Chesney Manor Campsite

View prices & book 9.7 43 reviews
Aerial view of camping field
Aerial view of camping field
Camper enjoying the lake
Surrounded by nature
Stone gateposts of the Manor House
Stormy weather
Morning view
Campers enjoying the sun
Aerial view of our spot near the pond
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New
Camper enjoying the lake
Surrounded by nature
Stone gateposts of the Manor House

  • Peaceful adults-only site in the grounds of an Oxfordshire manor house
  • Blenheim Palace, Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon within 40 mins' drive
  • Traditional thatched pub with meals five minutes' walk away
A smart manor house stay, but on a budget? That’s what’s on offer at Chesney Manor Campsite, on the edge of the tiny Oxfordshire village of Barford St Michael. As the name implies, here you’ll be staying in the fabulous grounds of a country manor house – and one with a history that dates all the way back to its mention in the Domesday Book, no less. The estate spreads out over 22 acres, with parkland and medieval lakes around the moated manor house itself. It’s a peaceful setting indeed, set off a country lane where you’re more likely to encounter horses than passing vehicles. There are several walks and footpaths through and around the estate for those who’d like to explore on foot and look out for wildlife – deer, herons and swans are among the residents here. Keeping that rural atmosphere nicely serene is the fact that this is an adults-only site – and one with plenty of space for all guests to relax and make the most of the setting without any feeling of being crowded in. Despite the grand surroundings it’s a very simple setup on site, so please note that there are no guest toilets or showers. You’re welcome to bring your barbecue along for some outdoor cooking – perhaps picking up local produce at the indie shops or market in Deddington, five minutes’ drive away. For those who’d rather eat out, there’s a lovely thatched pub five minutes’ walk away serving breakfast, lunch and dinner – and several more pubs dotted around the local countryside and villages.

Site type

Touring caravan pitches 36
Tent pitches 36
Motorhome pitches 36
Open all year
Opens
Please note
  • This site has no on-site toilet and shower facilities.

Admission

  • Guests under the age of 18 are not allowed on site.

Dogs

  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
  • Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.

General

  • There are no bins onsite: all rubbish will need to be taken home with you.

Occupancy

  • Bookings must not consist of more than 1 different households.
  • Group bookings of 2 or more adults are not permitted (couples and immediate family members excepted).
  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.
  • Single-sex bookings of 2 or more people (couples and immediate family members excepted) are not permitted via Pitchup.com.

Reception

  • There is no reception on-site: on arrival please contact the number provided on your booking confirmation.

Safety

  • Fires, barbecues and/or firepits will not be permitted in dry, windy and/or hot weather conditions.
  • Swimming in the lake is not allowed.

Vehicles

  • Commercial vehicles (vehicles used for work-related purposes, carrying goods or fare-paying passengers) and sign-written vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • Units heavier than 6999 kg are not allowed.

Languages spoken

English

No availability here for your search criteria

Reviews

9.7

Overall rating from 43 Pitchup.com customers

  • 86%
    10
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    9
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    8
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    7
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    1
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 6
Peaceful

100% would recommend this site to a friend

100% would stay here again

What customers say

This tranquil campsite, set in beautiful natural surroundings with abundant wildlife, is praised for its peaceful atmosphere and friendly, welcoming owners. Guests appreciate the spacious pitches and the convenient short walk to a highly-rated local pub. While currently offering wild camping with limited facilities (a water tap is available), future improvements are planned. Some visitors note the need for levelling blocks due to sloping ground and express a desire for an Elsan disposal point to facilitate longer stays.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 13/10/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 5
Arrival date (latest first)

Fabulous location, friendly welcome and good…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Mel H. 3 reviews

Non-electric grass touring pitch

Liked Fabulous location, friendly welcome and good communication.

Disliked Nothing. Perfect!!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Peaceful place to relax

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Alison P. 10 reviews

Non-electric grass touring pitch

Liked A very peaceful site with no facilities other than a water tap.

We had a friendly welcome from one of the owners on arrival. She recommended a location to park.

We were fortunate to enjoy the whole site to ourselves and so could choose where we pitched up. We chose a gorgeous spot overlooking one of the ponds. There are no marked pitches, you choose where to park up. The field is a bit lumpy so drive with care. The area around the pond is flat but further away from the pond is likely to need levelling blocks.

The location is full of wildlife. We saw a tawny owl, a pair of red kites, a flock of chattering jackdaws, a heron, an egret, and squirrels. We even heard a barn owl in the tree above us. There’s also the resident swan and farm animals in nearby fields.

We ate at the local pub, The George, which was a 5 minute walk away. The food was great and it was a real bonus having a pub so close. The pub also serves breakfast but we didn’t try this.

