The Cross Keys

No availability at present on Pitchup.com 2 reviews
Cowslip in the meadow
Cowslip in the meadow
A caravan on the meadow
Picnic area
View of the pub from the meadow
Pub frontage
Selfheal in the meadow
Secure fencing
Outdoor area
1/27
A caravan on the meadow
Picnic area
View of the pub from the meadow

  • Large meadow attached to a pub a 15-minute walk from Henley, Suffolk
  • Ipswich 10 minutes’ drive; Felixstowe half an hour
  • Food made with locally sourced ingredients; live music and classes
Wild camping tends to be inherently eco-friendly – and that’s certainly the case at The Cross Keys, part of a pub about a mile outside Henley, in Suffolk. Don’t bother getting behind the wheel of your car to get to the village – it’s a straightforward 15-minute walk or a five-minute bike ride away; having said that, the road gets busy at rush hour, since it leads into Ipswich (10 minutes’ drive). The folks running the pub (mostly volunteers) believe in supporting other independent businesses, so they buy in drinks and food ingredients only from trusted local sources (regenerative and organic farmers, for example). Beyond environmental awareness, they also have a strong sense of community. They have turned the pub into a social hub by putting on a range of activities – from guitar lessons to Pilates, and from live music to support groups. The site itself spreads over almost an acre of land that becomes a riot of colour in the spring, when it is filled with wildflowers. It is also securely fenced off from the car park, which means the kids can run around the lawn (and into the pub garden, where you’re having the first of several locally produced ales…) without having to dodge oncoming vehicles. This is wild camping, so you might have to rough it a little. But while there might be no showers (watch this space, though, since that’s a definite project for the future), there are toilets in the pub (which is open Thursday to Saturday, and for Sunday brunch).

Campground type

Tent sites 16
RV sites 5
Opens
Please note
  • This park has no on-site shower facilities.
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • The park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Breed-specific legislation (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).

Languages spoken

English

Campsite types & availability

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Accommodation

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2 adults
0 children

Reviews

10

Overall rating based on 2 reviews View breakdown

100%

would recommend this campground to a friend

100%

would stay here again

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Pub on-site was very nice and they had a food stall on…

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

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked: Pub on-site was very nice and they had a food stall on one of the nights and the food was amazing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Loved it and will be back!

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
jacqueline annelise k. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent or trailer tent campsite

Liked: Welcoming atmosphere!
Lovely pub on site
Helpful staff
Wild meadow environment with smaller areas mowed for pitch good amount of space between each pitch
Small pen that can house dogs to keep them safe whilst you are packing /unpacking
Wonderful countryside all around and enjoyed some really nice walks with the dogs on public footpaths
The pub itself has many events something to suit everyone from bands of a night to wkend events

Disliked: Road can be busy especially at harvest time with tractors. This only bothered me as I was working and was getting up at 6 but was awoken 3-5am with tractors and trucks up and down - again I also pitched near the hedge with road on other side so not a sensible position altho had I not been working I think I would have just turned over and went back to sleep moral of the story is next time it’s leisure time no work!!!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Pop-up campground

Dogs allowed

Leisure on park

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Playground Recreation room/arcade TV room Takeout Tennis Watersports

Amenities on park

Baby-changing facilities Bath available Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat Parent & baby washroom Payphone Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

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

Rules

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

Themes

Wild camping

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Pop-up campground Pub campground Small (11-25 sites)

Nearby leisure

Indoor pool nearby

Location

The Cross Keys

Main Road

Henley

Ipswich

Suffolk

England

IP6 0QP

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

52.12727°N
1.14515°W

Nearest transport

Bus
5.1 mi Cardinal Park
7.6 mi Station Road West
9.3 mi Motel
Rail
3.3 mi Westerfield Rail Station
4.2 mi Needham Market Rail Station
5.3 mi Ipswich Rail Station
Ferry
13 mi Shotley Point Marina Ferry Landing
13 mi Shotley Point Marina Ferry Landing
13.2 mi Harwich International Ferry Terminal

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

Vintage buses, lorries and bicycles fill the halls of the Ipswich Transport Museum, where the kids can also climb inside restored period fire engines. Meanwhile, the Christchurch Mansion, on the edge of leafy Christchurch Park, houses collections of decorative objects and paintings by John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough. The seaside town of Felixstowe (half an hour’s drive) has a retro vibe, with rides at the seafront Ocean Boulevard Fun Park and amusement arcades. Grab some fish and chips or an ice cream to eat on the beach, then visit Felixstowe Pier, where an entertainment centre includes bowling and arcade games. Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape (half an hour) is a vast nature reserve with habitats ranging from beaches to heathland. Birdwatchers might head to Sandlings Forest (35 minutes) to see woodlarks, or to RSPB Boyton and Hollesley Marshes (40 minutes) to spot herons and egrets.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Felixstowe South 14.6 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Felixstowe North 14.6 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Dovercourt 14.8 mi Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Walton 20.1 mi Sea N/AExcellentGoodGood
Frinton 21.2 mi Sea N/AGoodGoodGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Christchurch Mansion 4.7 mi

Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon Burial Mounds 8.6 mi

Framlingham Castle 10.8 mi

Orford Castle 16.6 mi

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve 16.8 mi

National Trust

Sutton Hoo 8.5 mi

Flatford: Bridge Cottage 12.8 mi

Thorington Hall 13.7 mi

Lavenham Guildhall 14.8 mi

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve 16.8 mi

Cycle routes

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

Other

SHRUBLAND HALL 1.7 mi

HELMINGHAM HALL 3.8 mi

A Walk Around Ipswich 4.4 mi

OLD AND NEW CEMETERY, IPSWICH 4.4 mi

CHRISTCHURCH MANSION 4.5 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 campsite type section for details

Nearest campgrounds

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

Want to know more about camping in Suffolk?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does The Cross Keys have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is The Cross Keys dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near The Cross Keys? Vintage buses, lorries and bicycles fill the halls of the Ipswich Transport Museum, where the kids can also climb inside restored period fire engines. Meanwhile, the Christchurch Mansion, on the edge of … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of The Cross Keys?
    RV, travel trailer and tent sites
    Arrive:  Anytime –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    Read more