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Just got back following a week at this site. Fantastic and cant wait to return next year. Site facilities were spotless, staff friendly, good pitches with plenty of room.
We never had to queue for showers and they were always hot. The site was full most of the week but you would never know as their was ample room and facilities.
Fantastic location for exploring dorset. Durdle dor and lulworth cove a must. Sandbanks and studland beaches beautiful and only 10 minutes away.
Good park and pool for kids and bar with low key entertainment on occasion peak times. All in all, perfect for us and our 4 children age 12, 5, 4 and 4.
We thought this was a great site, laid out well and felt safe and secure. The toilets and showers were very clean and never overcrowded as was the washing up facilities.
The outdoor pool was a bit chilly and there was no changing room or toilet nearby (unless the bar was open then you could use the toilet there), the kids didn't complain though.
It was very noisy with planes overnight but the campsite settled down very early and we weren't disturbed by anyone. The bar area and games room seemed a little dated but the slushy drinks and 2p machines were a life saver with the kids and kept them amused for ages.
We walked into Broadstone on the Castleman Trailway for some lunch so didn't eat on site. There is a great playground plus table tennis and tennis (which you had to pay for)
We recently visited this site for 4 nights in our our large tent. The pitch we had was lovely, very large indeed. On making the booking the woman was very helpful and went to a lot of trouble to find the best pitch for us. Overall the staff were very friendly and helpful.
I did feel quite disappointed with the amenities; the toilets were always clean although I didn't feel there were enough in the block. There were only 3 or 4 showers which unfortunately weren't as clean as they could have been, hair and soap scum on the walls which seemed to be there a few days running.
The sinks in the washing up area were a good size and the drainers were a great idea. Unfortunately the taps were very slow and stopped a lot.
Our children did use the pool, which they enjoyed, but it soon got very full as it was not very big. It was very clean and well looked after though.
Overall we did have a nice stay but felt the amenities needed some updating. Not quite what I would expect from a 5* site.
Although we are not experienced campers I don't think this site is really a 5* compared to other 5* best of British sites we have visited.
We were on grass pitches which were quite large (there were a lot that were a lot smaller) right at the back by the pig field which were hard and stony and we couldn't get pegs in the ground, it was also very muddy but it had been raining the previous week and we had pig snorting noise! Kids loved the pigs though.
The site itself was clean and tidy apart from the large lump of dog doo that was outside the pub entrance and not cleared up all day! The toilets were ok for cleanliness although husband said the men's weren't.
There was plenty of hot water but it wasn't that busy when we visited and I think when the site is full 3 blocks of 2 showers for all those campers could be busy and might get a bit messy by the end of the day!
There was a shop which was well stocked and we loved the fact that there was a car number plate recognition system so no one could get in unless they were supposed to be there.
The pool was good albeit a little cold but had lots of seats around it and a life guard - although there is no changing rooms near by and by the time the kids walked over to block 1 they were purple with the cold!
There is also a park with a climbing frame/slide and swings and a cute train, a table tennis table and a couple of short tennis courts. There is also a woodland walk which was nice. There is a pub on-site but we didn't use it as it looked a bit rundown - there are lots of nice pubs locally so we went out into Poole.
This site is ok location wise. It is a bit of a trek into Bournemouth of Poole but is nicely located just off the main Wimbourne bypass (which has the downside of the traffic noise at times).
Something else worth noting is it is directly under the flight path for Bournemouth Airport which has recently had a new terminal so will only get more air traffic - at one point we thought the plane was going to land on the site!
It was noisy but only between 7am and 11pm when the planes fly. The site itself was ok noise wise, there were some who ignored the 'quiet between 11:30pm and 7:30am rule' but I suppose that is the luck of the draw as to who your neighbours are!
In summary I don't think we will be visiting Merley Court again as there are other cheaper sites with nicer facilities near by. That is not to say we didn't enjoy our stay but just that it wasn't as good as other sites we have visited.
Top tip - book directly with the site wardens they are very helpful, by bypassing the direct booking line that services 6 sites in the same group you are able to ask advise of best pitches and book for less than the minimum required number of nights - we went for 2 nights in July, the central booking people told me we needed to book a minimum of 4 nights.
This site is the epitome of order, with tightly regulated pitches and picket fences keenly kept lawns and numerous rules which require abiding by. If this is your thing then you'll love it. The thing is, for me I like to go camping to enjoying a little bit of roughing it. Not much but a little.