A special location that deserves a good review, but a place that you want to keep all to yourself!

Disliked An Elsan point and bins would be great to be able to stay a bit longer.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very good camp site

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Lee R. 1 review

Non-electric grass touring pitch

Liked Nice location quite & relaxing
Very nice old thatched pub 5 minutes walk away

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great stay, will stay longer next time

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Stuart E. 5 reviews

Non-electric grass touring pitch

Liked We had a great nights stay at Chesney Manor. We had a pitch overlooking the lake. The owners were very welcoming and friendly. There is a lovely pub 5mins walk away which does fantastic food.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Chilled camping, great for walks.…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Sarah S. 1 review

Non-electric grass touring pitch

Liked Chilled camping, great for walks.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Another lovely stay as we enjoyed…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 3
Anonymous

Non-electric grass touring pitch

Liked Another lovely stay as we enjoyed it so much we had to come back thanks again

Disliked Not enough time

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent, lovely site and location, quiet, picturesque and relaxing!

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 5
 Matthew N. 1 review

Non-electric grass touring pitch

Liked We arrived with a lovely welcome from Jack, the owner who was very friendly and directed us to a number of spots where we could park up. It was a lovely quiet site with beautiful surroundings. Nice walks nearby too!

Disliked Nothing, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will be back again soon as we are quite local!

Recommend to friends Visit again

I see different wildlife every visit.…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Suki M. 13 reviews

Non-electric grass touring pitch

Liked I see different wildlife every visit. Last time it was a kingfisher and moorhens and tree creepers , this time it was a barn owl, a tawny owl, a beautiful vixen , woodpeckers , herons and bats. For any nature lover, this place is for you . Be prepared to be woken up by a polyphony of bird song.. it’s beautiful .
And within walking distance is a lovely, welcoming pub to have a really good meal ! What more could you want.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Unique spot

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
Suki M. 13 reviews

Non-electric grass touring pitch

Liked I have stayed before and it never disappoints . This place is unique . Don’t let the lack of facilities put you off .. a cheap fisherman’s toilet and you get to be in the most wonderful place , FULL of wildlife and so, so quiet and peaceful . It’s so easy to pop to Oxford ( the park and ride is cheap ) and places like Blenheim Palace as well as all the beautiful Cotswold villages. The more people stay, the quicker facilities will be put in, so , just try it , you can’t go wrong for the price!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Super tranquil spot

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Rich G. 12 reviews

Non-electric grass touring pitch

Liked Everything! A mega camping spot. The views. Tranquility. Ease of just pulling up and finding a spot. Everything camping out should be. Could have stayed for a week.

Disliked Leaving.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Dogs allowed

Adults only

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Launderette Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Adults only Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Camping 2.0

Jumbo tent pitches

Themes

Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available No hot water Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market

Type

Small (11-25 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Cycling nearby Horse riding nearby Restaurant nearby

Location

Chesney Manor Campsite

South Newington Road

Barford St Michael

Banbury

Oxfordshire

England

OX15 0RJ

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

51.99138°N
1.37398°W

Nearest transport

Coach
5.2 mi Bus Station
11.2 mi Caversfield Turn
11.4 mi Manorsfield Road
Rail
4.5 mi Kings Sutton Rail Station
5.1 mi Banbury Rail Station
5.9 mi Heyford Rail Station
Airport
11.3 mi London Oxford Airport
26.4 mi Coventry Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Attractions and activities nearby include: - Broughton Castle: 15 minutes’ drive - Hook Norton Brewery: 15 minutes - National Trust - Upton House and Gardens: 20 minutes - Cotswolds Distillery Visitor Centre: 20 minutes - Blenheim Palace: 25 minutes - Diddly Squat Farm Shop: 25 minutes - Daylesford Farm Shop: 25 minutes - Sulgrave Manor: 35 minutes - Oxford: 40 minutes - Stratford-upon-Avon: 40 minutes.
(within 6.2 mi)
Castle, Aquarium, Theme park, Zoo and Cashpoint (within 10 mi)

Food and drink

  • The George Inn Pub 0.2 mi
  • The Duck on The Pond Pub 1.5 mi
  • Horse & Groom Inn Pub 1.8 mi
  • Tandoor Tavern At The Horse & Groom Inn Restaurant 1.8 mi
  • Joiners Arms Pub 1.9 mi
  • Red Lion Pub 2 mi
  • Elephant and Castle Pub 2 mi
  • May Fu 2 Restaurant 2.3 mi
  • The Unicorn Pub 2.3 mi
  • The Crown & Tuns Pub 2.4 mi

