Theobalds Park Camping and Caravanning Club Site
Theobalds Park Camping and Caravanning Club Site
Summary
A good option if you need to visit London (outside the Low Emission Zone). Friendly wardens, and quality facilities as with most club sites. Less landscaping than some sites and some rumble from nearby M25 when sitting outside. Would happily stay here again.
The end of May was half term which means those ‘part-time’ motorhome and caravan families all decide to book pitches at all the camping and caravanning club sites. With Chertsey being full I began the search for somewhere else to stay. Most of the my other usual candidates were also full and so I decided to try one to the North of London, namely Theobalds Park Camping and Caravanning Club Site.
Theobalds Park Camping and Caravanning Club Site – Initial Thoughts
As I left the M25 at junction 25 I was greeted with signs warning of the approaching Low Emission Zone. Two right hand turns followed before I found myself arriving at the campsite which is thankfully outside the zone. Theobalds Park Camping and Caravanning Club Site has 90 pitches and is now open all year round. The site assistants are currently a couple I’ve met previously at Chertsey so it was good to see familiar faces.
The initial impression I got from the site was that it was much more open plan than Chertsey with no real landscaping to separate areas. However this did not really matter much to me for the purposes of my stay. I should mention that this site has a mixture of pitches with electric, some hardstanding and some grass. Interestingly they also have storage for motorhomes. Perhaps this is why they are now open all year. There is a children’s play area and pets are also welcome. I also noticed during my stay that they have some fixed holiday homes that are available to rent or buy.
Other reviews of this campsite often mention the noise from the M25 motorway. It was not noticeable inside the motorhome but when sitting outside there was a slight rumble. It’s nothing that would bother me though. Many sites have some background noise, for instance at Chertsey you can hear the nearby weir that’s on the River Thames.
Other facilities at the campsite are what you would expect from a club site. I would give a special mention for the shower block which was better than most club sites and certainly better than Chertsey. I used the laundry whilst there, the cost was £3.50 for a wash and £1.00 for the dryer. The site also has a very good motorhome service point. All in all I was impressed with the standard of Theobalds Park Camping and Caravanning Club Site.
Theobalds Park Camping and Caravanning Club Site – The local area
Being so close to the capital, naturally many visitors will want to visit the sights of London. The closest train station is Waltham Cross, about 2 miles away, which is Oyster Travelcard Zone 7. Oyster pay as you go represents the best value way to travel around London, though a one day Travelcard is currently only £0.50p more. Trains serve Liverpool Street and Stratford with links to the Victoria underground line. Indeed if your motorhome is not LEZ compliant Theobalds Park Camping and Caravanning Club Site is one of the best options for visiting London. For those who are LEZ compliant I would advise using Chertsey or Abbey Wood Caravan Club sites as more central locations.
The site is also close to Lee Valley Country Park which was used as the venue for the whitewater kayak events at the 2012 Olympics. The centre is a good place to try whitewater rafting or kayaking.
I enjoyed my time at Theobalds Park Camping and Caravanning Club Site. I would have no hesitation in using it again if I was in the area or if my usual local sites were full. Feel free to watch my short video of this campsite.