We stayed at Thriftwood Country Park in Stansted, Kent, for a long weekend at the end of October 2026. We chose it as a convenient base while we were visiting Brands Hatch to watch the Formula Ford Festival. This Thriftwood Country Park review covers our experience of a hardstanding pitch with electricity and water, the clean and modern shower and toilet facilities, the on-site bar and the very open layout of the pitches. You can find out more about the site on the official Thriftwood Country Park page.
Our Stay at Thriftwood Country Park
We stayed at Thriftwood Country Park for a long weekend and left on 26 October 2026.
The reason for our trip was the Formula Ford Festival, which is held at Brands Hatch each October. We wanted a campsite close to the circuit, and this one suited that well.
We were there for the racing rather than for a long break on one site. That meant we were looking for a practical base with a good pitch and decent facilities, rather than a campsite with lots to do.
We had a storm while we were there, and it showed us how the pitch surface behaves in poor weather. We have covered that in the pitch section below.
The site was well looked after during our stay, and the bar gave us somewhere to go on site in the evening.
Location
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7/10
Thriftwood Country Park is a very convenient location for Brands Hatch. That was the main reason we picked it, and it worked well for the weekend.
The site is also near the M20, which makes it easy to reach by road. For a short stay built around an event, that is a real advantage.
The Hilltop Restaurant is a short walk from the site. The Hilltop offers outstanding hospitality and wonderful food. Having a restaurant of that standard within walking distance is something we would always welcome when staying on a campsite.
If you would like to see more of the county, Visit Kent has plenty of ideas for days out. We were there for the racing, so a score of 7/10 reflects how well the location suited that purpose.
Facilities
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7/10
The site has a swimming pool, but it is only open during the summer months. It was not available at the end of October, so we cannot comment on it.
The standout facility for us was the bar, which is called Sam’s. It has a pool table and some entertainment on set nights. In this Thriftwood Country Park review, the bar is the facility that most added to our stay.
There is a washing up area, which is always useful when you are cooking in the caravan.
The shower and toilet facilities were clean and modern. They did everything we needed during the weekend.
We felt a score of 7/10 was fair. The facilities were good and the bar was a welcome extra, although the pool was closed for the season.
Cleanliness
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9/10
The site was clean and tidy and well looked after by the warden.
All of the facilities were kept clean and tidy throughout our stay. We had no concerns about any part of the site.
The standard of care was obvious and made the weekend more comfortable. It is the reason we gave this section a high score of 9/10.
Pitch Quality
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7/10
Our pitch was hardstanding with a 16-amp electric hook-up and a water supply.
There was no drain for waste water, so you will need a wastemaster if you stay here. It is worth packing one before you leave home.
The pitch was sloped, so you will need a levelling ramp and some bricks to level your caravan. A few bricks were already on the pitch, which helped. If you are new to this, our caravan levelling guide for beginners explains how to go about it.
The hardstanding was very hard in places but also quite loose. When the storm arrived, our pegs came out easily. If you are putting up an awning or anything else that relies on pegs, bear that in mind. We have also written about the differences between hardstanding and grass pitches.
The pitches are very open with no privacy, and they are quite close to your neighbour. This may not appeal to everyone, and we found it a little too exposed for our liking.
The services were good and the surface gave us a firm base, but the slope, the loose surface and the lack of space between pitches kept this section to 7/10.
Value for Money
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9/10
The price was £40 per night with electric, and this includes two adults.
We felt that was good value. For that price we had a hardstanding pitch with electricity and water, a clean and well kept site, modern shower and toilet facilities and a bar on site.
We did have to bring our own wastemaster and levelling equipment, but we would expect that on a sloping pitch with no drain. It did not change our view on the price.
A score of 9/10 reflects how much we got for the money.
Overall Score: 39/50
Thriftwood Country Park Review: Our Verdict
Thriftwood Country Park was a good choice for our long weekend at Brands Hatch. This Thriftwood Country Park review comes down to a well looked after site with good facilities in a very convenient position.
The shower and toilet blocks were clean and modern, and the warden kept everything tidy throughout our stay. The bar is a great addition to the site, and the Hilltop Restaurant a short walk away made it even easier to enjoy the weekend.
The pitch needs a little preparation. It was sloped and had no drain, so you will need a levelling ramp, bricks and a wastemaster. The hardstanding was loose enough that our pegs came out easily in the storm.
We also found the site a little too open for our liking. The pitches have no privacy and felt on top of each other, which may not suit everyone.
At £40 per night with electric for two adults, we felt it was good value. For a caravanner heading to Brands Hatch who is happy with an open pitch, it is a convenient and well run site.
