Family glamping near Ely

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Situated on the East Anglian fens’ highest land (at an elevation of 85 feet!), Ely is arranged around a stunning cathedral while its pancake-flat surrounding landscapes are scored by waterways, many the result of drainage to create today’s fertile farmland. These flatlands ensure abundant easy walking and cycling, plus plentiful campsites—Ely’s best camping is on riverside meadows just to the northeast. Outdoor lovers can get especially excited by boating on the River Great Ouse and by the vast nearby Thetford Forest.

94% (164) 48 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Ely

The Barn KT9

1. The Barn KT9

97%
(271)
127km from Ely · 22 units · Tents, Glamping
A unique rural campsite in Surrey, a stone's throw from London's Zone 6
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£12
 / night
Fleets Paddock Glamping & Camping

2. Fleets Paddock Glamping & Camping

95%
(104)
133km from Ely · 41 units · Tents, Glamping
Pitches, bell tents and a gypsy caravan on the outskirts of Canterbury
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£11
 / night
Whitlingham Broad Campsite

3. Whitlingham Broad Campsite

98%
(164)
73km from Ely · 72 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Laid-back camping and glamping a stone's throw from Norwich and at the gateway to the Norfolk Broads
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£14
 / night
Hatters Meadows Cambridgeshire

4. Hatters Meadows Cambridgeshire

97%
(143)
1.6km from Ely · 20 units · Tents, Glamping
Cosy year-round glamping and seasonal camping in a fenland meadow with views of Ely cathedral
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£20
 / night
Riverside Camping - Festival Feel

5. Riverside Camping - Festival Feel

92%
(38)
68km from Ely · 41 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
A pop-up campsite on the banks of the River Great Ouse, with workshops, music, good food and a festival vibe
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£31
 / night
Riverside Farm experience camp fire

6. Riverside Farm experience camp fire

84%
(25)
72km from Ely · 43 units · Tents, Glamping
Wild farm camping in an idyllic 60 acre grade 1 listed country estate conservation farm and pleasure grounds in central Hertford. Large free camping meadow includes fire pits next to the river and ancient woodlands. Stunning valley views. Paddle swim boat fish in our crystal clear chalk streams , explore our woodland areas , with hammocks swings and huge 1960s army parachute shelter. NEW Goldings mini beach , sand area next to our crystal clear shallow paddling area . Loads of fun with friendly lambs, piglets, donkeys and mini cows to pet and feed. Your stay includes a farm tour with farmer Morag and the team, walk our baby mini pygmy goats, ALL ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF YOUR STAY (no extra costs) such as arts and crafts are available, plus play areas, with zip wire, fishing, boats, swimming and paddling in our crystal clear chalk stream. We have 60 acres of grade 1 listed farmland, woodlands, a canal, river and meadows to explore. We are 5 minutes from Hertford north train station which has trains every 35 mins to Central London. Close to all the amazing activities, museums, bars, restaurants and shops of historic Hertford. Close to Hertfordshire Zoo, Harry Potter World, and loads of attractions.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£68
 / night
Glassenbury Camping

7. Glassenbury Camping

99%
(65)
147km from Ely · 33 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Eco camping in the heart of the High Weald and Kent's castle country
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£13
 / night
Archer’s Field

8. Archer’s Field

97%
(223)
81km from Ely · 22 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Scenic, simple camping with North Norfolk's best sights on your doorstep
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£26
 / night
Twitey's Camping & Glamping meadows

9. Twitey's Camping & Glamping meadows

100%
(94)
134km from Ely · 43 units · Tents, Glamping
A family-friendly site with secluded, individual pitches hidden among the long grass and campfires permitted
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£16
 / night
Brakehill Lodge Farm Camping

10. Brakehill Lodge Farm Camping

100%
(45)
44km from Ely · 5 units · Glamping
Small, secluded, homespun farm campsite in rural Norfolk, a short drive from Thetford Forest Park
Showers
Potable water
Cooking equipment
from 
£95
 / night
Haybridge Wharf Farm

11. Haybridge Wharf Farm

100%
(9)
115km from Ely · 1 unit · Glamping
Our meadow in the rolling Oxfordshire hillside has a beautiful view of fields and the Oxford canal. It has dark skies and a stunning show of stars. Peaceful, quiet and secluded, a perfect place to escape from the pressures of daily life. The field is fenced in and has hedgerows and a baby woodland. You can enjoy hiking, walking, cycling and exploring this interesting part of the world, or head to any of the local pubs to refresh.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£100
 / night

Situated on the East Anglian fens’ highest land (at an elevation of 85 feet!), Ely is arranged around a stunning cathedral while its pancake-flat surrounding landscapes are scored by waterways, many the result of drainage to create today’s fertile farmland. These flatlands ensure abundant easy walking and cycling, plus plentiful campsites—Ely’s best camping is on riverside meadows just to the northeast. Outdoor lovers can get especially excited by boating on the River Great Ouse and by the vast nearby Thetford Forest.

