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This isn't a cheap site at £10 per adult, then £3 per car, then £2 per dog, and all this n a quiet Thursday night, however the site was huge, empty and perfect for what we wanted.
We booked on their website, you cannot phone and book which is annoying if you haven;t been before as you are taking potluck as to the pitch you might get.
We camped in field 7 which allows campfires. The field is large with one portaloo and a fresh water tap. There is access straight in to the woods from the field, which was lovely with the dog.
The pitches are not that big and are all very close to each other, so when the site is busy expect your neighbours to be up close. However this didn't affect us at all as we were the only ones in the field. Each pitch has its own firepit, basically a hole dug in the ground and you buy their logs at £5 per bag.
There are a couple of toilet and shower blocks with laundry room and washing up rooms. We did not use any of these as were only there for a night, however we stuck our heads in and they looks clean and well maintained.
There is a shop and cafe on site, however we did not use either, so cannot comment. There is a playground for the kids, however the fields are so big and with the woods surrounding the site, there is plenty for kids of all ages to do in the sunshine.
Site is fairly close to M25 so access is easy and is in the heart of Epping Forest offering great walks and days out. Plus London is not too far.
I would use this site again but not sure I would on a weekend as I just don't like people pitched right next to me so I can hear them snore.
Miserable. Poorly run. Filthy. Extremely noisy at night so expect sleep deprivation as there are no rules. Bad language and inappropriate behavior too common especially at night
Found again that most staff operating the site have not had adequate training to operate such a site.
Noise decibels during day high with pa systems dominating. Although a second visit it's definitely the last. City of London Corporation should make Newham Council raise its low standards to a place where families and all can enjoy the forest. Is the forest not a legacy for all?
Next trip soon will be going back to reliable WoWo campsite in Sussex.
Just arrived home from our three say stay at Debden House. Absolutely loved it, cannot fault it at all. After reading some naughty reviews, we were a bit anxious, but we had a brilliant time! We stayed in Field 2, our plot was fantastic. Field 2 is the smallest field and the plots are quiet close together, but good size for keeping an eye on the kids and it also backs right onto the forest, which is great for wood collecting for the fire! Everyone we came across on the site were very friendly and happy to be there. We felt safe and we felt the kids were safe, which is very high on our priority list. Night times were very peaceful, despite being told to expect all night parties from reviews. We did do Tues-Thurs though, so maybe quiet through the week. Toilets were very clean, as we're washing up facilities. We absolutely intend on visiting again next season and would recommend Debden House! We've never done camping before and was expecting a tough time, but got to say it's been a brilliant break and I'm so so glad we ignored the poor reviews!
A brilliant campsite run by the London Borough of Newham, so very like a French camping municipal in terms of customer service and facilities. Absolutely massive but strictly controlled numbered pitches means no overcrowding. The field numbers can be used as a party rating; field one and two are nice and quiet, up to field seven (about a quarter of a mile away) which is often party central.
Fires allowed everywhere except field one.
Main toilet block is great, the outlying one leaves a bit to be desired. If you visit the city, the number 20 bus, 12min walk away, takes you to Walthamstow so you only need to pay for zone 3-1 travel and you've got the market as well as super cheap cafes, on the way there and back.
The area (Loughton) is absolutely fabulous and you are surrounded by Epping Forest. The site is off to the left on a back road from Loughton to Theydon Bois. We spent a couple of days tramping through the forest, going to some of the excellent local pubs and then on day three we caught a bus to Debden Station (we walked back - its about 1. 5 miles, maybe 2). From there we took the Underground to central london which is about 40 mins; trains come every 5-10 minutes. The site is right next to a deer enclosure which is worth a look (you cannot go in but can look in and observe the huge herd of deer).
We were on a field in a corner right away from the main crowds (thank heaven), where you feel that you are in a forest clearing. However, there was a bit of a roundy element there when we were there which does not give it the usual camper spirit - lots of drunks at night. There are lots of caravans too with people who seem to live there or at least spend most of their time there. It was the people that spoiled an idyllic situation.
The toilet facilities are okay.
The location is either fantastic for Epping Forest or not that great for London (but perhaps camping, as close as you can get).
This was the second time we've been camping and both times have been here, we had an amazing time and most of the staff were really lovely x there is lots of open space for lovely strolls, two little parks I think about 5/6 fields first being electric a couple of fields have fire pits, shower and toilet block, launderette, little shop, bike hire ect.
We love this campsite! It has a few separate fields, it's surrounded by forest, open fires are allowed, not bad toilet blocks. In late summer you can also enjoy the wild blackberries.
If you want an adventure, it doesn't have to be far away.
Stayed here for a weekend as very near to home, it is as others have said a very large site made up if 7 fields. I chose field 1 as we have EH for the tent, you get to pick which pitch you want when booking. Hubby took the tent and put it up in the afternoon whilst the kids were at school and we went straight after, he had trouble finding the hook up and found that the staff where not very helpful in directing him and told him to just pitch at any hook up he wanted to, as it was I much preferred where he pitched for us as we were very near the main toilet block, you did get a lot of people driving to the block but it did not intrude on us at all. When I went to look for where we should have been there was already someone hooked up there.
