I enjoyed a five night stay here taking in the spring bank holiday weekend. The wardens were lovely and very kind in giving assistance and information, including good advice about a problem I had with my motorhome engine, which thankfully was resolved after a call to the AA.
The site is pleasant enough if somewhat dark and confined and a bit cramped in parts – but one would expect that for a site inside Greater London. It is of an age that gives it a somewhat careworn appearance, but, as continually under threat, one cannot criticise the club for being careful about money spent here. The toilet block was perfectly sound but, once or twice, mid-afternoon, it was unusually dirty and messy, no doubt due to thoughtless users rather than any negligence over cleaning. Indeed, the conduct of some patrons here left a bit to be desired. Loud music, late night chatting, and more than the usual comings and goings, at all hours! An urban site – convenient as a place to stay rather than being there for the site’s sake – is possibly the reason or perhaps I was just unlucky.
There are lots of sources of noise apart from people! Traffic, obviously; aircraft circling overhead before going into Heathrow; a shrill morning chorus in the large and abundant trees around the site. None of this much of a bother to me – if anything the birds were the most intrusive (but that’s not a complaint)! Those easily upset by traffic need to get as far down the site from reception as possible.
However, this can be tricky as pitches are allocated here - not sure why, but maybe as the site is confined and a long queue could be an issue. There are good pitches and not so good pitches on any site and that is certainly true here; so, if I arrived when there was a choice, I would be unhappy with a duff pitch. Anyway, as it happened, I had a good pitch, so I was alright Jack!
The site is good for access to London; the recommended No. 3 bus is an interesting, if tedious, journey. I preferred the train (even though I have a bus pass) and it is an easy walk to Crystal Palace station – or a bit further to Penge West.
Comparisons are often made with Abbey Wood; Crystal Palace has the benefit of the park, and is nearer to central London, but otherwise my vote is for Abbey Wood which is a much bigger less claustrophobic place to be, has quick access to London from Abbey Wood station, just ten minutes walk, is quieter, despite the proximity of London City Airport, is much less stressful to reach from the M25 and has plenty of places to visit in the area apart from central London itself. For Crystal Palace I left the M25 at the M4 and then the south circular from Chiswick and this took two hours from leaving the M25 (at about 11 am)!
Still, an enjoyable and happy stay.
