Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park

I found myself heading for Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park because I had a function to attend in North London. This seemed the closest campsite and I wanted to overnight somewhere close as it was likely to be a late night. Based in Lee Valley Edmonton in North London the campsite is within the London’s Low Emission Zone. This is something motorhomers need to consider if they drive an older vehicle like I do. Currently I can still drive within the zone in my 1998 vehicle which is under 3500Kg. From October this year however I will have to pay a huge fee, so I won’t be driving in London for much longer! Interestingly this is not the only Lee Valley campsite as there is also Dobbs Weir Caravan Park.

Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park – The general area and access to London

Lee Valley has a somewhat industrial feel about it. Perhaps I’m being unkind when I say the general area feels slightly run down but I could not fail to notice the overhead electricity pylons above my hardstanding pitch for example. As part of the Lee Valley Leisure Complex the campsite is surrounded by many options in terms of entertainment and food. On site you have the Picketts Lock Indoor Bowls Club, Odeon 12 screen cinema, 18 hole golf course, floodlit golf driving range and full size astroturf football pitches.

For those wanting to head into central London, the campsite is close to both Ponders End and Edmonton Green rail stations. The nearest underground station is Tottenham Hale which is on the Victoria Line.

*Since writing this article London has hosted the 2012 Olympic Games. Lee Valley was the venue used for whitewater kayaking and the sports complex was a training venue for some of our athletes.*

Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park – The facilities

It’s a relatively large site at 160 pitches, the vast majority of which are hardstanding with electric. They also had a number of camping pods for rent. I’ve always found these pods overpriced but they can look great in the right surroundings. I’m not sure this London campsite are those surroundings though. The campsite has most of the facilities you would expect including motorhome service point and shower / toilet blocks which have a keycode entry system. The site lacked any real landscaping and had a very open, flat feel about it. My pitch was level but the hookup was further away than I am used to so I was glad I  have the longer 25 metre cable. The reception also has a small shop with all the basics.

Compared to my usual campsite at Chertsey I noticed that the shower cubicles seemed slightly smaller. Whilst they had hooks for your clothes there was no bench to sit on when putting on your shoes. My cubicle also had a muddy floor. Perhaps not too surprising considering the amount of rain we’d had the night before but still something I’ve not seen before. At Chertsey they have a bucket and mop in the shower block and signs on each cubicle asking you to mop the cubicle after use. This campsite does not compare well to club sites in terms of general cleanliness.

The cost of my pitch was just over £15.00 which again is a few pounds more than I pay on Camping and Caravanning Club Sites in low season. In summary this campsite does the job and could be a good option if you need to be in North London. There are other campsites near London that I think are better options. If your vehicle is new enough to enter the Low Emission Zone the I would recommend Crystal Palace. If you need a campsite outside the Low Emission Zone then maybe Theobalds Park might be another option to consider. There is not actually anything wrong with Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park but it just would not be my first choice.