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The 5 of us went here last year and it was a really lovely trip.
The facilities were fine, the club house was perfectly cheesy, including the Abba tribute!
Overall, it was a lovely site, we only went on 1 day trip which is a lot less than we usually would, as we were occupied with the sea and the lake etc.
The only bit of warning I would give, is to pitch carefully if you are near the beach. It can get crazy windy on that field. We had to turn the tent so it didn't fill with air and fly away like an air balloon!
Also, watch out for the time of day you arrive, you might find the sea is blocking your path!
This was our second visit this year. We went here in April as we were new to camping and the reviews were good with lots to do with a 5 year old. On this visit the site was busier. It is a large site set over three fields. We had a pitch with electric hook up and water supply. I requested a pitch near a toilet block and they were very accommodating.
Staff in reception were polite and helpful. We were given our barrier pass to access the pitches, there is a £10 refundable deposit. Our pitch was marked on a map. There are a lot of information leaflets available in reception for things to do in the area.
The pitches are clearly marked well lit and divided by a hedge. The site is in a very tranquil area. Walking distance to the beach where you can walk for miles if you wish. If you turn right you come to beach huts and a place to jet ski by the next campsite. There are two visitors parking areas before you go through the barrier.
There are three toilet block areas, two with showers and the other has enclosed cubicles with a hand basin. The showers were hot any time of day. Never had to wait. The toilets and showers are separate blocks but there is a family room in the main block with both. There is a shelf for toiletries a seat to leave your clothes on or to sit when dressing or undressing. The blocks are cleaned and replenished with toilet rolls about every 3 hours.
The washing up area is under cover between the mens and ladies shower blocks. There are 6 sinks plenty of hot water but bring a plug or ask for one in the laundry.
Rubbish and elsan are here also can be a walk if you are at the other end of the site.
The shop is well stocked with the essentials. The take away hut is very popular and good value an asset on a late arrival. We did not use The Granery restaurant or bar so cannot comment.
The swimming pool is not large and very popular it was lovely and clean and warm, toddler pool also available. The lifeguards are very vigilant and make people stick to the rules. There are plenty of loungers around the pool and also on a grassy area if you want to sunbathe.
There are two play areas with equipment and a tennis court. The area between the pitches is large and perfect for ball games. You have good visability from your pitch so no concerns about the children playing and making friends. We took our bikes to ride to Mersey or to the conservation area about 10 minutes drive from the site. There are a couple of lovely pubs close by also.
Other facilities include Pitch and Putt area, Carp fishing lake, areas for kite flying and dog exercising areas. There is an arcade for entertainment on wet days.
This is a lovely site and will be going back there again.
Bank holiday weekend visit and the site was extremely busy & the weather was not kind. Wellies were the order of the day!
Minus points:
Too many pitches close together & overflow areas jammed full of tents.
Toilets & showers inadequate for the number of people on site that weekend & could have done with being supplemented.
The facilities are in desperate need of being updated cracked tiles, only 1 hand dryer & 1 baby change in the block we used. Could have done with being cleaned more regularly too.
Plus points:
Pool small but children enjoyed it & lifeguards very watchful.
Hot bread & pastries from the shop.
Close to beach & nice walks.
If you are looking for a peaceful camping experience this is not the site for you. We won't be back.
We spent two nights at Waldegrave (Fri and Saturday) and we would return.
We are a family of three including a toddler (29 months) and we were happy from the time we arrived. This was our second camping experience and a totally different experience.
When we arrived there was a ten minute wait at reception and we handed over our gate deposit and we were on our way. The reception staff were friendly and welcoming. There was plenty of space in the non-electric field for our Icarus 500. The ground was hard and our tent pegs were not up to the job, there are stones about an inch under the top soil so bring decent pegs, I will be investing in something more suitable this week.
We were up and running within an hour, parked next to the tent and had a very excited child with us. This was her first camping experience.
The beach is just over the sea wall and you are sleeping less than 100 metres from the waves at high tide, a nice accompaniment to a quiet night. And the stars were so clear you forget to look up there after living in the city but you must do it. We both made a wish on a shooting star whilst the youngster was sleping.
There was some drunken shouting in another field which lasted for some time on the Friday night and I am glad we were not near that group but to me it was a distant drone and did not wake the others in my tent. I am not aware if security were involved.
The site is full of East London and Essex types and with wasps a constant neighbour there was often unnecessary swearing.
Campers were in the main very friendly and let my daughter stroke their dogs, there were a lot of dogs but all well behaved. The tattoo rate was moderate and smoking was low to moderate.
The toilets were being cleaned throughout the day from 6am and the washing facilities were also clean. The wife had no complaints about the shower.
