Bell tents in Hainault Forest

A super-handy Essex escape for nature-hungry Londoners, with shady trails through ancient woodlands and spring bursts of bluebells.

96% (681 reviews)

United Kingdom
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England
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Hainault Forest

96% (681 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Hainault Forest

Community favorites in and near Hainault Forest

Stories from the community

Helen

May 2025

Weekend Trip to The Barn KT9

KT9 barn is brilliant. The bell tent was spacious and we loved the extra bits of detail on the campsite like the hammocks and badminton net. Outdoor toilets and showers were clean and a good bit of the experience for the kids

Weekend Trip to Beech Estate Campsite

The bell tent had everything we needed and the setting in the woods among the bluebells was incredible. Steve was fantastic at helping us sort out a booking mistake on my part, and once we got there everyone was super kind and helpful. Will definitely come back soon!

Berni

April 2025

1 night at The Barn KT9

An idyllic setting, beautifully kitted out bell tents, great facilities - Weber bbq, firepit, deck chairs to relax and enjoy the views, delicious coffee and pastries - excellent service all around. What a gem of a place! Thank you to Charlie and team for a memorable visit

12 top bell tents sites in Hainault Forest

97%

(195)

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

96%

(153)

Tomkins Farm

42 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents15 acres · North Chailey, England

Relaxed camping beside a lake on an East Sussex farm, with alpacas, llamas, and camels

91%

(99)

Chigborough Farm

48 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents130 acres · Essex, East Anglia

Boating, biking and bell tent glamping on a farm near the Blackwater Estuary, where good food and walkable pubs are also on the menu.

Readers Field Glamping

4 units · Glamping6 acres · England

This is unlike a traditional campsite. With just four well-spaced bell tents spread across our field, you'll enjoy a real sense of space, peace, and privacy. Each tent is thoughtfully furnished with a double bed, soft bedding, towels, and two extra airbeds, giving you comfort and space to unwind. You'll also have your own gas cooker and fire-pit/BBQ, so you can cook and relax outdoors at your own pace. Looking for a beautiful countryside escape with friends or family? Readers Field is available for exclusive hire, giving you full private access to all four bell tents and the entire site. It’s ideal for small gatherings, family getaways, or simply switching off in nature—with no one else around. Just one hour from London, 30 minutes from Cambridge and only 25 minutes from Stansted Airport, Readers Field Glamping offers a relaxed, off-grid break in the heart of the north Essex countryside. Set in a spacious six-acre field in the village of Great Sampford, our small, independent site is all about slowing down and enjoying the simple pleasures of outdoor living. To make your stay as effortless as possible, we provide a cool box with two ice packs, a gas cooker, a water carrier with a tap, cutlery, picnic-style crockery, chopping boards, knives, bottle opener, pots/pans, kettle, tea, coffee, sugar, and even marshmallows to roast under the starlit sky. The fire pit doubles as a BBQ. You'll have access to our cosy cabin, which includes a hot shower, flushable toilet, small fridge/freezer and a place to charge your phone. The cabin also has a selection of board games for you to enjoy during those relaxed evenings. With long views, big skies, and a slower pace of life, it's the perfect chance to unplug and reconnect with nature. A short stroll across the field leads to a friendly local pub serving delicious food. The area is perfect for cycling, with quiet country roads and beautiful countryside ideal for exploring on foot. Our family has lived here for 40 years and created Readers Field Glamping as a place to share what we love most: campfires, starry nights, fresh air, and a slower way of living. Whether you're here for a short break or an exclusive group stay, we’d love to welcome you.

97%

(175)

Beech Estate Campsite

55 units · Glamping, Tents25 acres · Battle, England

Tent pitch camping and wild glamping in a Sussex woodland hideaway

93%

(69)

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%

(55)

Glassenbury Camping

33 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents12 acres · Cranbrook, England

Eco camping in the heart of the High Weald and Kent's castle country

95%

(31)

The Sunset Tree

30 units · Glamping, Tents3 acres · West Sussex, South East England

A sociable, tents-only, pop-up campsite, with a good village pub and playground on the doorstep

91%

(28)

Pitchcott Farm

11 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents15 acres · Aylesbury, England

Nearly wild, back-to-nature camping on a regenerative farm in Buckinghamshire

95%

(60)

Dernwood Farm Wild Camping

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

Camping and glamping in Sussex meadows and woodlands

97%

(58)

Star Field Camping

21 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Kent, South East England

Off-grid camping and glamping in the High Weald of Kent with campfires, acres of space and a farm shop on site

93%

(30)

Earth Camp

33 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Lewes, East Sussex, South East England

We are a small, family run, eco-friendly campsite in Chailey, set in a peaceful pocket of Sussex countryside. Our uniqueness includes therapies offered on site, including massage, reiki and pellowah; our classes run on site, including yoga, and gong baths; the wide range of outdoor games we can provide; and our commitment to making your camping experience as pleasurable as possible. We also have a fantastic wood-fired sauna all day on Saturdays, a delicious pizza oven on Saturday evenings, and a coffee truck on weekend mornings! We allow campfires and dogs, and for those who seek a little luxury in camping, we have spacious hot showers. We also have a number of beautiful Bell Tents available to hire, which we will put up for you prior to your arrival (min 2 nights). Look our for our special weekends, including Star Parties, Yoga Retreats, Singing Circles and Wellness Weekends. We also have delicious wood-fired pizzas on Saturday evenings, and an artisan coffee trucks with superb pastries on weekend mornings 8-10am.

