FREE CAMPING IN ENGLAND

These Free Camping Sites are compiled by: Rutger Booy at www.rutgerbooy.nl. The references refer to AA Map references. for Free Camping Europe check our our europe free camping page.

As you are aware places change, new restictions are enforced, some restrictions are lifted and what was free may now change. Spaceships cannot be hold responsible for any changes that may occur so please seek these places as guidance.

Canterbury

35G2 Kent - Canterbury - The Kingsmead coach park is open to motorhomes. On payment of a £5 fee (2007), all day parking is allowed, and there is access to toilet waste disposal facilities - at road level so that onboard tanks can be emptied, and fresh water for refilling tanks. Overnight parking is not permitted.

35G2 Kent - Canterbury - The Dover Road Park & Ride facility, about 1 mile from Canterbury city centre along the A2, has dedicated spaces for motor homes, the charge is £2 per day and includes bus fare (2007). Water is available and there is a ground level dump station for black & grey waste (free on payment of parking fee). Overnight parking of motor homes is allowed at 2x day daily rate. 24 large parking bays.

Brighton/Hove

15F2 East Sussex - Brighton/Hove beach front - next to Brighton beach. It's located on Hove Street South, behind the King Alfred leisure Centre car park opposite the bottom of Hove Street off the A259 coast road, West from Brighton pier and left at the traffic lights after the King Alfred.

15F2 East Sussex - Brighton/Hove beach front - Madeira Drive, which is on the seafront east side of Palace Pier.  They block the road off some nights, but will open it for motorhomes. Free parking from 18.00 hrs till 06.00 hrs (2008)

Stonehenge

23J6 Wiltshire – Stonehenge - from Southhampton, follow main route to Stonehenge (indicated). The monument is then on your left and on your right is a parking. Drive past and after 100 metres take small road on your left. Perfect parking spot on a hilltop overlooking Stonehenge. Room for app. 10 motorhomes (2008)

Somerset

28D4 North Somerset - Portishead. This town overlooks the Severn Estuary and is 15 miles drive from Bristol, 3 miles from the M5 motorway. From junction 19 of the M5 take the A369 to Portishead. As you enter the town go past the Co-op supermarket on your left, past the start of the High Street on your left and take the next left opposite the Waitrose Esso petrol Station. Take the second right signposted to the Seafront and Lake Grounds. You can park for free day and night anywhere along the promenade. There is a café, public toilets, and an open-air swimming pool, but the whole area is really a picnic site without noisy amusements. You cannot swim in the estuary due to very dangerous tides and soft mud, but the view across the sea to Wales from your camper is excellent.

29F4 Bristol - There is a location on the Downs area of Bristol (top of Parrys Lane just off the Downs) where you can park. This is in an area known as Saville Rd and normally during the day it's used as an unofficial truck stop, complete with a mobile burger bar.

Gloucestershire

41F3 Gloucestershire - Forest of Dean - There's a fair number of decent sized Forestry Commision car parks in the Forest of Dean. Some of the bigger ones have the gates closed at 7.30pm, if you don't mind being locked in for the night. There is a small charge (the general car park fee). There are a lot of picnic areas but most of them are locked at 7.30 pm. There are also some places on the Cinderford to Coleford road.

41J5 Gloucestershire - Tewkesbury - Follow A38 through Tewkesbury towards Gloucester, pass Abbey on the left and then coach park on right, as the road bends to the left there is small lane on right signed "Lower Load." Follow this lane for half mile down to River Severn. There is as small picnic area and old ferry here. The road stops here so exit is back the way you drove in, no houses very quiet at night.

41K4 Gloucestershire - Cheltenham - Look for Cheltenham pump rooms, signposted from Cheltenham racecourse, security camera's, nice park next to it, 10min walk into Cheltenham; a nice spot.

42C4 Gloucestershire - A nice site in the Cotswolds next to a stream and about ten minutes walk from a couple of pubs in Bourton-on-the-Water. Go to Streetfinder, type in GL54 2PS, nice pull in as river crosses road.

42C6 Gloucestershire - Chipping Campden - From Chipping Campden take the B4035 towards Aston Subadge. Just outside of Chipping Campden there is a left turn, go up the hill, then it levels out go for about 1/2 mile till you come to cross roads your right of way. Turn right towards Weston Subadge up the lane 200 yards. Turn right into car park. Great views looking over Stratford on Avon and towards Birmingham.

Oxfordshire

43G2 Oxford - Oxfordshire - Oxford Seacourt Park en Drive . Follow signs “Park and Ride”. Cost one pound per 24 hrs. (pay en display). Only SMAll campervans are allowed as there are height barriers. Regular shuttle bus service to city centre. (2008)

31G7 Oxfordshire - Abingdon - The Rye Farm Pay & Display car park, on the A415 going south from Abingdon, on the left hand side just across the river bridge. £5 for 24 hours maximum (2007). Public toilets (pay) are just across the road.

