Best camping, glamping, and outdoor stays in Margate

Q: What are some popular activities to do in Margate?

In Margate , you can enjoy activities such as surfing and watersports at Joss Bay, fun fair rides and ice cream at Margate ’s main beach, and rockpooling and shell collecting at beautiful Botany Bay. You can also visit Dreamland for funfair rides with a retro theme, the Turner Contemporary art gallery, and the Shell Grotto. Nearby Whitstable and Canterbury are also within 20 miles of town and worth visiting.

Q: What are some nearby towns worth visiting during a camping trip in Margate?

During a camping trip in Margate , visitors can also explore nearby towns such as Whitstable and Canterbury , both of which are within 20 miles of town and offer unique attractions and experiences. Additionally, there are 16 sandy beaches, surfing and watersports at Joss Bay, fun fair rides and ice cream at Margate ’s main beach, and rockpooling and shell collecting at beautiful Botany Bay. You can also visit Dreamland, the Turner Contemporary art gallery, and the Shell Grotto.

The Victorian seaside town of Margate is back on the up.

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Popular camping styles for Margate

Community favorites near Margate

Star Hosts in Margate

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Knowler Farm Wild Camping

15 units · Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · England

We are a family friendly site and have something for everyone! Offering Wild Camping and bespoke and unique Glamping stays! On site Cafe, serving hot and cold food, fresh coffee and delicious homemade cakes. open 7 days a week! Friendly Farm animals including miniture shetland ponies who you can book to spend time with and even take for a walk! Our very own Double Decker bus, hosting bookable weekend toddlers play and craft workshops. On-site Gym- fully kitted out with all the equiptment required for a full holiday workout! Classes and Personal training sessions also available! Bush-Craft, Archery and Forrest School weekend workshops including Den building, woodland crafts and more, delivered by our qualified and friendly staff. Friday night Wood-fired Pizza (available to Pre-Order) Throughout the Summer, we host a variety of events such as Family Festivals, Wellness and Well-being retreats, gig nights and workshops. Check out our socails to see what's coming up next!

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Housedean Farm Campsite

7 units · Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Lewes, East Sussex, South East England

Epic views of the South Downs, and a walker’s paradise, hidden sweetly on the South Downs Way

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Alciston Court Farm

5 units · Tents10 acres · Alfriston, East Sussex, South East England

A back-to-basics campsite that’s well located at the foot of the South Downs

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Finchingfield Lavender & Camping

9 units · Motorhomes, Tents9 acres · Finchingfield, England

Luxury camping and glamping pitches within a wildflower meadow. Private loo per pitch, fire pit with BBQ Grill & a picnic bench. Our North Essex hideaway is perfect for a country retreat under the stars. Just over an hour away from London, located in a rural setting outside the chocolate box village of Finchingfield with tea rooms and three great independent pubs. We are a micro Lavender farm home to 3.5 kms of hand planted Lavandula × intermedia 'Lavender Grosso'. Our campers and glampers have unlimited access to our lavender field which overlooks rolling fields and sunset views, perfect for a relaxing evening amongst the purple blooms

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Wardley Hill Campsite

24 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents12 acres · Norfolk, East Anglia

A relaxed, back-to-basics campsite on the Norfolk Suffolk border

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Available this weekend

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Whitlingham Broad Campsite

72 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents5 acres · Norfolk, East Anglia

Laid-back camping and glamping a stone's throw from Norwich and at the gateway to the Norfolk Broads

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Fox Wood Campsite - under the oaks

21 units · Glamping, Tents35 acres · West Sussex, South East England

Woodland camping with campfires in the South Downs National Park

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Little Thakeham Farm

15 units · Motorhomes, Tents8 acres · West Sussex, South East England

Almost wild camping in rural Sussex, with campfires, good footpaths and a pub within 15 minutes' walk

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Glassenbury Camping

33 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents12 acres · Cranbrook, England

Eco camping in the heart of the High Weald and Kent's castle country

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Hill Farm Secluded Camping

5 units · Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Darsham, England

Fancy some secluded downtime exploring rural coastal Suffolk? The tree-shaded pitches at Hill Farm are in a peaceful setting near the market towns of Saxmundham and Halesworth, and handily accessible from the A12, as well as to the coast and pretty villages, historical hamlets, and popular seaside towns, such as Southwold and Aldeburgh. This is a site that welcomes families and groups of friends, and it's dog-friendly too (there’s a 4-acre woodland to the north of the site that's great for dog walking). The site has good TV reception for relaxing indoors on damp or chilly days. The popular village of Westleton (10 minutes’ drive) has a village store, a farm shop, a garage and 2 pubs; and if you fancy a change from cooking, there is also a nice pub and a tearoom, in the Darsham village area (only 5 minutes drive or a 30 minute walk away through some lovely fields). Back on site, there are a toilet cabins with hot running water, plus other facilities including 4 showers, a portaloo, and a washing machine, grey waste and chemical toilet disposal and recycling points. Wi-fi is nearly all over the site too. The shared facilities at the top of the site also has a fridge and a washing up area, with a warm water tap, a nearby kettle and a plug socket for charging mobiles. Lighting and wifi is also provided. Please not that dogs must be kept on a lead at all times, and sorry, no campfires are allowed at the moment.