Groceries

  • Co-op Food Supermarket 4.4 mi
  • Sainsbury's Supermarket 4.5 mi
  • The Co-operative Food Supermarket 4.6 mi
  • Morrisons Supermarket 4.9 mi
  • The Co-operative Food Supermarket 5 mi
  • V5 Superstores Supermarket 5 mi
  • International Supermarket 5 mi
  • MAXI Fresh Co Supermarket 5.1 mi
  • Bao Giang Oriental Supermarket 5.1 mi
  • Hook Norton Brewery Shop Off-licence 5.1 mi

Parks and play

  • Bloxham Mill Park 1.4 mi
  • Poleaxe 1.5 mi
  • Pocket Park 1.6 mi
  • Waillin Road Play Area 2.5 mi
  • Great Tew Park 2.9 mi
  • Broughton Park 3.6 mi
  • Longford Park 3.9 mi
  • Swerford Park 4.2 mi
  • Sports field 4.2 mi

Family days out

  • Wigginton Waterfowl Sanctuary Visitor attraction 3 mi
  • Broughton Castle Visitor attraction 3.5 mi
  • North Aston Hall Castle 3.9 mi
  • Heythrop Zoological Gardens 4.9 mi
  • Hook Norton Brewery Shop Visitor attraction 5.1 mi
  • Hook Norton Brewery Visitor attraction 5.1 mi
  • Aynhoe Park Castle 5.2 mi
  • Rousham House and Gardens Visitor attraction 6.1 mi
  • Glympton Park Castle 6.8 mi
  • Ardley Castle 7.5 mi
  • Compton Wynyates Castle 8.4 mi
  • Middleton Stoney Castle 8.6 mi

Public transport

  • Green 0.2 mi
  • Summer Ley 0.4 mi
  • Mead Road 0.5 mi
  • St Johns Way 1.2 mi
  • Manning Close 1.4 mi
  • New Road Stores 1.6 mi
  • Milcombe Hall 1.6 mi
  • Kings Road 1.7 mi
  • Queens Street 1.7 mi
  • Village Hall 1.7 mi

Other nearby

  • Hillside Farm Golf Driving Range Golf course 2.3 mi
  • Rye Hill Golf Club Golf course 2.6 mi
  • Tadmarton Heath Golf Club Golf course 3 mi
  • Aynho Wharf Marina 4.2 mi
  • The Calthorpe Centre Shopping centre 4.9 mi
  • Mirage Nightclub 5 mi
  • Aria's Nightclub 5 mi
  • Fever Nightclub 5 mi
  • Castle Quay Shopping Centre 5.2 mi
  • Soverign Wharf Marina 5.4 mi

Local services

  • Cashzone Cashpoint 2.1 mi
  • Sainsbury's Bank Cashpoint 4.4 mi
  • Link Cashpoint 4.6 mi
  • BP Fuel station 1.7 mi
  • Bloxham Pharmacy 2.1 mi
  • MediPill Deddington Pharmacy 2.3 mi
  • Deddington Health Centre Doctors 2.4 mi
  • Esso Fuel station 4.1 mi
  • Sainsbury's Fuel station 4.4 mi
  • Hightown Surgery Doctors 4.4 mi
  • Hightown Surgery Doctors 4.4 mi
  • Horton Pharmacy 4.5 mi
  • The Horton General Hospital 4.6 mi

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Must see

Blenheim Palace 10.4 mi

Chastleton House 11.6 mi

Compton Verney 14.6 mi

Stowe Landscape Gardens 15.4 mi

Silverstone Circuit 16.1 mi

National Trust

Farnborough Hall 10.4 mi

Chastleton House 11.6 mi

Canons Ashby 14.3 mi

Stowe Landscape Gardens 15.1 mi

Buckingham Chantry Chapel 16.4 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Hempton - Nether Worton - Barford St Michael 1 mi

South Newington - Wigginton 1.5 mi

South Newington Circular 1.5 mi

Milcombe - South Newington - Barford St Michael 1.7 mi

Over Worton - Duns Tew 2.2 mi

Local events

  • Cheltenham Festival (Tuesday, 16 March 2027 – Tuesday, 16 March 2027)

    Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 30 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in Oxfordshire?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Chesney Manor Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Chesney Manor Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Chesney Manor Campsite? Attractions and activities nearby include: - Broughton Castle: 15 minutes’ drive - Hook Norton Brewery: 15 minutes - National Trust - Upton House and Gardens: 20 minutes - Cotswolds Distillery Visitor Centre: … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Chesney Manor Campsite?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  2:30 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  10:30 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  2:30 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  10:30 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Chesney Manor Campsite? From £20 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.