Staycations are here to, well, stay, and with temperatures in the UK set to hit above 30C this summer, a good old-fashioned camping trip is the ideal getaway for many, especially those travelling with family and friends.
After all, few other holiday experiences bring people together like camping. Maybe it’s the teamwork needed for pitching up and getting organised, heightened by the freshness of being in the big ol’ outdoors. Whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that bonding with your nearest and dearest is best done beside a crackling campfire, beneath a star-dotted night sky, with a cold beer in hand.
The great news is we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to camping in England, with rugged coastlines, woodlands and numerous Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty all providing an idyllic backdrop to a camping trip.
Whether you’re after cheap and cheerful or prefer to holiday in the lap of luxury, there’s a wealth of open-air experiences on offer. From the far-southern coast of Cornwall and rolling hills of the Midlands, up to the lakes of Northumberland, here’s our pick of the best campsites to pitch up at this summer and beyond.
The 10 best campsites in England are:
- Best for stargazing: Kielder Campsite, Northumberland
- Best for scenic views: Castlerigg Farm, the Lake District
- Best for water sports: Sleningford Watermill, Yorkshire
- Best for countryside: Bank House Farm, Peak District
- Best for families: Rowlestone Court, Herefordshire
- Best for a unique stay: Waterclose Meadows, Cambridgeshire
- Best for getting back to nature: Denny Wood, the New Forest
- Best for fans of English fizz: Tanner Farm Park, Kent
- Best for surf: Tristram, Cornwall
- Best for coastal camping: Beacon Cottage Farm, Cornwall
Best campsites in North England:
Best for stargazing: Kielder Campsite
Location: Kielder, Northumberland
This forest campsite is just three miles shy of the Scottish border— (Kielder Campsite)
Few man-made attractions match up to nature’s ability to create the finest features. Kielder Water and Forest Park are different. Nature has grabbed the opportunity and made this entirely manufactured landscape one of its own.
This forest campsite sits close to the northwest tip of a lake, and is three miles shy of the Scottish border. It’s enclosed by trees, yes, but there are still glimpses of moorland. Within the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, night views are of another world.
Best for scenic views: Castlerigg Farm
Location: Cumbrian Fells, Lake District
Sitting on a Cumbrian fell, this campsite overlooks Derwentwater— (Caroline Mills)
For a decent campsite view, it doesn't get much better than Castlerigg Farm near Keswick.
Tucked amid sheltering stone walls, the campsite sits on a Cumbrian fell, overlooking Derwentwater – and what feels like every other Cumbrian fell there is to see in the Lake District.
Best for water sports: Sleningford Watermill
Location: Ripon, Yorkshire
From canoeing to fishing, water babies will feel right at home here— (Caroline Mills)
You don’t have to be mad keen on canoeing to stay here, but it helps. The chances are, even if you had no intention of performing a barrel roll in the River Ure when you arrive, you’ll at least be dipping a big toe in before you leave. Plus, there are fishing rights for anglers.
The riverside campsite is conservation-friendly – you’ll pass by bug hotels, swathes of wildflowers and bird boxes aplenty on your way to your pitch. This is a little slice of North Yorkshire heaven.
Best campsites in the Midlands:
Best for countryside: Bank House Farm
Location: Buxton, Peak District
The eight-mile Manifold Way cycle track is on your doorstep— (Bank House Farm)
While walkers and climbers roam the rugged High Peak, Bank House Farm sits beautifully amid the lesser-known Staffordshire section of the Peak District. The landscape is soothingly gentle – you’ll take a while to drink your tea while gawping at the views from the hilltop end of the campsite.
The diminutive River Manifold runs through the site, allowing alternative riverside pitches beyond wildflower-strewn banks. For safe cycling, the Manifold Way is an eight-mile cycle track that begins within a few yards of the campsite.
