When the sun is shining, it’s only natural to want to head out and spend time in the beautiful outdoors. We’ve all been cooped up for far too long.
Enjoying the best of the summer sun can be as easy as taking your lunch break in the local park, but if you’re planning to spend more than a few hours basking in the sun’s rays, a few extra pieces will help you do it in style (and comfort).
Whether you’re planning a camping trip, filling your calendar with backyard BBQ soirees or plan to spend the next few months enjoying the UK’s festival circuit, there are a few outdoor necessities you may want to have in place to help you squeeze every second of enjoyment.
We’re talking gazebos. These temporary canopies offer more than just a spot to shelter from the sun or sudden showers. They become a pop-up living room of sorts, offering a place to eat and reconnect with each other or simply watch the sun move shadows around the garden.
Contrary to common belief, many are designed to take up as little room as possible when in storage, meaning you can squeeze them into a cupboard or shed ready to unfurl when fine weather is forecast.
Keeping them weighted is key; heavy sacks of sand at the legs should keep them in place, although tent pegs will work just as well and are less of a trip hazard.
We’ve rounded up a selection of gazebos to gaze upon.
Shop the list, and get ready for the summer sun.
ABCCANOPY 3x3m Pop up Gazebo Tent Outdoor Canopy Shelter with Netting
Granted, this may not survive a trip to Worthy Farm (it weighs 3.8st for one), but it’ll look smashing in your back garden when you welcome guests for the summer’s best barbecue. The pop-up design can be erected single-handedly in - wait for it - just one minute, according to the manufacturers (presumably after you get it out of the bag).
The design has the air of a luxury beach cabana thanks to the extra awning and gauzy drapes which can be tied back to allow gentle breezes to cool your meat sweats post-BBQ. There’s room to accommodate up to 12 people in a dinner table setting, or as many as your garden chairs will allow. Comes with a compact carry bag for easy storage.
Buy now £219.99, Amazon
Birchtree Gazebo Pop Up No Sidewalls 2x2m - Beige
Standing at 2.4m tall, this pop-up gazebo may look basic but it can help elevate your garden to new heights. The frame and canopy can separate, allowing you to sling the fabric into the wash to keep it in good nick, while the high-quality steel legs offer a durable and robust framework that will keep it steady overhead. It covers around 4sqm of space, giving you ample room to add a bistro set or play area underneath and keep loved ones in the shade.
Buy now £64.99, KMS Direct
VonHaus Pop Up Gazebo 2x2m – Outdoor Garden Marquee with Water-resistant Cover - Ivory Colour
Whip up a summer room in next to no time with this pop-up gazebo which measures 2x2m. It has three optional sides which will no doubt come in handy when the infamous British weather does its thing, but rain aside, the gazebo/marquee can also offer a degree of privacy for special meals when you’re in a campsite. Use the zip to create a safe play area for kids. Two plastic windows ensure everything stays bright and beautiful inside, but you can remove them all and simply use as a gazebo as the event calls. Weighs 10kg.
Buy now £79.99, Amazon
Halfords 300 Fully Waterproof Gazebo with 2 Side Panels
If you’re a keen camper, adding a gazebo to your kit list can reap the rewards not just for you, but for your entire group of friends too. This fully waterproof design will keep things directly under the canopy dry, but we can’t account for sideways rain, so always stow away important possessions when you’re not in the vicinity. The design, which spans 3 x 3m, offers plenty of cover from the sun when things get too warm.
Buy now £85.00, Halfords
Argos Home 4m Hexagonal Garden Gazebo with Side Panels -Blue
Pull out this pop-up gazebo the next time you want to hold a movie night under the stars: with plain wall panels, it offers the perfect surface to project pictures on. Aside from having your very own backyard cinema, you can call upon this garden hosting essential for plenty of other jobs, such as parties, BBQs, and luxury camping over summer weekends. The frame is made from strong steel and the purchase includes things like guy ropes and pegs to help keep it anchored, though it’s probably best not to use it if it's particularly windy outside. Weighs 11kg.
Buy now £93.00, Argos
Business & Pleasure Co Premium Beach Cabana - Vintage Yellow Stripe
You don’t need to be beside the seaside to enjoy the charms of this beach gazebo, although it will undoubtedly help. There’s only one parasol-like central pole made from reclaimed timber: the other canvas legs are to be held down by weights - the whole thing is kept aloft with a simple pulley system. This makes it incredibly lightweight and easy to sling over your shoulder and carry in the matching carry bag. With its tasselled fringe and cheerful yellow and white stripes, it’s a jaunty thing to add to your car’s boot for trips away this summer.
Buy now £245.00, Amara
Outsunny 2.7x2.7m Garden Heavy Duty Gazebo Marquee - White
This basic gazebo from Outsunny is fantastic if you’re looking for a low-cost buy that, with proper care, will see you through a good few summers. The powder-coated steel frame stands 200cm tall and covers a 270 x 270cm area, giving you plenty of room to shelter from sun, wind and rain underneath. As well as white, it comes in two other colours: blue and green.
Buy now £36.99, Robert Dyas
Alvantor Pop Up Gazebo Screen House
Keep bugs at bay with this igloo-style gazebo, which incorporates nets in each of the walls. It sets up in a flash without the need for tools and can fit up to six people inside, offering plenty of lounging space for friends and family. It’s pretty light too, weighing just 6kg, but the item comes with sandbags, gulines and solid stakes to keep it from flying away on windy days. Check the forecast before you get it out though: this design isn’t waterproof.
Available in four dimensions: 6x6ft, 10x10ft, 12x12ft and 15x15ft.
Buy now £219.59, Amazon
LG Outdoor Hamilton Pop Up 3 x 3m Gazebo, Cream
Available in white, navy and green, LG Outdoor’s gazebo is a stylish choice for sun-soaked summer soirees. Enjoy the outdoors while basking under this spacious piece of kit, which measures H256 x W300 x D300cm and only takes 15 minutes to assemble. The canopy is made from durable 180GSM thickness polyester with a waterproof nylon coating, plus promises UV30+ protection.
Buy now £160.65, John Lewis
