Kingsdown Camping
Kingsdown campsite is the perfect base to explore this beautiful corner of Kent and South East England. We support an environmentally friendly approach and traditional camping values with modern facilities and a friendly smile.
Our customers' frequently asked questions.
Q. How big is a pitch? Can I reserve a pitch?
A. The camping centre does not work from a pitch system. Our allocation system is based on the number of people staying on site at any one time. This prevents us from over-booking the camping centre as we only have a limited amount of toilet and shower facilities for the camping field. Spaces/pitches can therefore not be reserved, and is based on a first come first served basis. You should book to arrive early to secure any desired location for your tent. Our only reserved areas are in front of the electric hook-up points and tents should not be set up in front of these unless an electrical hook-up point has been reserved.
Q. Do you allow 24 hour arrivals/check-in?
A. NO. In High season, the camping centre's check in times are from 10am to 9pm daily, and for Indoor accommodation is from 1:00pm - 10:00pm. In Low season, check in times are from 10am to 8pm, and for Indoor accommodation is from 1:00pm - 9:00pm. High and low season dates can be viewed on the prices page. Please ensure that you check in as soon as possible so as not to disturb or annoy others on site by setting up tents or driving on to the camping field late at night and in the dark. If you feel that before you travel that you may not arrive before 9pm because of busy weekend traffic, ferries or trains then simply call and book to arrive the following morning to spend a whole stress free day with us instead.
(Leaving the London area weekend traffic before 6pm is strongly recommended).
(Leaving the London area weekend traffic before 6pm is strongly recommended).
Q. What is your check out time?
A. Camping guests are asked to vacate the site before 12pm (guests can pay a day rate which will allow you to remain on site until 8pm, but this may not always be possible for bookings with allocated electric hook-up points).
Indoor accommodation guests are requested to vacate their accommodation before 11am check out time.
Indoor accommodation guests are requested to vacate their accommodation before 11am check out time.
Q. What is your earliest departure time?
A. If you are catching an early ferry / Eurotunnel train, the earliest departure time is your choice, however please be considerate with regards to other guests within close proximity when you are leaving the site. Our ANPR system allows guests to leave the site at any time.
Q. Do you allow vehicles on the camping field?
A. YES. All vehicle registration numbers are required for any vehicle that stays on site or goes on to the camping field. We operate an ANPR number plate recognition for our guests' security whilst on site. Guests' vehicles are permitted on the camping field, weather and staff permitting. All vehicles must adhere to the 10 mph speed limit whilst on site, and please keep vehicle use to a minimum. Ensure that all vehicles are securely parked and locked, with the hand brake engaged and that the vehicle is parked horizontally to any sloped camping areas.
A. Yes. Here are our rules
- THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THESE RULES
- Please note that the Camping Centre is private property
- Only 1 hour free parking or visiting on the camping grounds
- The Day rates will apply for persons staying on site or parking cars in the car park for more than 1hr
- Day visitor times are strictly from 10am to 8pm only
- All visitors must check-in at reception and register their presence or any vehicles staying on site.
- Day visitors that stay or arrive at the campsite after 8pm will be charged the overnight camping rate
- Day visitors must pay on arrival
- Day visitors must park their vehicles in the specified parking areas (Zone B)
- Day visitors' vehicles are not permitted on to the camping field
- Day visitors must display a parking permit in their vehicle's windscreen
- Failure to display a valid parking permit or if a vehicle is illegally parked after 8pm will incur a fine
- Fines will be the difference between our over night rate and day rate paid (up to £75)
| Low Season | High Season | |
| Adult 18yrs+ | £3 | £5 |
| Child 4-17yrs | £2 | £3 |
| Infants | foc | foc |
Q. What security does the camping centre provide?
A. 24 hour CCTV is in operation. The camping field itself is only accesible via our Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) barrier system, so you will have to check in your vehicle before accessing the camping field. Nightly security checks are carried out by staff which may include a trained security dog. The site is protected by a 6ft barbed wire fence around the perimiter. The beach gate is only accessible via keycode and this code is provided to all guests upon arrival.
