Anywhere Campers Rental company category:Standard
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Anywhere Campers AshfordAshfordView map
Hiring a campervan in Ashford puts your starting point in the heart of Kent, known as the “Garden of England”, halfway between Canterbury Cathedral, the White Cliffs of Dover and the Romney Marshes. The town is a crossroads: the M20 motorway runs to the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, and high-speed trains link it to London St Pancras. This is where Anywhere Campers, our partner company, hands its vehicles over to travellers.
Orchards, hop gardens and oast houses, the hop kilns topped with white cowls, line the roads of the Weald; to the east stretch the beaches of the Isle of Thanet; to the south, France is just one crossing away, to continue the trip on the Continent.
1 rental partner
Where to pick up your vehicle in Ashford?
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Ashford
1 Canterbury, Thanet and the White Cliffs
- Ashford
- Chilham
- Canterbury
- Whitstable
- Margate
- Broadstairs
- Sandwich
- Deal
- St Margaret's at Cliffe
- Dover
- Folkestone
- Ashford
Along the A28, the village of Chilham and its half-timbered square come before Canterbury, its cathedral and its city walls. You then reach Whitstable and its oysters, the beaches of Margate and Broadstairs, then the old town of Sandwich and the seafront at Deal. The loop ends on top of the chalk cliffs, from St Margaret's at Cliffe to Dover, before returning via Folkestone.
- Distance
- about 160 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
2 Romney Marsh, Rye and the gardens of the Weald
- Ashford
- Romney Marsh
- Dymchurch
- Dungeness
- Rye
- Bodiam
- Sissinghurst
- Ashford
South of Ashford, the Romney Marsh, dotted with small isolated churches, leads to the seafront at Dymchurch and the shingle headland of Dungeness, with its lighthouse and fishermen's huts. You cross into East Sussex for the cobbled lanes of Rye, then the moated Bodiam Castle, before heading back via Sissinghurst garden. The roads there are narrow and lined with hedges.
- Distance
- about 150 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Compact campervan
3 The Opal Coast via the Channel Tunnel
- Ashford
- Folkestone
- Calais
- Cap Blanc-Nez
- Cap Gris-Nez
- Wimereux
- Boulogne-sur-Mer
- Montreuil-sur-Mer
- Saint-Valery-sur-Somme
- Calais
- Ashford
With the hire company's approval, Le Shuttle drops the vehicle off at Coquelles, near Calais. The coast road runs past Cap Blanc-Nez and Cap Gris-Nez, the resort of Wimereux and Boulogne-sur-Mer, with its fortified upper town and its Nausicaá sea centre. Further south, Montreuil-sur-Mer and its ramparts come before the Bay of the Somme and Saint-Valery, before heading back up the A16 to the terminal.
- Distance
- about 320 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Camper van or low-profile motorhome
Weather and seasons
When to go in Ashford?
Best time
Late spring and September
May to June, September
highs 17 to 21 °C, lows 8 to 11 °C
The most pleasant months to set off from Ashford: long, bright days, Sissinghurst garden in full bloom in June and the Thanet coast still quiet before the school holidays. In September, the Kent orchards begin their harvest, fruit stalls reappear by the roadside and campsites have space again.
High season
July and August
July to August
highs 22 °C, lows 13 to 14 °C
Heat and crowds go hand in hand: the sandy beaches of Margate and Camber Sands, near Rye, fill up from the morning, and coastal campsites are often fully booked at weekends. Book your pitches well in advance and keep weekdays for Canterbury, which is very busy in summer.
Orchard blossom and autumn
March to April, October
highs 11 to 15 °C, lows 4 to 9 °C
April brings the apple and cherry blossom of Kent, one of the finest times to explore the Weald, even if nights remain cool. October is still the wettest month in Ashford, but the woods of the Kent Downs turn golden and the sights are almost empty. In March, some campsites have not yet reopened.
Winter
Winter on the Channel
November to February
highs 8 to 11 °C, lows 2 to 5 °C
From November to February, the cold stays moderate on this stretch of the Channel coast, but the days are short, the sky often overcast and rain frequent. It is the season for short breaks: the Canterbury Christmas market, a windswept walk on the Dungeness shingle, then a night at a campsite open all year.
Climate in Ashford, month by month
Most pleasant months: June to September.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 °C | 2 °C | 73 mm | 4 h/day | 8 °C |
| Feb | 9 °C | 3 °C | 63 mm | 5 h/day | 8 °C |
| Mar | 10 °C | 4 °C | 67 mm | 7 h/day | 9 °C |
| Apr | 13 °C | 5 °C | 48 mm | 10 h/day | 11 °C |
| May | 17 °C | 8 °C | 58 mm | 11 h/day | 14 °C |
| Jun | 20 °C | 12 °C | 57 mm | 12 h/day | 17 °C |
| Jul | 22 °C | 14 °C | 65 mm | 12 h/day | 18 °C |
| Aug | 22 °C | 14 °C | 58 mm | 11 h/day | 19 °C |
| Sep | 19 °C | 12 °C | 63 mm | 9 h/day | 18 °C |
| Oct | 15 °C | 9 °C | 85 mm | 7 h/day | 16 °C |
| Nov | 11 °C | 5 °C | 83 mm | 5 h/day | 13 °C |
| Dec | 9 °C | 4 °C | 88 mm | 4 h/day | 10 °C |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
Arriving at the international station
Ashford International station is linked to London St Pancras by Southeastern high-speed trains in about 40 minutes. Eurostar trains stopped calling there in 2020: check whether the service has resumed before planning a direct arrival from Paris or Brussels; otherwise, travel via London.
