Park motorhome London: complete guide & best spots

London calling! Britain’s capital is a must-do on any UK holiday, whether you want to spend all your time in the city and its surroundings, or use London as a starting point for an epic UK road trip – to Edinburgh, south-west England or anywhere in between! Either way, knowing where to park a motorhome in London is absolutely essential.

It means you can rent a motorhome nearby at ease, then spend a night in the city before moving on the next day… or spend days here without spending heaps of money on London accommodation prices.

Where to park a motorhome in London and its surrounds

Crystal Palace Caravan Club Site

Map and location: Old Cople Lane, Crystal Palace Parade, London SE19 1UF

Price: from £16.90 per night (two adults)

Best for: couples

The most centrally set London motorhome park, Crystal Palace Caravan Club Site is next to the boating lake, playgrounds, café, sports centre, swimming pool and maze of the huge Crystal Palace park. It has excellent transport links into London: the No 3 bus nearby runs to Oxford Street via Brixton and Lambeth Bridge and runs throughout the night. Cyclists also have the option of biking into London along the National Cycle Network’s Route 23, beginning in nearby Dulwich.

The plentiful facilities include toilets, wheelchair-accessible showers, a laundry, gas sales, a motorhome service point and drive-over waste disposal. Dogs are welcome and a dog walk is on site. Several types of touring/motorhome pitches are available, most with electric hook-up.

Image credit: © Des Blenkinsopp via Creative Commons Licence.

Debden House

Map and location: **** Debden House Conference & Camping Centre, Debden Green, Loughton, Essex IG10 2NZ

Price: from £16 per night (one adult)

Best for: groups

A little further out than Crystal Palace but still within easy reach of the capital, this park is set in 50 scenic acres surrounding Epping Forest, 20 minutes drive from Stratford International railway station and an hour’s train ride from central London (Liverpool Street, 20 miles from the site). The campsite is part of the Debden House centre, which runs regular events such as Masterchef dinners and afternoon tea.

Over 300 camping/touring pitches are set across several fields here, including four fields where campfires are allowed; guests can buy firewood on site.

Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park

Map and location: Lee Valley Leisure Complex, Meridan Way, Edmonton, London N9 0AR

Price: from £7.75 per night (one adult, van included)

Best for: Couples, groups

Stay in the north of the capital at this acclaimed Greater London caravan park, set right by a lake among the pretty scenery and walking paths of the Lee Valley. Outdoor pursuits at Lee Valley Regional Park, River Lee Country Park and Lee Valley White Water Centre (a London 2021 Olympic venue) are close by. The park is in Edmonton, 11 miles from London and just a 30 minutes train ride from London Liverpool Street from the nearby station of Edmonton Green. A bus stop is right outside the site.

Motorhome pitches at the park come with optional electric hook-up and water points. Among the communal facilities are chemical disposal, showers, toilets and a laundry; there’s also a golf course, play area, gas sales and an on-site shop.

Abbey Wood Caravan Club Site

Map and location: Federation Road, Abbey Wood, London SE2 0LS

Price: from £17.60 per night (two adults)

Best for: families

East of the city near Greenwich, our second London Caravan Club Site Abbey Wood is a peaceful green oasis screened by mature trees and with far-ranging views over the capital. Stay on-site for a day to wander around the local area then take in Greenwich attractions like the National Maritime Museum, or get into the centre of the city in just 35 minutes by train via the station within walking distance of the park. Or cruise into London in style on a river trip from the site to Tower Bridge, Westminster, Kew, Richmond and Hampton Court.

This spacious park is perfect for families and has plenty of room for woodland walks and picnics. Barbecues are allowed to. Amenities include toilets, showers, a wheelchair-accessible shower room, laundry, motorhome service point and drive over waste disposal. There’s also a playground and a dog walk.

Other motorhome parks in London and surrounds

Thames View Camping

Princess Margaret Road, East Tilbury, Essex RM18 8PL

Eco-friendly and family-run site on the banks of the Thames a mile from East Tilbury. From £25 per night (two adults); price includes firepit hire and use of a pitchside picnic table. (Campervans only.)

[Chertsey Camping and Caravanning Club Site](https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/uk/surrey/chertsey/chertsey-camping-and-caravanning-club-site/# Availability)

Bridge Road, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 8JX

On the banks of the Thames in Surrey, 55 minutes’ train ride to Waterloo (via Woking). From £17.50 per night (two adults).

[Walton-on-Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site](https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/uk/surrey/walton-on-thames/walton-on-thames-camping-and-caravanning-club-site/# Availability)

Fieldcommon Lane, Surrey KT12 3QG

Peaceful park with a rural feel but within the M25 with easy road and rail links to London and easy access to Hampton Court and Chessington World of Adventures. From £10.60 per night (two adults).

Apps Court

Hurst Road, Walton-on Thames, Surrey KT12 2EG

Green 80-acre site three miles from Hampton Court station and train links to Kingston and central London; famous for caravan rallies and its car boot sale every Sunday. From £20 (four guests).

Lee Valley Caravan Park Dobbs Weir

Essex Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire EN11 0AS

Countryside park close to River Lee Country Park and just a few miles from Harlow and Hertford. From £15.50 per night (two adults).

Can you park a motorhome overnight in a London car park?

Technically yes, in the sense that overnight parking in London (or most other places in the UK) isn’t actually illegal under criminal law (it can be classed as trespass under civil law). This assumes that you’re obeying general parking laws and not causing an obstruction or danger, not littering and not engaging in antisocial behaviour.

However, this doesn’t mean you can park with impunity – being fined for staying overnight is still a possibility depending on who owns the car park. Local councils, private landowners, businesses like pubs or supermarkets, plus large institutions like the NHS (hospital or clinic car parks) will all have their own rules. Use common sense, don’t park anywhere where signs forbid it, and as with anywhere else in the country, be prepared to move on if asked to.

Can you “wild camp” in a motorhome on the streets of London?

Definitely not. Plenty of people do risk overnight stays in London, but this is best done only in emergencies, e.g. arriving in the city too late to get to a campsite or to find one not fully booked. Deliberate “wild camping” – parking up for an extended period in a non-designated area – will not be looked on favourably if you’re caught.

That doesn’t mean people don’t try it! Those who do tend to look for London outskirt regions (Surrey, Hertfordshire, Kent, Essex), which are much more rural and much more likely to have discreet places to park up at.

Hire a Motorhome in London

Now that you know where to set up camp, take a look at ourget ideas on where to go and what to see in London and South East England. Also, learnwhere you can park a motorhome in the UK if you want to extend your trip – simply hire a motorhome in London and South East England to have a holiday in the capital and its surrounding regions. Lastly, check out our beginners guide if it’s your first time hiring a motorhome!

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