London sites

We used Abbey Woods several years ago with our kids when they were teenagers. It is a lovely site with very good facilities. The train station is about 10 mins walk from the site. We bought travel cards that lasted the week. These covered us for the train journeys & the underground. We went into London every day but one, when we went to Greenwich. It was a wonderful holiday.

We liked Abbey Wood. Not that far into London towing and reasonably straightforward leaving the M25 at the south side of the Dartford Crossing. Good transport links into central London on the train, a short walk to the station, then 30 minutes to London Bridge. Reasonably priced with a pay as you go Oyster Card, which can also be used on the tube within the same daily price cap, so you know the maximum it will cost you before you start. Also works on the buses, although that has a separate cap limit. Sorry but I have no idea about the charges for kids, or if they have a junior version, however perhaps the TFL web site might be of help. LINK HERE

Agree with Abbey Wood, Wyatts Covert has very few awning pitches and no play area for children another site a little further out is Alderstead Heath good facilities two play areas and a short drive to Merstham for trains into London.

I haven't used the London sites but as I also live in the SW I'd opt for Crystal Palace via Croydon as It's probably the easiest to access from the west. I have a friend in the area, the local parks are good to visit if you want a break from central London.

We like Abbey Wood and were there a couple of years ago. I suspect access is a little easier than Crystal Palace but coming from Devon it will be a longer journey. The advantage of both London sites is that once there you don't have to rely on the car. A nice trip to do from Abbey Wood is to take the bus or train to Greenwich (the bus drops you off a bit nearer) where you can take the Thames Clipper into Central London. The boys will see all the famous landmarks from the river including Tower Bridge. They may also like to visit the Cutty Sark at Greenwich. There is so much to do and see in London.

David

Never used any of sites, but London attractions can be quite expensive, so my tip is to go online and look at getting reduced up front tickets for some visits, and if you collect them, Tesco points can be used to triple value for some attractions. We got two into Hampton Court Palace, and Tower of London for nothing using Tesco points. 

Just in case you want to bring your children’s history of London and Fire into 20th Century, the National Fire Service Memorial is by St Paul’s Cathedral. Have a lovely time

We've stayed at both - prefer Abbey Wood as slightly greener, less like a car park and easier access for us coming from the north.   However, we do like the bus journey on the number 3 to Oxford Circus from Crystal Palace.  

We bought passes for tube/bus for the week and traveled all over.   I suspect coming from the South West, Crystal Palace would be better for you.    

Phil, I would have thought that as someone new to caravans, who still feels the need to do a training course, you will find that access to Crystal Palace via the South Circular road, and to Abbey Wood via the M25, is rather a baptism of fire.

From where you are in Devon Wyatts Covert is the easiest of the three to reach. The wardens there will advise you of parking at tube stations to go into London. And leave the awning at home - there are very few pitches at that site where you can use it. 

I'm off to London next week on a cheap SW rail offer, it's a good idea to check out all the travel arrangements and costs including the emission zones via this web site and others. LINK

We like Abbey Wood with its superb train connection into London but it is the wrong side of London if you are coming from the West.

We did not like Crystal Palace which is mostly rows of hard standing with no grass to speak off and you need to tow through a lot of crowded London streets. The bus route into the centre looked a bit dodgy to us if you wanted to return late at night.

Wyatts Covert is easy to each from the motorway but is small and very crowded but we were happy there. It is a bit of a drive to the station but there is a good service once there.

Henley Four Oaks is a nice site but it may be a bit far out if you want to make several journeys into London.

If you are in the other club then Chertsey and Walton on Thames are worth considering.