The King's Head

8.6 18 reviews
Pods in the sun

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  • Camping pods behind a pub in the centre of Bishop's Castle
  • Each with electricity, insulation and lockable double-glazed door
  • Close to walks on the Shropshire Way and Offa's Dyke Path
Town centre camping pods and a railway carriage – the locally crafted units at The King's Head in Shropshire are in Bishop's Castle, an agricultural town now also home to an alternative community of arts and crafty sorts: you might like to know that the UK's oldest brewery is here too. The site is set behind the pub in the 'pod pound', an area covered in bark chips from the local surroundings and illuminated at night by security lighting. Each unit is insulated for warmth in winter and coolness in summer and can sleep up to three adults. A lockable double-glazed door is at the front to give natural light; at the back, a small double-glazed window helps to keep the living space ventilated. All the units have internal and external lighting, mains electric, a small wall-mounted heater and two double sockets. Within the pod pound, there's an amenities block with a single ladies' and single gents' toilet complete with a washbasin and a communal shower room.

Site type

Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 5
Opens

Languages spoken

English

Nearby sites that are bookable on Pitchup.com

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Shropshire?

Features

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 Local produce Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

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

Themes

Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise

Utilities

Charging facilities Chemical disposal Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transport nearby Shop nearby

Type

Pub campsite Tiny (1-10 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horse riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Mountain biking nearby Restaurant nearby Tennis nearby

Location

The King's Head

48 Church Street

Bishops Castle

Shropshire

England

SY9 5AA

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London BST (GMT+01:00)

GPS

52.49024°N
-2.99806°W

Nearest transport

Coach
10.3 mi Nag`s Head Hotel
10.4 mi Nag`s Head Hotel
13.1 mi Welshpool NX
Rail
6.7 mi Broome Rail Station
7.5 mi Craven Arms Rail Station
7.7 mi Hopton Heath Rail Station

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

The King's Head is centrally located for activities such as cycling, mountain biking and angling, and has excellent walks nearby too, as the Shropshire Way passes through Bishop's Castle and Offa's Dyke Path is a few miles away. Most of Bishop's Castle is in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; marked paths from town pass many hillside and valley villages of the Rivers Clun and Upper Onny. The Jack Mytton Bridleway, the Bishop’s Castle Ring, the Long Mynd, Bury Ditches and Colstey Woods, the Kerry Ridgeway and the Cantlin Stone and Botfield Cross are other recommended walks in the region. Take a bus from Bishop's Castle to Shrewsbury from Monday to Saturdays to access the Stiperstones and The Bog Visitor Centre, Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle and Bromlow Callow, or stay in town to look over its hundreds of listed buildings. Closer to home, try the Six Bells or Three Tuns breweries, artists' exhibitions at the town hall, shows at the SpArC Theatre, the Bishop’s Castle Heritage Resource Centre, the Rail & Transport Museum and the social history Elizabethan House on Crutches Museum. Or have a look at Clun Castle and Clun Museum, the lead mine at Snailbeach and the impressive arboretum at Walcot Hall.

Must see

Stokesay Castle 8.1 mi

Powis Castle & Garden 13 mi

Ludlow Castle 14.4 mi

Much Wenlock Priory 19.8 mi

Enginuity 23.2 mi

National Trust

Carding Mill Valley and the Shropshire Hills 8.2 mi

Wilderhope Manor 14 mi

Croft Castle and Parkland 16.3 mi

Attingham Park Estate: Cronkhill 17.9 mi

Attingham Park 19.3 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

WALCOT 2.8 mi

LINLEY HALL 3.6 mi

Clun – Sunnyhill and Bury Ditches - Clunton Circular 4.7 mi

Corndon Hill and Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle 6.1 mi

Corndon Hill - Priest Weston - Mitchell's Fold Stone Circle 6.1 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.

Offers

Conditions apply - see pitch type section for details

Reviews

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    10
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    9
  • 38%
    8
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    7
  • 5%
    6
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    5
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94% would recommend this site to a friend

89% would stay here again

Reviews page 1 of 2
Arrival date (latest first)

Pod Camping - a less 'in-tents' experience than conventional camping.

Overall 8/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
8
Facilities / Activities
6
Customer service
8
Child friendliness
6
Cleanliness
8
Wifi
No rating
Becky Y. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Railway Carriage cabin

Liked A great place to stop in Bishop's Castle for a reasonable price and a real no hassle experience. You get a posh shed complete with electrics and heating (if needed), with nearby toilets and shower... then you just bring your own bed and other sleeping paraphernalia to truly personalise your sleeping experience! Well, that's what the catalogue could've said, at least. Haha.

Over the two times I've stayed there, it's been lovely to see the planting grow and establish in the area around the pods too. You can almost imagine yourself somewhere overseas... almost. Make sure you bring a chair so you can sit an enjoy it.

Oh, and there's the pub! It's rather nice to have a pub as a neighbour! We didn't hear any noise from the pub during or after closing time either.

Disliked There isn't much to dislike, in all honesty. Don't expect the Ritz, just expect to feel like you're camping but in a slightly more luxurious way.

