Family camping near Chelmsford

Chelmsford isn't exactly known as the Mecca of all things camping, but this often-overlooked Essex city is an excellent focal point for any easy getaway in the South East of England, with its cathedral, river and RHS gardens along with beautiful surrounding countryside.

91% (411 reviews)

United Kingdom
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England
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East Anglia
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Essex
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Chelmsford

91% (411 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Chelmsford

Community favorites near Chelmsford

Stories from the community

matt

1 week ago

6 m Class A

1 night at Wethersfield Eco Project Off grid

Very friendly welcome by Tim and a peaceful stay in lovely woodlands

4 nights at Woodlands Camping

Amazingly relaxing break. Lovely site with wonderful walks through the woods and across the nearby fields. Very peaceful and quiet site. The night sky was mesmerising. Compost toilets were clean, though a little cramped. Two portable toilet pods arrived on the second day and we're much appreciated. Cold water washing up facilities were very handy. Host was very friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend the site for a relaxing get away.

Weekend Trip to The Barn KT9

Thank you Charlie for a lovely stay. The plot was very well located, and amenities excellent. We enjoyed a lovely walk and coffee before heading home. There is a pub nearby, which was walkable and good. The only thing we weren’t so keen on was the sound from the clay pigeon shooting next door in the morning! But would definitely come back!

Weekend Trip to Cotswolds Camping

Great spot, top notch facilities that where very clean. Welcomed as we came in and will use in the future

Weekend Trip to Woodlands Camping

Very welcoming. Low key. No mod cons. Beautiful land and surrounding area. Easy to find. Perfect if you just want some time out!

Weekend Trip to Cotswolds Camping

Really helpful staff. Toilet/showers, electric and bins for waste. All you need, great site! Many thanks!

Jason

January 2025

Weekend Trip to Cattlestone Farm Adult Only

The farm was very easy to get to, and Donna and her husband were extremely communicative and welcoming. The cabin itself was an utter delight and more than I would've expected, both in terms of amenities available, and the quality therein. Very easy to both cook on site and enjoy the farm itself, and to head out into the countryside. Plus the cows were such a special treat to see!

Sukey

October 2024

2 nights at Cattlestone Farm Adult Only

We had a lovely time staying here. The shepherd's hut was attractive, cosy and well equipped. Because we stayed at the end of October we unfortunately didn't make use of all the outside seating, which would be lovely in summer. So once it gets dark, it is very quiet and isolated, so just be prepared to cosy up inside with books etc. In the daytimes we liked exploring the local villages and some amazing pubs on our bikes.

Star Hosts in Chelmsford

100%

(12)

Finchingfield Lavender & Camping

9 units · Motorhomes, Tents9 acres · Finchingfield, England

Luxury camping and glamping pitches within a wildflower meadow. Private loo per pitch, fire pit with BBQ Grill & a picnic bench. Our North Essex hideaway is perfect for a country retreat under the stars. Just over an hour away from London, located in a rural setting outside the chocolate box village of Finchingfield with tea rooms and three great independent pubs. We are a micro Lavender farm home to 3.5 kms of hand planted Lavandula × intermedia 'Lavender Grosso'. Our campers and glampers have unlimited access to our lavender field which overlooks rolling fields and sunset views, perfect for a relaxing evening amongst the purple blooms

97%

(68)

Wild Boar Wood Campsite

9 units · Glamping5 acres · Haywards Heath, England

Wild woodland glamping in the heart of Sussex with fires

100%

(43)

Brakehill Lodge Farm Camping

5 units · Glamping1 acre · Norfolk, England

Small, secluded, homespun farm campsite in rural Norfolk, a short drive from Thetford Forest Park

97%

(179)

Archer’s Field

22 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Norfolk, East Anglia

Scenic, simple camping with North Norfolk's best sights on your doorstep

100%

(20)

Beau and Bell at South Farm

10 units · Glamping1 acre · Lewes, England

Summer bell tent camping on a South Downs farm in Sussex

12 top campsites near Chelmsford

89%

(157)

Penn Meadow Farm

50 units · Motorhomes, Tents145 acres · Beaconsfield, England

Penn Meadow Farm is a beautiful 145 acre, family farm, nestled perfectly into the Chiltern Hills area of outstanding natural beauty. We’re just a 5 minute walk across our grassy fields to the oldest free-house pub in England (The Royal Standard of England) Say hello to our resident alpacas, sheep, pigs, pigmy goats, flock of 250 sheep and of course our lovely boarder collies. We aim to be a very relaxed spot to be able to rest for a few nights and maybe enjoying a nice camp fire in the evening. The site includes; Showers and Toilet block with toilet paper stocked. Open family pitches for you to choose where you want to set up Running drinking water Shared open kitchen Fires allowed BBQ's allowed To ensure everyone’s enjoyment and safety, please follow these rules: Supervise children: Always supervise your children and ensure they do not wander off alone. Clean up after yourself: Dispose of all waste properly in the designated bins and leave no trace behind. Wash any items you use and return them to where you found them. Respect other campers: Be courteous to fellow campers and respect their privacy and space. Pets: If you bring pets, ensure they are well-behaved, kept on a leash or have impeccable recall, and cleaned up after. Do not allow your pet to enter another camper's space. Quiet time: Maintain quiet hours between 11pm and 7am. All music must stop by 10pm, and noise should be minimal after 11pm. Campfires: Penn Meadow Farm allows fires; please use existing scorched areas if possible rather than creating new ones. Never leave any fires unattended and ensure they are completely extinguished when finished. Wipe your feet prior to entering the Bell tents to remove any coal that may have become attached. Cars/vehicles: Cars and vehicles can be on the field but should move minimally and always under 5mph. Car stereos should not be used for music entertainment. Drugs and Alcohol: Drug use is prohibited, and violators will be asked to leave. Consume alcohol responsibly, and do not drive or move your vehicle after consuming alcohol. We do not typically book Large non-family groups unless they are seeking a calm and peaceful stay. These groups must have authorization prior to the visit.