What I would say is that there were a lot of caravans that looked that they were pitched for the long term, in fact a few of em were not used over the weekend we were there, and not wanting to be judgemental but some seemed to be travelling families, all very nice and my youngest was playing with them all weekend. I am just glad hubby pitched where he did and we were not the only tent in the middle of all the caravans.
The facilities were very clean and even using the showers very late they were clean. The play park was basic but kept my 2 amused for the couple of days we were there. The forest was also right there for them to play in, we also had a lovely walk around the site and back through the forest.
Some of the other fields were very busy and I should imagine if you were pitched in them would have been very noisy, there were some large groups there, but as we were in field 1 was not a problem to us at all and in fact I enjoyed listening to them all having fun. On the Saturday night one of the groups even let off very large fireworks quite late.
All in all we enjoyed it and as it is so local to us have already booked a few more nights in the summer holidays.
Arrived on the Thursday of whit week, with our Pennine Pullman with ehu, and with two mini schnauzers @£25;00 pn. The place was not overly packed, quite surprised that it wasn't more busy,
The setting for this site is great, virtually surrounded by Epping Forest, one or two areas were rather muddy and not in a good state to use around the site in general, mainly at the perimeter of the site where the fields dip down to the edge of the forest,
the facilities were kept clean, and well stocked with hand wash and loo roll, We were using the main block in field 1, there is another set of facilities toward field 4 [think it was] used the loo on one occasion these were clean at the time, we were fortunate that it was dry, so that helps, staff were very helpful and polite, and I did feel sorry for them! especially the security guy on Saturday/Sunday, one van close to us decided to have their own heavy metal concert, thankfully short lived after a visit from said security! but had a go later think is spite more than anything, but the real pain was in the field 5 where it seems everything was going on! too many people there for one guy to control properly, he was up and down to them all night, , quiet when he turned up, but animalistic when not there, apparently leaving around 3-4 am Sunday, much to his relief, .
Was a first visit to here and would likely return but probably avoid a Saturday night stop and maybe the height of summer!
I stayed here with my two boys and my friends and their children. We specifically asked to be near the best play area, which was Field 1, and perhaps this was our mistake.
The site has about five fields, some of which are so close to Epping Forest it feels like you are wild camping, but Field 1 (which is the first field you come to) was very popular and we felt a bit cramped - again our own fault as we wanted an electric hook up.
The atmosphere was not what I would call 'proper' camping - there were groups of young people up shouting all night until at least 5am, loud music thumping away during the day, and lots of litter laying around.
On the last night our field was raided. Cool boxes were stolen from pup tents and the contents strewn across the field. A fellow camper claimed she woke up to hear someone in her supply tent and disturbed them.
And just as our kids were enjoying their first real-life ScoobyDoo Mystery of the Cool Box Robbers, some numpty set the rubbish skip alight so they had the added bonus of a real-life fire emergency!
So, with all the appearances of being a complete camping snob, I have to say I would not stay here again because of the general lack of camping culture, and a sense of vulnerability as non-campers can easily access the site.
If these things do not worry you, then actually it could be an amazing site - right in the forest, you can walk straight into it, and close to London for a day trip. The facilities are adequate but as someone else said, a long way if you are camping in the outer fields.
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Common Questions
Is Debden House Campsite child friendly? YES, it accepts children View all facilities
Where is the nearest shop to Debden House Campsite? There is a shop within 1 mile View all facilities
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
All reviews and comments are the personal opinion of the review author only , and as such do not represent the view of the UK Camp Site.co.uk.
The facilities shown on this website are a guide only, and you should check with the campsite direct before making any booking. The UKCampsite.co.uk will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions
Tent Pitches 
Caravan Pitches 
Motorhome Pitches 
Small Campervans 
No Glamping Units 
No Statics for Hire 
No Statics for Sale 
No Seasonal Pitches 
Electric Hookups 
No Hardstandings 
No Fully Serviced Pitches 
Families Welcome 
Not Members Only 
Rallies Welcome 
Not Naturist Site 
Dogs Welcome 
No Dogs Allowed 
Groups Welcome 
Motorbikers Welcome 
Toilet Facilities 
Hot Showers 
Washing Up 
No Bathroom 
No Baby Changing 
Laundry On Site 
Drinking Water 
Disabled Friendly 
Chemical Disposal 
No Battery Charging 
No Gas Exchange 
Recycling Facilities 
No Kitchen Facilities 
No Freezer / Fridge 
No Motorhome Point 
No Wifi Access 
Shop <1 mile 
Bar <1 mile 
Restaurant or Cafe or Takeaway <5 miles 
No Playground 
No TV Room 
No Games Room 
No Evening Ents 
No Fishing 
No Wild Swimming 
Indoor Pool <5 miles 
No Outdoor Pool 
Horse Riding <5 miles 
No Cycle Hire 
Golf <1 mile 
No Tennis 
No Beach 
No Watersports 
No Boat Launch 
No Sea Views 
Not Working Farm 
Campfires Allowed 
No Waterside Pitches 
Public Transport <1 mile
Offroad Dog Walk On Site or Direct Access 
This isn't a cheap site at £10 per adult, then £3 per car, then £2 per dog, and all this n a quiet Thursday night, however the site was huge, empty and perfect for what we wanted. 
