Hidden Gem Campsite Just Minutes from Central London!

[Dorwyn]

I also used to live near the Chertsey campsite, in Laleham. Always thought they were up their own, as it were. Decades later, I booked a few nights there, couldn't make it through ill health, they refused to refund, I've not been on a c&cc site since. My loss, I suppose. And theirs.

 

[CRD]

I remember when the land where Canary Wharf sits today was abandoned and derelict.

So do I as I worked for Texaco as part of their building project team in Canary Wharf.

Their building was the first one to be built on that derelict land.

That seemed such a large building then but is almost invisible among the skyscrapers now.

I loved getting the River bus from Waterloo down to Canary Walk,

 

[CRD]

Also saw deer and foxes if memory serves. LOADS of birds as well.

I did wonder where the deer came from and how they got through the wire mesh fence.

The key is in the name (Lesnes) Abbey Wood’s.

There are hundreds of acres of woods in that area and it is teeming with wildlife, but there are huge numbers of foxes.

In fact, we hear a greater range of birdlife (including the many green parakeets) and see more wildlife in Abbey Wood than we do in Devon!

Be careful leaving dog bowls out overnight as you’ll find a fox has gleefully peed all over them and that stink is difficult to get rid of.

 

[Gromett]

The key is in the name (Lesnes) Abbey Wood’s.

There are hundreds of acres of woods in that area and it is teeming with wildlife, but there are huge numbers of foxes.

In fact, we hear a greater range of birdlife (including the many green parakeets) and see more wildlife in Abbey Wood than we do in Devon!

Be careful leaving dog bowls out overnight as you’ll find a fox has gleefully peed all over them and that stink is difficult to get rid of.

Just looked at google maps. I didn't realise it was part of a very large wood.
From the entrance and the walk down to the train station is always looked like it was just the campsite that was wooded.

 

[Gingernuts]

Yes I used to take my wife, no longer with us, an Inverness lass down to London in the van and stay at Abbey Wood! Shame it came under the extended ulez and my 2013 possl is not welcome anymore!

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[Carol]

Apps Court Farm is another site closed to London good train links into London.

 

[CRD]

Just looked at google maps. I didn't realise it was part of a very large wood.
From the entrance and the walk down to the train station is always looked like it was just the campsite that was wooded

We initially had a wrong impression about the area from the walk from the station too.

The Abbey ruins are only a 10 minute walk from the site and are interesting to wander around, before walking through the woods.

Another very good thing to do is to cycle onto the Thames Path, only 2.8 miles from the site.

It’s a fab route that takes you to the Thames Barrier and beyond towards the city and towards Dartford in the other direction.

 

[MerlinUK]

Also saw deer and foxes if memory serves. LOADS of birds as well.

I did wonder where the deer came from and how they got through the wire mesh fence.

It's amazing how much wildlife was there.

 

[seasideBill]

I'm there now, it's C&CC not CAMC if that's relevant.
I've enjoyed it but it's not anywhere near full.
Lot of traffic noise from the M3, and frequent aircraft. Doesn't bother me.
Any questions just ask.

Couple of good pubs nearby, train to London expensive, can flood.

 

[Brains]

Couple of good pubs nearby, train to London expensive, can flood.

Train to London is £7 return!
And cheaper if you have an OAP railcard

Or for £12.50 you can buy an all day Oyster card with unlimited train, underground, bus and boat travel.
Find me another UK city where can get that amount of travel for less than that cost!

As for the flooding, it's rare, and it's more that it can become boggy after heavy rain.
Like the majority of UK campsites, it's built on a flat area, so prone to drainage issues.

Pubs - Abbey Wood is not a great pub area.
You are better off eating & pubbing in either central London or in Greenwich which is half way back.

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[cyberyacht]

Pah - it's only £200 in our Euro IV moho

The there's the CAMC site fees which are themselves eye-watering.

 

[VXman]

We have had a lot of comments that they did not know about it. We also discovered today there is a site in Chertsey so we need to look into that one too.

Well its not difficult to find out. I obviously didn't know about it once upon a time but a quick search for CAMC sites in the area you want to be and it comes up on CAMC website, or google maps.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Is it a problem getting there if you have a 2005 Motorhome?

£317.50 per day on the road, from memory.