Q. What are your electrical hook-up arrival times?
A. If you have reserved an electric hook-up, check-in time is no earlier than 1pm, due to previous guests departing. It is possible to arrive on site before this time, but you will not be guaranteed access to your allocated hook-up point until after 1pm.
Q. Do I need to pay a deposit?
A. Yes. For indoor accommodation bookings, you are required to pay a 20% deposit.
You do not need to pay a deposit for small camping group bookings.
You do not need to pay a deposit for small camping group bookings.
Q. Is there a cancellation fee?
A. NO. We do not charge a cancellation fee however you must inform us within 24 hours of your arrival date if you are unable to make your camping stay, so that we can free up allocation. Bookings can be cancelled online using your booking reference and email address or by emailing us at kingsdowncamping@hotmail.co.uk or by calling the site office on 01304 373713.
Q. Can I pay by credit or debit card?
A. YES. We accept Visa and Mastercard, debit and credit cards on arrival only. All card transactions are processed without a fee. Our banking details are available on request for anyone who wishes to pay via their online banking facility.
Q. Are dogs allowed on site?
A. NO. We do not allow dogs on site apart from guide dogs and trained police dogs. A local animal shelter/kennels is located within 1 mile from the camping centre. Details on our downloads page.
Q. Do you allow large groups?
A. YES. Large group bookings for over 10 persons must contact the site office staff to discuss any arrangements or requirements. The person organising a large group booking is responsible for informing the office of the number of persons camping for each night, and the collection of monies from all persons; individual payments on large group bookings can cause problems in our small office space. If you have anybody in your group who is unsure if they are able to attend, please ask them to book individually. (ONLY the person named on the booking can make amendments or cancellations). The camping centre has no pitch system so you are welcome to choose any desired location, the only places where we have to allocate spaces are the areas in front of the electric hook-up points. Groups such as birthdays, hen and stag parties are advised that this camping centre is not suitable for large group bookings of this nature, as we promote a peaceful, relaxing, family orientated camping experience. After dark noisy anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and guests not adhering to the site rules will be and have been asked to leave.
Q. Do you have any large sheltered areas in case of wet weather?
A. NO. There are no large halls or buildings for wet weather shelter on the camping grounds.
Q. Do you have areas secluded for groups that would not disturb other campers at night?
A. NO. The camping field is simply one large 35 acre grassland and has no secluded areas where groups may be noisy through the night. We are a family run camping centre that promotes a family, NOT a "festival", style atmosphere. If you want a loud party atmosphere, this is not the campsite for you. All persons staying with us are asked to respect each other and all our near-by neighbouring residents. Anybody found breaking our site rules will be asked to leave and will be placed on our networked blacklist system which we share with other camping sites throughout the country.
Q. Do you allow under 18s to camp alone?
A. NO, but the camping centre is willing to accept any under 18s camping as long as there is a responsible adult parent/guardian present for the duration of the stay. Group bookings that appear to be under 21 and unsupervised, proof of age will always be required. Having a friend who has just turned eighteen has also in the past proven not to be acceptable either, previous under-age groups have tried
this and were asked to leave after being noisy and disrupting to other campers & families at night.
Q. Do you allow caravans, campervans/motorhomes on site?
A. YES and NO. We do not allow ANY large (twin-axle) caravans on site. We do allow small caravans (under 6.5m), campervans and small motorhomes, this is due to narrow road access in the village of Kingsdown and the camping centre, your motorhome must not exceed 7m in length. Please see vehicle access map on the contact us page.
Q. Do you have caravan and motorhome storage facilities?
A. NO. The Camping Centre has no areas for caravan and motorhome storage during the year.
Q. Do you hire or sell caravans?
A. NO. We are purely just a camping centre with a limited amount of electric hook-up points and have no caravans static or otherwise for hire or sale.
Q. Do you do gas bottle refills at the Camping Centre?
A. YES. We have a limited amount of small camp gas 907 bottles for exchange in the site office. No large protane or butane bottles are excahnged or sold on site. The local towns of Deal and Dover stock gas bottle refills. Walmer Court Farm Shop (466 Dover Road, Walmer CT14 7NA - Tel: 01304 374742) and R G Williams (18 The Strand, Walmer CT14 7DY - Tel: 01304 381477) are the closest gas bottle stockist. Most large retailers such as Tesco, Homebase, B&Q and Halfords also stock camping equipment.