Operation Brock on the M20
During traffic peaks towards Dover and the tunnel, the Kent authorities activate Operation Brock: between Maidstone and Ashford, lorries are queued on one side of the M20 while other vehicles use a contraflow on the other side, at reduced speed. Check National Highways traffic updates before setting off, especially on a summer Friday or Saturday.
Le Shuttle: height and gas to declare
To cross through the tunnel, book Le Shuttle from the Folkestone terminal as a high vehicle: motorhomes travel in single-deck carriages. Cooking gas bottles are allowed within the limits set by the operator, with valves closed, and must be declared at check-in before boarding.
Parking on the Kent coast
From Folkestone to Margate, many seafront car parks ban sleeping on board, and some restrict height or length of stay. Payment is often made by mobile app: install it before you arrive. In Canterbury, the park and ride sites at the edge of the city save you from driving into the medieval centre.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip in Ashford
Where can I pick up a campervan in Ashford?
Pick-up takes place in Ashford, at the depot of Anywhere Campers, our partner company. The exact address and your collection time slot are sent with the booking. Coming by train? Let the company know in advance: it will tell you how to reach the meeting point from the international station, and with bulky luggage a taxi is often the easiest option.
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in Ashford?
There is no single rate: the amount varies with the month, the number of days and the size of the vehicle, a small van being more affordable than a family model. British school holiday weeks and the height of summer are the busiest periods in Kent. Run a search with your dates: the price shown already includes mandatory fees.
Can I cross to France with a campervan hired in Ashford?
Yes, when the hire company allows the vehicle to leave the United Kingdom: check the permitted countries and any surcharge in the offer before booking. Le Shuttle leaves from Folkestone, about twenty minutes away, and reaches Coquelles in around 35 minutes; ferries from Dover to Calais or Dunkirk take longer, but offer a real break on board.
Can I return the vehicle in London?
London also has depots of our partner companies, including Anywhere Campers: a one-way trip between Kent and the capital is therefore possible, handy for ending the journey near an airport. Enter London as the return city when you search; the list is then limited to offers that allow it, with any surcharge included in the amount.
How many days should I plan from Ashford?
A long weekend is enough for the loop of Canterbury and the White Cliffs of Dover, or for the Romney Marshes and Rye. Allow four to five days to add the Opal Coast via the tunnel, and one to two weeks to push on to Normandy, or west across England along Sussex and Dorset.
Verified customer reviews
They rented in Ashford with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
Functional and easy-to-use application that meets expectations.
N.
United Kingdom · Jul 2025
Trustpilot
1. The motorhome had neither a reversing alarm nor a rear camera. Essential for this type of vehicle. 2. There was no option to purchase insurance without a deductible. The options were either to take out an external one or to reduce it with Indie Campers. Additionally, in the case of the one rented in Scotland, we were informed at the last moment that no insurance covered the upper and lower parts of the sides... Incredible! We could crash it but not scratch it... 3. Regarding the rental in Dublin: a) The location is very far from the airport and much further from the city.
J.
United Kingdom · Jun 2024
Trustpilot
Available team and very good service
Nicolas E.
United Kingdom · Jun 2024
Avis Vérifiés
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Ashford
Which licence do I need for a campervan from Ashford?
Below 3.5 tonnes, as is the case for most rental vehicles, a European category B licence is enough; a driver holding a licence from another continent should bring an International Driving Permit. Each offer specifies the required age and years of driving experience. If driving on the left is new to you, take your first miles on the country lanes of the Weald rather than on the M20.
Where can I stay overnight in a campervan in Kent?
Wild camping in England is only allowed with the landowner's permission. Kent, however, has plenty of campsites, around Canterbury, on Romney Marsh and on the Isle of Thanet, as well as small farm sites set among the orchards. Near the tunnel, a few campsites in Folkestone and Hythe are well suited to the night before an early crossing.
Are there tolls or a low emission zone in Kent?
The M20 and M2 motorways are free. The main toll in the region is the Dartford Crossing, which crosses the Thames into Essex on the M25 and is paid online, with no barrier. Kent's towns have no zone comparable to London's ULEZ; still, check the rules in force if your route passes through the capital.
What do I need to drive in France?
After the crossing, you drive on the right. Before setting off, check that the vehicle carries the UK identifier and contains high-visibility vests and a warning triangle. The A16 is free around Calais and Boulogne, then tolled towards the Bay of the Somme. If your route passes through a large French city, find out about low emission zones and the Crit'Air sticker.
What is there to see near Ashford before hitting the road?
A few kilometres away, the village of Wye, at the foot of the Kent Downs, lets you climb the chalk ridge where a crown has been carved into the hillside. Godinton House and its gardens lie on the edge of town, and Pluckley, said to be the most haunted village in England, is a quarter of an hour's drive to the west.
When should I book a campervan in Ashford?
For July, August, Easter and the British school holiday weeks, secure the vehicle months before departure, and the crossing straight afterwards if you are heading for France: Le Shuttle and ferry fares rise as the date approaches. Outside these periods, a few weeks are often enough, especially as only one partner company is present locally.
About us
Why start a campervan trip from Ashford
Ashford is one of the few starting points that let you choose, at the last minute, between England and the Continent. On the English side, Kent packs Canterbury Cathedral, the White Cliffs of Dover, the beaches of Thanet, the Romney Marshes and the gardens of the Weald into a small area: short stages, ideal for a first campervan trip and for getting used to driving on the left.
On the French side, the tunnel terminal and the Dover ferries open up the Opal Coast in under an hour, then the Bay of the Somme and, beyond, the whole of Europe, provided the hire company allows it. Anywhere Campers, our partner company, hands over its vehicles here, and London, another departure city of our partners, makes a one-way trip possible. Aim for May to September, the most pleasant period on this stretch of the Channel coast.
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