Warwickshire- Stratford Upon Avon

53H3 Warwickshire - Stratford upon Avon has a Park and Ride with an area dedicated to motorhomes with about 20 places. Parking is free. The bus into town centre is £1.30 return per adult. The P&R car park is north of the town centre near the roundabout at the junction of the A3400 and A46 (Stratford northern bypass).

Staffordshire - Shropshire

63J6 Staffordshire - Whitchurch - Take the road to Whitchurch Truck Stop just outside Whitchurch. It says £2 overnight and HGV's only, but this seems not to be a problem.

64B5 Shropshire - Market Drayton - There is a dedicated truck park just off the A53 at the junction with the A529. It is outside the livestock market and just behind a big Tom Cobleigh pub (family friendly, with a playbarn). You sometimes get refrigerator trucks here which can be noisy!

64D4 Staffordshire - A518 Stafford to Newport - From Stafford on A518 towards Gnosall and then onwards to Newport, a number of good layby’s would be very good for occasional overnighting.

65G3 Staffordshire - North of Lichfield - A515 signposted Ashbourne At junction with road signposted Handsacre there is a layby (rough ground) where Motorhomes have parked up before now and been undisturbed. Often a passable breakfast served by chap with a mobile kitchen. Virtually opposite Seedy Mill Golf Club (takes all comers I believe - if you really feel you must have a pre-breakfast round!)

65G3 Staffordshire - take turning left through Handsacre and Armitage. Just after Plum Pudding PH slight hill. Immediately over crest on left pull in to small canalside parking area - suitable for anything that can get off the road quickly - have even seen lorries parked there. Three pubs in vicinity - Plum Pudding (now also quite a good restaurant - but a bit pricey), Spode Cottage (Tom Cobleigh outfit), and Ash Tree - towards Rugeley.

Cheshire

75G2 Cheshire - Chester - Overnighting is allowed in the Coach/car park next to castle. It’s called Little Roodee. Cost £1.50 per night (2007). At night the gates are locked at 22.30 till 06.00 but there is a number to ring if you need to get off in an emergency. CCTV covers the whole car park. There is no toilet emptying point or fresh water tap. The coach park is well sign posted. Going into Chester on the A483 (Wrexham road) it is on your right where the castle wall meets the river. Parking adjacent to the river is level compared to rest of car/coach park.

Lancashire

83F7 Lancashire - Entering Lancaster from the south turn left at foot of bridge over river signposted as Industrial Estate. Go beyond the houses and you come to a large factory on the left. On the right there is a deep layby (or picnic spot as rubbish bin present). Quiet with view of river.

83H6 Lancashire - Slaidburn - Trough of Bowland - The public car park at the end of the village allows overnight stops. Chargeable between 7am and 6pm. Maximum stay 24 hours. Facilities include public toilets and an outside tap.

Cumbria

88B6 Cumbria - St. Bees - The car park by the beach at St Bees, near Whitehaven. £2.70 no overnight restriction.

88D5 Cumbria - Wasdale Head - Follow signs for Wasdale Head from the A595. At the side of Wast Water there are one or two reasonably good sized gravel layby's almost right on the waters edge, and no signs saying 'no overnight stays'. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, and it's in the middle of nowhere so little chance of being bothered in the middle of the night.

88D6 Cumbria - Wasdale Head - There is a large triangular grassy parking area at Wasdale Head.

88E6 Cumbria - Buttermere - unofficial overnight stop on the Buttermere side of Honister pass by the Big Boulder, along the B5289 from Borrowdale to Buttermere. It’s very isolated and no facilities. But cracking views.

88E8 Cumbria - Braithwaite - Follow A66 about 3 miles past Keswick West bound, turn into the village of Braithwaite, follow main road through village and signs for The Pass (Whinlatter Pass). The road number is the B5292, roughly 2 miles on the left is a lovely forestry location. The entrance has a couple of tight hairpin bends, but is worth negotiating. Each individual parking place has a little path to its own picnic table and the table has a slate square for the B.B.Q.

89G7 Cumbria - Ullswater - Unofficial overnight stop on the roadside down Ullswater about 3 miles short of Glennridding. Two big parking areas, the first does not have a "no overnight sign" (and must be the only one in the national park not to have one), the second one does.

89G7 Cumbria - Glenridding - Centre of village tourist information. No problem with coachbuilt van if tucked away in a corner, but it would probably help if taken advise in tourist office.

89H6 Cumbria - Kendal / Penrith - on the A6 from Penrith towards Kendal is a very secluded large layby on LH side (4 miles South of M6 Junction 39 and 0.5 mile South of "Best Western" hotel). Perfect for overnight stop on way to/from Scotland.

