Editor's pick: the best campsites in the east and southeast of England

Fen Farm is a rural, family-run campsite, set in 20 acres, protected by well-established trees and hedges. On-site there is a superb large toilet block, plus excellent laundry room, dishwashing, accessible facilities and shop. There are 90 static pitches, 40 seasonal touring pitches, 60 camping/touring pitches, with or without electric hook-up.

Fen Farm has held a David Bellamy Gold Award for Conservation since 1999 and also Platinum Loo of the Year Award for the last six years. As well as dogs walks on site, including a wild flower and conservation area, a short walk will take you to a long stretch of unspoiled dog-friendly beach. If you are lucky you may even see a red squirrel or two around the site.

Find out more: Fen Farm Camping & Caravan Site  

Quiet and beautiful touring park located five miles west of the city of Cambridge offering 120 touring pitches. Set in eight acres of grounds, landscaped with conifers, hedging and trees, it offers excellent toilet and shower amenities and the careful siting of pitches around the perimeter gives a wonderful feeling of spaciousness. A 1.5-mile walk around the farm provides views across the peaceful Cambridgeshire countryside. There is a Park and Ride service nearby or a bus stop can be found a short walk away. Facilities on site include four modern toilet/shower blocks, a laundry room, dog exercise area and motorcaravan service point.

Find out more: Highfield Farm Touring Park  

Situated on Suffolk's heritage coast, near the small market town of Woodbridge, this adults-only, family-run campsite is in a pleasant parkland setting. Run Cottage Touring Park offers 45 pitches, all having electric hook-ups. 20 serviced pitches are available, as are seasonal pitches and glamping pods.

There's attractive landscaping throughout, with flower beds and an ornate lily pond. This lovely, rural campsite is ideally situated for walking, cycling and birdwatching. It has a dog exercise area and superb modern toilet block. The village shop and pub are within easy walking distance.

The campsite is just 1½ miles from a shingle beach and close to the fantastic RSPB Minsmere coastal nature reserve and the National Trust's Sutton Hoo historical site.

Find out more: Run Cottage Touring Park  

Waldegraves is a great mixture of holiday homes and touring areas. A wide selection of self-catering luxury holiday homes are available and there’s a choice of electric, non-electric and hardstanding pitches.

The pitches are highly maintained and have all the space you need to enjoy the great outdoors. The facilities include an outdoor heated pool, restaurant, bar and shop.

There are also four fishing lakes, children’s play areas, pool tables, a family arcade, entertainment venue, beach access, a dog walking area, crazy golf, footgolf, a driving range and 18-hole pitch 'n’ putt course.

Find out more: Waldegraves Holiday Park  

Editor's picks for southeast England campsites

A region where white cliffs stand tall along a dramatic coastline, home to Kent, the 'Garden of England', and the ancient wilderness of the New Forest calls to the intrepid explorer. There’s plenty to see and do here – from the architectural grandeur of Oxford and the riverside beauty of Henley, to a ferry ride to the unique holiday destination of the Isle of Wight.

Broadhembury is a family-run campsite that has been owned by the same family for over 50 years and provides award-winning, excellent facilities for adults only and families. Uniquely split into two discreet parks, each serviced by their own facilities.

The Family park offers space for children with an under-fives play park, larger playground, games room and sports field. The Adults' Meadows, set in fields and meadowland is the ideal place for adults only to relax and enjoy a break away.

Whichever part of Broadhembury you choose, you'll find landscaped gardens and peaceful grounds with grass, hardstanding and fully serviced pitches available. Broadhembury's location is central to Kent, great for exploring castles and coastlines.

Find out more: Broadhembury Caravan & Camping Park 

The New Forest is ideal for being surrounded by the natural world and enjoying the outdoors. Pretty villages, vast amounts of nature and the free-roaming ponies are all added parts of the New Forest’s appeal. Long Meadow can be found a 20-minute stroll from Brockenhurst and has access to off-road walking and cycling paths through the New Forest. The village of Brockenhurst has shops, pubs and restaurants, along with a train station for access to Bournemouth, Poole and Winchester.

The site has toilets, showers, laundry facilities, on-site catering vans that visit in high season and free WiFi. Bike hire from the campsite can be arranged with a local company. Pitches are on a choice of grass or hardstanding with electric hook-up, and up to two dogs are welcome free of charge per pitch.

Find out more: Long Meadow Campsite 

Just outside the southern boundary of the New Forest National Park, Lytton Lawn Touring Park is situated on the outskirts of Milford-on-Sea, which has a shingle beach and a choice of shops and restaurants. You can walk for two miles from Milford-on-Sea, or take the ferry from nearby Keyhaven, out to Hurst Castle, an artillery fortress located at the end of a small point of land on the south coast. The market town of Lymington, with a pretty marina and working quayside, is also just three miles away, and the famous National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is just a 20-minute drive.

Lytton Lawn covers eight acres of tree-lined parkland, with grass and hardstanding pitches, plus premier and executive pitches with additional water tap and drainage. There are toilets and showers, a games room, a launderette and dog walking area. The on-site shop offers freshly baked goods and there is a regular pizza night.

Find out more: Lytton Lawn Touring Park