Knepp Wildland Campsite
Europe's most-watched rewilding estate doubles as a campsite, putting white storks and purple emperor butterflies within eyeshot of your tent.
Knepp is not a campsite that happens to be near nature. It is a 3, 500-acre rewilding project that has opened its fields to campers, and the distinction matters. Free-roaming herds of Longhorn cattle, Tamworth pigs, Exmoor ponies, and red deer move through the landscape on their own terms. White storks nest here. Purple emperor butterflies are a reasonable expectation in summer. Nightingales sing at dusk. The campsite exists because the landscape warrants it, not the other way around.
Tent pitches sit in wild meadow with generous spacing between them, so the site never feels crowded. Safari tents are available for those who want a roof without erecting one. Each pitch has its own fire pit. The on-site pub and farm shop keep logistics manageable, and the open-air baths have become something of a quiet institution among returning guests. Guided safaris, on foot or by open-sided vehicle, are bookable separately and worth building your visit around.
The ethos here is quiet observation: Knepp asks its guests to move gently through the estate, and most arrive precisely because they want to. This is premium camping with a clear point of view, and it earns its reputation through the care that has gone into both the land and the welcome.
Before you book
- Guided safaris are designed for adults and children over 12 and must be booked separately through the Knepp website.
“A genuinely singular campsite built on one of Britain's most ambitious conservation projects. If wild meadow camping around free-roaming herds and rare British wildlife sounds like the point rather than the backdrop, this is it.”
Why it made the cut
- 3, 500 acres of rewilded Sussex estate with confirmed sightings of white storks, purple emperor butterflies, nightingales, and the 'Knepp big five' roaming herds
- Fire pit per pitch, on-site pub, farm shop, open-air baths, and wild swimming available on the estate
- Both safari tents and meadow tent camping offered, with generous pitch spacing and a quiet-observation ethos
- Guided safaris on foot or by vehicle add a structured wildlife dimension that few UK campsites can match
The Feeling
Quietly glamorous · Wild · Solitary tempo
Good For
- Date
- Family
- Solo
Best For
- Safari-style glamping in a 3,500-acre rewilding project with roaming herds and wildlife
- Wild swimming on-site surrounded by ancient woodland and wildflower meadows
- Premium camping with fire pits per pitch and on-site pub and shop
In Campr's collections
- Forest deepAncient Sussex woodland frames this rewilding estate, where the tree canopy is expanding year on year and dawn chorus arrives with genuine wildness.
- Wild swimming hqWild swimming is available on the estate, framed by rewilded meadow and woodland rather than a chlorinated pool.
- Date night campingFire pit per pitch, open-air baths, white storks overhead at dusk, and enough space between pitches to feel properly alone together.
Facilities
Quick answers
- Are campfires allowed at Knepp Wildland Campsite?
- Yes, campfires are allowed in provided fire pits.
- What kind of stays does Knepp Wildland Campsite offer?
- Glamping, Tent, in the forest.
- How much does Knepp Wildland Campsite cost?
- Pitches from £45 per night. Book directly with the site.
- Where is Knepp Wildland Campsite?
- New Barn Farm, Swallows Ln, Dial Post, Horsham RH13 8NN, UK.
Where it is
New Barn Farm, Swallows Ln, Dial Post, Horsham RH13 8NN, UK
In the forest · West Sussex · South East · 50.970° N, 0.364° W
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