Where is Sunnyside Pop-up Campsite?
On the outskirts of East Grinstead, technically in West Sussex (England), but practically on the border of East Sussex, Surrey and Kent. It is also less than 30 miles south of London and conveniently close to the original ‘Hundred Acre Wood‘, more commonly known as Ashdown Forest. It is easy to find with a SatNav, and you can always follow directions for neighbouring National Trust site Standen House & Gardens. The campsite is literally opposite the car park entrance, however the signage is as ‘pop-up’ as the camp site, so keep your eyes peeled for it!
What is a ‘Pop-up’ Campsite?
One of the most unique things to love about Sunnyside is that it’s only open for 10 weekends a year, during the summer months, meaning its really low impact for the local environment. The site boasts compost toilets, wild fields and handmade natural handicrafts available to purchase too. There are no electric hook-ups here, so the site is predominantly folk residing under canvas. Recycling is strongly encouraged, and there are plenty of receptacles for all of your waste items, including food waste and glass bottle bins.
Centre Camp
The first port of call when arriving on site is Centre Camp. Welcoming and relaxed is definitely the vibe at Sunnyside. Hosts Heath and Katya, alongside their daughter, Annukka, are ready to invite you in on arrival. Forgotten something? Fire pits, logs, kindling, marshmallows, Belgian waffles, handmade socks… they have everything you need and more in their shop, plus site maps, practical advice and a huge friendly smile. Each weekend, Centre Camp becomes a hive of activity with different events going on every Saturday. From spoon carving to fire starting, den building to curry nights, there is always something fun to do on your visit. Of course there’s nothing quite like a communal camp fire, and whilst on this occasion we used the opportunity to rent our own fire pit and get an early night, we definitely appreciated the atmosphere this created and can see from their social media pages that this is very popular with families and friends alike.
Finnish Sauna
Katya is the hostess with the most-ess! She is very proud of her Finnish sauna, and rightly so! Thrilled that people want to use it, she delights in giving users the full authentic experience with optional cold water hose-down between sessions! I loved the personal touches that were added to the decor too, including this cute little note!
Put simply, Sunnyside Pop-up Camping presents a unique opportunity for families to experience outdoor living in its purest form, with support from passionate and kindly hosts. I would highly recommend a weekend at Sunnyside to anyone looking to switch-off for a while in the (somewhat) wild!
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Essential Information
Book your pitch at Sunnyside Pop-up Campsite here: sunnysidepopupcamping.com/book
Give them a ‘Like’ on Facebook here: facebook.com/sunnysidepopupcamping
Follow them on Instagram here: instagram.com/sunnysidepopupcamping
If you like this article, check out some of our other UK posts here.
Have any questions about our stay at Sunnyside? Ask away! Where is your favourite campsite? Let us know – we’d love some suggestions for next summer!
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