Q. How close are you to from Dover Port?
A. We are 5 miles from the Dover Ferry Port, and this should take no longer than 10 minutes to reach us by car.
Q. How close are you to the Sea?
A. The camping centre is actually situated on what is the beginnings of the White Cliffs of Dover and is just a stone's throw to the shingle/sandy beach below. All our guests are issued with a beach gate key code on arrival which allows them quicker access down to the beach.
Q. Do you allow an electric hook-up to a tent?
A. We have a limited amount of electrical hookup points for campervans and small motorhomes ONLY. (We no longer accept any CARAVANS or Large CARAVANETTES/Motorhomes). There are no concrete hard standing areas on the camping field. Hook-ups for tents are allowed, however we do not supply hook-up cables - you must bring your own. If you're going to want electricity in your tent and therefore be using an electric hook-up (EHU) to be safe you really MUST have a RCD unit specifically built for the job. If you are camping in a tent and want electrical hookup, you will have to camp at the top of the field where the hookup points are.
This is the sort of things you will need ➜Q. Has the site got any shops/bars/restaurants?
A. The camping centre has no bars or restaurants, but the site office has a selection of useful items for your camping stay. The local village of Kingsdown has a post office, newsagents, and a butchers (Oxtale 01304 375670), as well as 3 family friendly pubs all within a 5 to 10 minute walk of our gates - The King's Head (01304 373915) which is situated opposite the Post Office, about half way down Upper Street. The Rising Sun (01304 373983) which is situated at the bottom of Upper Street and on Cliffe Road. Finally, The Zetland Arms (01304 364888) which is situated on the beach shore line.
Q. Are you a Scout Campsite?
A. Kingsdown Camping was a Scout campsite until it was sold in 2005. As a private campsite we are still keen to maintain our historical association with Scout, Guide and School groups and therefore offer a discounted rate to organised camps for these groups. Please note this discount is not available for individuals or families; check price calendar for seasonal rates.
Q. Is the site open all year round?
A. YES and NO. We are a family run camping centre and live on site all year round. The camping fields are open from 1st March to 31st October. The larger Crew Lodge Indoor Accommodation, which sleeps up to 16 persons, is available for hire all year round (except Christmas and New Year).
Q. Do you allow for residential or seasonal stays?
A. NO. We cannot cater for long term bookings or reserve any permanent areas on site. Any booking requests for longer than 2 weeks will have to contact the site office.
Q. Are there any plug sockets in the toilet/shower block?
A. NO. Our toilet/shower facilities do not have electric plug sockets in them.
Q. Do you have any printed brochures?
A. NO. We try to be as eco-friendly as possible and so all information on the camping centre can be found on this website and is downloadable. Our website is continuously updated.
Q. Do you provide activities?
A. NO. The camping centre does not provide activities, but there are recommended activity organisations on our downloads page, which may be of interest to groups wanting to have activities during their stay with us. Don't forget to pre-book your activities with the relevant organisations in plenty of time to avoid disappointment.
Q. Do you allow a single night stay?
A. YES. Please ensure that you have booked before arriving on site. If you are staying on either a Friday or Saturday night ONLY, the camping ground has a single night Adult only supplement charge of £2 per adult (low season) and £4 per adult (high season). All Bank Holidays are a minimum of a 2 night stay for a Friday or Sarturday.
Q. What is the red X on the booking calendar dates 
?
A. When the Camping Centre is fully booked, a red x will appear on the corresponding dates on the booking calendar. The campsite works on a fair first come first served allocation basis, and when this allocation is met we are no longer able to take any more bookings.
will appear on the corresponding dates on the booking calendar. The campsite works on a fair first come first served allocation basis, and when this allocation is met we are no longer able to take any more bookings. Q. Do you allow BBQs and Campfires?
