Best camping, glamping, and outdoor stays in Eastbourne

Just to the east of Beachy Head, the highest chalk cliffs in Britain, the vibrant seaside town of Eastbourne is often overlooked in favour of its more well-known neighbour, Brighton.

97% (1725 reviews)
97% (1725 reviews)

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12 top campsites near Eastbourne

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

Under £50

Dog-friendly getaways

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

With access to the Seven Sisters clifftops, however, and with beautiful walking routes across the South Downs National Park, the area around Eastbourne is fantastic for camping – and the town itself has all the fun and games of a traditional seaside resort. Discover our pick of the best local campsites and book your holiday under canvas today.

Best camping, glamping, and outdoor stays in Eastbourne guide

Overview

Campsites in Eastbourne

If you’re looking for a south coast seaside getaway – how about camping in Eastbourne? Like so many seaside hotspots, it had its heyday in Victorian times and the central seafront reflects that with elegant buildings, gardens and a pier. And it’s still a great spot if you’re looking for fish and chips, buckets and spades and sticks of rock. There are funfair rides, crazy golf and amusements – not to mention the beach itself. It’s much like Brighton – but much less busy. The modern town sprawls away from the seaside and while it’s not all picturesque, it offers all the modern conveniences you could wish for. It’s beyond all this that you’ll find the glorious countryside that surrounds Eastbourne which adds to its appeal as a destination for camping and glamping holidays. The town sits just east of the Seven Sisters White Cliffs. These towering chalky cliffs mark the end of the South Downs – the boundary of the South Downs National Park and the end of the South Downs Way National Trail. It’s classic camping country.

Things to do in Eastbourne

Camping in Eastbourne is all about the coast. Whether you have come to walk on the South Downs Way or to enjoy days of swimming and sunbathing on the beach – it’s all about the sea. You might want to get in it with a spot of swimming, paddleboarding or sailing, or perhaps you’ll be content to gaze at it from the high clifftops of the Seven Sisters Country Park and the South Downs National Park. In town, you can take a stroll down the pier and amuse yourself at the amusements or rock out at the town’s unusual 1930s bandstand concert hall. The town is at its busiest during the annual airshow which usually takes place in August. If you fancy a trip to other south coast seaside resorts, bustling Brighton and artsy Hastings are about 20 miles either side of town. For more information on things to do in Eastbourne check out the Visit Eastbourne website.

About

Just to the east of Beachy Head, the highest chalk cliffs in Britain, the vibrant seaside town of Eastbourne is a fantastic focal point for any camping holiday, with plenty of great campsites in the surrounding countryside. As always, only the very best make it into our collection.

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