The current world climate ensures that the phrase ‘Staycation’ retains its buzzword status. Partly due to uncertainty surrounding international travel and the fact that leisure vehicles offer owners a more carbon-friendly alternative to jetting off.

This UK staycation guide walks you through:

• Top 6 reasons to choose a caravan holiday for your UK staycation
• Top places to stay in the UK’s most popular destinations

Read on to find out everything you need about UK staycation motorhome and caravan holidays.

Complete self-reliance by driving your own accommodation gives you the freedom to explore areas of the UK those limited to staying in B&B’s, hotels, static caravans, holiday lodges and other fixed accommodation don’t get the chance to experience.

Here’s 6 reasons to choose a caravan holiday for your next UK staycation:

1. Your favourite food at your fingertips

Most modern caravans and motorhomes have fridges, freezers and plenty of locker space for your favourite foods.

Provisions can be purchased locally before travel, or transfer the essentials from your fridge at home to the refrigerator in your home-from-home.

Having a way to store your favourite foods in your accommodation means you can enjoy yourself that little bit easier. Dine alfresco throughout summer, purchase what you want when out and about at local markets, or ensure your holiday is family-friendly by travelling with the foods everyone likes.

2. No restaurants nearby? No problem

The beauty of the caravan or motorhome UK staycation is that you can holiday in rural off-the-beaten-track areas.

For example, many of the Certified Locations or Certified Sites from the The Caravan and Motorhome Club and The Camping and Caravanning Clubs respectively allow you to stay within National Parks or working farms – often excellent for pet-friendly or dog-friendly holidays.

However, getting away from it all does mean that. well, you’ll be away from it all, including restaurants, so you’ll need to do your own cooking.

Modern caravans make this easy to achieve. The kitchen in our 1967 Bailey Maestro is incredibly different to the kitchen in our 2019 Bailey Phoenix. The Phoenix is equipped with a 4-burner hob, microwave, and separate grill/oven, which makes home cooking easy even when you’re not at home. All the current caravans from Bailey of Bristol have the facilities you need to cook for the family.

And if you fancy a night off, there’s no better time for the kids to learn a new life skill by cooking a favourite meal. If all else fails, pre-preparing meals before you travel can save time and washing up.

3. Keep your home comforts when you’re far from home

If you plan to cook frequently when you are away, think you will use the central heating a lot, or have booked a pitch without an electric hook-up point, it’s worth checking butane or propane levels.

Most seasoned leisure vehicle users take a spare bottle or use refillable systems such as Gaslow which you can fill up at service station LPG points.

If you use a lot of gas, a refillable system is a good investment and can pay for itself.

Remember if you are off-grid you can also use the leisure battery to run 12v appliances and inventing in a solar panel can help keep it topped up. You can read more about this here in our guide to off-grid camping.

4. Have your personal en-suite

Even if you feel comfortable using campsite loo and washroom facilities, there’s nothing quite like having your own personal space for keeping clean.

Caravans and motorhomes from Bailey of Bristol all offer a washroom or wet room with shower, toilet and washbasin and often also include large mirror and storage options.

Caravans and motorhomes are truly self-contained thanks to a cassette toilet, but remember to order enough toilet chemicals and toilet paper before you leave.

5. Your holiday your way

Having a vehicle with lots of storage means you can take the accessories you need with you to ensure you can have your holiday the way you want to experience it.

A second Aquaroll (if you haven’t already bought one) is a worthwhile investment when using your shower, and now could be the time to justify that new BBQ as it allows you to dine al fresco with your family.

A 12v cool-box will keep the sausages and burgers fresh and a solar panel makes life a breeze when relaxing on a quiet CL or CS site that doesn’t have electric hook-up points.

If you are looking for new accessories for your caravan or motorhome, take a look at PRIMA – the home of Bailey parts & accessories, where you can find plenty of ideas for items to help make your holiday more comfortable and enjoyable.

6. A chance to make new friends

A caravan or motorhome is a great way to make new friends, especially if you are 12 years old and always take a football to the games area.

For a small annual fee, the two biggest UK clubs offer plenty of opportunities to attend social gatherings with events and rallies offered throughout the year.

Both clubs offer an easy way to find these kind of events on their websites (membership required to access full details):

The Caravan and Motorhome Club events

The Camping and Caravanning Club events

When planning your UK staycation, deciding where to go can often be challenging. You’re spoiled for choice with fascinating historical sites, quaint cities, beautiful beaches, rolling hills, and mysterious mountain ranges.

Below we’ll list the top UK tourist destinations with some campsite inspiration.

Visit Cornwall by travelling to the southwest corner of England.

Get tickets to a performance at the Minack Theatre, a charming open-air theatre located directly on the seaside, if you’re visiting during the hotter months.