A. YES. We allow both BBQs and Campfires, but have to insist that they are raised off the ground to avoid burning the grass. Fire baskets can be hired if required (limited availability); these are not supplied with grills. Please ensure that any disposable BBQ trays are not placed on the grass. Persons found having fires on the grass will be charged for any damage and may be asked to leave.
Q. Does the Camping Centre have WIFI access?
A. NO. At the moment we cannot offer wifi access, as the village of Kingsdown does not have sufficient broadband capacity to enable us to share our office internet access with our guests.
Q. Do you sell logs?
A. YES, seasonally we do sell bags of pre-cut logs from the site office whilst stocks last. Although, our on-site wood supplies are FREE (whilst stocks last) to collect from the 2 large group campfire circle areas. This wood is NOT pre-cut and is NOT bagged (because it is FREE) - so you will need to hunt and gather the supplies you need. You may need to bring appropriate tools with you, i.e. a small saw. Ensure that any unused wood supplies are returned back to these areas before your departure, and NOT slung in the hedges. Grrr.
Q. Can we use the campsite's fire circles?
A. YES. These are only for our camping guests and have to be pre-reserved with the site office. The site has 2 group fire circles; one small fire circle near the beach gate and one large fire circle at the bottom of the South field. These are for night time use only and these are for guest to have camp fires, not bonfires! Please familiarise yourself with our Campfire Circle Safety guide.
Q. Do you charge mobile phones?
A. YES. The office has a device charging station for mobile phones, laptops and tablets at a cost of £1 for a fully charged battery. This is only available during our office hours between 9am and 9pm.
Q. Do you freeze ice packs?
A. YES. The site office has an outside freezer that can be used 24 hours per day for freezing ice packs and ice pack exchanges. This service is LIMITED and FREE at your own risk (but we do like biscuits ;)
Q. Is there a minimum amount of persons required for Indoor Accommodation?
A. YES. The 16 berth Crew Lodge accommodation has a minimum charge of £90 (low season) and £108 (high season). The 6 x 6 berth cabin rooms have a minimum charge of £36 (low season) and £44 (high season). See the prices page and relative accommodation calendar for seasonal pricing. Only 1 key is issued per cabin room. So different bookings will not share the same room.
Q. Have the cabin rooms got cooking facilities?
A. NO. The cabin rooms are just simply bunk bedrooms with no cooking or washing facilities. There is a double plug socket and bench seating for 6 people available for each cabin room. They share the camping ground's toilet and shower facilities.
Q. Are there any electrical plug sockets in the cabin rooms?
A. YES there is a double plug socket in each cabin room.
Q. Are there cooking facilities for the camping grounds?
A. YES/NO. We do have a field kitchen that MUST be reserved if you wish to use it. Note: The Field kitchen is only available to groups hiring this facility and not to all camping guests. The Field kitchen is not equipped with cutlery, pots, pans, plates, cups and glasses. The Field kitchen hire price is available on our prices page for any groups that wish to hire this facility.
Q. Are kitchenware and cutlery available in the Large Crew Lodge Indoor Accommodation?
A. YES the 16 berth Crew Lodge accommodation is fully self-catered, which includes cutlery, pots, pans, plates and cups. Please see the Indoor Accommodation Plan Layout for more information. There is NO kitchen facility for the cabin rooms.
Q. Is bedding provided for the Indoor Accommodation?
A. NO. We do not supply bed linen for the Indoor Accommodation. All beds are adult size bunks (no doubles) and are supplied with pillows and duvets. You are recommended to bring your own single linen bedding sets or sleeping bags.
Q. Do you allow fireworks or Chinese lanterns?
A. NO. The use of fireworks by guests is strictly prohibited on site. We are not averse to the use of Lanterns, but you should inform a member of site staff of any intended use (red coloured lanterns are not permitted as these can be strangely confused with distress flares by the public).
Q. Are there any local TAXI firms?
A. Jack's Cars can be contacted on 01304 362299. AI Cars can be contacted on 01304 898381. Castle Taxis can be contacted on 01304 374001. Phoenix Cars can be contacted on 01304 368880. Patrick's taxi offer a 7 seater taxi (+ wheelchair access) and can be contacted on 07904 315960. Local bus and train timetables can be viewed on our downloads page.