Recommend to friends Visit again

cannot recommend

Overall 2/10

Location
4
Value for money
2
Accommodation
2
Facilities / Activities
2
Customer service
2
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
6
Wifi
No rating
Petra J. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked it had a heater in the room

Disliked i booked a camping pod and we were given the railway carriage. In the description it said: Please bring your own bed linen, towels, duvets, pillows and cooking equipment. I brought all that. It did not say mat. I have slept in a camping pod in Scotland before and it had a wooden structure for sleeping on. That's why i presumed it is the same here. No, it is just a wooden floor. Me + my husband had to sleep on the wooden floor in our sleeping bags. The guy who gave us the key only said: As described. Not true ... it does not say bring mat. I asked if he had anything to help us to sleep on. No + went off. Very unhelpful, cold man. Worst night ever. For 40 pounds a barren floor! It is a Rip-off... Glad the pub was closed and quiet. 3 pods for each 2 people, the railway carriage for 4 people ... All in a very tiny space. 1 toilet with no mirror + cold water, 1 shower. I don't want to image how awful when all the beds are take ... No way I can recommend this place. could not sleep, pain everywhere, my poor bones.

Recommend to friends Visit again

From the manager: For the first time in eleven years we’ve received a very low scoring review. To be summarise in our response I feel a comment is necessary.

1. A pod was booked but explaining to our guest that the pods had an electrical fault we couldn’t allow them to use them hence, offering them the railway carriage.

2. We have always promoted our pods and carriage as the lower end of the glamping scale, it’s got everything that a tent doesn’t have ie. light, power and heating as well as having the benefit of not having to set up the tent.

3. Bring your own sleeping equipment as we don’t provide anything, it’s simple surely, no one else has ever complained hence our overall review rate sitting nicely at 9.1.

4. We don’t allow cooking on site as there are options within the town for people to enjoy, again it states it on the site rules within each unit.

5. It’s basic as outlined in the description, most people read it before booking without any issue, if people want more comfort they book elsewhere.

Be aware of customers like this, they expect the world for as little as possible it would seem.

Great friendly basic option for cyclists/walkers.

Overall 10/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
8
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
4
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
10
Paul C. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Railway Carriage cabin

Liked Pub staff were super helpful and friendly after some initial confusion about the booking and even offered us a free pint each to compensate. No doubt the pods are basic but everything was spotlessly clean and well maintained. A great base for our weekend cycling trip and handy for the quirky attractions of Bishops Castle.

Disliked Nothing.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great location kind helpful staff recommended

Overall 8/10

Location
10
Value for money
6
Accommodation
8
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked Good quality pod nice shower and toilet. Needed a little checking on the shower light wasn’t working I kept meaning to contact the owners but I was on a course and very busy. I am sure they would have sorted it out. A mirror in the bathroom would be nice. Overall nice clean place right in the centre of Bishop Castle. Pub was very busy if you wanted a quiet place it could be challenging. But great central location kind helpful staff. Much appreciated

Recommend to friends Visit again

Friendly host. Lovely town. Good value for money.…

Overall 8/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
8
Facilities / Activities
6
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
8
Cleanliness
8
Wifi
6
Philip D. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Railway Carriage cabin

Liked Friendly host. Lovely town. Good value for money.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Easy check in Clean cabin Free parking Close to facilities…

Overall 8/10

Location
8
Value for money
8
Accommodation
8
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
8
Child friendliness
6
Cleanliness
8
Wifi
6
Lucy G. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked Easy check in
Clean cabin
Free parking
Close to facilities

Disliked Nothing all good

Recommend to friends Visit again

Nice peaceful stay

Overall 10/10

Location
8
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
6
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Charlotte J. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked Clean facilities. Pub next door.

Recommend to friends Visit again

*Great location - right in the town and next to a pub! *Snug…

Overall 8/10

Location
10
Value for money
8
Accommodation
8
Facilities / Activities
6
Customer service
6
Child friendliness
2
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked *Great location - right in the town and next to a pub!
*Snug sized "pods" (aka posh sheds!), but enough room for a double air bed and some minimal luggage (great for a short stay).
*The pods had electric plugs and heating (not that we used either because we weren't expecting such luxury!)
*Lights inside and outside the pod made life much easier!
*Clean and secure toilets and shower room.
*Attractive little enclosure where the pods are.
*Space for camp chairs.

Disliked *It would have been nice to have some soap and paper towels in the toilets.
*A mirror in the toilets would have been very useful.
*A bin in the toilet would also have been good, especially in the female cubicle for hygiene/sanitary purposes.
*The pub closed at 10:30pm on the Saturday, as did all the pubs in the town. It would have been nice to be able to take a beer back with us to our pods (like you normally can with other pubs/hotels when you're an overnight guest), but only if licensing allowed this, of course.

Recommend to friends Visit again

First time we stayed at the kings can't fault it to be…

Overall 10/10

Location
10
Value for money
No rating
Accommodation
No rating
Facilities / Activities
No rating
Customer service
No rating
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
No rating
Wifi
No rating
Terry W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Camping pod

Liked First time we stayed at the kings can't fault it to be honest.leroy and the staff were great the locals too,didn't even mind when we won the raffle lol
Definitely be staying again great location in the centre of town.just like to say thanks for a fantastic weekend

Recommend to friends Visit again

Location Small site Cosy pods…

Overall 8/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
8
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
8
Child friendliness
6
Cleanliness
8
Wifi
No rating
Kristin W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Railway Carriage cabin

Liked Location
Small site
Cosy pods

Disliked No mirror in toilet
No bench or table outside

Recommend to friends Visit again


Frequently asked questions

  • Does The King's Head have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is The King's Head dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near The King's Head? The King's Head is centrally located for activities such as cycling, mountain biking and angling, and has excellent walks nearby too, as the Shropshire Way passes through Bishop's Castle and Offa's Dyke … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of The King's Head?
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  11 a.m. –  Anytime
    Depart by:  10 a.m.
    Read more