At low tide, it’s worthwhile to make the trek to St. Michael’s Mount (don’t worry, a ferry will carry you back when the water rises). If it’s colder and rainier outside, seek shelter within the Eden Project’s lush rainforest domes to learn more about their eco-friendly activities, or visit a pub for a pint of beer and a classic Cornish pasty.

Camelford Club Campsite

The Caravan and Motorhome Club
Camelford, Cornwall, PL32 9RF

• Golf on site
• Free WIFI available
• Laundry facilities

Sennen Cove

The Camping and Caravanning Club
Higher Tregiffian Farm, Penzance TR19 6JB

• Free WIFI available
• Shop on site
• Dog walk

Scotland is a large country that is largely divided into the Highlands and Lowlands.

The division starts north of Loch Lomond National Park and extends between Nairn and Forres through the Cairngorm National Park. The nation is perfect for those who want to go on a travelling vacation because of its vastness and natural features.

When exploring the Highlands, making Lairg, the Isle of Skye, and the Cairngorms National Park your bases let you see much of the region.

If you choose to tour the Lowlands, you may reach every part of the bottom half of the country by car by staying in the nearby areas of Galloway Forest Park, Galashiels near the Scottish borders, and Lochwinnoch.

Altnaharra Club Campsite

The Caravan and Motorhome Club
Altnaharra, Lairg, Highlands, IV27 4UE, Scotland

• Dog walk on site
• Scenic views
• Gas available

Inverewe Gardens Poolewe

The Camping and Caravanning Club
Poolewe, Achnasheen IV22 2LF

• Free WIFI available
• Washrooms
• Dog walk

The Lake District should be on your list if you prefer hiking to city trekking.

While the Lake District is home to many magnificent hikes, our top recommendations for breathtaking vistas include the arduous ascent of Old Man Coniston and the route from Patterdale to St. Sunday Craig.

Stop for a beer at one of the charming, small towns inside the park, such as Grasmere, which is a patchwork of old stone houses and greenery that is divided by a refreshing stream.

Borrowdale Club Campsite

The Caravan and Motorhome Club
Manesty, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5UG

• Dog walk on site
• Scenic views
• Good for cycling

Chertsey

The Camping and Caravanning Club
65-67 Chertsey Bridge Rd, Chertsey KT16 8JX

• Free WIFI available
• Washrooms
• Dog walk

The capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast, is one of those vacation spots that is appealing no matter the weather.

You can stroll through St. George’s Market or investigate Cave Hill Country Park if the weather is nice. Ulster Museum, which hosts various exhibitions from art to archaeology, is likely to draw a throng on a wet day—and Belfast has enough of those.

Take a coastal stroll over the Giant’s Causeway’s stone pillars and a side trip to the nerve-wracking Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. There is no better location for couples on a romantic retreat or photographers than Dark Hedges, a moody road flanked by ancient trees.

Drumaheglis Marina and Caravan Park

The Caravan and Motorhome Club
36 Glenstall Road, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, BT53 7QN, Northern Ireland

• Free WIFI available
• Baby changing facilities
• Games room

Bushmills (Co. Antrim) – Craig House

The Camping and Caravanning Club
Whitepark Rd, Bushmills BT57 8SN

• Pets welcome
• Shower block
• Grass only pitches

This magnificent National Park, crowned by Mount Snowdon, the nation’s tallest mountain in England and Wales, is the jewel in the crown of North Wales.

On a clear day, Snowdon’s 1,085m-tall summit provides 360-degree views of the surrounding valleys. It can be seen in Ireland across the English Channel.

Visitors can spend the day ascending to Snowdon, using one of the numerous pathways leading from the Pen Y Pass parking lot, or they can use the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Finally, visit Llanberis if you’d prefer to stay near the water; it has a variety of outdoor stores to browse and cafes where you can relax while taking in the landscape.

However, Snowdonia National Park isn’t all about the mountains, and visitors won’t want to miss some of its spectacular beaches. The most sought-after is Porthdinllaen, a white sand beach nestled in a nook of beautiful scenery and offering an award-winning pub to boot.

Riverside Touring Park

The Caravan and Motorhome Club
Old Church Road, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy, LL24 0AL

• Golf on site
• Bike hire on site
• Disabled facilities

St. Davids Campsite

The Camping and Caravanning Club
Dwr Cwmwdig, St Davids, Haverfordwest SA62 6DW

• Pets welcome
• Showers, wash basins, toilets
• Mix of pitches including grass and hard standing service pitches

New to caravanning or want to refresh your knowledge? Our Beginners Guide to Caravanning or Beginner’s Guide to Motorhoming will have you up and running in no time.

View additional blog posts from Bailey of Bristol, the nation’s favourite motorhome and caravan manufacturer, for more suggestions on where to stay in the UK.

Remember to follow along with Bailey caravans and motorhomes on social media for more travel inspiration. 

We’d love to hear about how you find your perfect clubs sites and the experiences you have on your caravan and motorhome holidays.

This post was originally published June 2020 and updated November 2022