What Forest Holidays does

Forest Holidays Ltd is a UK-based private hospitality company that operates a portfolio of self-catering cabins and treehouses set exclusively on Forestry England (Forestry Commission) land across 13 forest destinations in England, Scotland, and Wales. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Chester, the company runs a tiered cabin accommodation product ranging from Silver Birch entry-level cabins through Golden Oak mid-range units to premium Golden Oak Treehouse, White Willow Premium, and Unfurl Collection properties, with capacities from 1-2 guests up to 10 guests; nearly all cabins feature private outdoor hot tubs. The commercial proposition bundles accommodation with on-site Forest Retreat dining, in-cabin food delivery, breakfast hampers, BBQ packs, and a stack of paid activity experiences (Forest Ranger adventures, archery, cycling, kayaking, forest bathing, in-cabin spa, sauna) plus partner experiences via Go Ape and yhangry chefs.

The company runs a direct-to-consumer distribution model on its own web platform and native iOS and Android apps, supported by an in-house contact centre and gift voucher programme; pricing features a £10 deposit and 2-11 month interest-free pay-monthly option to widen access. Revenue is generated primarily through cabin rentals (subscription-style recurring stays) supplemented by transaction-based F&B, activities, ancillary extras (early check-in, logs, in-cabin entertainment), and one-off gift voucher sales. The customer base spans families, couples, groups, outdoor enthusiasts, and pet owners across the UK domestic leisure market, with no enterprise or B2B channels disclosed.

Forest Holidays Ltd is privately held, with LDC (Lloyds Development Capital) as a disclosed institutional investor following a 2017 funding round; no subsequent rounds, acquisitions, or leadership changes are reported in the available data. The company employs 501-1,000 staff and operates exclusively within the United Kingdom, supported by an exclusive land-use arrangement with Forestry England that underpins its site footprint and serves as the central structural moat of the business.

Name

Forest Holidays

Legal name

Forest Holidays Ltd

Website

https://forestholidays.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Forest Holidays Ltd operates 13 cabin and treehouse holiday destinations exclusively on Forestry England land across the UK, serving UK families, couples, groups, and outdoor enthusiasts through a direct-to-consumer booking platform, mobile app, and ancillary dining and activity experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature-based cabin and lodge holiday accommodation

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Treehouses & Canopy Stays (THAMADAC)

Keywords

• Forest cabin holidays
• Self-catering accommodation
• UK staycations
• Treehouse holidays
• Nature tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Moira

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Cabin Holiday Rentals: Core revenue from renting fully-equipped forest cabins to customers for short breaks and holidays. Cabin types include Silver Birch, Golden Oak, Golden Oak Treehouse, Golden Oak Hideaway, White Willow Premium, The Nest, The Kinwood, and Unfurl Collection cabins. Revenue is generated through per-stay booking fees with flexible payment options including deposits and monthly installments.
2. Food and Beverage: Revenue from on-site Forest Retreat dining, in-cabin food delivery (takeaway pizzas, burgers, curries), breakfast hampers, barbecue packs, and alcohol delivery including wine selection and Edmunds cocktails.
3. Activities and Experiences: Revenue from pre-bookable activities including Forest Ranger adventures, archery, guided woodland walks, pottery painting, in-cabin spa treatments, personal chef experiences through yhangry, and bike hire.
4. Extras and Add-ons: Revenue from additional services such as early check-in (£32), late check-out (£32), kiln-dried logs (£10), in-cabin entertainment (£42+), movie night treats (from £17), map & torch packs, and coffee pods.
5. Gift Vouchers: Sale of gift vouchers for cabin holidays, providing both revenue and customer acquisition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Forest Holidays rents fully-equipped self-catering forest cabins and treehouses across 13 UK woodland locations on Forestry Commission land, with cabins ranging from entry-level Silver Birch to premium Unfurl Collection treehouses. The core offering is bundled with on-site Forest Retreat dining, in-cabin food delivery, pre-bookable Forest Ranger-led activities, wellness services, and flexible booking via £10 deposit and pay-monthly options.