The two children’s playgrounds were suitable for maybe 4 years old or up although our daughter still found amusement in both. There is a children’s club but we missed this, look into the bar entrance for details – meets at 10am and then at 7pm, I don’t know what was offered but will find out next time.
The swimming pool is a big pool and a toddler pool. On the Sunday in the hot sun there was not much room for swimming as it was packed with 3 life guards keeping order and always smiling. The pool was too chilly for me but my daughter enjoyed the smaller pool alone.
Friday night we had fish and chips for our dinner and these were delicious, better than my local shop and a large portion cost around £7 and well worth it. It was too late to cook and the restaurant appeared too formal although I was aware of earlier of good reviews.
To me it was like a smaller Butlins but not much smaller, there were hundreds or tents and other units, you will not be getting away from it but the kids will love it.
In summary a nice site with lots to do and see, busy but still peaceful. We'd go again, but would go to other places first.
Just back from our first ever caravanning weekend away. We arrived on Friday afternoon and was surprised to see how busy the site already was. In fact it looked too busy, but that was not the case as you'll soon see.
The staff on reception were obviously very busy and the phone never stopped ringing. In fact one of the receptionists had to have a break with her head in her hands for about 20 seconds before she could muster the energy to see what I wanted. Once her colleague finished checking someone else in it was my turn. We went with another family, friends of ours who had also recently started on their own caravanning adventures.
The receptionist showed us where our pitches were, they were next to each other and when we got back into the cars they were very easy to find. We got settled in and I was surprised how much space we both had, as we have a 6 berth and our friends a 5 berth each 8m long.
There was a hedge between each pitch. My surprise and concern over how busy the site looked was soon allayed as it was still peaceful and it felt secluded. The only issue was that it was rather windy and when the sun went in it did get cold. I had brought a gazebo and we pitched that between the vans at the end of the middle hedge. This had to be secured down well at each leg and via guide ropes, otherwise it would have ended up in Bradwell power station over the sea.
Electric and water was close to the van and both served its purpose with no issues.
We put up some wind breaks from the front of each van and inwards towards the middle hedge. This way our young children could have a boundary between us and the roadway to play safely. They loved it there and played happily for hours. We cooked our dinner in the van but our friends visited the sited takeaway van and had fish and chips. These were very nice and at a reasonable price. The site was very quite in the evening and therefore the children were not disturbed and the adults could have a libation or two, even if the wind was strong and cold.
Used the conveniences and shower block in the mornings. No queues and the showers were nice and hot. They were fine and in a good general clean state. There were no separate drains for waste water and all had to go down the Elsan with the 'other' waste stuff. This mean lifting the waste master onto a concrete block and then being careful not to touch where others might not have been as careful with there cassette toilets.
Had a look at the outdoor pool, which was busy when the sun was out and looked a bit cold when it was overcast and windy. It looked clean with a good selection of sun loungers around it and in a fenced off lawned area. Life guards were on hand permanently.
The beach is not far and at the end of the camp. It is rather stoney and had some litter, but again the kids enjoyed collecting the oyster shells and making treasure hunts in the sand. The site is a good walk away from the town of Mersea, about 15 -20 mins.
On the Saturday evening we all sampled entertainment in the Wheatseaf bar. The kids enjoyed the tots disco, the club dance and the congo's. The Dad's enjoyed a nice beer. There is lots for the kids to do, with a family games room and a small adventure playground.
On the Sunday we had a Roast in the restaurant. Three choices (Lamb, Beef and Pork) £8.95 each. It was nice and there were other choices and kids were well catered for too.
We were late leaving but when I enquired if this was an issue, the receptionists were very friendly and said this would be fine - the site was clear by then anyway. Most people left before the Strood flooded at about 14:50. Check out time was 15:00 and we left at about 15:45.
All in all a good start to our caravanning weekend lifestyle. We'd go there again, but not before we have tried and discovered other sites.
We use this site all the time as it's only 30mins drive from home and it ticks all the boxes in terms of facilities, etc.
We've been using Waldegraves since about 2001 when we bought our first touring caravan - we've now reverted to tenting! Our children, now aged 13 and 9 love it here.
The location is great as it's got direct access to a pebbly beach which you can walk along into Mersea to the fishing village.
The site has a lovely outdoor pool with well kept sunbathing area, a really nice restaurant as well as a take away (fish n chips, etc) van for when the restaurant isn't doing take aways, a club house with Sky Sports and children's entertainment, pool table, amusement arcade, a well equipped shop, all weather sports court, pitch & putt & golf driving range. Oh, and some well stocked fishing lakes!
The toilet/shower blocks are kept clean and bins are emptied regularly. The pitches are flat, grassy and I think the drainage is good
There is a non-electric area but the majority of pitches have electric hook-ups and water taps at each pitch which is how we like it! We don't use the clubhouse all that much but the restaurant is very good and the take away van is good too.
