22 campsites in Essex

Hill Farm Camping, Great Bardfield, Braintree, EssexPlaceholder image
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Great Bardfield, Braintree, Essex

4.93 /5

11 reviews

100%

would recommend

Small farm site with accessible facilities and a short walk to a pub. Onsite animals to meet, archery and more!

2024 Overall runner up of Best Newcomer Award
Finchingfield Camping, Finchingfield, EssexPlaceholder image
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Finchingfield, Essex

4.7 /5

4 reviews

100%

would recommend

Luxury camping and glamping on a working lavender farm and 9 acres of wild flower meadow.

Lee Wick Farm Cottages and Glamping, St Osyth, Clacton-on-Sea, EssexPlaceholder image
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St Osyth, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex

4.8 /5

4 reviews

100%

would recommend

Peaceful glamping, camping and touring site in the picturesque North Essex countryside, ten minutes from the beach.

Osea Meadows, Heybridge, Maldon, EssexPlaceholder image
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Heybridge, Maldon, Essex

4.6 /5

6 reviews

100%

would recommend

Family park on the banks of the Blackwater Estuary. Onsite entertainment, a snack hut, a cafe and restaurant!

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Thamesview Camping Certificated Site, East Tilbury, Tilbury, EssexPlaceholder image

East Tilbury, Tilbury, Essex

Greener Camping Club certificated site for tents and tourers with glamping in bell tents, and dog friendly.

Gatehouse Barns Camping and Glamping, Peldon, EssexPlaceholder image

Peldon, Essex

Family and dog friendly camping and glamping site with views towards Abberton Reservoir and close to Mersea Island.

Golden Grove, Great Saling, Braintree, EssexPlaceholder image

Great Saling, Braintree, Essex

An adult only site set in picturesque parkland ideal for peace and quiet. Open all year round and dog friendly.

Fen Farm Caravan and Camping Site, Mersea Island, Colchester, EssexPlaceholder image

Mersea Island, Colchester, Essex

A quiet family retreat, set by the sea (and beach) and close to a country park in a small village on Mersea Island.

Plumptons Farm Creek Campsite, Colchester, EssexPlaceholder image

Colchester, Essex

Small family friendly campsite in a remote and peaceful location while still just 20 minutes from Colchester.

Hedingham Huts, Castle Hedingham, Halstead, EssexPlaceholder image

Castle Hedingham, Halstead, Essex

Bespoke ensuite shepherd's hut on a small, family-run farm in the heart of East Anglia's countryside.

Riverside Village Holiday Park, Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, EssexPlaceholder image

Rochford, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

A tranquil picturesque site, surrounded by wildlife, with onsite fishing for guests.

Grange Farm Campsite, Thorpe-Le-Soken, EssexPlaceholder image

Thorpe-Le-Soken, Essex

Peaceful, simple site in the middle of a small working farm. Just 15 minutes to the coast and Clacton-on-Sea!

Colchester Country Park, Lexden, Colchester, EssexPlaceholder image

Lexden, Colchester, Essex

An award-winning country park with touring and camping right by Colchester, with its excellent castle.

Woodchests Glamping, Pebmarsh, EssexPlaceholder image

Pebmarsh, Essex

Luxury ensuite safari tents with pizza ovens on a family site with countryside views and a 19-acre fishing lake.

Waldegraves Holiday Park, Mersea Island, Colchester, EssexPlaceholder image

Mersea Island, Colchester, Essex

An award winning holiday park in Essex with camping, touring and caravan hire on Mersea Island.

Tey Brook Orchard, Colchester, EssexPlaceholder image

Colchester, Essex

Escape the ordinary at this quirky glamping site amongst 20 acres of woodland. Restaurant on site.

Silver Road Caravan Park, Burnham-on-Crouch, EssexPlaceholder image

Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

Small welcoming site in an excellent location, with nearby pubs and onsite WiFi.

Seabrook's, Little Leighs, Chelmsford, EssexPlaceholder image

Little Leighs, Chelmsford, Essex

A back-to-basics tent campsite in Little Leighs, enjoy the Essex countryside to venture to Chelsmford.

Hadleigh Park, South Benfleet, EssexPlaceholder image

South Benfleet, Essex

Year round safari tent glamping with stunning mountain bike trails and activities in Essex.

Aldersroot Certificated Site, Brentwood, EssexPlaceholder image

Brentwood, Essex

Off grid, adult only campsite located on a working farm with a sauna and fishing!

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FAQ

Colchester, Debden, Southend and Clacton-on-Sea are some of Essex's most popular places to camp.

Roughly three quarters of campsites in Essex allow pets. Choose from a selection of of dog friendly sites here.

A lot of Essex campsites and holiday parks offer swimming pools. Browse a list of sites here.

Around a quarter campsites in Essex are open all year round. Browse a list of year round sites here.

Essex has a great selection of beach campsites and campsites near the coast. You'll find the best ones here.