Product overview

Forest Holidays operates a portfolio of log cabin and treehouse holiday accommodations across 13 UK forest locations in England, Scotland, and Wales. The core product consists of cabin accommodation in tiered categories: Silver Birch (entry-level), Golden Oak (mid-range with log burner), Golden Oak Treehouse (premium multi-bedroom), Golden Oak Hideaway (romantic couples), White Willow Premium (luxury with outdoor kitchen), and Unfurl Collection cabins. The accommodation portfolio is complemented by activity experiences (Forest Ranger adventures, cycling, archery, kayaking, forest bathing, bird watching), wellness services (in-cabin spa, sauna), dining options (Forest Retreat restaurants, takeaway delivery, personal chef via yhangry), and digital services (mobile app, Nestflix content platform). Booking flexibility is offered through Pay Monthly interest-free installments and Low Deposit options. The product ecosystem is designed around the 'Forest Feeling' concept - nature-connected staycation experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Silver Birch cabin Entry-level self-catering cabin for 1-6 guests in 2-3 bedrooms with a private outdoor hot tub and barbecue area; designed for short breaks on UK forest locations.
• Golden Oak cabin Mid-range self-catering cabin for 1-8 guests in 1-4 bedrooms featuring a log burner, outdoor barbecue, and private hot tub; for families and groups seeking a home-from-home forest experience.
• Golden Oak Treehouse Premium treehouse sleeping up to 10 guests in 4-5 bedrooms with an en-suite accessed via rope bridge, hot tub, log burner, and decking with barbecue; for memorable group celebrations.
• Golden Oak Hideaway Secluded couples retreat for 1-2 guests in 1 bedroom with a freestanding bath and private outdoor hot tub; designed for romantic getaways.
• White Willow Premium cabin Premium cabin exclusive to Delamere Forest, Garwnant, Keldy, and Strathyre with floor-to-ceiling bifold doors, outdoor kitchen, complimentary prosecco, and welcome hamper.
• The Nest cabin Couples-only retreat cabin located at Delamere Forest, offering intimate accommodation for romantic getaways.
• The Kinwood (Unfurl Collection) Unfurl Collection cabin at Thorpe Forest with forest-inspired interior, master bedroom, a 'The Hide' bunk nook, private deck with hot tub, and covered outdoor seating.
• Unfurl Treehouse (5-bed) Five-bedroom treehouse at Thorpe Forest designed for larger groups and family reunions celebrating key moments in a forest setting.
• Forest Ranger Adventures Guided outdoor activities led by expert Forest Rangers including den building, survival skills workshops, guided woodland walks, nature discovery trails, and Little Wild Ones sessions for children.
• Cycling Holidays Mountain biking and cycling experiences with full-break bike hire available as a pre-bookable extra at Forest Holidays locations (excluding Sherwood Forest and Glentress).
• Archery sessions Outdoor archery sessions from £20 per session at Forest Holidays locations (excluding Beddgelert).
• Kayaking & canoeing Water-based outdoor kayaking and canoeing activities available at Forest Holidays locations.
• Forest Bathing Guided mindfulness and relaxation sessions connecting guests with nature through forest bathing experiences.
• Bird Watching Holidays Nature-focused activity combining bird observation with forest exploration at Forest Holidays locations.
• In-cabin Spa Treatments Relaxing spa services (including manicures and other treatments) delivered in-cabin by professional therapists at Forest Holidays cabin stays.
• Sauna Holidays Cabin-based sauna experiences available for relaxation and health benefits during forest stays.
• Forest Retreat Dining On-site restaurant dining at Forest Retreat featuring a seasonal menu with breakfast from £8.50, brunch, British classics, small plates, and children's meals.
• In-Cabin Food Delivery & Takeaway Takeaway meals delivered to cabin doors including pizzas (from £40), burgers (£30), curry (£38), and movie night treats; available daily for in-cabin dining.
• Personal Chef (yhangry) In-cabin personal chef experience powered by yhangry, offering restaurant-quality dining for celebrations and special occasions at Forest Holidays cabins.
• Forest Holidays Mobile App Mobile application available on iOS and Android providing 10% savings on select breaks and 10% off extras and experiences; supports pre-booking of activities and managing bookings.
• Gift Vouchers Gift voucher products redeemable against Forest Holidays cabin and experience bookings, suitable for festive, Valentine's Day, and general gifting.