89H8 Cumbria - Penrith - From the M6 Junction 40 (Penrith) Take the A66 West to the "Reghed" (Ullswater) Roundabout, then retrace towards the Motorway. On the Left just before the Motorway is the Cattle market. On Friday nights many traders for the Saturday market (400 stalls) sleep in their vans overnight. There is a gravel area as you enter the market that is used as a car park. Anybody camping on there is likely to be taken as a new trader waiting for the morning. Toilets open at 07:00 and one or more catering vans open from about the same time. Otherwise for those who do not mind staying on the road side there is a large area just before the Motorway when approaching from the East where truckers pull in.

89J5 Cumbria - Tebay - Exit M6 at junction 38, follow A685 for a couple of miles then shortly after a fairly steep incline there's a small car park ideally suited for an overnight stop. There are no signs saying you can't stay overnight and there's nothing nearby... no village, no shops, no anything, just fields. Perfect for those travelling to Scotland and in need of a quick stopover as it's only a few minutes off the M6.

90B5 Cumbria - Near Kirkby Stephen - Four miles east of Kirkby Stephen on the B6270 to Keld and right on the county border is a decent sized layby.

Northumberland

108E8 Northumberland - Holy Island - The causeway to Holy Island (also known as Lindisfarne) is closed twice a day as the tides cover it. There is a car park on the left before the start of the causeway. There is no staying overnight on the island.

109G4 Northumberland - Alnmouth - Follow signs to car and coach park in Alnmouth. Car park on sea front is OK for overnighting. There is a charge in the day in summer, not sure about night time.

117H1 Northumberland - Scremerston - A good spot in the north-east is on the coast near Scremerston (south of Berwick-upon-Tweed): Turn off the A1, go through Scremerston and cross the railway, then follow the coast south, there are several good spots overlooking the sea before the road peters out. Please note that the "Holy Island Estate" has "no camping" signs and that in the near future a height barrier will probably installed on the approach road.

99G5 Northumberland - Haltwhistle - For those visiting Hadrians Wall: We stayed in the car park across the road from the Roman Army Museum (near Haltwhistle). There are toilets (locked at night). It's one of the few car parks in the area without a dreaded ‘No Camping/Overnight parking’ sign

Durham

100C3 Durham - Castleside - The car park at Smelter Arms pub on the A 68. It is advertised as an overnight caravan stop (sign on A68 on approach to Castleside from Rowley). Could be used as an overnight by motor homes. Ask at the pub. Ideal stop for onwards to Scotland.

Yorkshire

92C7 East Yorkshire - Saltburn-By-The-Sea - The car park just over the road from the beach.

92E2 East Yorkshire - Thornton Le Dale - Nice safe car park, hidden from main road, no height barriers but unlit at night.

92E4 North Yorkshire - North York Moors - Hole of Horcum, A169 N. of Pickering on North Yorkshire Moors.

92E5 North Yorkshire - A169 Pickering to Whitby road just before 1 in 5 hill down to village of Sleights. Seems okay for overnights but probably not for longer stay. Car Parks (2) at top of Blue Bank.

92E6 East Yorkshire - Sandsend (north of Whitby) - The beach car park

93G3 North Yorkshire - Coast view parking at Scarborough to the North of town, good park and ride at Scarborough.

93G3 North Yorkshire - Scarborough - Coar Car park at Wrea Lane. Follow signs “Coach and Car parking”. Overnight stay permitted. £ 3.50 for 24 hours (2003)

93F6 North Yorkshire - Coast view parking at Whitby to the North of town, head for West Cliff signs. In Whitby there's a strict policy banning overnight sleeping in vehicles (2009)

90B1 North Yorkshire - Yorkshire Dales - Great wild camping at the Ribblehead viaduct on the common land adjacent to the Railway Inn. Popular spot for parking whilst walking in the three peaks area.

York

85K6 York - Just outside the city of York are three Park & Ride parking places: A1079 (East); A1036 (Southwest) and near Rawcliffe (North). At each of the three areas listed it is necessary to stop at the Office ('Bureau') to ask for the barrier to be raised. There is a fourth P&R at the 'Designer Centre', signposted off the A64. There are no barriers here, and it is at a Factory Shop Outlet. Also frequent buses into the centre of York.

Linclonshire

86E2 Lincolnshire - Barton-Upon-Humber - A picknick place (with toilets) with a fine view of the Humber Bridge. From the A15 take exit Barton, then follow signs “Bridge viewing Area”.

79H2 Lincolnshire - A15 south of Waddington - Go past the airbase until you come to tower lane on the right.1 mile down dead straight and then turn off on second bend. Recommended for Air spotters but if Waddington is flying this spot is at the end of the runway so be warned.

