Camping in Nottingham

Nottingham itself is a dense, sandstone-built city rather than a camping destination, but open country starts within a few miles in most directions, particularly south-east towards the Vale of Belvoir and along the flat, riverside land bordering the Trent. Sites here tend towards touring and family camping rather than wild, remote pitches, set on working farms or beside the water sports facilities at Holme Pierrepont, and most are geared towards caravans and motorhomes as much as tents. Sherwood Forest and the wider Dukeries lie further north and offer a woodland alternative for anyone happy to drive half an hour or so out of the city.

Wild camping has no general legal standing in England outside a small area of Dartmoor, and Nottinghamshire's farmland and country parks are all either privately owned or managed by the county council, so pitching up without permission is not an option here; the campsites below are the realistic way to camp near the city. The Trent valley's flat, low-lying ground means sites can hold water after heavy rain, so spring and fine summer weeks are generally the most comfortable, while the flatness that makes for occasional mud also means excellent, easy cycling and walking on the doorstep. Most sites run from spring through to early autumn, with a handful open to caravans and motorhomes year-round; June to September gives the most reliable weather and the fullest facilities, including any seasonal shops or cafes on site.