Best for families: Rowlestone Court
Location: Rowlestone, Herefordshire
Kids will love this campsite’s “secret dens” and Woodland Adventure Trail— (Caroline Mills)
In deepest, rural Herefordshire is Rowlestone Court. Here, blending in with the county’s famous black and white houses is the monochrome herd of Friesian cows owned by the Williams family. Award-winning ice cream is made from the milk, and is sold by the scoop on site.
Camping on the farm is back to basics – essentially a field – but it’s fabulous for kids. There’s a large play area, a host of “secret dens” to escape parents, and a Woodland Adventure Trail.
Best campsites in East England:
Best for a unique stay: Waterclose Meadows
Location: Houghton, Cambridgeshire
You can even rock up to this site in a canoe— (National Trust Images/Chris Lac)
As agricultural architecture goes, Houghton Mill in Cambridgeshire is as pleasing to the eye as any – the soft brick and black weather-boarded structure straddles the glistening Great Ouse. The mill is owned by The National Trust, as is the neighbouring riverside campsite, where campers can even arrive by canoe.
There’s a natural feel that fits the ethos of the NT, with wilderness areas and pleasant riverside strolls. Late-spring visitors have the added glory of cherry blossom to admire.
Best campsites in South England:
Best for getting back to nature: Denny Wood
Location: Brockenhurst, New Forest
There are no mod-cons here, so switch off and explore the ancient woodland— (Caroline Mills)
Don’t be surprised to wake to the sound of grass-munching at Denny Wood, where New Forest ponies roam freely among campers. Denny Wood is one of several Camping in the Forest sites within the New Forest and is one of the prettiest.
There’s an attractive mix of open, grassy glades and ancient, parkland-style woodland. And, without the trappings of ‘mod-cons’, such as electric hook-ups or sanitation facilities, guests – who must arrive in a self-contained unit, such as a campervan or caravan – can choose to pitch anywhere. Pick an ancient oak under which to slump with a good book.
Best campsites in South East England:
Best for fans of English fizz: Tanner Farm Park
Location: Tonbridge, Kent
The Hush Heath Estate vineyard is a couple of minutes’ drive from the campsite— (Caroline Mills)
There’s plenty of space from which to select a pitch at this campsite, which sits surrounded by arable farmland amid the Kent Weald. It’s all rather Kentish, with attractive oast houses on site and apple orchards on the approach.
Within a couple of minutes’ drive is the Hush Heath Estate, which makes notable sparkling wines. Tours of the vineyard and tastings coupled with lunch are excellent.
Best campsites in South West England:
Best for surf: Tristram
Location: Polzeath, Cornwall
Pitch up here and the surf’s just a longboard’s length away— (Caroline Mills)
Never mind Surfin’ USA – the good vibrations are in Cornwall. Polzeath is renowned as a surfer’s paradise, including the HQ of one of the biggest surf schools: Surf’s Up.
Within a longboard’s length of the beach, in arguably the best position in the village, is Tristram. It may sound like the hip name of a surfer, but it’s actually a campsite that overlooks Polzeath’s wonderful beach. Only campervans and touring caravans are allowed here; tent campers stay at nearby sister site Southwinds.
Best for coastal camping: Beacon Cottage Farm
Location: St Agnes, Cornwall
Camping here is akin to staying in a beautiful garden, complete with incredible coastal views— (Beacon Cottage Farm)
Camping at Beacon Cottage is rather like staying in someone’s garden – Jane Sawle’s garden, to be exact. The flowers are flawless, including the daffodils that sit atop a fine Cornish wall at the farmhouse entrance.
Equally flawless are the astonishing views of the St Agnes Heritage Coast and those of Wheal Coates, a former mine and a Unesco World Heritage Site. Stay in late summer and the colours of the coast, smothered in heather and wild broom, will drag you from your pitch for a respectably long stomp along the headland footpaths.
Caroline Mills is author of Cool Caravanning, The Camping Pocket Bible and, her latest book, Camping Road Trips France & Germany: 30 Adventures with your Campervan, Motorhome or Tent.
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