Camping may be more traditionally associated with the countryside and enjoying a rural escape, but you may not have considered the benefits of camping in a city.
Camping in and around cities certainly goes against the traditional stereotype of rolling hills, rambling and such, but there’s so much on offer when you try. Transport links in and around the cities are much more accessible as a start, meaning that experiencing the culture and heritage of a new place is a lot easier. You also get a broader selection of things to do such as dining out, entertainment, and plenty more.
With 2,200 members in our owner's group, we spoke to our Club CamperKing members and asked them for their favourite cities to camp in throughout the UK, with the highlights coming from Caravan and Motorhome Club sites, as well as Camping and Caravanning Club locations.
Bristol - Baltic Wharf Club Campsite
Cumberland Road, Bristol BS1 6XG
We start off in Bristol at the Baltic Wharf Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite. With pitches available from just £21.10, it's considerably cheaper than you’re likely to get at any city centre hotel, unless you get lucky on a last minute giveaway website.
Located on the waterside by the River Avon, you’re only a walk away from the city centre, where you’ll find a lively abundance of shops, restaurants and much more. It’s also a fantastic place to stay for families, with the Bristol Aquarium within walking distance, as well as ‘We The Curious’, a fantastic interactive area for the youngsters.
Cardiff - Cardiff Caravan and Camping Park
Pontcanna Fields, Fields Park Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9XR
Next up, we head across the Severn Bridge and head right into the heart of the Welsh capital, where we find ourselves pitched at Cardiff Caravan and Camping Park. Once you step out of the park, you’re more or less slap bang in the centre of Cardiff, and there really is plenty to do.
If you fancy a really fun day out, book your stay on the day of a Welsh home game during the Six Nations rugby tournament, and watch the entire city spring into life from first light. From Cardiff Castle, to St. Fagans National Museum of History, to Techniquest, to the Millennium Stadium, to the Cardiff International Pool and Gym, to Cardiff Bay, and the vast parkland around the city, the list of things you can spend your day doing really is endless.
Chester - Thornleigh Park Farm Certificated Location
Ferry Lane, Higher Ferry, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 6QF
If you haven’t visited Chester yet, the only question that can possibly remain is, why? Home to the famous zoo, a stunning array of Tudor architecture throughout the town centre, the hustle and bustle of the main shopping area, to the iconic racecourse, Chester really has to be one of the cities you need to tick off the list on a tour of the UK.
That’s not including the cathedral or Roman Gardens, all of which are within a few miles of a number of campsites, such as Thornleigh Park Farm, a Certificated Location of the Caravan and Motorhome Club. With Chester being nowhere near as big as its neighbours Manchester or Liverpool, settle down for a comfy stay in this lovely north-west spot.
York - York Rowntree Park Club Site
Terry Ave, York YO23 1JQ
York is another city, like Chester, that you just have to visit while you can. The culture and heritage of the city is second to none, and there’s no shortage of shops to visit, both vintage and modern, as well as an array of lovely restaurants.
The Jorvik Viking Centre, a fascinating journey back through history to York's Viking origins, will have young and old utterly fascinated, and there’s plenty of other attractions, including the castle (and museum), as well as the National Railway Museum. When the sun is shining it really is up there with some of the best cities around, and with the York Rowntree Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site within walking distance of all of the interesting attractions, you have no reason not to visit!
As well as suggestions from our Club CamperKing members, we’ve had a look at the big one, with a couple of campsites within distance of London.
London
Chertsey Club Site
65-67 Chertsey Bridge Rd, Chertsey KT16 8JX
Walton on Thames Club Site
Fieldcommon Lane, Walton-on-Thames KT12 3QG
We could sit here for hours talking about the attractions there are to see in London, but the truth is, you more than likely know of them already. But one thing that does come to mind when you visit London, is the cost of pretty much everything, including the hotels.
That’s where a campsite comes into play. Chertsey Camping and Caravanning Club Site or Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site are both within walking distance of train stations, and both offer straightforward routes into the big city. Leave an hour for your travel more or less, and you can be moving from Big Ben to a lovely countryside setting. Whilst if you're seeking thrills, the Chertsey site is under a 10-minute drive away from Thorpe Park and the Walton site is just 20 minutes from Chessington World of Adventures.
For Camping and Caravanning Club members, prices start from as little as £6.30 per person per night at Walton and £8.50 at Chertsey. Yes, you read that correctly!
