Just an hour and a half from London lies a stunning hidden gem, home to the only nature reserve in the UK where you can actually stay overnight.
It’s situated above the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent and spreads across 3,300 acres of thriving grazing marsh and saltwater habitats, making it one of the country’s most important sanctuaries for wildlife.
A unique island escape
Despite its proximity to bustling towns and even industrial areas near the Thames Estuary, Elmley Nature Reserve feels like a world apart. Visitors arrive to sweeping marshes alive with the calls of rare birds such as lapwings, marsh harriers, and redshanks. The reserve is also a refuge for owls, hares, dragonflies, and endangered bee – a thriving ecosystem carefully protected by the Merricks familywho have farmed and managed this land for conservation since the 1980s.
The only UK nature reserve where you can sleep overnight
What truly sets Elmley apart is its unique overnight accommodation options. It’s the only UK nature reserve where you can sleep in shepherd’s huts or bell tents nestled right in the reserve itself. Since 2013, Georgina Merricks and her husband Gareth Fulton have welcomed visitors to experience nature up close, offering a peaceful getaway far from city life yet just a short trip from London.
Whether it’s a cozy hut with outdoor bathtubs or a scenic bell tent, staying at Elmley lets guests immerse themselves fully in the sights and sounds of this remarkable landscape.
Elmley and its rich habitats
Elmley’s rich habitats evolve with the seasons: winter brings flocks of migratory wildfowl, spring fills the marshes with birdsong and newborn wildlife, summer supports buzzing insect life on pesticide-free land, and autumn sees rare birds resting during their long journeys to Africa. The family-run reserve also runs conservation efforts like a curlew recovery program to protect vulnerable species.
While Elmley thrives thanks to dedicated care and sustainable farmingit faces growing threats from climate change. Rising sea levels and intense storms push saltwater across the sea walls, threatening the delicate wetlands vital for ground-nesting birds. The Merricks and Fulton family emphasise the urgent need for more well-managed natural spaces to give these precious species a future.
Getting to Elmley Nature Reserve
By train:
Take the Javelin high-speed train from London St Pancras to Sittingbourne railway station. From Sittingbourne, it’s about a 10-15 minute taxi ride to Elmley Nature Reserve. Pre-booking a taxi is recommended.
By car:
The journey from London typically takes about 1 to 1.5 hours.
