There's no large campsite inside Bath itself. Your nearest realistic options are a couple of small, members-only sites about 2 to 3 miles out, an adults-only touring caravan park roughly 20 to 30 minutes away, and larger club campsites 35 to 40 minutes' drive from the city. If you want a roof rather than canvas, a lodge retreat sits on the edge of Bath too. Here's the honest breakdown.
Why there's no obvious in-town campsite
Bath is a compact, hilly, largely built-up World Heritage city, and space for a full-facility campsite simply doesn't exist within its boundaries the way it might in a market town. The closest thing that used to fill that gap, Newton Mill Holiday Park, a well-known touring and camping site just outside the centre, has since been redeveloped by Darwin Escapes into Bath Mill Lodge Retreat, a lodge-based holiday park rather than a traditional pitch-your-own-tent site. That leaves genuine tent and caravan pitches a bit further out.
The closest options: small members' sites
The nearest pitches to the city are Certificated Locations (CLs), small sites capped at five caravans or motorhomes plus a handful of tents, run under the Camping and Caravanning Club or Caravan and Motorhome Club schemes and reserved for members of those clubs.
- Bicknam, on Penn Hill Road, is within about 2 miles of the city centre, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with bus routes into Bath and Bristol (including Park & Ride) nearby.
- Riverside Farm, in Bathford about 3 miles east of Bath on the banks of the River Avon, is a flat, spacious CL with pricing from around £12.50 per night at the members' rate.
Both require club membership to book, so factor that in if you're not already signed up.
An adults-only touring park a little further out
Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park, in Bishop Sutton, is roughly 9 miles from the city (around 20 to 30 minutes by car). It's an adults-only touring caravan park with 45 hardstanding pitches set in a garden-style layout, close to Chew Valley Lake, and it's rated a 5-star touring park for the area. Unlike the CL sites, it isn't restricted to club members.
Bigger club sites, 35 to 40 minutes away
If you want a full-facility campsite with more pitches and amenities, the nearest official Camping and Caravanning Club sites are at Devizes (about 36 minutes' drive from Bath, with a bus stop a five-minute walk from the site entrance) and Cheddar (about 40 minutes, set in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). Both are proper Club Sites rather than small CLs, so they come with more facilities and are generally open to non-members too, often at a slightly different rate.
No tent? A lodge alternative
If camping isn't your thing but you want the same edge-of-city, countryside setting, Bath Mill Lodge Retreat (the site formerly known as Newton Mill Holiday Park) sits just outside the centre and offers self-catering lodges rather than pitches, with on-site dining and dog-friendly options. It's worth considering if you want the location without the canvas.
At a glance
| Site | Distance from Bath | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bicknam CL | ~2 miles | Small members-only site | Bus routes to Bath and Bristol nearby |
| Riverside Farm, Bathford | ~3 miles | Small members-only site | From about £12.50/night, riverside setting |
| Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park | ~9 miles (20-30 min) | Adults-only touring park | 45 hardstanding pitches, open to all |
| Devizes Club Site | ~36 min drive | Full club campsite | Bus stop 5 minutes' walk away |
| Cheddar Club Site | ~40 min drive | Full club campsite | Set in the Mendip Hills AONB |
| Bath Mill Lodge Retreat | Edge of city | Lodges, not tent pitches | Dog-friendly, self-catering |
Getting into the city without a car
If you're staying at one of the further-out sites, you'll want a plan for reaching central Bath. Some CLs and club sites sit near existing bus routes, but for the wider picture on driving in and parking near the centre, see our guides to parking in Bath and the Park & Ride service, plus our Clean Air Zone guide if you're bringing an older vehicle. For planning the day itself once you're in, our day trips from Bath guide covers where to go beyond the city.
FAQs
Is there a campsite inside Bath itself? No large one. The nearest options are small, members-only Certificated Locations about 2 to 3 miles from the centre, with bigger sites further out.
What happened to Newton Mill Holiday Park? It's been redeveloped by Darwin Escapes into Bath Mill Lodge Retreat, a lodge-based holiday park rather than a traditional camping and touring caravan site.
Do I need to be a club member to camp near Bath? For the small Certificated Locations like Bicknam and Riverside Farm, yes, you'll need Camping and Caravanning Club or Caravan and Motorhome Club membership. The bigger club sites and independent parks like Bath Chew Valley are generally open to non-members too.
Is there an adults-only caravan park near Bath? Yes, Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park in Bishop Sutton, about 20 to 30 minutes from the city, is exclusively for adults and doesn't require club membership.
Can I get into Bath without a car from these sites? Some, like Bicknam and the Devizes Club Site, sit near existing bus routes into the city. Check the specific site's transport links before booking if you're planning to leave the car behind for the day.
Is glamping available near Bath? There isn't a well-established glamping site directly outside Bath at the time of writing; the closest comparable option without a tent is Bath Mill Lodge Retreat, which offers self-catering lodges rather than yurts or pods.