9 best play tents for kids to make the ultimate den

There’s something instantly mood-boosting about this circus-inspired indoor play tent. With a modern, bold and bright pattern, it will add a pop of colour to any child’s bedroom or playroom.

Made from thick and durable polyester, the main fabric part of the tent popped up almost instantly before we slotted the tent poles into fabric pockets inside and tied them securely in place. Assembly felt simple and intuitive, without the need to closely scrutinise the instructions.

Once assembled, the tent felt sturdy and strong, handling lively play sessions without ripping or stretching. With a 106cm circular footprint and a peaked roof reaching 130cm tall, the tent felt lightweight and roomy – large enough for two children to crawl in together for long role-play and card game sessions.

As the fabric is not waterproof, this tent is recommended for indoor use only, however, we did take it onto our patio on a dry, sunny day, receiving regular thumbs up from our mini testers, through the peephole windows and roll-up door. While it’s a tad bulky to carry, the tent is incredibly lightweight, with an integrated floor sheet making a practical addition.

Our biggest challenge during testing was packing this tent away. After some practice and a YouTube search for guidance, we were eventually able to fold and twist it into its compressed form. There’s no carry bag included with this play tent, however, so you’ll need to keep the original box to store it safely when not in use.

If you’re looking to create a reading nook or den in your child’s bedroom, this play tent comes with a relatively affordable price tag.

While its polyester design isn’t as luxurious as some fabric tipis and tents, the spacious pop-up design is quick to assemble, with sturdy plastic poles that simply hook together on the inside. Combining simple instructions with amusing manoeuvring, we were able to have the tent built and ready to play with in less than five minutes.

Another circular design, with similar dimensions to the Djeco play tent, the Habitat Skye play tent offered plenty of space for two children. Our mini tester loved the muted blue colour palette, dotted with white clouds and hot air balloons, however, the tent is also available in two other designs: a green monochrome jungle theme and a brightly coloured Harley circus design.

The roll-down door and large mesh windows were a welcome addition, and our tester loved Velcroing the door up out of the way, for easy access. While the material is easy to wipe down and clean, it’s also a little thin, so, you need to encourage your children to handle it with care. We did experience a small tear near the base during testing, which, while disappointing, didn’t negatively impact our experience.

While the instructions were detailed for assembly, they left you in the lurch a little when it came to packing away the tent – which could result in some wrestling and frustration if you aren’t already familiar with the technique. That said, the handy carry bag is a huge plus point, resulting in a neat and compact circular pouch that you can conveniently stash behind your sofa.

With its unique design, large footprint and curved roof, the Djeco caravan play tent makes the perfect den for groups of friends; with ample space for multiple children (and even a parent) to crawl inside and enjoy their new hideout.

Assembly was relatively simple and stress-free, using plastic poles with several pieces that easily slot into place. Due to the integrated floor, you aren’t able to simply slide the fabric on top, so, we found it easiest to add the partially assembled frame into the fabric before securing the final few poles into place.

Our mini tester loved discovering all the different animals printed on the outside, from the duck hiding in a shopping bag to the cute ginger cat on the sofa and even some friendly flamingos peering around the front door.

The kids happily stayed inside this play tent for hours, dragging in some pillows and cushions to create a cosy, comforting space, while leaving plenty of room for board games and soft toys. We also loved the addition of a sun porthole window – perfectly sized for children to poke their heads out when asking parents for a snack.

The downside? Just like the smaller Djeco play tent, there’s no carry bag included with this design. While it was easy to pack away when required, it did feel a little bit like a game of Tetris trying to strategically slot everything back inside the box.

While portable pop-up tents are ideal for temporary playtime, tipis make a great bedroom accessory that can be left up year-round. While some tipis can be expensive, The Little Green Sheep’s option offers a stylish and luxurious feel with a reasonable price tag for the quality.

Coming boxed and stashed inside a convenient canvas carry bag, setting up this tipi was very straightforward. First, you fix the five wooden poles together, using plastic joins, before threading them through pre-stitched slots in the high-quality canvas fabric. After spreading the poles apart to create a secure and stable hexagonal shape, you then secure the poles at the top. We loved how the tie was attached to the fabric, ensuring it wasn’t lost or accidentally discarded.

Our mini tester loved the cosy and comforting feel of this tipi, creating a calm and secluded space to chill out with her favourite colouring book. We also took the tipi outside on a dry day, tying back the scalloped edges of the entrance doorway to create a more airy, open space.

You can also buy this tipi bundled with a play mat to sit perfectly inside (£124.95, Thelittlegreensheep.co.uk). Alternatively, simply throw in some fluffy cushions, a comfortable blanket and some plush toys and you may even be tempted to crawl in yourself.

If your child loves dreaming up imaginative role-play scenarios, replicating grown-up behaviours or making up stories with their friends, they’ll love this play tent.

