Are campfires allowed at Camping By The River?

Yes, campfires are allowed in provided fire pits.

How much does Camping By The River cost?

Premium pricing. Check the owner's site for current rates.

South East•Oxfordshire•51.648° N, 1.282° W

Camping By The River

Eight bell tents on a private Thames bend where Stephen and Annemarie have made proper off-grid glamping look quietly effortless.

Camping By The River sits on a private stretch of the Thames in Sutton Courtenay, on meadowland that looks much as it did when the BBC used it to film Alice in Wonderland: not a rooftop or a telegraph pole in sight along the river for miles. Eight bell tents are spread across the site, each with a proper bed, heating, a BBQ, and a fire pit, with hot outdoor showers and compost loos shared between them.

The wood-fired hot tub is the centrepiece, positioned opposite the river with tree cover on all sides and unrestricted views across the water. The hosts light it for you, time it right, and the temperature is invariably exactly what you need. A kayak is available for guests, making it easy to get out onto the Thames without any planning. Solar-charged lockboxes keep devices topped up, so the off-grid framing is real without being punishing.

Sutton Courtenay village is a ten-minute walk: a couple of pubs, George Orwell's grave, and the kind of quiet that feels genuinely earned. Abingdon market town is ten minutes by car, Oxford twenty-five. The site is accessed by a private laneway through open fields, which adds to the sense of arrival but can be muddy after heavy rain.

Before you book

The access track through open fields can become muddy after heavy rain.
Single-track approach road, take care on arrival, especially with larger vehicles.

“A genuinely considered off-grid glamping setup on the Thames: small, host-present, and well-run by people who clearly care about every detail. The wood-fired hot tub with river views earns its reputation through owner care, not clever marketing.”

Why it made the cut

Only eight bell tents on a private Thames meadow with no visible development for miles in either direction
Hosts Stephen and Annemarie are consistently present, attentive, and clearly invested in the experience
Wood-fired hot tub, fire pits, kayak, and solar-charged lockboxes give the off-grid claim real substance
Sutton Courtenay village within walking distance; Abingdon and Oxford reachable in under half an hour

The Feeling

Quietly glamorous · Soulful handmade · Solitary tempo

Wood fired hot tub with river viewsSolar charged off gridNo human habitation for milesKayak on the thamesHost lit fire every evening

Good For

Date
Family
Solo

Best For

Fully equipped bell tents with heating and proper beds on Thames meadowland
Off-grid glamping with hot tub and communal fire pits
Walking access to Thames Path and Cotswolds AONB woodland trails

In Campr's collections

Riverside sleepsA private Thames bend in Oxfordshire where the river is close enough to hear from your bell tent.
Date night campingEight tents on a quiet meadow loop of the Thames, a wood-fired hot tub, and hosts who time everything right.
Sauna soak sleepThe wood-fired hot tub faces the river, shielded by trees, and the hosts have it ready at the perfect temperature.

Facilities

Showers

Toilets

Hot tub

Fire pits

BBQ

Quick answers

Are campfires allowed at Camping By The River?: Yes, campfires are allowed in provided fire pits.
What kind of stays does Camping By The River offer?: Glamping, by a river.
How much does Camping By The River cost?: Premium pricing. Check the owner's site for current rates.
Where is Camping By The River?: 43 Drayton Rd, Sutton Courtenay, Abingdon OX14 4HB, UK.