12 top campsites near Margate

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Penn Meadow Farm

50 units · Motorhomes, Tents145 acres · Beaconsfield, England

Penn Meadow Farm is a beautiful 145 acre, family owned 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.

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Holistic Woods Campsite WILD

47 units · Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · Woodbridge, England

We are a WILD campsite with character and history. Our most popular pitch is our beautiful SSSI woodland. There are only 25 pitches available. We have a mid wild pitch on the outskirts of the woods, lovely grassed area between trees. Our top field is perfect for motorhomes & caravans. Plenty of space to breath and relax. Located on the stunning heathlands of the Sutton Heath. We are surrounded by beautiful woodland walks, including the Sandlings walk and just 10 minutes from the river Deben. We have a bus stop at the top of the track and Melton train station is a 20 minute walk or 5 minute drive. There are access points onto public footpaths, leading to Rendlesham Forest. A famous site for UFOs! Sutton Hoo is a stone's throw away. Bring your bikes and explore the area on wheels. There is water access and portaloos. We do not have showers yet. Blue/grey waste must be taken away. LEAVE NO TRACE

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Chalky Downs

36 units · Motorhomes, Tents12 acres · Brighton, East Sussex, South East England

Traditional tent camping in a stunningly-located South Downs farm, just down the road from buzzing Brighton

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Fleets Paddock Glamping & Camping

40 units · Glamping, Tents5 acres · Canterbury, Kent, South East England

Pitches, bell tents and a gypsy caravan on the outskirts of Canterbury

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Painters Farm Campsite

46 units · Motorhomes, Tents3 acres · Whitstable, England

Nestled beside the village of Painters Forstal, Faversham, Kent. Our two acre orchard site with grass pitches. The campsite lies within seventeen acres on the slope of The Kent Downs, a designated area of natural beauty. The Alma ale house at the edge of the farm serves Shepherds Neame and hot meals all year round. Two acre quiet cherry orchard site based around a Tudor Manor house 1547 that gives its name to our village. Surrounded by orchards and open countryside but within easy reach of Faversham, Whitstable and Canterbury. Pitches for tents, campervans, motorhomes and touring caravans with or without electric hook up on a level grassy site. Pets are welcome and a crew member is always around the reception or farm to help out. The Campsite is open from 1st march until 31st October. The local area is awash with things to do. Faversham once the busiest port in 17th century England for its wool trade has the longest complete medieval street in the country. A wealth of little shops, cafes and pubs as well as the country’s oldest family owned brewery Shepherd Neame. Whitstable sitting just along the coast, famed for its Oysters and Sunsets is a fun beachside community bustling in the summer months and hauntingly bleak in the winter ones. The World Heritage sites of Canterbury are just a fifteen minute trip away with all its well documented history and plentiful shops and eateries.

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The Barn KT9

22 units · Glamping, Tents3 acres · Greater London, South East England

A unique rural campsite in Surrey, a stone's throw from London's Zone 6

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Palace Farm Campsite

28 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Kent, South East England

Unpretentious and peaceful camping in an underrated spot

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Tomkins Farm

42 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents15 acres · North Chailey, England

Relaxed camping beside a lake on an East Sussex farm, with alpacas, llamas, and camels

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Beech Estate Campsite

55 units · Glamping, Tents25 acres · Battle, England

Tent pitch camping and wild glamping in a Sussex woodland hideaway

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Pigs in Blankets

26 units · Glamping, Tents8 acres · Southwold, Suffolk, East Anglia

A campfire-friendly country campsite on a farm in walking distance of seaside Southwold

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Plum Camping at White House Farm

35 units · Glamping, Tents5 acres · Norfolk, East Anglia

Family camping with campfires on a fruit orchard near Norwich, with a farm shop, café and butchers

