The top 10 best UK campsites sites near Heritage Sites

With a campervan, motorhome or caravan, instead of squeezing a trip into a single afternoon, you can base yourself nearby, take your time, and enjoy quiet evenings a short stroll from some of the most remarkable spots in the country.

This guide rounds up ten of the best campsites near Heritage sites, chosen from the Caravan & Motorhome Club and the Camping & Caravanning Club.

And because a heritage-rich trip is about more than ticking off the big names, we’ve also included tips and nearby extras to make your time feel even more memorable.

The top 10 caravan sites near UK World Heritage Sites

Here’s ten brilliant sites that put you right next to some of the UK’s most iconic places. Caravan & Motorhome Club Sites

1. Durham Grange Club Campsite (Durham Castle & Cathedral)

Set just a few miles from the heart of Durham, this site gives you easy access to the city’s UNESCO-listed cathedral and castle.

The bus stop right outside takes you into the centre, so there’s no need to battle for parking in the medieval streets.

Once you’re done exploring the soaring nave or climbing the castle tower, head back for a riverside walk or a quiet evening with the cathedral bells faintly in the distance.

Insider tip: Go in the evening when the students are gone and the light softens on the stone; it feels almost otherworldly.

2. Chapel Lane Club Campsite (Ironbridge Gorge)

This site, on the edge of Birmingham, is perfectly placed for day trips to Ironbridge Gorge, the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

You can drive over in under an hour and spend a full day exploring the working museums, riverside walks and, of course, the bridge itself. The site is surrounded by woodland, so evenings feel calm after the bustle of the gorge.

Insider tip: Try the Blists Hill Victorian Town after 3pm, when the school groups have left, because you’ll get more space to enjoy the atmosphere.

3. Hunter’s Moon Club Campsite (Jurassic Coast)

A few miles inland from Wareham, Hunter’s Moon is your gateway to the Jurassic Coast.

Drive out to Lulworth Cove or Durdle Door for the fossil-strewn beaches and cliff walks.

Back at the site, the pitches are shaded and peaceful, so you can properly switch off after a day of coastal exploring.

Insider tip: The walk from Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door at sunset is spectacular, but bring a torch for the way back.

4. 216 Lane End Certificated Location (Blenheim Palace)

A small, five-van certificated site just outside Kidlington in Oxfordshire, about 3 miles from Blenheim Palace. It’s member-only, quiet, rural, with good views and easy access by road and public transport towards Woodstock and Oxford.

Insider tip: Catch the early morning bus toward Woodstock or Blenheim; arriving at the palace before it opens gives you a chance to explore the gardens when it’s still peaceful.

5. Englethwaite Hall Club Campsite (Hadrian’s Wall)

This tranquil site in Cumbria is a short drive from Hadrian’s Wall, with access to sections of the wall path that feel wild and remote.

The pitches are surrounded by trees, so evenings feel sheltered and cosy. It’s an ideal base for mixing Roman history with long countryside walks.

Insider tip: Visit Birdoswald Roman Fort first thing in the morning for a quieter, more reflective experience of the wall.

6. Salisbury Camping and Caravanning Club Site (Stonehenge & Avebury)

From here, you’re well placed to visit both Stonehenge and Avebury, two of the world’s most famous prehistoric landscapes.

Salisbury Cathedral is also close by, so you can mix Neolithic stones with soaring medieval spires. The site itself is leafy and welcoming, with good walking trails nearby.

Insider tip: If you head to Avebury early, you can walk among the stones before the day-trippers arrive and it feels much more powerful.

7. Bellingham Camping and Caravanning Club Site (Hadrian’s Wall)

On the edge of Northumberland National Park, this site gives you easy access to one of the best-preserved stretches of Hadrian’s Wall.

You can combine your history fix with stargazing, as the area is part of a designated Dark Sky Park. The site is friendly and relaxed, with a village pub a short stroll away.

Insider tip: Don’t just walk the wall. Have a look at the smaller milecastles and turrets, which often have no one else around.

8. Scarborough Camping and Caravanning Club Site (Jurassic Coast heritage at Filey Brigg & Yorkshire Coast geology)

This site might not be on the Jurassic Coast, but it offers another slice of geological heritage at Filey Brigg and the surrounding coast, which is part of the UK’s geo-heritage story. It’s a lively seaside base with history and fossils wrapped in.

Insider tip: Try the coastal walk south to Filey, which is quieter than Scarborough’s main beach and rich with birdlife.

9. Cheddar Mendip Heights Camping and Caravanning Club Site (Bath & City of Bath World Heritage Site)

Set high on the Mendip Hills, this site gives you two for the price of one: Cheddar Gorge on your doorstep and Bath’s Roman and Georgian heritage less than an hour away.

You can spend a morning exploring the gorge’s caves, then head into Bath for an afternoon soak in the thermal waters.

Insider tip: Park-and-ride into Bath is easiest from Lansdown; it saves you the hassle of navigating the city’s narrow streets and often full car parks. Although if you do want to drive in, Charlotte Street Car Park is your best bet.

10. Slapton Sands Camping and Caravanning Club Site (Cornish Mining Landscape & coastal heritage)

On the South Devon coast, this site puts you close to both dramatic beaches and the wider Cornish mining heritage landscape.

There are village pubs and quiet lanes to explore, and the coastal path runs straight past. It’s one for combining history with sea air and unhurried days.

Insider tip: Take a day trip to the Levant Mine in Cornwall if you want to see the mining heritage up close: it’s atmospheric and unforgettable.

How to pick the right site near a World Heritage Site

When it comes to heritage touring, the choice of site can make or break the experience. A few things are worth keeping in mind:

• Check the site’s walking and cycling links: Some of the best heritage visits don’t start at a car park. A pitch that connects you to bridleways or old railway lines means you can set out on foot or bike and arrive in a much more memorable way.
• Ask about evening access: A handful of heritage sites (some like abbey ruins to Roman amphitheatres) allow evening events or twilight tours. Staying nearby makes these easier to catch without a long drive home in the dark.
• Look at local church and village hall calendars: Smaller communities often run heritage talks, open gardens or guided walks linked to nearby sites. These are rarely advertised widely, but if your campsite is in the loop, you can get a much more personal experience. Check local parish magazines, websites and notice boards for more information, and consider speaking with your campsite wardens too.
• Think about light pollution levels: If your site sits in a Dark Sky area near a heritage landscape (Hadrian’s Wall and the Northumberland National Park are a prime example), you’ll get to add stargazing to your evenings as part of the atmosphere.
• Check for heritage trails that join up multiple spots: Some World Heritage Sites are actually landscapes rather than single monuments. Being based close to a trailhead means you can dip in and out rather than feeling obliged to do it all in one go.
• Ask about transport connections: A site near a local bus stop or heritage railway can make exploring easier without moving the van. It’s also a good way to see the landscape as people would have done generations ago.
• Look for campsites that lean into the story of the place: A farm site using a stone circle on their logo or a warden who runs occasional guided walks might sound like small touches, but they often mean the whole stay feels more connected to the heritage around you.

Ready to plan your own escape to the UK’s Heritage sites?

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