• Nestflix bird-themed content platform Streaming-style digital content platform featuring bird-themed shows filmed across British forests, created in partnership with the Get Birding podcast; supports Forest Holidays' nature-tourism positioning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Survey found 34% of Brits blame disconnect from nature on being overwhelmed by digital content
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Get BirdingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2026Partnership with Get Birding podcast to launch 'Nestflix', a tongue-in-cheek streaming-style platform featuring bird-themed shows filmed across British forests. The collaboration aims to connect people with nature and promote birdwatching experiences.
• Go ApecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGo Ape offers tree-top adventure experiences at select Forest Holidays locations. Guests staying at Forest Holidays receive 10% discount on Go Ape experiences. The partnership provides adventure activity options for guests seeking thrill-seeking experiences in the forest environment.
• Forestry EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest Holidays operates on Forestry Commission/Forestry England land, supporting the maintenance and conservation of UK forests. Forest Live concerts at Thorpe Forest and Delamere Forest help raise funds to look after Britain's forests.
• yhangryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partneryhangry provides in-cabin personal chef experiences for Forest Holidays guests. The partnership allows guests to book professional chefs to prepare meals in their forest cabin, enhancing the premium dining experience.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Center Parcs UK: Center Parcs is the closest direct competitor in the UK forest village holiday market, operating multi-location forest resorts with lodges, activities, dining, and family positioning. Same customer base (UK families, couples, groups) and same direct-to-consumer booking model targeting short UK breaks.
• Bluestone National Park Resort: Bluestone is a Welsh resort offering cabin/lodge-style accommodation with on-site activities, dining, and a nature-park setting. Directly comparable to Forest Holidays' Welsh location (Beddgelert, Garwnant) and competes for the same UK family staycation demand.
• Away Resorts: Away Resorts operates UK holiday parks with lodges and cabins across coastal and countryside locations. Comparable on multi-location UK holiday park model with self-catering units and activity add-ons, targeting similar family and group customers.
• Featherdown Farms: Featherdown offers unique cabin and glamping stays on UK farms and countryside estates with on-site activities. Comparable boutique nature-based cabin product targeting families seeking nature-immersive UK staycations.
• Darwin Escapes: Darwin Escapes operates UK holiday parks with lodges and cabins in countryside and coastal locations, with a focus on nature and family-friendly stays. Comparable multi-location UK cabin holiday model.

Broad incumbents

• Hoseasons: Hoseasons is one of the largest UK holiday rental companies, offering lodges, parks, and boats across many locations. Broader portfolio but overlapping cabin/lodge product and shared UK staycation customer base.
• Sykes Holiday Cottages: Sykes is a large UK holiday cottage and cabin rental marketplace with thousands of properties. Competes for the same UK domestic holiday-rental demand though its model is an aggregator rather than an operator.
• Airbnb: Airbnb is a global vacation rental platform with a growing UK portfolio of unique stays including cabins and treehouses. Competes for the same UK staycation wallet share at the broader marketplace level.

Emerging players

• Canopy & Stars: Canopy & Stars curates unique UK stays including treehouses, cabins, and glamping. Smaller scale than Forest Holidays but directly comparable boutique treehouse and nature-stay product targeting similar couples and families.

Regional players

• Landal GreenParks: Landal GreenParks is a European holiday park operator with UK locations, offering forest and countryside lodges with activities. Comparable multi-location forest lodge model but primarily operates outside the UK domestic competitive set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/forestholidays
• Facebookfacebook.com/ForestHolidaysCabins
• Instagraminstagram.com/forestholidays

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forest Holidays