Camping in London?

[WelshMoth]

Anyone ever done it? Any suggestions?

No because I live here

However lots of people do.

How close in would you like to be?

There is a popular site at Crystal Palace, with excellent transport into Central London.

Also Abbey Wood. And Debden.

There is also a site at Chertsey, popular with people visiting some of the theme parks.

Also look at the South London Scout Centre which is a lovely site in Dulwich Woods. Some times are reserved for scout bookings but they take public bookings at other times.

The Congestion Charge times have been extended to cover weekends: public transport routes will be important once you arrive.

Thanks! DH booked last night for Hurley? Don't suppose you're familiar with this area?

Never heard of Hurley - are you sure thats what it is called?

Hurley’s lovely but a long way from London - a few miles from Henley?

Hurley is way out West in Berkshire I think?

I'm going back a bit but we stayed in Windsor. Great holiday!

coolcamping.com/campsites/uk/england/south-east-england/berkshire/hurley/2119-hurley-riverside-park

Yes, we went there once, years and years ago.

It is on a lovely stretch of the Thames, where you can paddle or even swim. And canoe / kayak if you have one.

An hour into London by train from Henley or Maidenhead.

People there were using it as a base for Windsor Castle and Legoland, I think.

It isn't London, by any stretch of the imagination, you would have to kayak a LONG way downstream for that

Chertsey has a couple of campsites.

Yes, we have stayed at Abbey wood once and Crystal Palace 3 times. Preferred CP as we had friends nearer to there to cadge meals from. Both are a bit of a trek up to town, Abbey has train, CP bus and tube. We tended to use the bus as the kids liked it, but if going into East London the tube is better. CP was due to close, no idea if that has happened.

Hurley Riverside - yes! 🤦‍♀️
DH said 'London' when he told me he'd booked. Having just looked it up I can see we won't be actually anywhere near London. Perhaps we'll take the train in for one day trip - would Slough be the best station to use?

I'll take swimming costumes and maybe I'll even get to use our kayaks this year!

What other things are worth a visit?

ProfPoop

CP has a lease extension at least until Oct of this year.

Also it is now connected via the Overground Line to Whitechapel and N London, for example, from the station a short stroll across the park.

But it is a bit of a trek, as any camping in / near London will be until they allow camping in Hyde Park, or even on Clapham Common, which was mooted for the Olympics, but I don't think ever happened.

WelshMoth - Windsor Castle?

Hurley = Maidenhead station

There's a lovely small campsite on the river at Laleham.

Lea Valley has a campsite too

@InTheWings that's good to know, I know it got extended once, but we haven't been for a few years now. It really was an economical way for us to take 3 kids to see London.

Yes - I hope they don't get closed down - I see lots of family groups from Germany and The Netherlands on the bus, going into town from that site.It doesn't look the best site to stay on as a camping experience as it is off a busy road, but as you say, it is an affordable way to stay within reach of London. The site looked nicely kept when I walked round.

The dinosaurs in Crystal Palace Park are being refurbished, too.

Maidenhead Station would be the closest from Hurley.

If you join the C&C club there is also a members only campsite in Sidcup.

What ages are your children OP because that will alter whether people advise you to go to say Legoland or Thorpe Park.