If you like Boot Sales, there's one every weekend and Bank Holidays, I believe which is located in a field next to the site, easy walking distance.
All in all, a good, well run site with good facilities and in a nice location. We've driven several hours to sites which don't have half as many good points as this one, which is why we keep returning!
We stayed here in April half term in one of the luxury statics, luxury is exactly what they are, very large and spacious, with a lovely layout for a large family.
Being that it was cold overnight still in April, there were lots of extra blankets in the cupboards and the gas fire warmed up nice and quickly.
Outside are picnic benches and my children loved nothing more than sitting out the front and feeding the little family of ducks that waddled past every day, and they weren't shy either, they came right up to the steps.
We have also camped at this site and can recommend it for that as well, pitches are level, with water and electric, a few rogue children playing with the water taps but that is to be expected.
When I reported broken glass the cleaning crew arrived immediately I was very impressed with the staff and cleanliness of this site and we will stay again and again I'm sure
Really good - plot with electric in touring area 2. Swimming pool clean, fishing lakes full of carp, tench, shower blocks hot water, club house, bar, restaurant with good food recommend the roast.
Beach (shingle) next to the camp, boot sale on a Sunday, golf and putting course,boating lake, shop is well stocked, take away chip van,
Site is secure, barriers and passes to get in and out. I have been to many camp sites and this one is very reasonably priced 20 per night, happy fun environment.
Not too chavy not too snooty. Mixture of Essex, London and Hertfordshire guests mainly. Overall clean and fun and enjoyable.
Recommendation - the carp fishing (never done it before, ended up buying a rod reel and lots of other bits at the boot sale.
Stroll along the beach (go right for the amazing beautiful beach huts towards the next resort or left if you want to see the jet ski crowd )
Swimming pool brilliant ( pool staff are really vigilant and constantly checking the chemical levels etc - really safe happy pool, lots of deck chairs, tables and brollies - also a toddler pool. Cant find the words to say how good the pool and its staff were.
A few negative comments - bit more bleach in the loos would have been nice.(although it was the glorious Easter weekend and it was very very busy).
Site can be a bit dusty, expect to wash your car when you get home.
This site has everything for the kids and family, its very well priced, nice big site, friendly staff. I would recommend this.
A noisy place, this is the second time we've been here and it cant be coincidence that both times have been awful, some parents need to remember that just because they are not at home its not an excuse to get lashed up and let your kids run riot! Some tent owners need to understand that when you kick off at your missus at 0400hrs you are not in bricks and mortar, you are in a thing made out of the same material as your pants, we can all hear you! On visiting the outdoor pool we found it was closed because somebody, s little princess had done a poo in it! I wont be coming again, its expensive, noisy, nasty and unrelaxing, and by the way, I have kids and keep them under control.
Stayed at this site for 2 nights in March. This site is literally down the road from us, so we were curious to try it out for a quick break! After booking in at the restaurant (reception had closed) we were given our security pass (£10 returnable deposit) and a map of the site. The map of the site really needs improvement. A bit of A4 paper, with tiny writing on it. Anyone with poor eyesight would have no hope! Considering it was £16 a night, they could afford to spend more on this!
After driving around in the near dark for 15 mins, eventually found our pitch. Which was boggy, and uphill, and reversing a caravan up into this pitch just wasn't happening. (the next day another camper had the exact same problem) After returning to reception we were allocated another pitch opposite, and settled down for the night. The worst thing about this site is the road/track that you have to drive on. It is uneven, and full of potholes, and you have to drive really slow (alot of people had to cut across the grass in order to save their vehicles from the track).
After exploring the site the next day we discovered the swimming pool, which is actually more of a duck pond at the moment, with a pair of mallards using it as their home. We didn't try the bar or restaurant.
On a more positive note we were impressed with the dog exercise area, and the site is within walking distance of the beach. The size of the pitches is good, with small hedges separating each pitch, but unfortunately some pitches get a close up view of the industrial park next door (we could see a big skip through the bushes) and although one of the site rules is no commercial vehicles, we had a transit van & caravan next to us while we were there! The toilet blocks seemed clean, and the shower blocks were warm, and had the showers with the push buttons to keep them going. (although we didn't use them) Oh and lots and lots of ducks on site.
All in all an average site, and I doubt we would bother returning, but it is a very popular site, and gets extremely busy in the peak periods, and a good base to explore Mersea Island and the surrounding area.
We was recommended the site from a friend. We were camped by the pond, I have a 6 year old daughter who really enjoyed waking up in the morning to the ducks out side our tent door, the ducks can be very noisy in the night. Found that the campsite was very noisy as some parents didn't make sure their children kept the noise down (and some adults). Could do with some night security. Other than that the place was really enjoyable,with a outdoor pool with a cabin serving teas,coffees etc. Good kids entertainment at night, and toilet and shower blocks were dated but always kept clean. Would go back there again.
