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London and its neighbouring counties are blessed with some fantastic countryside and unspoiled natural spaces, many of which play host to some of the UK’s finest campsites.
Our list – starting with the parks closest to London – contains ten of the best of them.
We’ve sought out sites that offer not just places where you can pitch a tent or park a caravan or camper but ones where you’ll find more offbeat accommodation such as rustic shepherds’ huts, safari-inspired tents and even teepees.
At the same time, we’ve looked for sites that put on some interesting activities and of course are kitted out with the facilities and amenities you’d expect when sleeping under the stars – bathrooms, washrooms and electric hook-ups are a must.
And while the campsites we’ve selected are located in remote parts of the country, we’ve also gone for ones that have super transport links so you can quickly get back to civilisation once your back-to-nature sojourn has come to an end.
1. Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park
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This holiday park in north London is ideal if you’re looking to remain within a quick commute to the capital and do a bit of golfing once you’ve set up camp.
There are a couple of public golf courses on-site – a full 18-holer and a smaller course where you can pitch and putt.
Visitors pay reduced rates for rounds of golf and clubs can be hired at the camp’s reception.
If golfing isn’t your thing, the site also has some great bike routes and an Odeon cinema.
The site hosts tourers and caravans and there are static pods and cabins available for hire if you fancy a more luxurious stay.
However, if you want to get back to nature, you can eschew the fancier pitches and accommodation and head for one of the campsite’s back-to-basics tee-pees, which can be found in their own tee-pee village.
It should be noted that the park is situated in the ULEZ, London’s low emissions zone, so you’re sure to enjoy lungfuls of clean crisp country air during your stay but will have to pay the toll when you enter the zone.
How to Book
You can find prices and book your stay here.
Address
Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park Edmonton
Meridian Way
Edmonton
London
N9 0AR.
Distance from London
11 miles – By car, the campsite is just over 30 minutes away via the A503.
Contact
Tel: 03000 030 625.
Email: edmontoncampsite@leevalleypark.org.uk.
Pet Friendly?
Yes. The park says it welcomes well-behaved dogs, but they must be kept on a lead at all times.
However, dogs are not allowed in any of the pods or cabins.
2. Aldenham Country Park
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This holiday park is set in 100 acres of prime Hertfordshire countryside right on London’s doorstep – it is just 12 miles from central London.
Children in particular will love this campsite given that it plays host to 100 Aker Wood, a mocked-up version of the famous woodland home of Pooh Bear and his friends, where they can investigate some of the houses and habitats familiar from the book.
As far as camping is concerned, tents are welcome and aren’t allocated in the rigid manner of some sites so you pick a spot and secure your tent wherever you wish.
You can also hire a bell tent, a five-metre canvas structure that provides a touch of luxury for your alfresco slumbering.
And if seclusion is your thing, you can even book a private section of the camping field for a private, secluded camping experience that is accessible just to you and your guests.
As far as food is concerned, there are two food options on-site: The Clockhouse Kiosk and Rustic Rhubarb offering both outdoor and indoor seating serving up all-day breakfasts and delicious homemade cakes.
But if you want to BBQ you will have to use the camp’s designated BBQ area as cooking food on individual pitches isn’t permitted.
How to Book
You can find prices and book your stay here.
Address
Aldenham Country Park
Aldenham Rd
Radlett
Borehamwood
WD6 3BA.
Distance from London
15 miles – By car, the campsite is approximately 40 minutes away via the A41.
Contact
Tel: 0208 953 9602.
Email: info@aldenhamcountrypark.co.uk.
Pet Friendly?
Yes. Dogs are welcome. However, they are not allowed in certain areas of the farm, which are signposted, nor in any of the child play areas.
3. Apps Court Farm
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The campsite at Apps Court in northwest Surrey is part of a parcel of land that goes back to ancient times. In fact, such is the antiquity of the acres here that they feature in the Domesday Book.
Not only is it ancient but it is local for Londoners – the campsite sits within the M25 and is just eight miles from central London.
This 80-acre camp sits along the banks of the Thames and its 100 pitches provide plentiful space for motorhomes, campervans, caravans, RVs and tents – with both electric and non-electric pitches available.
As far as activities are concerned, there are two large fishing lakes on site and lots of activities run by external companies, including quad biking, archery and mini tanks.
There are also three pubs nearby – The Swan, The Anglers Walton Thames and Bell – and are all within a ten-minute drive of the camp.
How to Book
You can find prices and book your stay here.
Address
Apps Court Farm
Hurst Rd
Walton-on-Thames
KT12 2EG.