94% (164) 48 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Ely

The Barn KT9

1. The Barn KT9

97%
(271)
127km from Ely · 22 units · Tents, Glamping
A unique rural campsite in Surrey, a stone's throw from London's Zone 6
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£12
 / night
Fleets Paddock Glamping & Camping

2. Fleets Paddock Glamping & Camping

95%
(104)
133km from Ely · 41 units · Tents, Glamping
Pitches, bell tents and a gypsy caravan on the outskirts of Canterbury
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£11
 / night
Whitlingham Broad Campsite

3. Whitlingham Broad Campsite

98%
(164)
73km from Ely · 72 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Laid-back camping and glamping a stone's throw from Norwich and at the gateway to the Norfolk Broads
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£14
 / night
Hatters Meadows Cambridgeshire

4. Hatters Meadows Cambridgeshire

97%
(143)
1.6km from Ely · 20 units · Tents, Glamping
Cosy year-round glamping and seasonal camping in a fenland meadow with views of Ely cathedral
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£20
 / night
Riverside Camping - Festival Feel

5. Riverside Camping - Festival Feel

92%
(38)
68km from Ely · 41 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
A pop-up campsite on the banks of the River Great Ouse, with workshops, music, good food and a festival vibe
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£31
 / night
Riverside Farm experience camp fire

6. Riverside Farm experience camp fire

84%
(25)
72km from Ely · 43 units · Tents, Glamping
Wild farm camping in an idyllic 60 acre grade 1 listed country estate conservation farm and pleasure grounds in central Hertford. Large free camping meadow includes fire pits next to the river and ancient woodlands. Stunning valley views. Paddle swim boat fish in our crystal clear chalk streams , explore our woodland areas , with hammocks swings and huge 1960s army parachute shelter. NEW Goldings mini beach , sand area next to our crystal clear shallow paddling area . Loads of fun with friendly lambs, piglets, donkeys and mini cows to pet and feed. Your stay includes a farm tour with farmer Morag and the team, walk our baby mini pygmy goats, ALL ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF YOUR STAY (no extra costs) such as arts and crafts are available, plus play areas, with zip wire, fishing, boats, swimming and paddling in our crystal clear chalk stream. We have 60 acres of grade 1 listed farmland, woodlands, a canal, river and meadows to explore. We are 5 minutes from Hertford north train station which has trains every 35 mins to Central London. Close to all the amazing activities, museums, bars, restaurants and shops of historic Hertford. Close to Hertfordshire Zoo, Harry Potter World, and loads of attractions.
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£68
 / night
Glassenbury Camping

7. Glassenbury Camping

99%
(65)
147km from Ely · 33 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Eco camping in the heart of the High Weald and Kent's castle country
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£13
 / night
Archer’s Field

8. Archer’s Field

97%
(223)
81km from Ely · 22 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping
Scenic, simple camping with North Norfolk's best sights on your doorstep
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£26
 / night
Twitey's Camping & Glamping meadows

9. Twitey's Camping & Glamping meadows

100%
(94)
134km from Ely · 43 units · Tents, Glamping
A family-friendly site with secluded, individual pitches hidden among the long grass and campfires permitted
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£16
 / night
Brakehill Lodge Farm Camping

10. Brakehill Lodge Farm Camping

100%
(45)
44km from Ely · 5 units · Glamping
Small, secluded, homespun farm campsite in rural Norfolk, a short drive from Thetford Forest Park
Showers
Potable water
Cooking equipment
from 
£95
 / night
Haybridge Wharf Farm

11. Haybridge Wharf Farm

100%
(9)
115km from Ely · 1 unit · Glamping
Our meadow in the rolling Oxfordshire hillside has a beautiful view of fields and the Oxford canal. It has dark skies and a stunning show of stars. Peaceful, quiet and secluded, a perfect place to escape from the pressures of daily life. The field is fenced in and has hedgerows and a baby woodland. You can enjoy hiking, walking, cycling and exploring this interesting part of the world, or head to any of the local pubs to refresh.
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£100
 / night

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Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Family glamping near Ely guide

Where to go

River Great Ouse

The UK’s fifth-longest river flows right by Ely and is the city’s go-to outdoor playground. For boaters, the draw is the Ely marina and a waterway navigable from Bedford all the way to the coast at King’s Lynn in Norfolk. Walkers, meanwhile, relish long-distance paths like the Ouse Valley Way: via the Great Ouse and the River Cam’s riverbanks you can walk or cycle off-road to Cambridge. Look out for riverside camping in wildflower meadows a few miles northeast of Ely.

Thetford Forest

Thetford Forest (together with The King’s Forest to its south) spills over the flat heathland of North Suffolk and South Norfolk, 18 miles east of Ely. Here are well-maintained hiking and biking routes, including the Icknield Way, supposedly Britain’s oldest road. There are also prehistoric sites like Grime’s Graves flint mine (in the forest’s north). Thetford Forest’s northern edge, above Ickborough, contains two good campsites.

The Kings Forest

Divided from Thetford Forest only by a brief break of farmland, the King’s Forest is another arboreal wonderland. The long-distance Icknield Way trail passes through, while a reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village sits by West Stow Country Park in the south. Check out the trio of excellent camping possibilities toward the forest’s south, which is bounded by the delightful River Lark.

River Lark

The River Lark meanders to Isleham from its confluence with the Great River Ouse before continuing upstream to Bury St Edmunds and beyond. Navigable for about 10 miles until Jude’s Ferry between Isleham’s marina and Mildenhall, the waterway sees plenty of pleasure boaters. Footpaths flank the river as far as Mildenhall, and there are several waterside campsites nearby.

When to go

Ely can be explored any time of year, but the busiest time for camping is during the July and August school summer holidays, when parking can be hard to come by, especially at hotspots like Thetford Forest. Average monthly temperatures max out at 23°C at this time. One of Britain’s leading folk music extravaganzas, Ely Folk Festival, marks July as an especially lively time to visit.