The bar and shop are like that you would find at a tourist attraction or butlins etc. Well stocked, friendly enough but like most of the site a little to sterile for me.
There were no ball games allowed, nowhere for children to play frisbee, fly a kite or generally have fun at.
I realise for those with grown up children etc the site will be perfect as it's location is perfect for exploring Dorset but it wasn't the experience I craved
Set in 15 acres of breathtaking countryside,right next door to the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, this site offers stunning views of the Chesil Bank, Fleet Lagoon, and Lyme Bay. Welcoming tents, motorhomes and caravans, this family friendly site offers spacious grass pitches with or without electric. For kids there's an outdoor heated swimming pool, 3 acre playing area including slides, swings and more.
Facilities include toilets, showers, washing up, launderette, and WifI. There is an onsite shop and off-licence. The Bar in the Barn at the site serves a delicious food and offers a variety of entertainment, including live music. As well as the attractions of Weymouth's beach and harbour, this is a great base to explore family attractions throughout South and West Dorset. Find out more here
I stayed at Merley Court a couple of weeks ago. I am a woman on my own with two children so things that I was searching for in a campsite were cleanliness of facilities and the need to feel safe. I was not disappointed.
This campsite is the best I have stayed on so far. Despite having no clubhouse there is a lovely outdoor pool with a lifeguard on duty at all times. There is a bar on site and arcade games for the kids.
There are 3 shower and toilet blocks. Obviously you are likely to use the one nearest to you. In our case the one we used had three showers in the ladies and three showers in the mens with five or six toilets and sink units in each. Could have done with an extra shower but didn't have to wait longer than 10mins if at all. Nice and clean and hot.
Pitches are allocated and we had a very nice area with the car parked right beside us. A few noisy campers but nothing horrendous. Felt very safe. Everybody very sociable.
Shop well stocked and reasonably priced. Staff very helpful on local information.
Lots of lovely surrounding areas to visit. Poole only 5miles away. New Forest not far. Historic town of Wimborne on doorstep. Really enjoyed our stay and will definitely return.
This was out second visit to Merley Court and it didn't disappoint. The site is always very neat and tidy and the toilet blocks are very clean.
The site has it's own pub and whilst not big there are plenty of gaming machines out the back for the kids to entertain themselves while mum and dad have a relaxing drink. Prices are no more expensive than in your local either!
The site shop is small and well stocked but it could do with opening longer. When we arrived back at 7pm on the Saturday night, it was already closed.
Within very easy reach of Bournemouth and Poole and also 30 minutes away from Paultons Park and more importantly, Peppa Pig World!
This site is a personal favourite of mine and I'll definitely go back.
This is a lovely site, good mixture of generous sized, level hard standing and grass pitches. In hindsight we should have opted for a hardstanding because the ground was so soft due to the amount of rain there had been and it did become quite muddy around our pitch. The toilet block was newly decorated and immaculate with music to enjoy whilst showering.
There is a small shop at reception and pub on site which we enjoyed a meal and drink at. On one other night we also enjoyed a take away delivered to the site which the wardens provided menus for.
We enjoyed the swimming pool which is free to use at the other Shorefield holiday site, 10 mins drive down the road. It also offers evening entertainment but we didn't get down there for any of it.
For the little ones there is also a small play area on site and tennis courts.
This site is a perfect location for visiting Poole and Bournemouth which are both 20 mins max from the site as well as the New Forest.
Overall, a very well maintained site which we will definitely be visiting again. We had intended to stay at Forest Edge which is also part of the Shorefield group but is no comparison to Merley Court and we are glad we paid a little extra to transfer to Merley Court.
We have just returned from 3 fantastic nights at Merley Court. We usually camp in West Sussex but decided last minute to find a camp site further west from the Weds to the to Sat leading up to Easter.
We found Merley Court's sister site Forest Edge and liked the idea of the facilities 'next door' at Oakdene. Forest Edge was booked up for the larger pitch we need but the central booking team offered the pitch at Merley and booked us in at 16.30.
By 20.30 we had packed up the car and made it to the site ready to setup. A quick call to the night warden and he was with us to show us to our pitch. Not only was his welcome funny and friendly but he made sure we were ready to setup.
