Best Campsites & Glamping In Essex

1. Osea Leisure Park

Osea Leisure Park in Essex is mostly a private ‘holiday home’ site, although they have recently upgraded their glamping options. Osea Meadows is located directly across the street from the main park and features 13 electric hook-up plots and a wide variety of their various glamping alternatives. All tourers and RVs are welcome to reserve a pitch at this time.

Osea Leisure Park is a great location to go if it’s your first time glamping. They have a wide range of nice places to camp. However, prices and the number of beds available can vary a lot. The least expensive choice is a bell tent, which starts at £25pn. The bell tents don’t have much to them, and they have rugs and mats, but the rest is up to you.

The Malvern Pod costs £75 per night, and a fire pit is outside of the glamping pods. The pod also has a double sofa bed, a bunk bed, a TV, a refrigerator, a kettle, and a stovetop. It doesn’t take long to get to the bathroom building.

In addition to the Royal Pods, you can rent the Treehouse and Shepherds Huts for £45 per night. The Shepherds Hut has a toilet, while the Treehouse does not (with an ensuite). The largest of the three “Safari Tents” sizes can fit 14 to 16 people.

There is a small “beach” area with beach cottages on stilts that you can’t rent, a games room, playground equipment, a Tiptree tearoom (The View at Osea), a bar (The Deckhouse) with weekend entertainment, and more.

The place is also a ten-minute drive from Malson, a place with lots of fun things to do.

Pros

• Outdoor gym
• Restaurants
• Free wifi
• Decent toilet facilities
• Restaurant and bar
• Pet and kid-friendly
• Miniature beach area

Cons

• It can get rowdy and noisy

2. West Mersea Holiday Park, Mersea Island

This Essex park on picturesque West Mersea Beach is convenient to both the town centre and the beach. It also features a wonderful blend of tranquillity, vacation spirit, and breathtaking views of the Essex coast.

Relax in peace near the Blackwater Estuary, which has been named three times as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, not far from this small park. Nature lovers will enjoy the beautiful views, which include flocks of migrating seabirds and a wide range of beautiful plants and animals.

There’s a good reason why Mersea Island is so well-known for its abundance of water sports. Sole, skate, bass, mullet, herring, and cod are just a few of the delectable fish that are constantly caught and sold at the local speciality restaurants, and fishing is another well-known pastime of the Island. The area’s delicious oysters are another highlight which everyone who visits should try.

Exploring rural Essex is also a lot of fun. The town is rich in history and home to a renowned Colchester zoo, so why not visit it? How about a stroll along the boardwalk at Clacton-on-Sea, a classic and real coastal resort? The sunshine in Essex is another reason why it’s called “The Sunshine Coast.”

Next to the well-known beach cabins and sandy beach is where you’ll find their touring pitches. These facilities are complete with all-weather hard standing, electricity, running water, and free showers.

At the newly opened restaurant and bar, The Sandbank, you can get tasty drinks and watch live music every night. You can also take advantage of the park’s convenience store and laundry facilities while staying at West Mersea. Colourful beach huts line the beach, adding a touch of fun and making an excellent background for all the great things this park offers.

Pros

• A clean and well-kept environment
• Proximity to a beachside
• Friendly reception staff
• Tranquil location
• Easily accessible
• Amazing view
• Beach campsites

Cons

• Facilities closed at random, inconvenient times
• Shower facilities located too far away from the touring facilities
• Pitches are quite small

3. Teybrook Orchard, Colchester

Great Tey is home to Teybrook Orchard. Yurts and Bell Tents are their most popular luxury camping accommodations. There are eight of them, and you might recognize some of the names from The Jungle Book or The Lion King! The tents and yurts each have four full-size beds and come with linens. (At some of the glamping spots on this list, guests must bring their own sleeping bags. One may use a sleeping bag if they so choose. A Shepherd’s Hut and a repurposed grain silo are also available at Teybrook Orchard. Both can sleep up to 2 guests.

Each room has a grill or fire pit and a shared kitchen with dishes and cooking tools.

The three-bedroom Water Lily Lodge and the one-bedroom Kingfishers Nest cabin are perfect for families or groups of friends looking for a little more space and privacy.

Pros

• Brilliant staff members
• Clean environment
• Tents comfy and nicely furnished
• Employees are approachable and friendly
• Beautiful environment

Cons

• Pitches are quite small

4. Shepherd’s Hide, Colchester

Private and secluded, Shepherd’s Hide is a premium glamping site in Essex located on a sprawling 60-acre farm by the Colne Estuary. It’s only an hour and a half from London, yet these fully equipped huts feel like they’re worlds away from the noise and bustle of city life.

The “Wigeon” and “Teal” Shepherd’s Hide shelters are on their family farm in the countryside outside of Colchester. They are two of the most exquisite and unique self-catering shepherd huts in the world. The property is in a perfect location for bird watching and long walks. Additionally, there are a variety of tourist attractions in the area, making these cottages ideal for short breaks, romantic getaways, and extended self-catering holidays in the countryside. Thorrington Tide Mill is the only refurbished tide mill in Essex. It is on Mill Farm, a 60-acre property with a vineyard, grassland, salt marsh, tidal creeks, and inland waters.

