Fairthorne Manor Campsite
YMCA, Fairthorne Manor, Southampton SO30 2GH, UK
View on Google MapsFamily friendly camping for tents and campervans, bordered by the River Hamble with boat hire and pizza weekends.
About Fairthorne Manor Campsite
Fairthorne Manor Campsite occupies a lovely spot bordered by the River Hamble just outside Southampton, making it a particularly appealing choice for families after something beyond the standard pitch-up-and-go experience. Boat hire is available on-site, and weekend pizza nights add a sociable touch that campers consistently praise. The riverside setting feels genuinely peaceful despite being well-connected to the city and wider Hampshire attractions.
Facilities cover the basics well—showers, toilets, drinking water—and campfires are allowed, which always goes down well on cooler evenings. Dogs are welcome too. A few visitors note the site can feel a little tired in places and there's no WiFi, but most find the relaxed atmosphere and waterside pitches more than compensate, especially if you're bringing children who'll make the most of the river access.
What's nearby
- YMCA Fairthorne Group next door
- YMCA Fairthorne Manor Nursery 300m away
- YMCA Fairthorne Manor Forest School 300m away
Distances as the crow flies, via Google
Good to know
Accessibility
- ✓Accessible parking
- ✓Accessible entrance
Payment
- ✓Credit cards
- ✓Debit cards
- ✓Contactless
Details via Google — worth confirming with the site before you travel, especially for access needs.
Photos
Photos via Google
Can I bring...?
Hook-up
No electric hook-up listed — worth confirming directly if you're bringing a caravan or motorhome.
Facilities
Takeaway & food delivery
Handy if you fancy a night off cooking — here's what delivers near this site.
Just Eat — 27 takeaways deliver to this postcode (SO30 2GH)
Papa Johns - Southampton Park Gate
5.0 · Pizza, American
Herbies Pizza Bitterne
5.0 · Pizza, Burgers
Bonbird flame
5.0 · BBQ, Burgers
Range Fish & Chips
5.0 · Fish & Chips, Burgers
Papa Johns - Southampton - Thornhill Park Road
5.0 · Pizza, American
Checked 26 Aug 2026 — always confirm on justeat.co.uk before ordering, as coverage can change.
Deliveroo — 74 restaurants nearby
KFC
Nando's
Burger King
Wagamama
Five Guys - Burgers, Fries & Shakes
Checked 26 Aug 2026 — always confirm on deliveroo.co.uk before ordering, as coverage can change.
Nearest supermarkets
Handy if you're self-catering or need to stock up on arrival.
- Co-op, Southampton under a mile
- Tesco, Fareham 1.7 miles
- Lidl, Whiteley 2.2 miles
- Aldi, Southampton 2.5 miles
- Sainsbury's 2.5 miles
- Asda, Southampton 3.6 miles
- Morrisons, Gosport 9.8 miles
Straight-line distances — the drive will be longer. Store data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Opening hours
- Monday
- Open 24 hours
- Tuesday
- Open 24 hours
- Wednesday
- Open 24 hours
- Thursday
- Open 24 hours
- Friday
- Open 24 hours
- Saturday
- Open 24 hours
- Sunday
- Open 24 hours
Other hours
- Monday
- 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday
- 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday
- 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday
- 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday
- Closed
- Sunday
- Closed
What visitors say
Overall, Fairthorn Manor River Access is pretty good value for money. At £5.50, it's a reasonably priced place to launch paddleboards and enjoy some time on the water. The jetty is well designed and makes launching paddleboards easy, and there's also a handy little hut selling ice creams, drinks and snacks, which is a nice touch. There's a small field next to the jetty that many people use for preparing boards, relaxing, or having a picnic before or after heading out on the river. However, there are a few areas that could be improved. The entry barrier took quite a long time to open when we arrived, and nobody answered the intercom for quite a while, which wasn't a great first impression. The biggest issue is the lack of accessible toilet facilities near the water's edge. Families with young children can find it frustrating having to search for an open toilet block, and for people with mobility issues it's even more difficult. My mum is disabled and simply can't manage the walk up to the nearest toilet block. Given that Fairthorn Manor charges for access and is providing a service, it would be reasonable to expect accessible toilet facilities closer to the launch area. Despite these shortcomings, the river access itself is good, the launch facilities are convenient, and overall it's still a pleasant place to spend a few hours on the water.
2 months ago · via Google
My son attended the forest school held once a month he’s 7 he absolutely loved it! And wants to go ago! Fantastic set up, activities and just a beautiful space for outdoor learning
a month ago · via Google
We booked a parking space for river access yesterday. It’s in a prime location, right by the river, so easy to get to and a lovely spot on the river. The only thing I didn’t really understand was why you have to pay £5.50 per craft when you’re only taking up one parking space. I thought that was a bit cheeky! Otherwise, it was fantastic
a month ago · via Google
Great location with good access to the Hamble for SUP’s, kayaks, etc. Need to check tide times to ensure access. Nice trips up and down stream. However, yesterday (20th June) there was a lot of what looked like sewage, including loo roll or possibly wipes, in the river being pushed upstream in concentrated slicks. Wouldn’t have been happy to swim or let my kids bathe. Checked all the discharge apps and they all said “no discharges” - not sure I’d rely on them then! Can only believe my own eyes (and nose). See pic - and I could have taken dozens like this all the way up from the launch site. Real shame. Appreciate this is not controlled by Fairthorne Manor - but they should be knocking on the water company’s door. Won’t be taking the family there for sure.
a month ago · via Google
Report an issue
Spotted something wrong with Fairthorne Manor Campsite's page — closed, wrong details, broken link? Let us know.