Campgrounds for backpackers in South East England

Little Switzerland Caravan Site

Lower Gages Farm

Mackley Farm

• Quiet dog-friendly site on a small farm on the edge of Stone
• A 10-minute drive from Rye and 15 minutes from Camber Sands
• Pubs within five minutes’ drive of the site; barbecues are permitted

Eastfield Wild Camping

• Large, wild and natural woodland campsite close to London

Sandy Meadow Farm

• Peaceful working farm in the South Downs National Park
• Within 10 minutes’ drive of woodlands, stately homes and vineyards
• Haven for stargazers: in a Dark Sky Reserve

The Merry Camper

• A peaceful pop-up campsite with pub access, scenic walks, and direct links to London – all set in the heart of rural Essex.

New Forest Youth Hostel

Port Lympne Reserve

The Moon Pod

• A couples’ sleeping pod up-cycled from an observatory in East Sussex
• Battle Abbey and Bodiam Castle 15 minutes’ drive; Rye 20 minutes
• Private shower hut plus garden and wildlife pond overlooking farmland

Meonvale Farm Camping

• Simple site on a working farm in the South Downs National Park
• A mile from Meonstoke; Winchester city centre 20 minutes' drive
• Easy pedestrian access to established trails

Freshwinds Camping

• 'Camping as it used to be' on a 200-acre farm
• Wildlife haven with badgers, foxes, barn owls and more
• Spacious pitches surrounded by stream, woodland and fields

Holly Farm

• Peaceful site in West Sussex on the edge of a small village
• In the South Downs National Park; Chichester 35 minutes' drive
• A mile from two local pubs and a village shop

Bridge Field

• Spacious basic pitches just outside the Essex village of Sandon
• A 10-minute drive from Chelmsford and 15 minutes from Maldon
• Close to the A12; 10 minutes' walk to the nearest pub

Nymans Farm

• Spacious grass camping field on a West Sussex farm
• Under a mile from the Downs Link path; 30 minutes' drive from Brighton
• Opposite a pub and bus stop with direct services to the south coast

Glottenham

• Nearly wild pop-up site in a hay field with a woodland and wetland
• Surrounded by country walks and a 10-minute drive from Battle Abbey
• Quiet and back to basics, with village pubs 20 minutes’ walk away