Pitchup at the London 2012 Olympic Games

For 30 glorious days, the whole of London and beyond will be in party mode as the city hosts 17,000 members of the international sporting elite for the 2012 Olympics.

With hotel prices soaring and room availability dwindling, avoid extortionate rates by camping or caravanning near Olympic venues up and down the country.

Pitchup.com has picked out the top venues, and sites to stay, to get in on the action:

OLYMPIC PARK, LONDON

This one needs no introduction – the new 500-acre park will play host to some of the most popular events over the Olympic fortnight, including the athletics, swimming, diving and cycling, but that's not to say it's the only place to be in the capital this summer. Horse Guards Parade, Lord's cricket ground, Earls Court and the Greenwich Arena will all see their fair share of sporting legacy.

Stay: Camp In London is the place to stay during London this summer. Luxury pre-erected and pitch-your-own tent options are available at this 19-acre Walthamstow site, when it opens from 23 July – 14 August. With the feel of a festival, the Entertainment Zone has some fab food and drink options available so campers can come and crash out after the sporting excitement. Shuttle buses will run at regular intervals from the Camp In London site to the Olympic village and take just 5-10 minutes. Pitches are priced from £20 per adult.

EQUESTRIAN, GREENWICH PARK

Ride your way to Greenwich Park for the Olympics equestrian events. There'll be 200 athletes and their horses fighting it out for one of the six gold medals on offer in the individual and team eventing, dressage and jumping competitions, including Zara Phillips who's made the GB equestrian team for the first time.

Stay: 2012 Camping is at Theydon Bois campsite, situated in a lovely village near Epping Forest yet ideally placed for those visiting London and attending the 2012 Olympic Games. From the London underground station just a five-minute walk from the campsite, guests can be in central London within 25 minutes and at Stratford station for the Olympics within 20 minutes.