The Cross Keys

From £20 For 1 night, 2 adults
A caravan on the meadow (added by manager 15 Apr 2024)

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A caravan on the meadow (added by manager 15 apr 2024)
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View of the pub from the meadow (added by manager 15 apr 2024)
Picnic area (added by manager 16 apr 2024)
Pub frontage (added by manager 15 apr 2024)

  • 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).

Site type

Tent pitches 16
Motorhome pitches 5
Open now
Please note
  • This site has no on-site shower facilities.
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • 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).

Languages spoken

English

Open from Mon, 01 Apr to

Reviews

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Features

Pop-up campsite

Dogs allowed

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

Baby-changing facilities

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

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

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Wild camping

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Type

Pop-up campsite

Pub campsite

Small (11-25 pitches)

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

Coach
8.2 km Cardinal Park
12.3 km Station Road West
14.9 km Motel
Rail
5.3 km Westerfield Rail Station
6.8 km Needham Market Rail Station
8.5 km Ipswich Rail Station
Ferry
20.9 km Shotley Point Marina Ferry Landing
20.9 km Shotley Point Marina Ferry Landing
21.3 km 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 2020 2019 2018 2017
Felixstowe South 23.5 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Felixstowe North 23.5 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Dovercourt 23.8 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Walton 32.4 km Sea N/A Excellent Good Good
Frinton 34 km Sea N/A Good Good Good

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

Christchurch Mansion 7.6 km

Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon Burial Mounds 13.8 km

Framlingham Castle 17.3 km

Orford Castle 26.7 km

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve 27 km

National Trust

Sutton Hoo 13.8 km

Flatford: Bridge Cottage 20.6 km

Thorington Hall 22 km

Lavenham Guildhall 23.9 km

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve 27 km

Cycle routes

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

Other

SHRUBLAND HALL 2.8 km

HELMINGHAM HALL 6.1 km

A Walk Around Ipswich 7 km

OLD AND NEW CEMETERY, IPSWICH 7.1 km

CHRISTCHURCH MANSION 7.2 km

Local events

  • Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival (Saturday, 28 September 2024 – Saturday, 28 September 2024)

    Aldeburgh, England 24.3 km

  • Latitude Festival (Thursday, 25 July 2024 – Thursday, 25 July 2024)

    Beccles, England 39.2 km

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 Suffolk?

  • 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?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  Anytime –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at The Cross Keys? From R468,88 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.