3 top-rated campsites an hour out of south east London

Outdoor accommodation booking website Pitchup.com has released its top-rated campsites for 2023 based on over 171,000 camper reviews.

Reviews and ratings from over 2,658 campers has revealed the best campsites across England, Scotland and Wales, rated on a number of factors including location, value for money, quality of accommodation, activities and cleanliness.

To be considered in the ‘review awards’, campsites must have a minimum of 20 reviews in that year, and are scored out of ten.

Three campsites in Kent within an hour's drive of south east London were rated as some of the best, with the nearest located in Maidstone.

Still Acres Touring and Camping Park, Maidstone

Where? Still Acres Touring and Camping Park, Longend Lane, Marden, Maidstone, Kent, TN12 9SE

When? Open from Thursday, March 28 to Thursday, October 31

How much? Prices range from £30 to £35 for 2 adults per night

This campsite within an hour's drive of south east London scored an impressive 9.9 rating with campers and was described as a “peaceful” campsite by 91 percent of campers who visited.

Still Acres scored an impressive 9.9 rating and was described as “peaceful” by 91 percent of campers (Image: Pitchup.com)

This adults-only campsite offers visitors 28 acres of land to explore and is within a short distance of Wealden village.

The site has amenities including a heated shower block and disabled accessible toilets, it’s also dog-friendly with a designated fenced off area for dogs to run and explore in.

The site has amenities including a heated shower block and disabled accessible toilets, and is also dog-friendly. (Image: Pitchup.com)

99 percent of campers said they would recommend this site to a friend, while 95 percent would stay there again.

Campers also rated Still Acres for its “warm and friendly” owners with experience in caravan repairs, with a service technician on site to assist campers with any issues.

Palace Farm Camp Site, Sittingbourne

Where? Palace Farm Camp Site, Down Court Road, Doddington, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 0AU

When? Open from Thursday, May 2 to Sunday, September 22

How much? Prices range from £24 to £75 for 2 adults per night.

If you’re looking for a quiet, countryside campsite with plenty to do nearby, Palace Farm Camp Site in Sittingbourne is well situated near the Kent Coast.

Palace Farm Camp Site in Sittingbourne is well situated near the Kent Coast. (Image: Pitchup.com)

It's located within 15 minutes of Faversham and 30 minutes drive from the seaside town of Whitstable and the historic town of Canterbury, which is packed wit things to do for a day out.

The campsite received a 9.8 overall rating based on 45 reviews, with 90 percent of readers describing the campsite as “peaceful” with no noise after 10pm.

The campsite is located within the Kent Downs, known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with large fields and rural views from your pitch.

The camp site is located within the Kent Downs, known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. (Image: Pitchup.com)

With its solar powered showers and charging points for electric cars, this is the perfect location for anyone looking for an environmentally friendly camping trip.

If you’re a beer fan, why not take a trip to Shepherd Neame in just 15 minutes from the campsite, where you can tour one of Britain’s oldest breweries and learn about the process involved in making beer.

93 percent of campers said they would recommend the site to a friend, with 96 percent saying they would stay again.

Strictly Camping, Tunbridge Wells

Where? Strictly Camping, Woodlands Farm, Hastings Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4BL

When? Open from Friday, April 5 to Sunday, September 15

How much? Prices range from £36 to £60 for 2 adults per night.

If you’re looking for a campsite with a rustic feel, the Strictly campsite offers a laid back, simplistic approach to camping, with forest trails through the West Weald countryside.

The Strictly campsite offers a laid back, simplistic approach to camping, with forest trails through the West Weald countryside. (Image: Pitchup.com)

The campsite received a 9.8 overall rating and was described as a forest area by 83 percent of visitors.

99 percent of visitors said they would recommend the site to a friend, with 98 percent of visitors saying they would stay again.

The campsite offers guests a rustic outdoor experience, with campfires welcome on site and plenty of woodland walks to enjoy.

The campsite offers guests a rustic outdoor experience. (Image: Pitchup.com)
The campsite is within a five-minute drive of the picturesque village of Pembury and 10 minutes from Royal Tunbridge, where you’ll find plenty of things to do from its array of shops as well as the Spa Valley Railway.