The best spots to go camping near London

Going off-grid doesn’t have to mean ditching comfort, as you’ll find out at Plush Tents. Here, happy campers can experience ‘the last word in luxury camping’ in yurts so welcoming and roomy they’ll probably make you think twice about going back to your cramped flat. The location is a beautiful site tucked away in the South Downs, and if you get bored of the on-site hammocks and hot tub (as if), you can always stroll down to the sea nearby or explore the rather lovely city of Chichester.

Chapel Lane, East Ashling, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 9AW.

For anyone who gets FOMO at leaving Hackney for more than a few hours, Norfolk campsite The Fire Pit is basically Dalston dropped into a massive field. Stretching yourself into zen mode with yoga classes, or imbibe your way there in the warehouse serving coffee and cocktails. And yes, as the name suggests, there is a fire pit to gather round as the night draws nearer. There is an abundant array of camping options, from Pitch Your Own to canvas bell tents to the Wren’s Nest – a cool and cosy ‘hazel bender-tent’ that sleeps eight. From May to September, weekends are whole site hire-only, but smaller groups can pitch up during the week. 

The Firs, Wendling, near Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 2LT.

A couple of hours southwest of the city is the peaceful Holden Farm Camping, where you can pitch up next to the bright and breezy meadows of the South Downs. At 700 acres, the actual farm is pretty spacious (it’s home to 150 woolly sheep), and the sizeable camping field means that pets, kids and your energetic mates have loads of space to roam. And your tent won’t be squished up next to anyone else's. There are fire pits for evenings spent toasting marshmallows – or you can take a short drive to Cheriton or pretty market town New Alresford to visit some quaint local pubs.

Cheriton, Nr Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0NX.

A lot of sites label themselves as ‘secret’, but Wild Boar Wood really is covert; the location is only revealed after booking to preserve the area’s isolated wonder. We can tell you that it’s set in a bluebell wood in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty not far from Brighton. Don’t bring your own tent, as it’s ‘off-grid wild glamping’ all the way – a concept that combines the luxury of a fully equipped bell tent with the stripped-back approach of zero power and an open fire to cook on. If you need a bonus reason to visit, you’ll also get to witness steam trains on the Bluebell Railway tearing past like it’s the 1930s.

Near High Weald Dairy, RH17 7EA – exact location revealed after booking.

The 11-acre Secret Garden Touring Park's selling point is its focus on ‘the study and enjoyment of wildlife and a real camping experience in the heart of the Fens’. That wildlife includes everything from Gloucestershire Old Spots pigs to stoats to woodpeckers, and if you can stomach the ethical dilemma of eating the animals after looking at them, head to one of the camp’s beer and sausage tastings. If you want to truly become one with your surroundings, book a ‘Fenland Bushcraft’ workshop, where you can go a bit feral and learn how to forage and make a fire.

Mile Tree Lane, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 4TR.

Set in the rolling Chiltern Hills, Home Farm is a quiet gem. It’s surrounded by superb views of unspoilt, eye-catching countryside, and you’re also in a prime location for spotting red kites (Londoners: they’re birds of prey). Pitch your festival-worn two-person tent or glamp it up in a bell tent with an Indian Kadai fire pit, barbecue and ice bucket for the champagne or – let’s be honest – prosecco. As a bonus, you’re also next door to a cracking local pub, with another just a few minutes away.

City Road, Radnage, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4DW.

At tiny, idyllic Suffolk retreat Alde Garden, you can choose to stay in a yurt, bell tent, gypsy caravan, woodland hideout or even experience full-blown country living in Badger Cottage – or just bring a standard tent to pitch. It’s a lovely, tranquil spot surrounded by greenery and woodland, full of ducks and chickens. Fancy a cold one? You won’t have to go too far – the site is set in the grounds of the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) award-winning pub, the Sweffling White Horse, which serves all kinds of local ales. Bliss.

The White Horse Inn, Low Road, Sweffling, Suffolk, IP17 2BB.

Immerse yourself in nature and wildlife at a site that cares just as much about forest conservation as it does about camping. At the tranquil Badgells Wood, located in a large expanse of Kent woodland, there are recycling facilities, composting loos and even biodegradable shower gel on sale to ensure that every aspect of your stay is eco-friendly. The more secluded adults-only Great Park Wood area is hidden deep within the woods, so head there if you’re after the highest levels of sustainable r’n’r.