The food truck design features large mesh windows, and our tester loved climbing in through the roll-up door and taking pride of place near the driver’s seat, leaving plenty of room behind for her sister to join in and her favourite teddies to come along for the ride.

Assembly followed a similar vein to the other tents we tested. As well as the integrated floor, we loved the large roll-back sunroof, which not only allowed some welcome ventilation but also helped us keep an eye on the children during play.

This engaging design has excellent attention to detail, with 360 degrees of lifelike illustrations. There’s even a petrol cap on the exterior, enabling children to act out filling up the tank.

While some of the poles required some force to pull apart, we loved the handy carry case, making it easy to pack away after play dates with friends.

Licensed play tents make a great choice for young children who enjoy watching TV, providing the comfort and familiarity of their favourite characters. This Gabby’s Dollhouse Wendy house tent is no exception, with an engaging printed design across all four walls, featuring the exterior of Gabby’s dollhouse to the front, colourful room settings to the rear and her cute sidekick Pandy Paws to the side.

Easy to assemble, the poles simply slot together before you pop them through channels in the fabric, ‘tucking’ it around the frame. With a smaller footprint than some of the tents we tested, this tent is, perhaps, best suited to an individual child seeking a calm space for creative play.

We love the integrated carry handle, which is practical and convenient when it comes to moving the tent between rooms. Thanks to the water-resistant coating, you can even carry this tent out to the garden, without needing to worry about the unpredictable British weather.

After use, the entire fabric piece can be folded flat easily, with no wrestling required, wrapping around the poles before tucking it safely back in its carry bag. A convenient choice to take to play dates and sleepovers or for afternoons with the grandparents.

While muted colour palettes look great in a modern playroom, bold and bright tipis can hold significant appeal for younger children. We instantly fell in love with the wild wonders design from Rex London, with brightly coloured animals.

With straightforward assembly, the wooden poles of this tipi simply slotted together, before threading through the thick polyester coating and securing at the top.

Thanks to the splash-proof coating, this tent is also suitable for use outside the home, creating the perfect space in which to relax and get some shade from the afternoon sun. We loved the inclusion of small rubber feet on the bottom of each pole, which ensured stability and prevented the poles from sinking when placed on grass.

Our mini testers loved popping in a thick throw and cushions for some reading or downtime in the garden, as well as poking their teddies through the window to say hello. While the entrance can be opened up using tie-backs to the sides, it is worth mentioning it does not close entirely, leaving a small gap where you can keep a close eye on your child.

If you’re prepared to invest in a premium outdoor tipi that provides potential for year-round play, Plum’s wooden option will make a striking and impressive addition to your garden. There are several sizes available but we road-tested the great wooden design – a robust and spacious option with a 1.5sqm footprint, which is big enough for children and parents to play together.

While it does require significant assembly, we found it took one adult less time (approximately three hours) than specified in the instructions, although finishing touches such as trims took a little longer to add. While the two large boxes and the number of screws may initially appear a little overwhelming, the instructions were clear and easy to follow, with many pre-assembled panels and pieces that were clearly labelled.

Our mini tester couldn’t wait to settle down inside this tipi, spending huge amounts of time chilling with cushions and blankets and even exclaiming that she was “living the dream”. As this tipi comes as a blank canvas, our mini tester also loved adding a personal touch – working with her sister to treat the wood, paint the exterior and add fairy lights, to create the ultimate reading nook. Whether you keep it natural or add stencils, bright colours or even natural materials to decorate, the opportunities for personalising are limitless.

It can get quite warm inside the tipi on hot days, so, we preferred to leave the Velcro canvas door rolled up for ventilation, however, the kids also loved blocking out the light to create the perfect lair for torchlit stories and planning secret missions.

While there’s no getting away from the significant price tag, we feel this makes a great investment that can be enjoyed for many years to come.

If you’re keen to encourage your child’s creativity and imagination, consider this den as it offers hours of open-ended play without predetermined rules or instructions.

Housed inside a trusty rucksack, this set comes with everything kids need to create their very own secret den in the great outdoors, including a waterproof groundsheet, strong tarpaulin, jute rope, tent pegs and rustic wooden mallet. There’s even some adorable bunting to help decorate their space – something our testers really loved.

The kids got to work almost instantly, cheating slightly (or should we say using their initiative?) to incorporate our existing washing line into their design. They loved popping the pegs into the grass before hammering them securely into place, taking it in turns to share the joy before crawling inside with their favourite teddies and tablets. Our curious cat even took a turn – sneaking in to investigate this new addition to her territory.

We love the portability of this design, making it a great addition for days out in the woods or a trip to the local park. Add some friends, snacks and a whole heap of imagination, and you can easily build some important life skills such as teamwork, logic and persistence.