Girl Guides Marion Hill House Group Grounds

The gentle hum of suburban southwest London fades the moment you step onto this quiet patch of green, tucked behind hedgerows in New Malden with the occasional rustle of leaves overhead and the soft calls of garden birds punctuating the stillness.

This is a Girl Guides site that welcomes tent and campervan campers, though you'll want to check ahead about bringing dogs and whether campfires are permitted during your stay. It suits groups looking for a low-key base within striking distance of central London, families wanting a gentle introduction to camping without venturing too far from home, or anyone curious about overnighting in a corner of outer London that still feels surprisingly removed from the rush. New Malden itself sits on the fringes of the capital, with Richmond Park and the Thames Valley reachable without much fuss.

Facilities aren't detailed, so it's worth asking what's actually onsite when you book. Expect a community feel rather than a polished campsite setup — this is grassroots camping in a suburban setting, quiet and unpretentious, where the novelty is pitching up so close to the city yet feeling oddly far away.