So that’s £635 to go in and out.

Same rip off with Austrian Tools.

Our highly maintained Euro III DIESEL €0.29 per km.

Old French Citroen passed us , spewing out black smoke. Paying maximum €1 a day

 

[CAB96]

Well its not difficult to find out. I obviously didn't know about it once upon a time but a quick search for CAMC sites in the area you want to be and it comes up on CAMC website, or google maps.

I'm guessing many people just assume there's no London campsites so haven't done that research that you and MerlinUK have, hence the surprised comments.

 

[Gaston aires]

Used it 3 times as a base while running the London marathon, we really enjoyed it and thought it was ideal for city access. I assume the faster line they were building is now open

Elizabeth line up and running. Brilliant service into London., especially theatreland.
Phil

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[cyberyacht]

Don't use CAMC Wyatts Covert out near Uxbridge unless you are fond of helicopter noise.

 

[seasideBill]

Train to London is £7 return!

More like £20+ for an off peak day return - get a Trainline quote for 10am to Waterloo on Monday.

 

[Barryh]

Any time we are in London we use Abbey Wood. It’s a bit pricey, but it is London and it’s a nice site. A 10 minute walk to the station and the Elizabeth Line. As some else said, the cafe on the corner is great and does a fine selection of food. Hopefully I’ll be there at the end of May if/when Bolton Wanderers are in the League 1 playoff final.

 

[Brains]

More like £20+ for an off peak day return - get a Trainline quote for 10am to Waterloo on Monday.

After 09.30h, it's £12.80 for a zone 4 Oyster card, which gives you the option to travel on rail, tube, and bus (and a discount on the boats) for the entire day.

If you just want a return on the train Abbey Wood/Waterloo/Abbey Wood then the cost is £9.30
(Enter the station as 'London(Any)' )

 

[Simon G]

CCC site in Chertsey is excellent, but less convenient for visiting London. and for freedom campers there is the original CCC site in Walton on Thames. No facilities, not great for public transport, but inside M25... I think there was also a CL/CS with no facilities just inside the M25 near Heathrow. Can't recall which club.

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[KiwiKampers]

Yes, the Abbey Wood site is a good spot, but you need to be mindful of the foxes. Don't leave your shoes outside, for example, 'cos the foxes will steal them. Not sure what they do with them!

 

[jaygee]

We like it there, used it many times. I can recommend Abbey Café for breakfast, and the Indian restaurant on the road down to the station.

We got food poisoning at The Indian

 

[Jeff one]

The Chertsey site is sat on the Thames , easy walk to the station to Waterloo, some really nice pubs, and easy to get to off the M25

 

[Brains]

It strikes me there is a requirement for:

A list of campsites,
That accept motorhomes,
Within walking distance (say 1.5miles) of a direct railway station
That can take you into London in under one hour.

 

[Brains]

It strikes me there is a requirement for:

A list of campsites,
That accept motorhomes,
Within walking distance (say 1.5miles) of a direct railway station
That can take you into London in under one hour.

Abbey Wood Campsite /SE London
Chertsey Camp site / West London
Apple Acres / Tonbridge
The Hop Farm / Paddock Wood

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[Jeff one]

Wyatt’s covert caravan site,, Denham

 

[Lindaok]

For somewhere more basic, try Beck Evans farm on Northcray Road, Bexley ( used to be Kelsey’s Farm) Short walk to Bexley village & station, farm shop on site & good food at the pub on the corner. Nice walks around Footscray Meadows and Joydens wood. Grass pitches with EHU.

 

[Chris RJ]

We just got back from a stay at Abbey Wood Club Campsite and we were genuinely surprised at how peaceful it was – especially considering how close it is to Central London! We managed to combine relaxing in greenery with sightseeing in the city – best of both worlds really. I’ve put a short video together with our thoughts and a proper look around the site if anyone’s considering heading that way.

Great video will have to make a trip to Abbey Wood one day Chris RJ

 

[Dave Stone]

Abbey Wood Campsite /SE London
Chertsey Camp site / West London
Apple Acres / Tonbridge
The Hop Farm / Paddock Wood

Walton on Thames is another site in West London

 

[Verteuil Man]

The main problem is that you have to go to London!!!

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