Distance from London
18 miles – By car, the campsite is 48 minutes away via the A4.
Contact
Tel: 01932 244 822.
Email: community@appscourtfarm.com.
You can also use this form to contact the campsite.
Pet Friendly?
Yes.
4. Swiss Farm
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This five-star camp in rural Oxfordshire is a short walk from the beautiful town of Henley-on-Thames and within strolling distance of the famous Royal Regatta course on the River Thames.
Camping, glamping and touring are all catered for.
For a bit of luxury, there are also cabins and a new addition to the accommodation mix on the site – rustic shepherds’ huts, perfect for romantic getaways for couples.
The camp is the go-to destination for travellers during the week when Henley hosts the world-famous Henley Regatta, a jamboree of rowing during which 200 races are hosted, some featuring Olympians.
In addition to the rowing, camp visitors have access to an array of restaurants and bars and enjoy stunning views of the town of Henley and the purling waters of the River Thames.
How to Book
You can find prices and book your stay here.
Address
Swiss Farm Touring & Camping
Marlow Road
Henley-on-Thames
Oxfordshire
RG9 2HY.
Distance from London
37 miles – By car, the campsite is approximately 60 minutes away via the M4.
Contact
Phone: 01491 573 419.
Email: info@swissfarmhenley.co.uk.
Pet Friendly?
Yes. There are ‘off-the-lead’ walking areas on the campsite and a dog washing area.
5. Henley Four Oaks Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
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Another campsite in rural Oxfordshire, the Four Oaks Club is small but charming.
The location of the camp is the real attraction. It is a small and private site surrounded by greenery and statuesque trees, giving visitors plenty of privacy.
There are no spots for tents at the site, but it is the perfect place to park a motorhome or caravan on one of its tree-lined cul de sacs, where visitors are free to park pell-mell rather than in the regimented lines you find at some other campsites.
The site has a total of 81 pitches, most of them level, with 55 on hardstanding and the rest grass pitches. All pitches have access to a 16-amp electricity supply.
The site is a rural idyll offering a quiet place away from the hussle-bussle of city life, but if you want a bit of activity, the transport links are good.
This means Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace and central London are within easy reach. And for the kids, Legoland is just 15 miles away.
How to Book
You can find prices and book your stay here.
Address
Henley Four Oaks Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Marlow Road
Henley-on-Thames
Oxfordshire
RG9 2HY.
Distance from London
38 miles – By car, the campsite is approximately 60 minutes away via the M4.
Contact
Tel: 0333 996 7888.
Pet Friendly?
Yes.
6. Luna Domes
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The accommodation at this park in Kent is unlike any of the other sites on our list – they are offbeat orbicular pods that you don’t tend to find in the UK, but you do find on the Alpine slopes of Europe’s ski resorts.
The pitches themselves aren’t typical of the ones you find at other campsites either.
They are on a split level and spread around the environs of Houth House, a manor house that’s the centrepiece of the park.
The domes are based at Chartwell, Hever, Knole, Scotney, Ashdown, and Wakehurst.
As you’d expect, the futuristic pods are kitted out with all the mod-cons, including private bathrooms, comfortable beds, and kitchenettes.
You can also stay in the manor house or its adjoining barns if that takes your fancy.
Wherever you opt to lay your head, you will enjoy access to the site’s outdoor heated pool and its Finnish sauna.
How to Book
You can find prices and book your stay here.
Address
Hoath House
Chiddingstone Hoath
Kent
TN8 7DB.
Distance from London
42 miles – By car, the campsite is approximately 70 minutes away via the M25.
Contact
Tel: 0333 577 2566.
Email: hello@lunadomes.com.
Pet Friendly?
Yes.
7. Seaview Holiday Park
Our Camping Pods at Seaview come with a sea view 😎🏖⠀
⠀
📌 Seaview Holiday Park, #Kent pic.twitter.com/qxbX91qzBy— Park Holidays UK (@ParkHolidaysUK) February 16, 2020
This 40-acre sea-front holiday park sandwiched between Whitstable and Herne Bay on the north coast of Kent is the place to be if you’re looking to do a bit of beachcombing and watersports on your holiday.
The campsite is also perfect for travellers who wish to check out the attractions of the Garden of England, especially the ancient city of Canterbury, which is just 20 minutes away.
The park offers a range of facilities, including a family-friendly restaurant, a public bar, an arcade for entertainment and a heated outdoor swimming pool.
There are 200 pitches available, with spaces for tents, campers, caravans and holiday homes.
The touring pitches tend to be flat pastureland and come with electrical hook-up points so you can power your appliances.
How to Book
You can find prices and book your stay here.
