Campsites Near London: Top Tips For Your Capital Camping Trip

You needn’t travel for days to escape the capital. There are heaps of campsites near London and, with these top tips, we’ll help you find the out-of-city campsite that’s right for you.

There are heaps of campsites near London; here’s how to find the perfect place to camp beyond the big smoke…

It’s always an irony of living in a busy city like London that,
no matter how convenient it is having everything on your doorstep, the one
thing you can’t have is space. Wide open nothingness doesn’t come easily in the
big smoke. Yes, there are parks, trees and the odd grassy hill, but if, like
us, you’ve got a hankering for proper natural greenery, then you might just
need a camping holiday. And the good news is, campsites near London are
actually not that hard to find. In fact, with so many people looking to escape
for the weekend and retreat into a more natural, peaceful landscape, campsites
near London are more popular than ever, with new campsites opening every year!
Here we help you find the best with our handy guide to the camping near the
city…

Where to find campsites near London

While we know of a couple of campsites in Paris, a quirky
caravan park in central Berlin and a glamping site on a rooftop in Bristol,
there currently aren’t many decent campsites actually inside London city itself.
Nevertheless, the surrounding counties offer plenty of opportunities and with
good rail links out of the city you can easily visit campsites near London
without a car (see how to visit campsites
near London). Families often choose to head further afield into East Anglia
– the north Norfolk coast is a particular popular camping spot for Londoners – but,
if you want sites closer at hand, you needn’t travel such a long distance. From
South London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex are most convenient, with many campsites
less than an hour from the capital, while, to the north, heading west to
Berkshire and Bedfordshire is a wise choice. The campsites in these western locations
make the most of the Chiltern Hills, which run in a chalky band across the Home
Counties, as well as the River Thames, which is home to some excellent
riverside campsites. Those in the south, meanwhile, capitalise on the scenery
of the South Downs and Kent’s High Weald.

When to visit campsites near London

It’s no surprise to learn that the closest campsites to
London fill up on weekends and are much quieter during the week. For maximum
seclusion, it’s worth extending your holiday into the week when sites are much
quieter – though in the school holidays the mid-week days can still be busy too. If
you’re planning on visiting a campsite on the weekend, make sure you book well
in advance. Campsites near London can book up months before and the small,
independent campsites recommended here on the Cool Camping website are often
the earliest to get full!

How to visit campsites near London

Driving is the easiest way to reach many of the campsites
recommended on the Cool Camping website but that are several spots that can be
conveniently reached via public transport. Check the public transport section on our campsite pages for clear details on
how to reach each site and look out for small campsites where the owners may be
willing to pick you up from the station (we often make it clear if they do).
The likes of Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite and Cookham Lock can also be
reached by bicycle, located as they are by a riverside towpath. In fact, if you
have a canoe you could even paddle to them from the city!

Glamping near London

If camping’s not your thing, then there are many glamping sites
near London too. Check out our dedicated guide to glamping near London for the
full range of options. Just like campsites, these glamping options are in high
demand and should be booked early to secure your place. Whether it’s tree
houses, yurts, shepherd’s huts, bell tents, safari tents or something more
quirky, there’s plenty of choice. Some places, like Blackberry Wood in East Sussex,
even have a whole variety of glamping abodes, including a double decker bus and
an ex-RAF helicopter!

Wild Camping near London

For most people escaping the city, wild camping is hugely
appealing given its contrast with urban life. It’s not legal to wild camp
in most of England, though, if you abide by the golden rule to ‘leave no trace’ and
follow the important tips in our wild camping guide, it’s still possible to
wild camp in a responsible (and hidden) way. Our advice, however, is to
stay on the right side of the law and head for one of the ‘nearly wild’
campsites on the edge of the city. Campfire-friendly Badgells Wood has a
fantastically wild feel and pretty much lets campers loose in a ginormous
stretch of woodland. While, Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite does exactly what
it says on the tin.

And a few of the best campsites near London right now…

You can find our full collection of campsites near London
here but, for a few quick suggestions, check out this roundup of excellent
campsites:

Lee Valley Almost Wild Campsite, Hertfordshire

This wild campsite is within easy cycling distance of North
London, with the riverside towpath starting near the Olympic Park. Pitches
are tucked in small clearings and you can launch canoes straight from the
campsite. Campfires permitted.

Welsummer, Kent

Family-friendly Welsummer is featured in our
brand new guidebook, Cool Camping Kids
and is ideal for little nippers to explore with woods, meadows and streams.
Campfires permitted.

Hurley Riverside Park, Berkshire

On the banks of the Thames, this large campsite has ample
facilities for families and good access for boating on the river.

Embers Polesden Lacey, Surrey

In the grounds of the National Trust-owned Polesden Lacey
Estate, this pop-up campsite has acres of space and campfires at every
pitch.

Badgells Wood Camping, Kent

Seemingly wild and unmanaged, this woodland site is carpeted
with bluebells in spring and has excellent views from the edge of the trees.
Campfires very much encouraged.

Eco Camp UK (Wild Boar Wood), Sussex

Another wild wonder, this time in Sussex, Eco Camp UK has
the most five star reviews of any campsite on the Cool Camping website and is
deserving of the praise. Campfires permitted.

The Secret Campsite, Sussex

Not so secret and appearing in the Cool Camping guidebooks
since our very earliest editions, this classic, traditional campsite is easy to
reach from London but also a short drive from the south coast.

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