Riverside campsites in the UK

Whether you're looking to cool off with a river swim, launch a canoe or build a dam in a stream, this collection of exceptional riverside campsites lets you jump straight in and splash around among our very favourite riverside campsites in the UK, France and Europe.

96% (2999 reviews)
96% (2999 reviews)

Popular camping styles for United Kingdom

Star Hosts in United Kingdom

Under £50

12 top river, stream, or creek campsites in United Kingdom

98%
(31)

The Meadow @ Waples Mill

12 units · Tents8 acres · Dunmow, England
Spacious grass pitches in the green Essex countryside A 15-minute drive to Chelmsford; 40 minutes to Audley End Tractor rides on site; firepits provided for campfires. Rural walks, How about proper farm activities like tractor rides (ask site staff for details)? The place to find all this is The Meadow at Waples Mill, an Essex farm site between Chelmsford and Dunmow (and about 15 minutes’ drive from both). This family-friendly site is handy for walks on the Essex Way and other local footpaths, and tractor and trailer rides around the farm are organised on alternate days to give guests a glimpse into agricultural life. Activities complete for the day, it's time to chill out, and that should be easy here – all pitches have access to toilets and hot showers in a trailer close by, and firepits are provided so you can have a safe campfire (with wood available to buy on site and a great farm shop 10 minutes’ drive away for fireside snacks). Pitches themselves are large, well kept and well spaced within a meadow that backs onto the River Roding. Dogs are welcome, and there are plenty of places to take them for a walk nearby. London folk looking for a quick escape to the countryside, this is a place to bear in mind – it’s only about an hour and quarter by road from the city.
Campfires
Showers
from 
£24
 / night

Dog-friendly getaways

Available this weekend

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

From the bonny banks of a burn in Scotland to riverside gems in France, uncover the best riverside campsites here.

Riverside campsites in the UK guide

Overview

Related Guides

Want a riverside somewhere specific? If you've got a specific location in mind or you want to narrow down your riverside camping options further, take a glance at some of our related guides...

Related Blogs

From wild swimming to launching canoes and kayaks, explore stories about riverside camping and read our latest blogs on the topic...

About

From the banks of a burn in Scotland to a canoe-launching riverside in the Norfolk Broads, discover the very best riverside campsites for wild swimming, dam building, canoeing, kayaking and generally messing about in the water.

Nations in United Kingdom

Top counties in United Kingdom

Top towns in United Kingdom

Safety at Hipcamp

Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Hipcamp Hand

Safety partners

Recreate Responsibly

About us

Camp Your Way™

Cool Camping is now Hipcamp. Camp your way by discovering and reserving unique tent camping, caravan parks, cabins, treehouses, and glamping getaways. Explore our maps, filter by your camping style, read real camper reviews, and book directly in our app. Hipcamp is the simplest way to find yourself outside under the stars.

Download the Hipcamp App

© 2024 Hipcamp, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.