Swiss Farm Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

We went here at the beginning of July 2010. We wanted to try out family camping (tent)with our 3 year old DD and wanted fair weather, not too big a journey, quiet but clean facilities. The weather map showed Henley as the only sunny spot in the UK for the 4 days we could do, so off we set.

It was the week after the famous Regatta, so we had plenty of space, midweek before school holidays. However it was the week of Henley Festival, so little one pelted across tent as the amazing firework display went off just as we had all settled down to sleep.

Pitch was just placing your tent somewhere in a field. This field sloped down a hillside, but at the top of field or at the bottom there were various flat pitches. The field was enclosed and felt safe with oodles of space to play and run. Interest was added by the spectacular swoops of the Red Kites (birds) in the sky above. There were limited electric hook ups but that didn't bother us as we didn't need it. Pigs in the field behind and horses in the next field meant that there were some lovely short wanderings on site. But best of all was the outdoor swimming pool which we had completely to ourselves one lovely warm and sunny afternoon. The shop on site provided adequate supplies and would freeze our ice blocks for the cool box for a small charge. But for food it was a 20 minute walk into the town to a choice of Sainsbury's local or Waitrose. There wasn't a huge amount of things to do... more your free-fun... walks along the river, picnics, and just enjoying camping. Some family-friendly pubs for tea by the river. Wash-up, washing and showers were clean and adequate, though I can imagine them being a bit busy with queues during peak season or at weekends. If you go in festival week you can have the sounds of orchestras, opera singers, wafting over the wind direct to your tent and a fantastic firework display every evening. It would be a very different experience in Regatta week. There is a small bar with some TVs to ensure important sporting fixtures aren't missed and a pool table or something for entertainment, but it is all very low key. A fantastic site for a long weekend's camping or a week's camping holiday but I maybe wouldn't choose it if it was the only holiday we were having that year. We will be going back there though.

We stayed here in August last year and really enjoyed it. It was our first camping experience so we looked for a while to find something that might make the transition from hotel holidays easier! The receptionist were very helpful when we arrived and we were directed to our pitch. Unfortunately we were put with the caravans rather than in the fields. This was better for privacy but not as much fun for the children so specify if you want to go in the main fields when booking.

However the site was lovely. Toilets and showers were spotless and very new. The washing up and laundry facilities were also very good. There was lots on the site for the children to do - various animals in the fields surrounding us, a lake where you could fish, a nice sized outdoor pool next to a bar with a games room, small shop for essentials and they would charge phones or freeze iceblocks there for a small charge.

Henley on Thames is small but very sweet with a few things to do including hiring a boat, a nice museum with a great kids room plus a really nice park just off the river.

All in all a great place to camp and I will definitely be going back soon!

Fantastic site. Very Child friendly and lots to do including swimming in the beautifully kept swimming pool. Lots of families with young children. Would recommend to anyone and could not fault the park on anything hence the 10 points.

lots of space plenty of hot water, although a bit of a distance from the big field, in the showers and wash up areas ,family welcome including the dog, field did tend to lay with water after a huge deluge, which meant setting down with the caravan a bit tricky, but very soon drained and ground soon dried out, local services within easy walking distances, facitities were ther if you wanted them ie clubhouse, swimming pool(outside) etc fishing lake and losof wldlife

A great site with organised pitches and a huge over-spill field if you prefer the less formal approach to camping. Great space for the kids to play and a lovely outdoor pool if you're lucky enough to go when it's sunny. Washing facilities clean (although quite a walk from where we stayed on the over-spill field) and hot showers, although the shower cubicles are small when you're attempting to shower two kids! This is a great site if you live in London because it's only an hour's drive. We camped here last summer and my husband went off to work each morning. Henley is a five minute walk away, with a big Waitrose and lots of restaurants and pub gardens by the side of the Thames.