Camping in Lancing

England has no general right to wild camping, so pitching a tent on Lancing Beach, Widewater Lagoon or the surrounding South Downs without the landowner's permission is not permitted, and rangers do patrol popular spots. The good news is that this part of West Sussex has a growing number of licensed campsites and glamping sites within a short drive, many making the most of the South Downs National Park setting just inland from Lancing, or the coastal plain running towards Climping and Littlehampton.

The terrain here is a contrast of two landscapes: the flat, open coastal strip around Lancing and Shoreham, exposed to sea breezes and salt air, and the steep chalk downland just north of the A27, which offers more shelter in the folds of the hills but can be exposed and windy on the tops. Sites tucked into the Downs tend to have a more sheltered, rural feel, while coastal pitches put you closer to the beach, the lagoon's birdlife and Lancing's seafront cafés.

The camping season generally runs from Easter through to late September, with the driest and warmest conditions typically in July and August, though this stretch of the Sussex coast is prone to sea breezes even in high summer, so a sturdy tent and warm layers for the evenings are sensible. Spring and early autumn can also be rewarding, with quieter sites, migrating birdlife on the lagoon and Downs, and lower prices, though nights are noticeably cooler.

For those who prefer more comfort than a tent, glamping has taken off across this part of West Sussex, with bell tents, shepherd's huts and safari-style lodges available on farms and small sites within a 20-minute drive of Lancing, particularly up towards the Downs villages of Findon, Steyning and the Adur Valley. These typically include proper beds, log burners or heating and sometimes private bathrooms, making them a good option for a shoulder-season break when a standard tent pitch might feel a little exposed.