Riverside camping in South Downs National Park

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In South Downs National Park, river camping puts you right on the water’s edge with over 215 options tailored for those who want to wake up to flowing streams and bird calls. You’ll find sites ranging from just £12 a night, with the average closer to £125. Pitch next to the Arun or Ouse and spend your days fishing, wildlife-watching, or crossing the Downs on horseback. Top picks include The Barn KT9 (111 reviews), The Slips (50 reviews), and Hale Farm (34 reviews). Most sites are pet-friendly, offer showers, and allow campfires—ideal for drying boots and warming up after a dip. Expect basic but reliable facilities, and keep an eye out for kingfishers skimming the water at dawn.

94% (377) 126 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near South Downs National Park

The Barn KT9

1. The Barn KT9

97%
(271)
22 units · Tents, Glamping · Greater London, South East England
A unique rural campsite in Surrey, a stone's throw from London's Zone 6
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£12
 / night
The Nut Plat Retreat

2. The Nut Plat Retreat

93%
(73)
3 units · Glamping · Kent, South East England
Antique living wagons on the banks of the River Bourne, with a charming orchard setting, a pub down the lane and a history unlike anywhere else
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£88
 / night
The Slips

3. The Slips

91%
(85)
39 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Henfield, England
A relaxed, back-to-basics campsite in the West Sussex countryside
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£19
 / night
The Baker's Hut

4. The Baker's Hut

100%
(1)
1 unit · Glamping · Ashurst, England
A shepherd’s hut hideaway for two in rural Sussex
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£163
 / night
The Sunset Tree

5. The Sunset Tree

96%
(34)
30 units · Tents, Glamping · West Sussex, South East England
A sociable, tents-only, pop-up campsite, with a good village pub and playground on the doorstep
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£17
 / night
Wonderland Festival Retreat

6. Wonderland Festival Retreat

100%
(6)
2 units · Glamping · Henfield, England
Glamping by the lake with an optional sauna and hot tub
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£170
 / night
The Old Airfield

7. The Old Airfield

85%
(143)
114 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Hampshire, South East England
A New Forest airfield that's been overtaken by nature, less than 10 minutes' drive from the coast
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£30
 / night
Laleham Camping Club

8. Laleham Camping Club

100%
(10)
124 units · Tents, Motorhomes · England
Our 100 pitch campsite is located in the protected Green Belt area to the west of London. With the River Thames on one side and Laleham Park on all others, the beautiful surroundings are hard to beat given the proximity to the capital. The campsite is run voluntarily by its members, with day-to-day matters being handled by an elected committee and wardens.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Showers
from 
£15
 / night
Harry's Field New Forest

9. Harry's Field New Forest

92%
(60)
63 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Fordingbridge, Hampshire, South East England
Family-friendly, traditional New Forest camping with a pub next door and footpaths leading directly from the gateway
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£32
 / night
Hale Farm

10. Hale Farm

100%
(152)
38 units · Tents, Glamping · East Sussex, South East England
A family-run, working farm in East Sussex offering spacious, traditional camping with no set pitches
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£14
 / night
Stud Farm

11. Stud Farm

100%
(4)
1 unit · Glamping · Brockenhurst, England
A shepherd’s hut on a traditional New Forest farm
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£125
 / night
Skoolie Stays

12. Skoolie Stays

100%
(5)
1 unit · Glamping · East Sussex, South East England
A converted, characterful and cool all-American yellow school bus parked up near the South Downs
Showers
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£236
 / night

In South Downs National Park, river camping puts you right on the water’s edge with over 215 options tailored for those who want to wake up to flowing streams and bird calls. You’ll find sites ranging from just £12 a night, with the average closer to £125. Pitch next to the Arun or Ouse and spend your days fishing, wildlife-watching, or crossing the Downs on horseback. Top picks include The Barn KT9 (111 reviews), The Slips (50 reviews), and Hale Farm (34 reviews). Most sites are pet-friendly, offer showers, and allow campfires—ideal for drying boots and warming up after a dip. Expect basic but reliable facilities, and keep an eye out for kingfishers skimming the water at dawn.

94% (377) 126 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near South Downs National Park

The Barn KT9

1. The Barn KT9

97%
(271)
22 units · Tents, Glamping · Greater London, South East England
A unique rural campsite in Surrey, a stone's throw from London's Zone 6
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£12
 / night
The Nut Plat Retreat

2. The Nut Plat Retreat

93%
(73)
3 units · Glamping · Kent, South East England
Antique living wagons on the banks of the River Bourne, with a charming orchard setting, a pub down the lane and a history unlike anywhere else
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£88
 / night
The Slips

3. The Slips

91%
(85)
39 units · Tents, Motorhomes · Henfield, England
A relaxed, back-to-basics campsite in the West Sussex countryside
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
from 
£19
 / night
The Baker's Hut

4. The Baker's Hut

100%
(1)
1 unit · Glamping · Ashurst, England
A shepherd’s hut hideaway for two in rural Sussex
Showers
Campfires
Wifi
from 
£163
 / night
The Sunset Tree

5. The Sunset Tree

96%
(34)
30 units · Tents, Glamping · West Sussex, South East England
A sociable, tents-only, pop-up campsite, with a good village pub and playground on the doorstep
Pets
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£17
 / night
Wonderland Festival Retreat

6. Wonderland Festival Retreat

100%
(6)
2 units · Glamping · Henfield, England
Glamping by the lake with an optional sauna and hot tub
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£170
 / night
The Old Airfield

7. The Old Airfield

85%
(143)
114 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Hampshire, South East England
A New Forest airfield that's been overtaken by nature, less than 10 minutes' drive from the coast
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£30
 / night
Laleham Camping Club

8. Laleham Camping Club

100%
(10)
124 units · Tents, Motorhomes · England
Our 100 pitch campsite is located in the protected Green Belt area to the west of London. With the River Thames on one side and Laleham Park on all others, the beautiful surroundings are hard to beat given the proximity to the capital. The campsite is run voluntarily by its members, with day-to-day matters being handled by an elected committee and wardens.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Showers
from 
£15
 / night
Harry's Field New Forest

9. Harry's Field New Forest

92%
(60)
63 units · Tents, Motorhomes, Glamping · Fordingbridge, Hampshire, South East England
Family-friendly, traditional New Forest camping with a pub next door and footpaths leading directly from the gateway
Pets
Campfires
Showers
from 
£32
 / night
Hale Farm

10. Hale Farm

100%
(152)
38 units · Tents, Glamping · East Sussex, South East England
A family-run, working farm in East Sussex offering spacious, traditional camping with no set pitches
Campfires
Showers
Potable water
from 
£14
 / night
Stud Farm

11. Stud Farm

100%
(4)
1 unit · Glamping · Brockenhurst, England
A shepherd’s hut on a traditional New Forest farm
Pets
Showers
Campfires
from 
£125
 / night
Skoolie Stays

12. Skoolie Stays

100%
(5)
1 unit · Glamping · East Sussex, South East England
A converted, characterful and cool all-American yellow school bus parked up near the South Downs
Showers
Campfires
Potable water
from 
£236
 / night

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

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

Top counties in and near South Downs National Park

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