Things to do when camping in Essex

Essex is more than just TV show fodder, and beneath the televised surface, there’s an awe-inspiring array of activities. For seaside fun close to London, you can’t do better and the county packs a punch with hauntingly beautiful forests, a great coastline and some of the nation’s best museums and castles.

Don’t Miss

• Colchester Zoo
• Chelmsford Cathedral
• Clacton Pier
• Colchester Castle

World class museums and historical brainteasers

Essex has a selection of the country’s best houses and gardens to explore, starting with the RHS Garden at Hyde Hall. Hylands House and Estate should also not be missed. Looking like the set of a period drama, the house dates from 1730 and is steeped in history.

Next up, Audrey End house is a imposing 17th century stately home. From there it's an easy move to Layer Manmey Tower, which is a fine example of a Tudor Palace, and Colchester Castle's grand Norman opulence.

Delving further into history, Infatestone Hall -a 16th Century Manor house- has been passed through the generations and carries some jawdropping tales with it. Tidbury Fort, situated on the banks of the River Thames was built to protect London from attack by the Spanish Armada, so pop along to find out how the battle went! Hadleigh Castle, too, is a wonderfully romantic ruin overlooking the Essex marshes.

A pleasant, and often overlooked, gem is Chelmsford Cathedral which is free to enter and usually has a variety of music concerts and choral services taking place. The truth is that the architecture is stunning and it's a lovely escape from the noisy city. 

The Royal Gunpowder Mills at Waltham Abbey is Essex’s largest industrial heritage site and one of great importance in the UK- have a look around this 200 year old landscape.

Next, you can’t say you’ve been to the real Essex till you’ve discovered its museums.  The Combined Military Services Museum will be a real hit with anyone interested in military history, there is an extensive collection of uniforms, a spy section with all kinds of gadgets, and loads of military equipment to see.

The Anglian Railway Museum in Wakes Colne can tempt you with interactive displays detailing the industrial and social history of the county since the 19th century. Next up, the Hollytrees Museum in Colchester houses an array of old clocks and dolls houses to entice your inner child and Colchester's Natural History Museum is guaranteed to surprise you. It’s hard to believe mammoths and hippos once roamed this part of Essex, but it’s a fact- so now’s the time to find out how they lived.

Don’t miss the Chelmsford Musem too, for a window into the lives of various animals including birds and beetles and geology collected from the local area that visitors will find fascinating. These are the parts of Essex culture that don’t make it into the media!

When you’re full to the gill with sights, and need to chill out in a seaside town, the waterfront in the fishing village of Old Leigh in Leigh-on-sea is a popular spot on a summer’s day. There are some good pubs and shops here and it’s a pleasant place to wander. The historic quayside town of Burnham-on-Crouch, one of the UK’s premier yachting venues, also makes for a nice visit. 

Salt and sea breeze

Look no further than Southend-on-Sea and Clacton-on-Sea for the razzle-dazzle of  traditional seaside resorts, with all the trimmings. In both you’ll find safe and family friendly beaches. Frinton-on-Sea is more refined and the beach there is uncrowded and undeveloped. If you want to get a bit more remote, try Bradwell-on-Sea where no glitz will disturb you and bling is nowhere to be seen.

If you’d rather keep your toes out of the water, you need the Sealife Adventure in Southend-on-Sea, which has a wide array of exotic marine life. Time your visit for the exciting feedings, where you can watch piranhas chomp and meerkats nibble to their heart’s content.

The Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty can be found on the Essex/Suffolk border. This rural lowland landscape is full of English countryside scenes and charming little villages and offers ample opportunities for walking and cycling. The River Stour is part of this region so this is also a great area for some relaxed boating and canoeing.

Epping Forest is a beautiful area of ancient woodland, heath, rivers and ponds. It is a very popular destination for mountain biking, but you'll also see tons of walkers and horse riders.

Weald Country Park is perfect for a lakeside lunch, or if you need to get away from the summer crowds make straight for the peaceful Two Tree Island. It’s a lovely place to spot nature or look at the boats and is less crowded then other more well-known spots.

Striking wildlife

Essex has plenty of attractions perfect for family fun. Hopefield Animal Sanctuary is a lovely not-for-profit organisation which cares for all kinds of rescued animals, from horses and donkeys to ducks and geese. You can meet all the animals and there is a good café to tempt you. Pets Corner in Harlow is a small open farm where you can meet the animals, some of which are rare breeds.

Colchester Zoo is full of great activities with over 260 species to see and 60 acres of parkland and lakes to explore, play areas and a train. Tropical Wings World of Wildlife has a large collection of tropical birds and other animals to get close to and interact with.

Adventure Island can help you shake off lazy beach vibes with fast and thrilling rides ideal for older kids, as well as more gentle rides for the little ones.

The Rainham Marshes RSPB Nature Reserve is wildlife haven perfect for bird watching, walking and cycling. Belfairs Nature Reserve and Woodland is where you can meet many friendly farm animals and some other more unusual species!