Over the three days we found that the pitch allocation was planned very well so we didn't feel crowded in building up to the busy Easter weekend. The three toilet blocks were modern and immaculate with a variety of facilities such as sink and family cubicles.
The reception team were helpful and always friendly providing a lot of information. The shop is small and provides the basics needed that you might run out of.
We took advantage of the Shorefield membership and visited the Oakdene site 7 miles away to use the indoor pool. Again the staff were helpful and friendly and the kids particularly enjoyed the slide and pool(for free!)
I understand from the reception staff that the bar at Merley Court is a franchise therefore I have not included it in my review as it does not reflect the overall experience - but may explain the mixed reviews below.]
Overall an excellent campsite with fantstic facilities. We are used to 10 pounds a night 1 shower and put it in a field camping - but the extra for the facilities and location make it worthwhile.
The number plate recognition system on the main gate makes the whole site very secure and the location is great for Poole, Bournemouth or other Dorset attractions.
We decided to try this site as we have tried a few other Best of British sites and have been impressed. Although Merley Court was a nice site and good value for money, I wouldn't say that it was of the same standard as the other BOB sites we have used.
It was however nicely kept and the toilet/showers were clean and warm. We didn't use the pub. Telly picture good. The Caravan shop next door to the site was handy.
We visited the sister site to use the pool which was nice if a little cold.
Our only criticism would be the traffic. It takes an age to get anywhere from this site. Bournemouth, Poole, Ringwood all took an age to get to because of the level of traffic at all times of the day. It must be dreadful during the summer. This isn't the site's fault but makes it less attractive for us to return.
Set in 15 acres of breathtaking countryside,right next door to the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, this site offers stunning views of the Chesil Bank, Fleet Lagoon, and Lyme Bay. Welcoming tents, motorhomes and caravans, this family friendly site offers spacious grass pitches with or without electric. For kids there's an outdoor heated swimming pool, 3 acre playing area including slides, swings and more.
Facilities include toilets, showers, washing up, launderette, and WifI. There is an onsite shop and off-licence. The Bar in the Barn at the site serves a delicious food and offers a variety of entertainment, including live music. As well as the attractions of Weymouth's beach and harbour, this is a great base to explore family attractions throughout South and West Dorset. Find out more here
Visited this site off-season this year as a powered pitch was only £12.50/night, a very good rate.
The site is very well kept and always very tidy. As we have a 7 month old baby we chose a powered pitch for the first time and was glad we did for running various baby related items and above all, lighting!
The pitch itself was spacious with plenty of space for our 8 man tent and car without being too close to the neighbouring pitches.
The toilet blocks are always very clean and we always found hot water in the showers despite the park appearing nearly full.
The shop at the entrance was well stocked with all the basics to save you going out for the odds and ends although it shut at 5.30 which was often too early if you've had a full day out.
The swimming pool was open the day we arrived (Saturday) but didn't open again after that. The small kids playground next to the pool is good but fairly basic.
The biggest let down of the site is the bar/restaurant. It has very little atmosphere and the food wasn't of great quality although is cheap. We generally found it better to visit the local Waitrose instead as it's only 5 minutes drive away.
The one genius idea is the room full of 2p slot machines in the back room. All of the kids loved them and there is even a change machine. Sadly many of these are looking a little too well loved as many are just turned off and some are broken although turned on. A bit of TLC would make this room even better.
Overall this site is excellent and highly recommended for the price we paid and with it's proximity to Poole, Swanage etc you can easily visit many locations. The Overall rating was dropped a point due to the 'average' pub.
I would not rate this site as the 5 Star site that it shows. I'd give it a 3.5 max. 5 is VERY pretentious. Not very impressed with the impersonal central booking system that serves several sites.
Even though we weren't in the high season, so it wasn't full, the showers and toilets were often muddy. An it wasn't even raining; no way of cleaning shoes when going in.
I'm sure the number of showers would not be enough when the camping is full.
The electric went off several times while we were there. Apparently others say the previous week also had problems.
There were no internet facilities whatsoever on the site. In these days it's a must for a 5 Star camping. It's really a basic requirement these days like water, electric, toilets, showers, mobile signal etc.
A pretty limited shop - especially for this size camping.
Darn good value at £13.50 per night all in, low season.We were on pitch 12 just behind the nearest facility to the entrance and at the top of the pathway to the wooded walks and tent site. Facilities were very good. Our site was roomy but if a really spacious site is required the premium pitches with dividing hedges are excellent. Wimborne is close enough to go for a low cost meal at The Bell, £2.50 and under for a decent feed.