79H3 Lincolnshire - Lincoln - Follow the signs to “Highstreet Long Stay Cart Park” near Brayford Pool. It’s ideal for visiting town, cathedral and castle. Very steep climb though. It’s pay & display, £ 2.00 per night from 18.00 till 08.00 or £ 7.80 per 24 hours.

79H3 Lincolnshire - Lincoln - Lincolnshire Showground. 5 miles north of Lincoln on A15. Just outside the main gate on the A15 is a large area of tarmac and gravel which is often used overnight by MH's although after 5am the A15 does get busy. For a quieter location go past the main gate travelling north and turn left onto the A1500 and use one of the smaller but quieter spots at one of the side gates. (Don't use the viewpoint at the top of the hill on the A1500 as has been suggested on other sites as it has become a meeting point for gentlemen looking for a male partner.

79H3 Lincolnshire - Lincoln - Leave Lincoln on the A57 and just as you exit the last few houses you come to the West Common which used to be the Race course. In the daytime you can park on the left at the north end of the grandstand in a small parking/ picnic area, no charges and no height restrictions. The city centre is about 10-15 minutes walk but you pass several bus stops on the way. You could stop here overnight but for a more private location take the turning on the city side of the grandstand complex just after the new pedestrian crossing as you leave town (150 meters south of the grandstand). This is an access road to the rear of the grandstand and golf course. Here is an area you can use. The only restriction is you need to move before the golf club opens and don't drive on the golf course.

79H3 Lincolnshire - Lincoln - A location often used is on the A57 about 2 miles out of town. Leave the city on the A57, past the race course and over the Bypass still on the A57. In about 1/2 a mile just after the first right turn is a layby on the right before the road bends left. Don't park near the two houses; use the other end near the dog club. You can get some privacy and shelter from the road noise by going behind the trees.

79H4 Lincolnshire - Scampton - Turn off A15 onto A1500 at the showground signposted Marton/Scampton/Gainsborough. Turn right towards Scampton village, there is a viewing area right on the junction. If the Red Arrows are flying this spot is spectacular. Also back towards the A15 there is a spot at the side of the showground. The last two spots are fine for the Xmas mart but use the park and ride which is five minutes away, sometimes there is a special park and ride on the showground.

80B5 Lincolnshire - on the A631 between Market Rasen and North Willingham is a picnic area on left just beyond the racecourse. If you are narrow enough you can get into the car park section (I can just get in with my small coachbuilt).

Norfolk

69J7 Norfolk - Thornham - At the salt marshes. Turn towards the coast off the A149, signposted towards a pub and keep going down. Fantastic views over the salt marshes. BEWARE of very high tides, then the road will flood. Check the tides!

70A7 Norfolk - Brancaster beach - parking on the right and toilets on the left. Good place to fill up with water.

70B7 Norfolk - Burnham Overy Staithe - National Trust and boating club car park, all right for staying one night.

71G3 Norfolk - A1151 (The Wroxham road out of Norwich) pass the Green Man pub at Rackheath, 1/4 mile on the left-hand side, where the old bends have been straightened.

58A7 Norfolk - Thetford Forest has a good site near Santon Downham, over the River Bridge and Rail Bridge - parking in forest area on the right. Watch the weight limit on the bridge - 3 tonnes but you can get to the site from the other direction. Lovely walks through the woods - deer seen last year.

Cambridgeshire

56A6 Cambridgeshire - An old road at Stibbington where the truckers' 'diner' is situated. About a mile after the main junction with the A47 (bridge over the road). You might find it somewhere here.

56B8 Cambridgeshire - Around Water Newton, just before the signs for East of England Showground and Alwalton, there is a bit of old road which sometimes has a cafe in it during the daytime. It's shielded from the road by a belt of trees, but there is usually a somewhat ramshackle 'Cafe' sign.

Essex

46C4 Essex - Braintree - Lorry park at Springwood Industrial estate. Free, no height barrier, floodlit, not used by many truckers since by-pass opened. 20 minutes walk to town centre. 5 minutes walk to all night garage with shop.

46C5 Essex - Halstead - In the centre of town is a car park (no height barriers at time of writing) suitable for a stopover. Pub and Cafe' opposite and garage 1 minute walk offering usual newspapers groceries etc. Not sure of overnight charges if any. Check signs for By-laws and charges.

46C5 Essex - Halstead - On approach from Braintree on A131 take first available right into OAK road. If you pass turning named White Horse Avenue you have passed the turning so turn around. Once in Oak Road on left-hand side just a few yards in is grassy area. Ideal for a quick overnight. Garage within 10 mins walk down the hill. Walk toward large oak tree and continue straight across grass areas. Telephone box also on Grass Area.