Warwick Lodge

The clatter of trains into London fades behind you the moment you step into Warwick Lodge's surprisingly green pocket of suburban Surbiton, where brick meets privet and the Thames Path feels closer than the motorway.

This is a handy base for anyone needing proximity to the capital without camping in it — the camping pod offers a quirky alternative to the main guest house rooms, useful for couples or solo travellers wanting their own space, or families piecing together a London stopover with a bit of outdoor sleeping thrown in. Dogs might be welcome depending on what you're booking, so worth asking ahead. You're in commuter-belt Surrey here, but Richmond Park and the river are genuinely walkable if you fancy stretching your legs between city days.

Facilities aren't widely advertised, so expect a simpler setup than a full campsite — this leans more guest house than glamping hub. Check the campfire policy when you arrive; it's not a given. Open all year, which makes it useful for winter city breaks or summer overflow when everything else is rammed.