I’ve been camping at Town Farm in Ivinghoe before with Scouts, but this review was just me and the kids. And it was my first time taking the kids camping by myself so, without the security of our Scout leader’s plethora of Scouting kit, it was a distinctly different experience. Also, I was five months pregnant with Smallest Child the last time we went camping at Town Farm, she’s now 4 1/2, so that made it a bit different too. No midnight trips to the loo for me! I’ll get the the midnight visitors shortly though….
How family friendly is Town Farm Camping in Ivinghoe?
Because it was my first time taking the kids, and I wasn’t taking Hubby, I deliberately chose a campsite that was 1) local to Aylesbury 2) family friendly. I needed to know that if it all went wrong, if the tent fell down in the night etc, I could just get in the car and come home. It also helped that I knew the layout of the site so I specifically asked for a spot near the playground in the Top Field. You can only ask, it’s not guaranteed, but we did get lucky. Turns out that was a good thing as the kids disappeared as soon as we arrived!
There’s a relatively decent playground area in this field. For some reason there’s also some swings, but they’re on the other side of a hedge!! There’s also a play trail, which the kids were less impressed with, and a football pitch. Plus there’s a ton of space of the kids to just explore.
One thing they either didn’t have last time we went camping at Town Farm in Ivinghoe , or we didn’t get chance to explore, was the games room. It’s fairly basic, but it gives the kids somewhere to go if it is damp. There’s a couple of ping pong tables and a football table. You can hire bats/balls with a refunable £5 deposit.
The facilities
One of the most important things when camping on a relatively basic site like Town Farm in Ivinghoe is how good the facilities are. I was really impressed with how clean the bathrooms were. Literally every time I went in there there was a member of staff cleaning! They’ve got male, female and unisex, which is really helpful with family groups.
The kitchen has got massive sinks (although no drainers which is annoying), fridges and freezers which are not just for ice packs (no alcohol though), kettles, microwaves, plug points and washing machines. I wish I hadn’t brought the cool box with me now.
During peak times they have a coffee truck arrive each morning and various food trucks in the evenings. When we stayed there was a pizza truck one night and a fish & chip van the next.
The pitches
There are definitely more glamourous campsites than Town Farm, but it isn’t supposed to be all singing, all dancing. That said, they all have stunning views across the Aylesbury Vale. Most of their pitches are grass but they have some hard standing pitches as well. They are not at all picturesque ones though. They’re basically a bit of gravel next to a barn. Electric hook ups are only available for caravans, motor homes, campervans and trailer tents.
They also have several Karsten and bell tents you can hire if you want to camp but don’t have your own tent. These only come with air mattresses and a lantern though, so you will still need the rest of your camping kit.
Our Town Farm Ivinghoe Camping Review
I really liked camping at Town Farm in Ivinghoe. The kids had an amazing time. I know it’s usually like this when you’re camping but it was a brilliant atmosphere. I did have a hedgehog in my tent in the middle of the night – really need to get a tent with a sewn-in ground sheet!!!
The downside? It’s suprisingly noisy on-site, something that I noticed the first time that we stayed. You’re under the London-Luton airport flightpath. Also for B road it’s very busy throughout the night. They have a no music policy, which wasn’t being followed, and wasn’t being enforced either. During the day I don’t care. At 22:30, when it’s supposed to be a zero music site, it was a bit annoying.
Site fees
We paid £72 in high seasons for two nights for one adult and three children. Fees are £15 per adult, £7 per child (3-15 years), pets £3 per night. No charges for gazebos/awnings. Some dates have a minimum 2 or 3 night stay.
Prices are correct at the time this review of Town Farm camping in Ivinghow was published. For the latest prices visit their website here.
How to get there
Address – Town Farm, Icknield Way, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England LU7 9EL PS Town Farm Camping is actually in Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire but it’s right on the border of Bucks, Beds and Herts
What else is there to do nearby?
OMG there is so much to do near here. The site is overlooking Ivinghoe Beacon and the Ashridge Estate is just behind it. Tring Natural History Museum, Tring Park, Marsworth Reservoir and canalside walks, Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable Downs and Wendover Woods.
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Hi, I’m Vicky. My husband and I live in Aylesbury with our three children; a 14 year old son, an 12 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I (mostly) love spending time together as a family. We visit all kinds of places and we’re quite happy to drive a fair distance for a decent day out. A few years ago I decided to set up Free Time with the Kids as a way to share our experiences of these family days out.
You’ll find the essential information you need to know before your visit that can be surprisingly hard to find out. Where do I park? How much will it cost me to get in? Are there any discounts available? Are there loos? Can I take a picnic or get food? My aim is to be your go-to guide for all your free and cheap family days out across Bucks, Beds, Oxon, Herts & slightly beyond. I really hope you find the reviews helpful. If there’s anywhere that you’d recommend please get in touch contact@freetimewiththekids.com or get in touch via Facebook