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Ditchling Boutique Camping

101 units · Tents6 acres · Ditchling, East Sussex, South East England

Hunker down in a historic village, surrounded by vineyards, hilly countryside and some rather spectacular views. With Ditchling Camping as your base, you’ll be on track for rural bike rides or visiting Brighton and its busy coast 25 minutes’ drive away. That’s because this dog-friendly site is in Ditchling – a village in the splendid South Downs National Park and a rather excellent location for all sorts of days out. Good news if the whole family is tagging along: there’s plenty to play with around the site, including an adventure trail through the woodlands, a swing tree and places for kids to fashion their own little dens. The site is only a five-minute drive (or a 30-minute walk) from the traditional Jack and Jill windmills and the neighbouring family-run pub, which serves both grub and good ales. A vineyard is 15 minutes’ walk away from the site if you'd like to include a wine-tasting tour on your break. Otherwise, simply pedal along country lanes on the surrounding cycling routes (it’s easy enough to hire a bike locally). On your route, you might want to stop by in characterful Ditchling, home to local craftspeople and winemakers. There’s a nice selection of independent shops here, plus cosy cafés and pubs that will serve you a good spread of Sussex food, all within a 5-minute walk. Back on site, end the day with a cosy evening beside the fire-pits. The site facilities are nicely straightforward otherwise and include warm showers and a separate dishwashing area and of course our newly installed Composting Toilets.

Dog-friendly getaways

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Earth Camp

33 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Lewes, East Sussex, South East England

We are a small, family run, eco-friendly campsite in Chailey, set in a peaceful pocket of Sussex countryside. Our uniqueness includes therapies offered on site, including massage, reiki and pellowah; our classes run on site, including yoga, and gong baths; the wide range of outdoor games we can provide; and our commitment to making your camping experience as pleasurable as possible. We also have a fantastic wood-fired sauna all day on Saturdays, a delicious pizza oven on Saturday evenings, and a coffee truck on weekend mornings! We allow campfires and dogs, and for those who seek a little luxury in camping, we have spacious hot showers. We also have a number of beautiful Bell Tents available to hire, which we will put up for you prior to your arrival (min 2 nights). Look our for our special weekends, including Star Parties, Yoga Retreats, Singing Circles and Wellness Weekends. We also have delicious wood-fired pizzas on Saturday evenings, and an artisan coffee trucks with superb pastries on weekend mornings 8-10am.

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Hatters Meadows Cambridgeshire

20 units · Glamping, Tents12 acres · Ely, Cambridgeshire, East Anglia

Cosy year-round glamping and seasonal camping in a fenland meadow with views of Ely cathedral

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Daisy May’s Farm

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents20 acres · Bishop's Stortford, England

Our pop up campsite is set in 20 acres on a not for profit community farm. Come and join us in the great outdoors! Help collect the eggs, feed the chickens and milk the goat! There is always lots going on at Daisy May’s Farm! Children’s play areas, paddle stream, woodland walks and lots more! PITCH FEE INCLUDES ENTRY TO THE FARM & ALL ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS! Open 7 days a week. Coffee Cabin and Ollie’s Food Hut also serving hot food (Weekends & school holiday 10-3pm) Local pub - 5 mins walk Golf Course (crazy golf, top golf, 9 hole course, bar and food) - 5 mins walk Shop/post office/chip shop - 10 mins walk Toilets & shower ; hot gas shower available but we are a basic wild, mostly off grid site. No concrete heated toilet blocks I’m afraid! (Showers unavailable in Winter months) There will be mud. Bring your wellies! Drinking water and bins available. Bring a torch for walking around the site at night. The site is off grid and the toilet lights are solar operated! CARAVANS - ONLY BOOKABLE MAY - SEPTEMBERTENTS - CAMPER VANS - MOTORHOMES WELCOME ALL YEAR (all pitches are the same. No need to specify which type of unit you are booking) We look forwards to welcoming you soon!

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Chigborough Farm

48 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents130 acres · Essex, East Anglia

Boating, biking and bell tent glamping on a farm near the Blackwater Estuary, where good food and walkable pubs are also on the menu.

Laleham Camping Club

100 units · Motorhomes, Tents7 acres · 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.

Under £50

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Freedom Farm Camping

30 units · Tents70 acres · Newmarket, England

Eco permanent pasture farm with 12 mile views across the countryside in West Suffolk near Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge. Say goodbye to the road whilst camping privately and securely in 70 acres of paddocks edged with post and rail fencing. Footpaths accessed directly from the site to explore further afield. We produce most of our own food and have a herd of Dexter grass fed beef cows grazing. Beef and vegetables available for sale depending on the season and availability. Camping hammocks also welcome in the wood. We also have equestrian facilities including a manege and it is possible to bring a horse by arrangement in summer. We have a guide available for hacking locally and a resident BS qualified instructor. Please contact for details.

