Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site
Recently I decided to try a campsite I’ve only ever stayed at once before, namely Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site. It’s cheaper than my regular campsite at Chertsey and I always like to save the pennies. Unlike Chertsey which is open all year, Walton on Thames is only open from the end of March until the beginning of November. Initial impressions following this recent one night stay were good. However read on to discover why I won’t be using this site on a more regular basis.
Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site – Facilities
The site is hidden away and access is via a narrow road. The houses suddenly end and you feel like you are in the country. The signage is pretty good and you eventually arrive at a gate. Once through the gate you arrive at reception. Reception is a small wooden building. First impressions are that it feels very rural and peaceful, impressive when you consider it’s within the M25. Thankfully it’s outside the dreaded London Low Emission Zone!
The wardens were very friendly and I was soon pitched up and looking forward to my stay. As I’ve already mentioned the site is somewhat cheaper than most club sites. The reason for this is the lack of a shower or toilet block. As such Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site tends to attract those with facilities onboard. I’m happy to use my own shower if I’m saving money and began to think this could become my regular site.
The site has most of the facilities you need or expect. These include water taps, motorhome service point and a chemical disposal point. Like most club sites it also has wifi but since this is chargeable I never use it. I prefer to use my own 3 mobile broadband (more on this later). The site is a relatively small site by club standards with 115 pitches, some hard standing, some grass. Electric hookup is included in the price. I suspect it might be a lower rating than some sites but was sufficient for me.
Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site – Location
The site is relatively close to London, the train station at Walton is about a mile away from the site. It’s also a popular site for people wanting to visit Hampton Court Palace. Hampton Court Palace is a popular tourist destination complete with famous maze. The venue also has an annual popular flower show and some summer music concerts. For those with kids you might want to use this as a base to visit Thorpe Park or Chessington World of Adventures. Should you be interested in aviation or motor history nearby Brooklands Museum will appeal. Brooklands was the world’s first purpose built motor racing circuit. Even though the famous oval circuit is no longer used you can still sometimes see classic Aston Martins trying a famous hill climb. The site now houses lots of historic aircraft including a Concorde, Wellington Bomber, VC10 and a BAC One-Eleven.
Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site – The Bad News!
So a peaceful site and cheaper than other club sites you would think I would love the place. Unfortunately for me there is one huge drawback. The site seems to be a black hole for internet reception. It was either impossible to connect or frustratingly slow with dropped connections. I tried both my 3 mobile broadband and my GiffGaff (O2) smartphone. If you are looking for a relaxing break and don’t need internet or you use the club wifi then it could be a site worth considering.