Camping in River Thames

See both picture-postcard countryside and city sights while camping on England’s most iconic river.

96% (1421 reviews)
  1. River Thames
96% (1421 reviews)

Popular camping styles for River Thames

Community favorites in and near River Thames

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Stories from the community

Available this weekend

Under £50

12 top campsites in River Thames

90%
(173)

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.
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
Showers
Trash
from 
£25
 / night

Star Hosts in River Thames

Dog-friendly getaways

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

Camping in River Thames guide

Overview

Britain’s second-longest river acts like a billboard for archetypal English landscapes: it starts in the Cotswolds, then proceeds through university city Oxford and winds around the wooded chalk-and-grass escarpment of the Chiltern Hills. The Thames enters London via Windsor Castle, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, and Richmond with its ancient deer park. Within the UK capital, the waterway passes some of the world’s most iconic sights before emptying  into the North Sea, passing bird-rich marshes. Walk the whole river on the 185-mile Thames Path, or choose a well-situated campsite on its edge.

Where to go

Cotswolds AONB

The Thames rises within the UK’s biggest AONB: the Cotswolds. These low hills—interspersed with honey-hued historic stone villages, quiet churches, and country pubs—typifies the quintessential English rural landscape. The river begins near Kemble, then flows through the huge lake system of the Cotswolds Water Park, known for its water sports, where there are several waterside campsites. The area’s walking is excellent, and the 625-mile Monarch’s Way numbers among the lesser-known long-distance paths.

Oxford Surrounds

Oxford is a must-visit city and a great base for discovering the Thames’ middle section. Visit world-class museums, wander around magnificent colleges, or take a traditional punt ride along the river—then hightail it out of town into the surrounding countryside. There is a riverside campsite in nearby Donnington, while the lavish country estate Blenheim Palace and ancient Wytham Woods are both also worth a visit. From Oxford, pick up the long-distance Shakespeare’s Way to see sights connected with the bard.

Chilterns AONB

The Thames brushes the edge of the Chiltern Hills, the last sizable green space before the river flows into London suburbia. Deviate from the river around Goring to roam into these grassy, chalky, wood-dotted hills. Aside from walking one of many trails such as the Ridgeway, one of Britain’s most ancient roads, you could bird-watch for red kites or visit historic properties like Nuffield Place. Park the motorhome or pitch your tent close to the river outside Wallingford, a spot well-placed for Chilterns explorations.

Richmond-on-Thames & Around

There is much beauty in the transition between countryside and city, never better evidenced than at smart, leafy Richmond-upon-Thames, where a medieval deer park and the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew provide a selection of fauna and flora many far-more rural locations would be envious of. Pitching around London is scarce, but there is camping at Walton-on-Thames, six miles southwest of Richmond Park, near Hampton Court Palace.

Hoo Peninsula

The mouth of the river is perhaps its most mysterious part. The ethereal spreads of bird-rich marshland on the Thames’ south side along the Kent coast were only connected via riverside path to central London in 2022, turning the Thames’ banks into a true source-to-sea walking route out to the Hoo Peninsula’s Isle of Grain. As the new official start/finish of any complete Thames exploration, the Hoo is now a compelling walking destination. Camp at Allhallows to begin the adventure.

Top counties in and near River Thames