Dog-friendly getaways

100%

(55)

Downsview Vineyard

5 units · Glamping1 acre · East Sussex, South East England

Simple but sophisticated, adults-only bell tent camping on a tiny vineyard with distant views of the South Downs

100%

(2)

Force of Nature - Private Glamping

1 unit · Glamping10 acres · England

Woodsland Farm is a 70 acre organic farm with the Cockhaise Brook meandering through species-rich flood meadows alongside ancient woodland. Guests should be aware of the rural nature of the site and the ecological and sustainable ethos of Woodsland Farm and The Force of Nature. Please note there is solar powered energy, very little mobile phone service, no WIFI and few modern conveniences on the bell tent site. That is its beauty! However, there is, in abundance, the healing power of nature, and peace and quiet – apart from birdsong and the rustle of the leaves on the trees.

Group Glamping Kent

1 unit · Glamping3 acres · Bethersden, England

Glamping in Kent, just 1 hour away from London. Longberry Farm provides the perfect backdrop for your outdoor event with stunning glamping accommodation. We are specialists in group glamping and outdoor events and have a site that offers you all you need and more.

100%

(5)

Oaksbrook Retreat

2 units · Glamping1 acre · Messing, England

Adults-only glamping on an equine smallholding in Essex.

Booked 3 times

Bellatent

1 unit · Glamping4 acres · England

Newly open this year! Only between July and August! Our exclusive campsite offers a true escape from Wi-Fi and other distractions. Enjoy the lovely setting of this romantic spot in nature. Beautiful walks in surrounding areas include the South Downs link. 30 minutes from Gatwick and 2 -3 miles from the town of Horsham Our bell tent is about experiencing the simplicity and tranquility that only nature can provide. It’s a perfect blend of adventure and comfort in a rural and private location. A serene and private bell tent camping experience—a perfect retreat to reconnect with nature and your loved ones. This bell tent offers a double bed for a comfortable sleep, a double futon (on request) and small furnishings for a back to basics experience. We provide clean running water with a sink, a camp toilet, bbq, outside fire pit, wood, utensils however no shower and NO ELECTRIC. Wake up to the sight of lush greenery and the sounds of birds chirping. Our location provides a peaceful environment where you can unwind and soak in the beauty of the natural world. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family adventure, or relaxing in front of the fire, our bell tent camping experience is designed for everyone. Create lasting memories in a beautiful setting. Parking is located just off the bridle way where you will find a wheelbarrow to load up and walk over to the bell tent. Walk down the field and you will find the orchard where the bell tent is situated in the corner of your own personal paddock. Padlock on gate and tent is 7415. No driving on the field.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Bell tents in Hainault Forest guide

Overview

Once part of the Forest of Essex, this age-old 280-acre expanse sprawling northeast from London has been protected since back in the 12th century. Dive into its horse-riding, cycling and walking routes, keeping an eye out for some of the 130 bird species among the trickling streams, whispering oak trees and wide-open heathland. A ‘monster trail’ keeps kids busy, and the whole area is dog-friendly. Autumn is a delightful season to explore Hainault Forest, with foliage slipping into rust-red clothes, while spring is perfect for vibrant blooms. You’ll want to book nearby campsites well ahead, especially in July and August when things get busy.

Where to go

Lee Valley Country Park

Beyond Hainault Forest itself, campers can explore the nearby Lee Valley, which stretches along the River Lea northeast from London into Buckinghamshire and Essex. Some of it was transformed into London’s Olympic Park for the 2012 games, bringing a welcome green lung to the capital’s east. Its handful of campsites take in tent spots, caravan parks, cosy lodges and pre-pitched safari tents, while adventure activities swing from white-water rafting to rowing along the river to leisurely horse riding.

Epping Forest

Another favourite nature spot on London’s fringes, Epping Forest sits just north of Hainault on the Essex-Hertfordshire border. With endless hiking paths, cycling routes, horseback trails and everything from paintball to windsurfing, you’ll be spoilt for entertainment. And while you can’t pitch up in the forest itself, there are wild-camping and caravanning sites on its edges.

Kent Coast

Kent’s beach-strung northern coastline awaits within a two-hour drive of Hainault Forest, offering up lively, bohemian beach towns such as Whitstable and Margate alongside miles of seaside walks, plenty of watersports and tempting ocean-view camping spots.

Suffolk Coast

Trundle less than two hours east from Hainault Forest to reach the pretty villages, Tudor mansions and pastel-painted resorts dotted around Suffolk’s sleepy littoral, not to mention the unmissable Algo-Saxon burial mounds at Sutton Hoo. Rewarding hikes lead along the 96-km Suffolk Coast Path, with tempting stops including Aldeburgh. There’s also fabulous coastal cycling, along with sunset horse rides along the golden beaches.