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Am after a cheapish 4 man tent, nothing to flash, just needs to do the basics. I have no idea where I would look to buy one. Any advice appreciated.
Decathlon.
+1 for Decathlon. The ones without a sewn in groundsheet do tend to have a gap between the flysheet and the ground which freaks some people out - never bothered me.
My advice is to always try to see the tent erected. You can't get a good feel of the actual space from 2D floor-plans. If you're tall then this is even more important
Go outdoors? Blacks?
http://www.somersetcamping.co.uk/products.asp?s=Khyam online shop I've used a couple of times to buy decent discounted (for the price range) Khyam tents.
Beware modern cheap tents! When they dropped the hydrostatic head to 1600mm and now down to 1400mm, they WILL NOT survive the British weather. If it rains, you get wet. Go for 2000mm minimum for standard camping. If the tent does not state hydrostatic head then steer clear until you find out its rating.
I get in 40-50 days a year in fields and have seen some right nightmares appearing at the festivals/communal camps. We end up having to lend them spare tents or put the miserable drowned rats up in communal domes till they sort their shit out. Make sure you tense them correctly too, no point spending your cash and then skipping on the details. I've heard from friends of mine that many tents were wiped out in the high winds last weekend at a Beltaine festival, probably they weren't guyed up right.
Halfords.
Go-Outdoors always have a good display.
Garden Centres sometimes have a camping shop attached.
Yeomans have regular camp shows throughout the country and permanent displays at their concessions.
A few questions you need to ask are a) do you need to stand up in it; b) will four people actually be sleeping in it; c) how many nights do you plan to spend in it?
If you need room for 4 adults I suggest you get a 5/6 man tent unless you are very good friends!
Outwell make some very good tents (but they cost a bit more), ours is six years old and showing very few signs of wear.
go outdoors has a much bigger selection than decathlon. Prices are pretty good too.
We got ours from Halfords.
Been fine for us when we go to the CLA game fair every year. Dog loves it!
I bought my very first tent on Saturday, for a small weekend festival at a pub in Somerset. Got a Eurohike Avon from Millets for £75, 3-man for the space, 3000mm HH rated, so ought to be ok for the amount I'm likely to use it, and I'm replacing the guys with neon orange and reflective 550 parachord, so it should stay put.