camping within easy drive of London

browneyedbazzi

Hiya, hoping someone can suggest a good place to camp for a few days.

I don't have much time off so I'd like to be within a couple of hours drive from West London and preferably along the coast or somewhere with good walking. Not too worried about facilities so long as there is access to water. I would be over the moon if I could find a camp site that allows camp fires too!


Any suggestions?

hethmar

Try googling for a camping forum.

bap98189

There is no such thing as an easy drive into London. I think you need to be a little more specific about where you plan to stay or tell us where it is you need to get to in London.

redvanman

I think there is still one at Crystal Palace.

busiscoming2

I think the OP is saying they live in west London and want a site etc that is within a 2hour drive. That's how I read it anyway.

I suppose that opens up most of the North Kent coast and Brighton area?

2sides2everystory

redvanman wrote: »

I think there is still one at Crystal Palace.

Yeah but that's kind of South not West and an awfully disheartening drive into London, surely? And although Brighton includes the coastal aspect of the spec it is basically just 90 minutes further out than Crystal Palace ? Then Crystal Palace is a complete lottery into West London - could easily take another 90 minutes. Kent coast is even further East of course.

Where in West London exactly - what time of day?

I can generally recommend the Caravan Club CLs (Certified Locations with just 5 pitches each) but strictly speaking you are supposed be a member (about £35 a year - well worth it because you get a great regular magazine too as well as the handbook showing all the contact details and prices). I only pay £8 a night including electricity on one I use regularly.

What time of day would you be attempting to drive into London? Clearly the M4 corridor is pretty horrible into West London on a weekday before say 10am. M40 too I expect.

And again, when are you planning to drive out again?

Don't forget the Congestion Charge if it is not the weekend you are talking about.

How about parking the car at an out-lying station and using the train? If you book well in advance the train tickets can be pretty reasonable.

Windsor into Waterloo? Slough into (I forget - Paddington is it?)? Metropolitan Line from out in Buckinghamshire right in too? Even Brighton to London Victoria 90 minutes(?) for that matter?

hcb42

blackberry Wood campsite, not too far from Brighton. It won cool camping of the year. However it is very booked up for weekends and probably school holidays too. I stopped a few months back, plots are within their own private glades. It is a little ramshackle but you can have campfires etc.

hethmar

South Downs

http://www.sussex-southdowns-guide.com/camping-in-sussex.html

browneyedbazzi

Hiya, should have been more specific but thought it was obvious - I'll be in London but driving out of the city to go camping and hopefully enjoy a bit of fresh(ish) air.

Thank you for the suggestions above, I'll take a look

sunshinetours

2sides2everystory wrote: »

Yeah but that's kind of South not West and an awfully disheartening drive into London, surely? And although Brighton includes the coastal aspect of the spec it is basically just 90 minutes further out than Crystal Palace ? Then Crystal Palace is a complete lottery into West London - could easily take another 90 minutes. Kent coast is even further East of course.

Where in West London exactly - what time of day?

I can generally recommend the Caravan Club CLs (Certified Locations with just 5 pitches each) but strictly speaking you are supposed be a member (about £35 a year - well worth it because you get a great regular magazine too as well as the handbook showing all the contact details and prices). I only pay £8 a night including electricity on one I use regularly.

What time of day would you be attempting to drive into London? Clearly the M4 corridor is pretty horrible into West London on a weekday before say 10am. M40 too I expect.

And again, when are you planning to drive out again?

Don't forget the Congestion Charge if it is not the weekend you are talking about.

How about parking the car at an out-lying station and using the train? If you book well in advance the train tickets can be pretty reasonable.

Windsor into Waterloo? Slough into (I forget - Paddington is it?)? Metropolitan Line from out in Buckinghamshire right in too? Even Brighton to London Victoria 90 minutes(?) for that matter?

Not all of them accept tents either

OP try www.ukcampsite.co.uk and check out the campsite search function

Down the bottom of that page you will also see specialised searches including campsites near a beach and ones that allow camp fires!

Bongedone

I live in West London and I go to the New Forest at weekends now and then. Ashurst takes just over an hour to get to and there is a Forest Holidays site there. Its straight down the M3 (I'm only 10 minute drive from M3, M4 and M25)

EDIT: There is no sea at Ashurst but plenty on ponies and walking. You can make day trip to Lymington, Bournemouth or Poole easily via train from Ashurst