Top campsites near cities for weekend breaks

Perfect for short breaks and weekend getaways, a campsite within easy reach of a UK city is an ideal choice for a year-round getaway. Whatever the weather, with campsites near cities you can indulge in culture, architecture and plenty of food and drink.

On warm, sunny days you can wander the city streets, marvelling at the buildings or taking in the green open spaces. On wet-weather days there are plenty of indoor attractions such as musuems and galleries to discover.

The other advantage is that campsites near UK cities are usually located on the outskirts, in the countryside, so you can enjoy a busy day in the city then return to a relaxing campsite in the evening – the best of both worlds.

York is a medieval walled city with plenty to explore. Why not start with a walk along the city walls, followed by checking out the 1,400-year-old Gothic cathedral? Then head to the thirteenth century medieval timbered and cobbled streets of the Shambles for seeking out independent shops and pleasant cafés.

An adults-only campsite just four miles from York and a few moments’ drive from York’s Askham Bar Park and Ride. A regular bus service to York also calls at the campsite entrance. You can also cycle the Solar Path into York or take the river bus for a unique way into the city – the campsite is located alongside the River Ouse and Naburn Locks. On the campsite you can choose from grass, hardstanding or full-service touring pitches, all with electric hook-up.

Open all year, York Rowntree Park is ideal for a city break in winter. This Club campsite welcomes non-members and is located on the banks of the River Ouse and is within easy walking distance of the beautiful and historic city of York. The campsite has level hardstanding pitches, some with hedging and glades for extra privacy, and facilities include toilets, showers and electric hook-ups.

Flaxton Meadows is an adults-only eco-campsite located in North Yorkshire’s beautiful countryside, renowned for its wildlife and scenery. The campsite provides a peaceful retreat for those wishing to enjoy nature, yet within easy reach of a wide range of amenities. Pitches are hardstanding or grass, with electricity generated from the campsite's own natural resource system. Toilet and shower facilities plus a bar on the campsite.

As the capital city of Wales, Cardiff is bustling with a variety of attractions. There are museums, a lavishly decorated castle, and the green open spaces of Bute Park. The waterfront Cardiff Bay area offers restaurants, bars and shops. Head to the stunning Millennium Centre for performing arts productions, or the Principality Stadium for major sporting events.

Explore Wales' capital city all year round with this campsite that is open 365 days a year. The campsite is situated in parkland, feeling a world away from the city, yet Cardiff city centre is just a short walk away and the waterfront attractions of Cardiff Bay are within easy reach by road or water bus. Hardstanding and grass pitches, with toilets, showers, a laundry room and cycle hire available.

Only a short distance from Cardiff and the seaside resort of Barry, this campsite is set on a working farm with countryside views and plenty of space. With easy access to the city and sandy beaches also nearby, this is a great campsite to mix a city break with a trip to the coast. Accepting motorhomes and caravans only, facilities include 15 pitches (a mix of grass and harstanding) plus toilets and showers.

Exclusively for adults, and open all year, Ty Coch Campsite is situated within 15 minutes' drive of both Cardiff and Newport. There are grass and hardstanding pitches, some set around an ornamental lake area, and there is an enclosed dog walk area, too. Facilities include toilets, showers and a campers' kitchen.

There's so much to see in Scotland's capital that you may need more than a weekend! Historical attractions include the castle built on a volcanic crag, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the Royal Mile in Edinburgh's Old Town. For families and discovery there are museums, galleries, a zoo, and Royal Botanic Gardens. Also catch the sunrise and the best city views from the top of Calton Hill.

Picturesque, beautifully landscaped, dog-friendly, five-star campsite near Edinburgh on the shores of the Firth of Forth. Easy access by bus or train into Edinburgh. Choice of East Lothian beaches and golf courses nearby. Grass and hardstanding tent and touring pitches, all with electric. Open all year so ideal for Edinburgh Christmas markets and Hogmanay celebrations.

Only four miles from the centre of Edinburgh, but located in acres of country estate, combining easy access to bustling city attractions with a tranquil location. Only a short bus ride away from the centre of Edinburgh, Mortonhall offers grass, hardstanding and full-service pitches with access to toilets, showers, a shop, games room, play area, plus bar and restaurant.

