Campsites in South East England

The proximity of Kent and Sussex to Europe has dictated the history of the South East, which has served as a gateway for many invaders. Roman remains pepper the coast – most dramatically at Lullingstone in Kent and Sussex’s Bignor, with both making a great day out. When Christianity spread through Europe, it arrived in Great Britain on the Isle of Thanet – the most easterly point of Kent (since rejoined to the mainland by subsiding sea levels and silting). In 597 AD Augustine moved inland and established a monastery at Canterbury, which is still the home of the Church of England – and arguably South East England’s most important historic attraction. The last successful invasion of England took place in 1066, when, near Hastings, the Normans overran King Harold’s army, on a site now marked by Battle Abbey. The Normans certainly left their mark over this corner of Britain, and Kent especially remains unmatched in its abundance of medieval castles, among them Rochester’s huge citadel, and Dover’s sprawling cliff-top fortress.

There’s something for everyone in the South East, from buzzing Brighton to the grand splendour of ‘Britain’s sunniest seaside town’ Eastbourne, and lovely old towns like Royal Tunbridge Wells, Chichester and Lewes. Then there’s the South Downs National Park (covering over 600 square miles), which offers an expanse of rolling chalk uplands that, as much as anywhere in the UK, gets you away from it all. Mostly made up of farmland, the park – which is the newest member of Britain’s national park family – stretches from the white chalk cliffs of East Sussex all the way to Hampshire. The South Downs National Park is, unsurprisingly, home to one of the South East’s finest walks. The ‘South Downs Way’ dips and rises over 100 miles of chalk uplands, between the impressive cliffs of Beachy Head to the mellow cathedral city of Winchester. The South East is also peppered with reminders of the UK’s darker days. History lovers can visit Dover Castle’s secret war tunnels, Hasting’s 1066 battlefield and plenty of scattered Roman ruins. Perhaps England’s spiritual heart can be found in Canterbury: its famous cathedral and ancient UNESCO-listed sights are a must-see for any traveler. The compact city offers 2000 years of history, with Christian and Roman ruins, a Norman castle and charming Tudor dwellings. Away from the great historic sites, you can spend easygoing days in Kent and Sussex – home to pretty harbour towns, and some of the UK’s finest gardens, ranging from the landscaped estate of Petworth House to the gorgeous flowerbeds of Sissinghurst. The Kent Weald stretches across a large area between the South and North Downs and features parts of both Kent and Sussex. The central section – the High Weald – is a jumble of country lanes, gentle hills, and sleepy villages as well the ancient heathland at Ashdown Forest.

The South East’s Best Beaches

You can't beat camping near the coast – we've even written an entire book about it – and, when it comes to seaside camping we simply love throwing our tent into the car and heading to the South East of England. From the mighty cliffs of Dover, to the expansive sands of East Sussex, this dynamic, historic shoreline is both accessible and convenient as well as utterly beautiful. A few miles west of Rye in East Sussex, much-loved Camber Sands’ is a particular favourite of ours. Here the huge expanse of dunes and sand can get busy but, head over towards the western end and you will escape most of the crowds, while still enjoying the brochure-blue of the sea. Go there for a sunset walk on a warm night and you might just forget you’re in England!

For views, meanwhile, West Wittering’s open stretch of sand overlooks Chichester harbour and the Solent in Hampshire – the best way to reach it is undoubtedly to take the train to Chichester (with a bike), and then ride along the excellent new 11-mile Salterns rural cycle route. From the western end, you can cross a ridge to East Head – a remote sand-dune at the mouth of the harbour that's a delight for kids to play on. To really engage the imagination, though, take the little'uns fossil hunting. Botany Bay is the most northerly of Broadstairs' beaches in Kent, and arguably the most charming, with a 660-foot curve of sand, backed by white cliffs and chalk stacks. When the tide is out it’s excellent for fossils. We've found ourselves here for hours on end with the kids and, if we're not fossil hunting, it's exploring rock pools that fills the time. The most intrepid visitors can also paddle round to the beach's secret bay, where the cliffs where once used by smugglers to hide their booty.

You can't mention beaches in the South East, without mentioning Brighton. It is, undoubtedly, one of England's coolest coastal cities, and has been London's favourite seaside getaway since the Prince Regent first came two centuries ago. Since then, its been knocked about a bit, but Brighton is still the quintessential English beach escape for many. Popular with kayakers, it's now also home to British Airways i360 – the world’s tallest moving observation tower. Come bank holiday weekends the city's beach still fills with sun-seekers and swimmers (whatever the weather) with campers from the surrounding countryside coming along for the fun too. Even those pitching tents in the South Downs will often bring the beach ball along, just in case.

For something different, Littlehampton in East Sussex boasts two award-winning beaches, the gorgeous River Arun and a huge seafront green. There are also two excellent beach cafés designed by top-notch British architects: the East Beach Café by Thomas Heatherwick, and West Beach Café by Asif Khan. St. Mildred’s Bay, too, has a local café as excellent as the beach itself. A stunning cliff-lined, sandy bay, St Mildred's boasts calm swimming conditions for most of the year. Aside from the obvious seaside attractions, there are designated walks along the cliffs which have been declared a site of special interest. Travel up the coast on the ‘Viking Coastal Trail’ and you can choose between the historic Reculver Towers, or rejuvenated Margate to finish up a day by the coast.

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