Is wild camping allowed in England?

Yes, wild camping, also known as boondocking, dry camping, or dispersed camping, is officially allowed in England. Most of the land is privately owned, and the owners allow camping for one night if requested.

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Written by: Alex

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Last researched: 2023

Since a large part of the land is privately owned, you can camp here, with the permission of the landowner. Wild camping is also allowed in remote places. The rules for wild camping vary, depending on the region. In some areas, you must get permission from the public authorities.

Some national parks also allow wild camping and free camping, but there are restrictions:

In Dartmore National Park, camping is allowed for two days in some areas, but campervans must be parked on official pitches.
In Exmoor National Park camping and bivouacking are allowed as part of a one-night trekking tour.

You can ask the tourist authorities for permission and get maps for the region, where you can find wild camping sites, and contact information.

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You can find the perfect pitch to set up your camp with the Caravanya App

Tips and tricks for wild camping in England

Surfing on sandy beaches in the south or enjoying the sun, or would you prefer a stroll through the forests inland? England offers every traveler the right destination if you know where to find it. With your campervan or motorhome, you can explore the whole island and see all facets of England. We have put together a few tips and tricks for you to consider on your trip through England.

Obey the traffic rules
Radar controls are very common in England. For this reason, you should stick to the speed limits. Restrictions in England are usually expressed in miles per hour. One mile is about 1.6 km/h. The most important speed limits are:

Country roads 50 miles per hour (i.e. 80 km/h)
Highways and motorways 60 miles per hour (i.e. 96 km/h)
Inner cities 30 miles per hour (i.e. 48 km/h)

Especially if you are traveling in a rural area and you don't see any other vehicles for a while, you quickly forget an important fact, in England, there is left-hand traffic.

Consider the weather
England is a very rainy and stormy country that has to do with the proximity of the ocean and the sometimes barren vegetation. You should, therefore, prepare yourself for wet days.

Wet floors
If you are traveling in a motorhome or campervan you should make sure that you choose a suitable pitch so that you don't get stuck. If you want to spend the night in your tent, you should take an additional tarpaulin with you to protect the tent floor from moisture.

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10 interesting, bizarre and funny facts about England

The red telephone booths and double-decker buses are symbols of England. Everyone knows that the Queen's Guard is not allowed to move or smile. Tea-Time and Fish and Chips, of course, that's England. But flatulists? Cheese races and carrying women? Here are ten interesting facts to help you break the ice while camping and get a conversation rolling.

Fact #1 - Village traditions
The Cooper's Hill cheese race or woman carrier in Dorking, in the country you can look at some strange traditions.

Fact #2 - Built close to the water
In England, you are never more than 113 km away from the nearest seashore, no matter where you are.

Fact #3 - Stamp upside down
If you want to send a postcard, make sure the Queen is not stuck upside down on the stamp. This is punishable by law.

Fact #4 - Short war
The shortest war in history lasted 38 minutes. It was the British-Zanzibar War of 1896.

Fact #5 - The sandwich comes from England
The sandwich was invented in 1729 by the fourth Earl of Sandwich when he had his food brought between two slices of bread.

Fact #6 - Hedges
England has the most hedges in the world, about 53,000 km. So be careful when driving, visibility may be limited.

Fact #7 - One of the cities with exclamation marks
In England, you will find one of only two cities in the world with an exclamation mark in its name. The English village "Westward Ho!

Fact #8 - Strange entertainers
The stranger kind of entertainers is flatulists. What do they do? The best way to describe them is as fart artists.

Fact #9 - Crossword Puzzle
According to experts, the English newspapers "London Times" and "Observer" publish the most difficult crossword puzzles in the world.

Fact #10 - The Swan Queen
All swans found on public lakes in England are owned by the Queen.

Everything you need to know for your trip

Equipment

Warning triangle Yes
Safety vest No
First aid kit Yes
Replacement lamp set No
Spare tyre / repair set No
Fire extinguisher No
Tow rope No
Tear rope for all trailers No

Driving

Do I need a vignette, or are there tolls? Not nationwide, but there are isolated exceptions.
Left hand trafficTo avoid dazzling other road users, you need to readjust or mask your headlights if they have asymmetrical light and are left-hand drive
Is it compulsory to drive with lights on during the day? No

Information

Is the tap water potable? Yes
Socket type: G
Energency numbers: 112
Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP)
Official Languages: English
Country licence plate code: GB

Average prices, in €

Price coffee rounded: 3.00
Price beer rounded: 4.50

Entry conditions for animals

You need a valid EU pet passport in which your animal is clearly identified (microchip or tattoo), as well as a rabies vaccination valid on entry. The rabies vaccination must be at least 21 days old, but not older than 6 months. Yes
If your entry is from a non-EU country with a reduced rabies status, you must have a rabies antibody test carried out approximately four weeks before you enter the country and have it entered on your EU pet passport. No
Your dog must be treated for tapeworms 24 to 120 hours before entry. Yes
In addition to a valid EU pet passport with all the required entries, you also need an official veterinary health certificate (max. 10 days old). No
The import of fighting dogs or breeds classified as dangerous is not permitted. Yes

We try our best to keep the information up to date. Even so, we can always make mistakes. Have you found an error? Send us an email to moc.aynavarac@ofni!

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