you can secure it to the ground and most importantly, it's pop up structure means it can be opened and set up as well as stored away, in seconds. According to Argos, the pop up beach tent forms a flat disk with a diameter of 64cm when folded. A reviewer said, "Super easy to pop up and not too tricky to file away. It's really spacious inside and great for little ones on the beach." Dimensions: 200 cm x 120cm x 120 cmWeight: 0.8kg

active era9 of 10

2 Person Beach Tent with UV Protection

Whether you're arriving on foot, by car or on the train, you'll want a pop up beach tent that's lightweight and comes with a handle or a bag so you can easily transport it. This two-person beach tent may be smaller than the family-sized options but it's great if you're just heading out for the day.Say goodbye to confusing tent instructions and fiddly poles as this tent automatically pops up in seconds, and only takes a few minutes to put away. It's lined with a UPF 50+ UV so it will protect you from the sun's strong rays plus the open-door design and rear mesh window ensure the inside of the tent is always ventilated.External sand pockets and pegs will keep this tent safely tied to the ground and it's huge selling factor is it's incredibly lightweight design. Weighing only 0.98kg, it's super lightweight, easy to pack away and nicely fits in a small bag - the perfect beach day accessory!

vertbaudet10 of 10

UV-Protection Tent with Mosquito Net, by Babymoov

With its 50+ high level of protection, this UV-protection tent filters the UV rays so that children can safely play or take a nap in the sun. It's easy to set up thanks to its pop-up system and it can be fixed to the ground using the pegs included.It comes with a carry bag with long shoulder straps so that it can be easily transported plus an essential key point is the large mosquito net on the front of the large opening of the tent.It provides great protection against insects and comes with a window at the back as well as storage pockets. This pop-up beach tent is only big enough for a few little ones due to its size but we love the fun colours and design - it's a fab spot for your pooch to get some shade too!Dimensions: 98 x 90 x 85 cmWeight: 1.25 kg

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Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us