No noticeable road noise. Friendly receptionists. Well kept grass and hedgerows. Good TV reception and mobile broadband can be got with a little moving around of you dongle.
Have just returned from this campsite after a 5 night break which included the August Bank Holiday. Have been camping for the past 3 years and this is easily the best site I have ever stayed at. My family and I absolutely loved it.
Great location (a visit to Sandbanks Beach is a must), a warm welcome, great facilities and despite what others have said, very clean even though the site was fully booked over the Bank Holiday. Never had to queue for a shower and they were always hot and clean. The pitch was perfect for our very large Kampa Studland 8 tent and everything was in easy reach.
The outside pool was seriously heated, not like at other sites I have visited and the Merley Court Inn had a lovely atmosphere with really reasonably priced food. Even our dog loved it ! Usually campsites offer a tiny square of grass for dogs to exercise on, but here there is a huge wooded area which my dog loved, and a a cycle trail through the woods which went on for miles.
The shop is well stocked and also not too outrageously priced and the camping shop next door is also good for emergencies !
Loads to do in the area, so much so that we can't wait to return for another visit. Have never visited a 'best of british' campsite, but definitely agree that this one belongs to be on that list - even if you do have to pay a little over the odds for that, especially at peak times. Enjoy !
Currently at site, been here for 7 days, excellent site, we were on a executive pitch, lots of space and well drained. Site very clean,well managed, staff friendly, showers lovely, nice temperature, although found one shower block muddy, not due too staff cleaning them, but others don't consider cleaning up after themselves, mop is provided, very modern.
Pool lovely, enjoyed by my two children every day 14 and 10 with lifeguard, and not as cold as some 5 star sites. The merley inn is nice and friendly, a credit too the bar staff, food is good value two meals for 10 pounds,slush puppies one pound, the fiery chilli is worth a try if you like really hot food.
An added bonus is that you can use the sister site oakwoods for those rainy days, they have an indoor pool with flume, gym, steam room and show bar all free of charge, good thing I found that the pool was not overcrowded as lifeguards only let in maximum at a time.
Excellent location, 10 mins drive from poole quay, for boat trips etc, and worth a visit is sandbanks beach, lovely safe bathing and swimming, beautiful beach for families.
Overall I cannot fault this site at all and definitely lives up too its five star. We have booked for next year.
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Common Questions
Is Merley Court Holiday Park child friendly? YES, it accepts children & has a playground View all facilities
Does Merley Court Holiday Park have a swimming pool? YES, there is a pool on site View all facilities
Where is the nearest shop to Merley Court Holiday Park? There is a shop on site 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
No Tents 
No Caravans 
No Motorhomes 
No Campervans 
No Glamping Units 
Holiday Homes for Hire 
Holiday Homes for Sale 
No Seasonal Pitches 
No Electric Hookups 
No Hardstandings 
No Fully Serviced Pitches 
Families Welcome 
Not Members Only 
No Rallies 
Not Naturist Site 
Dogs Welcome 
No Dogs Allowed 
Groups Welcome 
No Toilets 
No Showers 
No Washing Up Area 
Bathroom 
No Baby Changing 
Laundry On Site 
No Drinking Water 
Disabled Friendly 
No Chemical Disposal 
No Battery Charging 
No Gas Exchange 
Recycling Facilities 
No Kitchen Facilities 
No Freezer / Fridge 
No Motorhome Point 
Wifi Access 
Shop On Site 
Bar On Site 
Restaurant or Cafe or Takeaway On Site 
Kids Playground 
No TV Room 
No Games Room 
No Evening Ents 
Fishing <1 mile 
No Wild Swimming 
Indoor Pool <5 miles 
Outdoor Pool On Site 
Horse Riding <1 mile 
Cycle Hire <1 mile 
Golf <1 mile 
Tennis <1 mile 
Beach <10 miles 
Watersports <5 miles 
Boat Launch / Mooring <10 miles 
No Sea Views 
Not Working Farm 
No Campfires Allowed 
No Waterside Pitches 
Public Transport <1 mile
No Dog Walk 
Just got back following a week at this site. Fantastic and cant wait to return next year. Site facilities were spotless, staff friendly, good pitches with plenty of room.