Two shepherd’s huts, each with its own bathroom, are available at the Shepherds Hide. Guests also get a kitchen and a breakfast basket upon arrival. Log burners and, in the case of the newest hut, under-floor heating mean that they are bookable throughout the year, even in the winter. For a weekend getaway, a two-night stay starts at £240. The distance to Brightlingsea, the nearest town, is about two miles.

Shepherd’s Hide has also received many accolades and reviews from prominent magazines, including Adventure Travel Magazine, Essex Life Magazine and The Daily Telegraph. They also emerged as a regional finalist for the Rural Business Awards.

Pros

• Clean environment
• Comfortable design
• Farm shop
• Welcome hampers for guests

Cons

• Not pet-friendly

5. The Pretty Thing

Check out the gorgeous and tranquil glamping, camping, and touring park, The Pretty Thing. This glamorous campsite is rich in fauna, excellent for bird watching throughout the day and stargazing at night. They have resident horses that enjoy a quiet retirement there, and if you’re an animal lover, you won’t want to miss seeing them.

This park is close to Colchester and the pretty coastal towns of Frinton, Walton, St. Osyth, and Clacton, so it’s a great place to relax and have fun. Enjoy the convenience of The Pretty Thing as your home base while you see all the wonders of the surrounding area.

The expansive Greens, Buttercup Meadow, and the luxurious Philomena’s Garden are all available for campers, and Philomena’s Garden is reserved for glampers only. You can relax and reminisce about the good old days of vacationing with The Pretty Thing, and we promise you won’t be disappointed.

Every month of the year has something interesting to see, but August is The Pretty Thing’s busiest month due to the Clacton Airshow and the CAMRA real ale and cider festival. The Westcliff Theatre also allows us to create bespoke theatre vacations.

Saint Osyth, Clacton. The beaches at Frinton and Walton are fantastic, and they range greatly in style. It’s terrific for sightseeing and only a 10-minute drive away. There is so much to see and do that we know you will have a fantastic experience. Take our word for it, and you won’t be disappointed. The Pretty Thing provides a very warm welcome to you, your family, and your pets.

Pros

Cons

6. Lee Wick Farm

At Lee Wick Farm, campers, tourers, and caravans have access to a big, fenced field with sea views and grazing horses. Two campsites have electricity access, while the third does not.

Because this is a Caravan and Camping Club-approved site, you can count on Lee Wick Farm for the essentials.  There is access to clean water and a place to dispose of chemicals. However, neither a bathroom nor a toilet is present there.

Because of this, despite its simplicity, the campsite is really relaxing and beautiful, perfect for those who want to escape the crowds and noise of other, more popular campgrounds.

All of Lee Wick Farm’s pods and cottages can rent a private log fire hot tub for the night for an extra cost (starting at £60), along with a private bathroom and a makeshift kitchen. Many pods can comfortably accommodate a family of four, including two parents and two children (groups of more than two adults will need to reserve a second pod). There is a significant price reduction from weekend to weekday bookings. Camping and Caravan Club members are the only ones who can book ahead at Lee Wick Farm, and they’ll need your membership number to confirm your booking.

Lee Wick Farm is just a short walk from a beach and a wildlife haven, and the walk to either is pleasant. It’s a paradise for bikers and hikers, and birdwatchers will love it here.

If you drive through St. Osyth hamlet, you may fish at Lee Wick Farm’s reservoir for £10. If fishing is something you’re interested in doing during your stay, you should notify them in advance so we can make arrangements.

Pros

• Hot tub, barbeque grill, and fire pit
• Indoor swimming pool
• Great facilities
• Good staff communication channels
• Pods are well-spaced for privacy

Cons

• You can’t check in until 3:30
• Megapod 1 is exceptionally tiny

7. Lee Valley Caravan Park, Dobbs Weir

Dobbs Weir on the Lee is home to Lee Valley Caravan Park, which is nestled in a peaceful bend of the river and surrounded by beautiful Hertfordshire and Essex countryside.

It’s ideal for some R&R in the form of camping or glamorous camping. Everyone is welcome, and they have plenty of spacious sites for your tent, RV, or caravan. If you want to enjoy camping without the stress of pitching your tent, then maybe try a bit of glamping! They offer a wide variety of pre-erected tents, Wigwams®, vacation cabins, and, coming in 2022, Peaky Pods available at Lee Valley Caravan Park in Dobbs Weir. The various glamping alternatives provide guests with at least some of the luxuries they would find in a regular hotel.

This location is perfect for a getaway because of its convenient amenities. A well-stocked supermarket, modern bathroom and shower facilities and a children’s play area will guarantee your holiday is all you’ve dreamt of. There are also vacation rentals available on the site.

There are grocery stores, convenience stores, corner shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants. Great natural reserves, walking and cycling paths, white water rafting, and trips to London and Cambridge are just some of the vacation adventures you may have.

Also, free parking at the Broxbourne Riverside car park, located conveniently near the Broxbourne Train station on the London to Liverpool Street line, is included with every reservation made on the site.

Unfortunately, there are no accessible campsites in Lee Valley. All of their campsites are accessible to campers with mobility impairments, and we have a number of accessible cabins specifically designed for those guests. Staff are also on hand to give further help.

Pros

• Wheelchair accessible cabins
• Free wifi
• Children’s play area
• Very helpful staff
• Well-spaced pitches
• Proximity to a supermarket
• Clean environment

Cons

• The campsites are not wheelchair accessible year-round
• Not much to do at the campsite
• The wifi is frequently busy and slow