The Barn KT9

22 units · Glamping, Tents3 acres · Greater London, South East England

A unique rural campsite in Surrey, a stone's throw from London's Zone 6

97%

(247)

Four Winds Camping and Canoeing

13 units · Motorhomes, Tents5 acres · Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, East Anglia

A small, friendly riverside campsite in Cambridgeshire – with campfires allowed

Woodlands Camping

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents200 acres · Ropley, England

A back-to-basics campsite in the South Downs National Park

96%

(91)

Cattlestone Farm Adult Only

36 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents60 acres · West Sussex, South East England

Friendly camping and glamping on a Sussex farm, with animals to meet, a pond to swim in, and the South Downs nearby.

86%

(148)

Daisy May’s Farm

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · Bishop's Stortford, England

Our pop up campsite is set in 20 acres on a not for profit community farm. Come and join us in the great outdoors! Help collect the eggs, feed the chickens and milk the goat! There is always lots going on at Daisy May’s Farm! Children’s play areas, paddle stream, woodland walks and lots more! PITCH FEE INCLUDES ENTRY TO THE FARM & ALL ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS! Open 7 days a week. Coffee Cabin and Ollie’s Food Hut also serving hot food (Weekends & school holiday 10-3pm) Local pub - 5 mins walk Golf Course (crazy golf, top golf, 9 hole course, bar and food) - 5 mins walk Shop/post office/chip shop - 10 mins walk Toilets & shower ; hot gas shower available but we are a basic wild, mostly off grid site. No concrete heated toilet blocks I’m afraid! (Showers unavailable in Winter months) There will be mud. Bring your wellies! Drinking water and bins available. Bring a torch for walking around the site at night. The site is off grid and the toilet lights are solar operated! CARAVANS - ONLY BOOKABLE MAY - SEPTEMBERTENTS - CAMPER VANS - MOTORHOMES WELCOME ALL YEAR (all pitches are the same. No need to specify which type of unit you are booking) We look forwards to welcoming you soon!

98%

(148)

Hook Farm Campsite

18 units · Tents10 acres · West Sussex, South East England

Blissfully back-to-basics camping in the heart of the West Sussex High Weald

93%

(61)

Fleets Paddock Glamping & Camping

40 units · Glamping, Tents5 acres · Canterbury, Kent, South East England

Pitches, bell tents and a gypsy caravan on the outskirts of Canterbury

99%

(197)

Cuckoo Farm Campsite

13 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents130 acres · Rutland, East Midlands

Family camping with campfires on an organic farm, set alongside the beautiful River Chater

89%

(14)

Dogwood Cottage Campsite

8 units · Motorhomes, Tents3 acres · Rye, England

Come and meet the chickens and ducks, friendly pygmy goats and miniature shetland pony Dino at Dogwood Camping, a gem in the heart of the East Sussex countryside. We are a small, family-run campsite set in the High Weald area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a perfect base from which to explore the beaches, castles, ancient woodlands and towns like Rye, Battle and Hastings. Dogwood is in the small village of Brede, and is walking distance from two fine country pubs. We are surrounded by stunning countryside where you can take your dog for a short stroll across the fields or go for a long romp through the fields and valleys. Or just sit and relax, listen to the birds and soak up the peace and quiet. We are fortunate to be in a dark skies area, perfect for long, relaxing summer nights around the campfie, sipping hot chocolate, toasting marshmallows and spotting shooting stars! During the summer our site is a popular spot for families and campers visiting nearby Camber Sands sandy beach and year round we welcome all differnt types of campervan, motorhome and caravan. We look forward to welcome you to our little slice of paradise. Wet weather and winter – please note in the off-season, and if very wet, the camping field is closed to vehicles, replaced instead by semi-hardstanding areas or our summer car-park area. Facilities are open but please be prepared for the vagaries of the weather, leaves, puddles and mud. To change pitch please let us know asap so that we can try if possible to find you another. Apart from the car-park, pitches can get very muddy in prolonged, heavy rain. If you are not prepared for these eventualities please do not book.

95%

(55)

Dernwood Farm Wild Camping

17 units · Glamping, Tents70 acres · East Sussex, South East England

Camping and glamping in Sussex meadows and woodlands

96%

(581)

Chalky Downs

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents12 acres · Brighton, East Sussex, South East England

Traditional tent camping in a stunningly-located South Downs farm, just down the road from buzzing Brighton

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

There are plenty of excellent campsites near Chelmsford if you know where to look and, as always, only the very best make the cut for our Hipcamp shortlist.

Family camping near Chelmsford guide

Overview

Welcome to Hipcamp, your go-to resource for camping in the UK! Located near Chelmsford, England, we have over 1261 options for you to choose from. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly retreat or a serene escape in nature, we've got you covered. Prices start as low as £12 per night, with an average price of £25 per night. Plus, our top campsites, including Chalky Downs (90 reviews), Cuckoo Farm Campsite (45 reviews), and Otter Channel Campsite (45 reviews), are highly recommended by fellow campers. Enjoy popular facilities like cooking equipment, potable water, and pet-friendly spaces. And don't miss out on the exciting activities like autumn fun, paddling, and boating. So pack your bags and get ready for an unforgettable camping experience!