Car-Free Glamping Near London

I love living in London, but also enjoy escaping to the countryside for a scenic break from the hustle and bustle of city life. There’s something so refreshing about being surrounded by nature. However, like many Londoners we don’t have a car, so I had always assumed that venturing too far off the beaten path wasn’t an option. Turns out I was wrong!

Here’s an overview of our fabulous long weekend of glamping in our own secluded cabin in the woods, and what we learned about planning  the perfect year-round car-free escape.

Location, Location, Location

Obviously without a car, it’s important to find a spot that’s close(ish) to public transport but still secluded enough to provide a proper glamping experience. As I started to research I found a number of cabins, yurts or tents on offer, but the offerings were vastly different, especially for a car-free getaway. Public transport in the English countryside isn’t always frequent, and access to amenities from the site could be sparce.

Luckily, I came across Canopy and Stars, which not only offered a number of fully-stocked properties easily accessible by public transport, but they were also offering a £75 gift voucher for those who chose to travel ‘green’ (ie by public transport). What’s not to love about that?!?

The cabin we selected in the end was in lovely Downash Wood in East Sussex, which could be accessed via direct trains from London to either Tunbridge Wells or Wadhurst, then a short bus ride on the historic 1066 line to a stop that was just a ten minute walk down the lane to our entry gate. The entire journey was under two hours door to door and the trains and buses ran frequently – perfect for our short getaway. For a longer holiday where longer travel is an option, there were a number of other great places further out in counties across England that still had easy access to a station.

Travel tip: Regardless of how far you travel, definitely think about your bags. You’re headed to the countryside after all, and without a car at least some of your journey will likely be walking along a dirt path or across a field where rolling a bag isn’t an option. Our site did have a wheelbarrow available once we arrived at the gate, but I’m glad we had opted for bags we could easily carry.

Glamping – emphasis on the glam

Since we were travelling car-free we could only pack what we could carry on the train so needed a place that provided pretty much everything we would need when we got there. Our little hobbit hole definitely delivered. They had fresh linens as well as kitchen supplies for our indoor kitchenette and for the outdoor fire area. We also had a modern private shower room and toilet complete with toiletries and fluffy bathrobes. We really only needed our clothes which made packing light easy.

Travel tip: When packing I’d recommend bringing a small torch (flashlight) or headlamp, especially if you’ll be arriving in the dark. Our cabin had plenty of light but the woodland paths around it were, well, woodland paths. I’d also recommend a pair of wellies if it’s been raining, especially outside of the summer months. Country paths can get muddy and a pair of wellies can turn a disaster into a highly enjoyable holiday!

Another consideration is just how secluded you want to be. At the spot we chose, there were a few other cabins in the woods, but I couldn’t see them from our cabin. I did pass by a couple of cabins on my various walks, and I saw a few cars in the car park so there were definitely other glampers there. But, I didn’t see or hear anyone else the entire time – bliss! Well, I should clarify that I didn’t see or hear any people – the birds, rabbits and other woodland animals were definitely there to greet us.

Travel tip: The glampsite setup is def something to research as I noticed ads for a number of places where the cabins or tents were literally side by side — great if you’re hoping to socialise, but not so great if you’re looking for a romantic getaway. Other options also offered shared cooking or shower facilities, so you’ll need to decide how much ‘glamp’ versus how much ‘camp’ is right for you.

Cookout or Dine Out

While we loved being secluded, we did want to eat of course! Without a car, this wasn’t guaranteed to be straightforward, but it was super easy with the cabin we chose. In fact, we didn’t need to eat at the cabin at all if we didn’t want to do so. There were several lovely cafes and pubs within walking distance so literally could have eaten out every meal. We opted to pack breakfast supplies to have at the cabin but loved having the option to dine out for lunch and dinner. In fact, our strolls through the fields to the swanky gastro pub in the village, and the picturesque country pub in the other direction were fantastic. If you’re in the Ticehurst area, I’d highly recommend both The Bull and The Bell – yum! If you pick somewhere else to glamp, be sure to check out the dining options and accessibility.

That said, having a cookout over an open flame is such a memorable experience.  I mean that’s half the fun of glamping, right?! If you’d want to do the same it’s important to ensure you have easy access to supplies. Our cabin was a half hour walk from the nearest village where we could purchase food products, but remember you’re going to need to carry them on your walk back! The cabin owners also offered a hamper service from a nearby farm where you could pre-order items to be delivered to you cabin upon arrival.

Travel tip: Whether you cookout or dine out, do consider your morning caffeine needs. Our cabin had coffee and tea provided, but not all did, so I’d recommend packing for that just in case!

The glamping life

The highlight of our trip was simply enjoying the cabin. Getting away from it all was the whole point after all! We had comfy places to sit both inside and outside, and the surrounding fields and woodlands were lovely. We also had WiFi access in the cabin though we opted to unplug.

For me, I could have spent my entire holiday sitting on our little deck soaking in the surrounding nature. It was so peaceful! But what made it even better was that you could also choose to soak up nature while soaking in a wood-fired hot tub. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to glamp without one in the future lol. To be clear, this wasn’t a push a button, turn on the jets, and listen to the roar of the bubbles. This was a start a fire, carefully tend it to the perfect temperature and then soak in the warmth while listening to the leaves rustle around you. It took some work, but that was half the fun, and the hot tub stayed hot for hours and hours (like it was still hot the next day!). Especially if you’re considering a trip in the crisper months, a sauna or hot tub is the perfect addition for the ultimate glamping experience.

Travel tip: We were fortunate with the weather, but this is Britain after all. Having indoor space (and adequate light) to sit, eat, read, play games will be a trip-saver if the weather isn’t cooperating. (Mind you, the hot tub would have been just as fun in the rain!)

When we were ready to explore a bit further afield, the glamping life had plenty on offer:

• Local countryside adventures – Just exploring the local countryside is a highlight of pretty much every glamping site. In addition, many sites offer farmyard experiences or waterside activities at a nearby beach or lake. At our site, the main attraction was the Bewl Water Reservoir which was just moments from our doorstep along a woodland path. There was a 13-mile trail around the lovely reservoir, with plenty of water activities available as well. We were there over a weekend in August and still found it peaceful.
• Charming villages – While the glamping sites are typically outside of town, many have villages nearby. For us, the village of Ticehurst was a half hour walk away, with some cute shops and several lovely cafes and pubs.
• Historic sites – The UK is full of amazing historic sites which always make for a fab day out. For us, Bodium Castle was a bike ride away from our cabin, and there were even more sites a bus ride away.

Travel tip: Consider the transport to get to any activity you have planned. Country buses in particular don’t run that often, and taxis often need pre-booking. Our cabin had the option of bike hire and several activities within walking distance, but not all do.

Conclusion

I hope this blog has inspired you to escape to the countryside! Sustainable travel from London is definitely an option, and while planning a car-free escape has a few added considerations, in particular:

• Access to transport links
• Amenities available on site
• Accessibility of cooking/dining options
• Activities to enjoy that don’t require a car

Once you start looking, you’ll find plenty of glamping sites that satisfy all of those! If you want a short-cut, I’d recommend starting with Canopy and Stars which has a selection of curated car-free options. I’m looking forward to trying more of them!

Happy glamping!!