Been coming to this site most weekends over the past few years. Good club good swimming pool
Good restaurant. Toilets and showers ok but dated. Unfortunately they are adding lots of new static and touring pitches and taking away all the open space. With all these extra pitches the club toilets and showers are struggling to cope and can be noisy at weekend due to teenagers hanging around the toilet blocks. This is a nice site that has everything to keep you happy for your holiday it just needs better security of a night time to make sure the site its just for the people who pay to use it
We used this site for the first weekend on the summer holidays for three nights with my husband and two small children as well as some friends. We have a Hartford XXL tent and we could just fit it on the pitch and had to park our car at an angle in front. Although the pitches are marked by a small hedge each side, the hedge was made up of some very thorny shrubs which caused some pain to my husband and kids. We were on a pitch around a clear field where the kids could play which was great but was very noisy at night as children were still running around playing on it at 11.30pm at night and the site is generally quite a noisy one. Each pitch did have it's own water and EHU, which was great.
The toilet block was a good size but unfortunately the shower rooms were separate to the toilets and wash basins, so if you are trying to shower two small children at once and one wants the toilet you can't really let them out to go while you shower the other one. Found it frustrating that after your shower you had to walk to the room next door to look in a mirror and do your hair. The facilities were clean considering how many people were using them but have seen a lot better.
The children's two play areas were great and we enjoyed using the outdoor heated swimming pool.
The shop was very well stocked and the food we had in the restaurant was very reasonable.
We didn't really use the other entertainment facilities although you obviously pay for them in your pitch price which is quite high.
We spent a lovely day crabbing in Mersea and there is a wonderful butchers on the island called Arthur Cock & Sons which is well worth a visit for the sausage rolls and quiches as well as the meat.
Really nice site! The staff were friendly and booking in was easy. You're allocated pitches rather than pitching up anywhere, pitches are very large and nicely maintained - ours was easily big enough for the caravan, awning and car - we probably could have got much more onto the area. Separated from the neighbouring pitches with a low hedge which was nice. Electric and separate water point for each serviced pitch. Was a little pricey but worth it.
Nice restaurant, club house and bar, entertainment left a little to be desired, but maybe I'm just picky ;) Good sized supermarket on site with all you could need, and fairly reasonable prices for a holiday park. Had a go on the pitch and putt too - lovely 18 hole course.
Toilets were clean, as were the showers and plenty of hot water too. Not far from the private beach (although I didn't visit it) and they have a large lake and dog walking area.
Overall, top marks - I'll definitely go there again.
Stayed 2 nights in a large group (approx 20 tents) we were sited by the duck pond, which was close to the toilet block,shop and bars.
Site rather noisy at night with teenagers shouting and yelling till late.
Toilets rather basic but clean. Didn't like the fact that the shower block is separate to toilet block and the showers were luke warm.
Checking in staff friendly and helpful.
Where we were pitched you couldn't see the children at the playground and if you had very small children I would be concerned as our tent backed onto the pond and no fencing around!
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Common Questions
Is Waldegraves Holiday And Leisure Park child friendly? YES, it accepts children & has a playground View all facilities
Does Waldegraves Holiday And Leisure Park have a swimming pool? YES, there is a pool on site View all facilities
Where is the nearest shop to Waldegraves Holiday And Leisure Park? There is a shop on site View all facilities
Is Waldegraves Holiday And Leisure Park dog friendly? YES 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 
Holiday Homes for Hire 
Holiday Homes for Sale 
Seasonal Pitches 
Electric Hookups 
Hardstanding Pitches 
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 
Baby Changing Facilities 
Laundry On Site 
Drinking Water 
Disabled Friendly 
Chemical Disposal 
No Battery Charging 
Gas Exchange 
Recycling Facilities 
No Kitchen Facilities 
Freezer / Fridge 
Motorhome Point 
Wifi Access 
Shop On Site 
Bar On Site 
Restaurant or Cafe or Takeaway On Site 
Kids Playground 
No TV Room 
Games Room 
Evening Entertainment 
Fishing On Site 
Wild Swimming <1 mile 
No Indoor Pool 
Outdoor Pool On Site 
Horse Riding <5 miles 
Cycle Hire On Site 
Golf On Site 
Tennis <5 miles 
Beach On Site 
Watersports <1 mile 
Boat Launch / Mooring On Site 
Sea Views 
Not Working Farm 
No Campfires Allowed 
Lakeside Pitches 
Public Transport <1 mile
Offroad Dog Walk On Site or Direct Access 
Electric Car Charging Point
The 5 of us went here last year and it was a really lovely trip. 