Address
Seaview Holiday Park
St Johns Road
Whitstable
Kent
CT5 2RY.
Distance from London
63 miles – By car, the campsite is approximately 80 minutes away using the M2 and A2.
Contact
Tel: 01227 207107.
Email: holidaysupport@parkholidays.com.
Pet Friendly?
Yes. Both dogs and cats are allowed on the campsite.
8. Hardwick Parks
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For fans of watersports, it doesn’t get much better than Hardwick Parks in Oxfordshire.
The campsite is located along the banks of two lakes and offers an unrivalled array of water-based activities.
It is one of the bigger camps on our list, offering 196 pitches for all manner of touring caravans, tents and motorhomes.
Both hard and grass pitches are available, with 10-amp electric hook-ups available on all of them.
Less than five miles away from the site is the market town of Witney, offering high-street shopping, pubs, cinemas and restaurants.
For children, Witney has a miniature golf course, skate park and play park.
Less active guests can make their way to the Boat Shed, a riverside clubhouse and bar where they can enjoy a tipple or two and enjoy some great pub grub.
How to Book
You can check prices and book your stay here.
Address
Hardwick Parks
Downs Road
Standlake
Witney
Oxfordshire
OX29 7PZ.
Distance from London
69 miles – By car, the campsite is approximately 90 minutes away via the M40.
Contact
Tel: 01865 300501.
Email: info@hardwickparks.co.uk.
Pet Friendly?
Yes. Dogs must be well-behaved and a maximum of two pooches can be brought along for every pitch hired.
9. Seal Bay Resort
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This campsite in sun-soaked Selsey on the tip of the Manhood peninsula in West Sussex is the southernmost of the ones on our list and is situated on a mile-long length of privately owned shoreline.
Given the camp’s location on the Solent, it is ideal for holidaymakers looking to enjoy water-based activities such as swimming, windsurfing, sailing, and surfing.
The accommodation is as unique as the location.
There are spaces for traditional tents and caravans but there are also unique places to stay in the shape of one-of-a-kind safari tents and beach-side cabins where the waters lap at your door.
Both hard and grass pitches are available and electric hook-ups and water-supplied spots are available but if you want to really get back to basics you can opt to stay on a simple grass pitch sans water or electricity.
Activities include a wave-riding machine, The Dockyard, a children’s activity centre, and a pottery studio.
How to Book
You can find prices and book your stay here.
Address
Seal Bay Resort
Douglas Bunn House
Warners Lane
Selsey
Chichester,
West Sussex
PO20 9EL.
Distance from London
75 miles – By car, the campsite is approximately two hours away via the A3.
Contact
Tel: 0333 996 7888.
Email: sealbay.holidays@cove.co.uk.
Pet Friendly?
Yes.
10. Green Hill Farm Holiday Village
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This holiday park is set in 219 square miles of ancient woodland and heathland in the New Forest, ideal if you’re looking to do some hiking or investigate nature trails during your stay in the country.
If you’re lucky you might even run into members of the pack of New Forest ponies rangers recently released into the forest on one of your walks.
The campsite hosts 90 pitches in total, with 45 spaces reserved for traditional tents in the site’s hilltop meadow, from where alfresco sleepers can take in stunning views of the nearby fishing lake.
For guests looking for somewhere more offbeat to lay their heads, there are safari tents for hire, each equipped with a hot tub heated by kindling.
On-site activities include archery, watersports, boules and falconry. And be sure to check out the lavender gardens, a floral assault on the senses that is just a 15-minute walk from the campsite.
How to Book
You can find prices and book your stay here.
Address
Green Hill Farm Holiday Village
New Road
Landford
Wiltshire
SP5 2AZ.
Distance from London
92 miles – By car, the campsite is around two hours away via the M3 and M4.
Contact
Tel: 0344 230 7085.
Email: enquiries@lovatparks.com.
Pet Friendly?
Yes. There are even dog showers on site so you can wash your pet after a day’s trekking in the New Forest.
Final Thoughts
London and its adjacent counties have a campsite for every traveller.
The traditional grass pitches, where you can pitch your canvas tent and roast marshmallows on an open fire are still popular, but so too nowadays are glamping and other non-traditional types of outdoor accommodation that cater to the more luxury-focused traveller.
The safari cabins and lunar domes we’ve highlighted are suggestive of the changes taking place in the camping sector.
And because we’ve opted for ones within easy reach of London, whether you opt for a traditional tent, a bohemian teepee or a luxury pod, you’ll have no problem returning home once your alfresco adventure has come to a close. Alternatively, you can always escape to a London luxury hotel.
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