Glassenbury Camping

33 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents12 acres · Cranbrook, England

Eco camping in the heart of the High Weald and Kent's castle country

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Otter Channel Campsite

18 units · Tents3 acres · East Sussex, South East England

Spacious, nature-friendly camping with campfires on the banks of the River Rother

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Hook Farm Campsite

18 units · Tents10 acres · West Sussex, South East England

Blissfully back-to-basics camping in the heart of the West Sussex High Weald

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Rushbanks Farm Caravan and Camping

7 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents4 acres · Suffolk, East Anglia

Riverside camping and bell tents in Constable's countryside, right in the heart of Suffolk's Dedham Vale

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Its cool, vibrant, retro buzz is attracting artists, surfers and hipsters - along with families looking for an easy break from London. The town's local beaches are a key attraction with the bustling town beach complemented by beautiful Botany Bay, Joss Bay and Viking Bay. There are plenty of great campsites within reach of this Kent coastal hotspot but only the very best making the Hipcamp shortlist.

Best camping, glamping, and outdoor stays in Margate guide

Overview

Campsites in Margate

Margate is just the place for hipsters, scenesters and Cool Campers. Within easy reach of London, it’s known for its beaches but is now also home to the retro theme park Dreamland and the Turner Contemporary art gallery - both great days out for families on a camping holiday in Margate. This place has been attracting tourists since seaside holidays were invented and camping, in some form or another, has always been a popular way to stay. But campsites in Margate, like so many other places on our coast, have tended to cater for caravans, motorhomes and masses of people. We’ve turned our attention towards finding campsites in Margate, or within reach of Margate, which are more focused on campers and sometimes glampers. Camping and glamping sites which are as cool as the the bustling bars, eateries and independent businesses in Margate itself - not to mention the sea off this part of the Kent coast.

Things to do in Margate

There may be more than one reason to go camping in Margate but there’s no denying that the big attraction is the beach. With 16 sandy beaches in and around Margate, you could visit a different one every day of a two-week holiday and still not see them all. If you’re looking for surfing and watersports, head to Joss Bay, if you want fun fair rides and ice cream stay on Margate’s main beach and if you want somewhere more natural for rockpooling and shell collecting, try beautiful Botany Bay. If you (somehow) tire of the beach, you could take the kids to Dreamland for funfair rides with a retro theme or in to the less-deliberately retro amusements along the front. For a more serious visit, head into the Turner Contemporary art gallery to gaze at paintings of the area by JMW Turner and then, perhaps, stroll down the harbour arm, in front of the gallery, for lunch at one of its hip eateries. More timeless and tucked away is the teeny-tiny quirky hidden gem, the Shell Grotto - where you can while away an hour or two and, if you don't mind heading slightly further afield on your Margate camping trip, how about visiting nearby Whitstable or Canterbury? Both are within 20 miles of town.

About

The Victorian seaside town of Margate is back on the up, with a cool, vibrant, retro buzz that's making it the holiday destination of choice for those looking for an easy break from London. There are plenty of great campsites nearby, with only the very best making the Hipcamp shortlist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some popular activities to do in Margate?

In Margate, you can enjoy activities such as surfing and watersports at Joss Bay, fun fair rides and ice cream at Margate’s main beach, and rockpooling and shell collecting at beautiful Botany Bay. You can also visit Dreamland for funfair rides with a retro theme, the Turner Contemporary art gallery, and the Shell Grotto. Nearby Whitstable and Canterbury are also within 20 miles of town and worth visiting.

Why is Margate a popular holiday destination?

Margate is a popular holiday destination due to its 16 sandy beaches, surfing and watersports at Joss Bay, fun fair rides and ice cream at Margate’s main beach, and rockpooling and shell collecting at beautiful Botany Bay. Additionally, visitors can enjoy attractions such as Dreamland, the Turner Contemporary art gallery, and the Shell Grotto. Nearby Whitstable and Canterbury are also within 20 miles of town and worth visiting.

What are some attractions for families on a camping holiday in Margate?

Families on a camping holiday in Margate can enjoy attractions such as the retro theme park Dreamland and the Turner Contemporary art gallery. Additionally, there are 16 sandy beaches, surfing and watersports at Joss Bay, fun fair rides and ice cream at Margate’s main beach, and rockpooling and shell collecting at beautiful Botany Bay. Nearby Whitstable and Canterbury are also within 20 miles of town and worth visiting.

What are some unique camping options near Margate?

There are unique camping and glamping sites near Margate that cater to campers and glampers, offering a cool and vibrant experience similar to the bustling bars, eateries, and independent businesses in Margate itself. You can also explore different options for camping near Margate on Hipcamp.

What are some nearby towns worth visiting during a camping trip in Margate?

During a camping trip in Margate, visitors can also explore nearby towns such as Whitstable and Canterbury, both of which are within 20 miles of town and offer unique attractions and experiences. Additionally, there are 16 sandy beaches, surfing and watersports at Joss Bay, fun fair rides and ice cream at Margate’s main beach, and rockpooling and shell collecting at beautiful Botany Bay. You can also visit Dreamland, the Turner Contemporary art gallery, and the Shell Grotto.