Badgells Wood, Whitehorse Road, Meopham, Kent, DA13 0UF.

Nestled away in an East Sussex hamlet, this not-quite-secret site is perfect for exploring the charming town of Lewes and the coastal chaos of Brighton. Keep your eyes peeled for deer, sparrow hawks and glow-worms in the surrounding woodland. Plus, you can pay a bit more and spend the night in one of The Secret Campsite's three ‘secret shelters’: the Tree Tent suspended in the trees (‘similar to a harvest mouse nest,’) the five-sided Okra, or the Gridshell – a sustainable tent/cabin hybrid built by engineers.

Brickyard Farm, Town Littleworth, Barcombe, East Sussex BN8 4TD.

Its name might conjure images of boisterous kids running wild in an adventure playground, but Little Ropers is actually much more peaceful. It's a small ‘wild camping’ site for anyone who wants to really get away from it all and roam through some beautiful scenery. The site is on a 100-acre farm in the Stour Valley (tents only – no glamping or on-site breweries here), and you can camp in actual woodland for extra back-to-nature vibes. Look out for the resident farm llamas.

Assington Road, Bures, Suffolk, CO8 5JX.

Hidden away in Oxfordshire, alongside the Thames and home of the Henley Royal Regatta, is a super calming campsite with a chilled back-to-nature vibe. Swiss Farm is a great spot to spend a few days away from the city, with fishing and swimming spots, shops and a farm kitchen that serves tasty and local fresh food all nearby. If you’ve got a furry friend, you’ll be pleased to know that there's a dog washing site, so you won’t have to put up with a muddy buddy for long. Winner.

Marlow Road, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 2HY.

Set over 11 acres, the Orchard is near a beautiful stretch of Suffolk coastline and Rendlesham Forest – the location of supposed UFO sightings in 1980. The campsite boasts an on-site shop jam-packed with local treats and over 200 types of wine, beer and spirits to make your stay even merrier, and you can even pre-order your shopping list before you get there. If you’re not the outdoorsy type, you can take even more of the hard work out of camping and opt for a pre-erected tent, too. Just don’t expect to be pitched up next to Mulder and Scully.

28 Spring Lane, Wickham Market, Suffolk IP13 0SJ.

A few hours from the capital by car or train, Stowford Manor is worth the journey. The site is surrounded by the River Frome, meaning that swimming, boating and fishing are all on the agenda – you can even join what is believed to be the world’s oldest river swimming club in nearby Farleigh. If you want to head out into the wider area, you can pay a visit to Bath or Bradford-on-Avon, attempt to master glassblowing at a local workshop, or get up close(ish) with some majestic creatures at Longleat Safari Park. Afterwards, make sure to treat yourself to a cream tea at the farm’s teahouse.

Wingfield, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 9LH.

Want to leave London without really leaving London? Head to this spot in the vast Lee Valley Park and enjoy all the good stuff about the great outdoors, just a short train ride away from the heart of the city. You’re surrounded by excellent walking and bike trails, and Lee Valley Park Farms is nearby (with meerkats, zebu and bearded dragons). Adrenaline junkies should head to the White Water Centre to try their hand at some gnarly extreme sports, and the site even has wifi for those who can’t bear to go without checking their email hourly (aka 99 per cent of Londoners).

Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, Chingford, E4 7RA.

Two hours away but a whole world apart from London, this beautifully located site is set on a working farm in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The owners pitch the Chalke Valley Camping experience somewhere between camping and glamping, so you get fully furnished bell tents with hot showers, a few comforts (including two ‘welcome bottles’ of cider) and flushing toilets nearby, but you’re still off-grid and very much out in the open. Once you’ve got your nature fix, take a trip to nearby Salisbury or go further afield to the jaw-dropping Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site.

Woodminton Farm, Bowerchalke, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 5DD.

Camping by the Thames doesn’t sound too appealing if you’re thinking of that awful excuse for a ‘beach’ in front of the Oxo Tower – but move that thought to the rustic Oxfordshire countryside. The riverside Barefoot Campsite offers campers the chance to explore the Thames in a way that Londoners never could, via wild swimming (without the threat of dysentery) or in one of the site’s Barefoot canoes. You can even try your hand at coarse fishing. You can’t cook anything you catch, but you can refuel at one of the many nearby boozers, or venture into Oxford, only six miles away.

Northmoor Lock Paddocks, Badswell Lane, Appleton, OX13 5JN.