Finding places to stay

From campsites in tranquil beauty spots to fun packed holiday parks and everything in between

There are literally 1000's of places you can stay overnight with your motorhome and we would always recommend staying at a designated campsite or motorhome parking facility.   Don't forget when you hire with us you get automatic temporary membership with the Camping and Caravanning club.     

Start by planning what you would like to see and do

Rather than booking campsites and then thinking about what to do, first decide where you would like to travel too and what you would like to do. This will enable you to establish a time frame, then research suitable places to stay along the way.  

Consider your budget   

Pitch fees can vary considerably depending on the facilities on offer and the time of year you visit. From Brit Stops which are free of charge to holiday parks with lots of facilities who charge upwards of £40 per night.  There are plenty of bargains to be had during the low season and whilst some campsites close between November-March many remain open all throughout the year.  Worried you'll be cold?  don't be, we've tested out our vans skiing before and we can assure that you will be toasty warm,  Just don't forget sensible outdoor clothing! 

Some campsites have a straightforward pricing policy, where you pay a flat pitch fee with no extra charges. However, with others, working out how much you will need to pay can be a little tricky. What can, at first, seem a fairly cheap site can soon become muh more expensive. On top of the pitch fee for two adults there may also be extra charges for extra people, electric hook-up, dogs, etc.

Facilities required

Your motorhome is designed to work "off grid" in that when you are not on electric hook up the leisure battery will power your lights and the LPG gas system will power your heating, hotwater and fridge/freezer.  The fresh and waste water tanks will hold 100 litres (on average 2 days usage) and the toilet cassette would need to be emptied every 2/3 days.   Your waste water tank - often referred to as "grey water" and your toilet cassette can only be emptied down the appropriate drains.  Therefore we advise that you stay on a campsite with appropriate facilities at least every 3rd day so that you can refresh your water and waste tanks.   Many campsites will however allow you to use their facilities without staying for a nominal fee so it's always worth checking when planning your route.  

Proximity to public transport and local facilities

Depending on the type of trip you are planning you may want to consider staying close to public transport links.  For a city break in London we can personally recommend Abbey Wood Club campsite.  Nestled amongst mature trees it has a positively rural feel but is just a 10 minute walk from the closest station which will whizz you into central London.  Prices start from £18.90 and non members are welcome. 

Whilst a motorhome lends itself to being the ideal way of touring around  If you were wanting to pitch up and explore a local area from one base we would highly recommend somewhere like the Camping and Caravanning site in Keswick .   Just a short stroll into town, great access to walking routes and situated on the beautiful shores of Derwent water in the Lake District it really does tick all the boxes.   

During peak times it can proof to be a little tricky finding parking spaces in local towns and at popular tourist sites but nothing that can't be overcome with a little forward planning.   Most cities have Park and Ride links which offer a convenient place to park and whilst the vast majority do not have height barriers it is always worth checking!  For ensuring you get a parking space at popular tourist sites we recommend the "get up and drive" approach and then get ready for the day once you're parked up.  

For inspiration on where to stay we have listed some handy websites

Camping and Caravanning Club  - Temporary membership included with your booking giving you 30% off campsites across the UK

Caravan and Motorhome Club  -  sites available to both members and non members

Pitched Up  - online directory covering UK and Europe

Campsites UK - online directory featuring over 2000 UK motorhome campsites 

Brit Stops - consists of book and app (£32.00 plus p&p) with over 1100 hosts ranging from country pubs, farm shops, vineyards, breweries, craft / antiques centres, etc. all offering an invitation to stay over for one night in your motorhome or campervan in a safe environment - free of charge!   

Rather than booking campsites and then thinking about what to do, first decide where you would like to travel too and what you would like to do. This will enable you to establish a time frame, then research suitable places to stay along the way.