Linwater Caravan Park is open all year round, surrounded by countryside, but only four miles away from Ingliston Park and Ride which has regular trams into Edinburgh. Grass and hardstanding pitches with their own electric and water, or upgrade to a fully serviced pitch. Toilet and shower facilities along with a laundry room and small shop. The dog walking area gives access to a trail that leads to a country park and the Union Canal towpath.

Since Roman times, Bath has been a centre for relaxation and restoration. It's still the same today – the ancient Roman Baths and the modern Thermae Bath Spa are both big draws to the city. Other notable attractions include the honey-coloured Georgian buildings of the Royal Cresent and the Circus, plus a collection of museums, galleries and shops.

Nestled beside the River Avon, Bath Caravan Park is just two miles from the city centre. Easily get to the centre of Bath however you choose – stroll along the riverside, cycle or take the park and ride. The Bath campsite is open all year round, with modern facilities set among landscaped lawns and woodlands. Each pitch offers hardstanding, free WiFi and electric hook-up.

The Blackberries is set on the edge of the Cotswolds, in the Wiltshire countryside but just four miles from Bath and three miles from the Saxon town of Bradford-on-Avon. A little haven in the countryside, the campsite boasts electric hook-up, toilets and showers. There are hardstandings for motorhomes and caravans as well as a grassed area for tents. Each pitch also has its own built-in fire pit.

A small campsite on a working farm in a rural location near Bath. The camping field has grass pitches with countryside views. There are toilets and showers available along with access for disabled guests. Dogs are also welcome. Bath is only five miles away and the campsite is located directly off the main A39 into the city.

Cambridge is ideal for exploring at any time of year, with museums, galleries and plenty of shops for rainy days. On warmer, sunny days, enjoy a relaxing time punting down the River Cam or a leisurely walk alongside the water. Don't forget to marvel at the historic university buildings and grand architecture for which this city is famed.

Set in countryside, just five miles west of the city of Cambridge. Trumpington Park and Ride is 10 minutes’ drive away, or a short walk from the campsite there is a bus stop with services to Cambridge. Feeling a world away from the bustling city, Highfield Farm is surrounded by conifers, hedges and trees, and over 20,000 daffodils in spring. There are hardstanding or grass pitches with electric and toilet/shower blocks, a laundry room and dog exercise area.

Located in the village of Great Shelford, Cambridge is just four miles away with a selection of park and ride locations to choose from. A world away from the city, this tree-bordered campsite offers an ideal base to explore the city but also to relax in the rural surroundings. There are hardstanding and grass pitches with electric, plus toilets, showers, a shop and a dog walk.

How about a campsite near the city of Cambridge that is set in ancient quarry works and a Site of Special Scientific Interest? With the Cambridge Cherry Hinton campsite you get just that and it's only a 25-minute bus journey to the city centre. Just opposite the campsite you can enjoy a walk around the nature reserve and old chalk pits, while back on the campsite there are grass and hardstanding electric hook-up pitches, plus toilets, showers and a laundry.

Known as the city of dreaming spires, Oxford offers a feast for the eyes with its stunning architecture. The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and the second-largest in Britain, after the British Library. While in Oxford you can also visit the cathedral, castle and many museums, or take a boat trip down the river.

Lincoln Farm Park is 10 miles from Oxford, with a bus stop at the site entrance. There are standard electric pitches, or fully serviced pitches with the addition of fresh water, grey waste disposal and a picnic table. Facilities include toilets and showers, a family bathroom, accessible facilities and a shop. There are pubs within walking distance and you can walk to the River Thames. There is also a leisure centre on the campsite.

Set in the Oxfordshire countryside, with access to Shotover Country Park and a 10-minute drive into Oxford (or hop on one of the city's many park and ride services). The open-all-year campsite has grass pitches with electric hook-up and toilet and shower facilities. The country park offers hilltop views and access to more than 250 miles of woodland, mountain biking trails and walking routes.

Valley Farm Campsite is nestled within six acres of land, surrounded by countryside and wildlife, yet only four miles from Oxford city centre. With beautiful views to Wytham Woods conservation area, the campsite has hardstanding or grass pitches with electric, plus toilets, showers and two resident donkeys! A bus stop is close by – it's a 10-minute ride into Oxford. The campsite connects directly onto the Farmoor Reservoir countryside walk, too.