Over the past century, there have arguably been very few things as quintessentially British as caravan holidays. Indeed, in recent years, the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic helped to make caravanning arguably as relevant as ever.
Between the coronavirus crisis’s onset and November 2023, more than a fifth of UK adults embarked on a caravanning or camping break.
A Caravan Break Can Make Sense in A Lot of Different Ways
Going on holiday in a caravan can present a variety of benefits over alternative types of vacations. It can help the traveller save on flights and hotel costs, for instance. Plus, if you opt to stay in a fixed (or “static”) caravan, these are often located in holiday parks in remarkably beautiful coastal and rural surroundings.
However, the supposed advantages of this type of break might not seem to count for much if you struggle to think of things to do on a caravan holiday.
So, to get you thinking (and inspired), here are 10 things to consider doing on your next caravanning adventure.
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Discover A Stunning National Park
There are no fewer than 15 national parks dotted around the UK, including 10 in England, three in Wales, and two in Scotland. So, there will probably be one or several awe-inspiring national parks near wherever you’re staying.
From the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales to Brecon Beacons and Cairngorms, the UK’s world-renowned national parks serve up rugged beauty, scenic trails, and outdoor activities for people of all tastes, inclinations and fitness levels.
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Savour Local Food and Drink
Whether you take advantage of the on-site facilities at your chosen caravan park or you head to nearby towns or villages, you are sure to find pubs, restaurants, and/or markets that make it easy to sample local delicacies, such as fresh seafood or award-winning produce.
A caravan holiday to somewhere new and exciting can be a great opportunity to support small and independent eateries. This can make a nice change from the same old “big brand” restaurants and coffee shops you may be familiar with back home.
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Wander Around Nearby Historical Sites
One of the great things about holidaying in the UK in general, is that there really are remnants of history pretty much anywhere and everywhere. That includes practically anywhere you might happen to take your caravan.
But of course, with there being so many other things to do on a caravan holiday, we can well understand you sticking to the well-known fundamentals.
You might choose to target Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral if you’re holidaying in Wiltshire, for example, or Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle in the event of your caravanning taking you to the North East.
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Enjoy A Stroll Along the Beach
There might be a stereotype that caravan holidays are for people with relatively… sedate tastes, but what’s wrong with that? A gentle stroll along the seaside, for instance, can help reduce your stress due to immersion in sunlight, ocean sounds, and picturesque coastal scenery.
If you’re thinking of booking a stay in a static caravan, why not make sure the beach will be close by? For example, many people are drawn towards White House Leisure Park’s holiday homes in Bridlington, Yorkshire due to the delights of South Beach, North Beach, Fraisthorpe Beach, and Sewerby Beach being just a few miles away.
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Try Your Hand at Water Sports
The proximity of many caravan sites to all manner of lakes, rivers, and coasts means there might also be obvious opportunities on your next caravan break to test yourself with relatively gentle water-based activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing.
Or why not have a go at something a bit more… bracing, such as surfing, windsurfing, or wakeboarding?
Some people on caravan vacations are even tempted to do a bit of “wild swimming” in beautiful natural spots. However, if you’re one of them, we would urge you to always prioritise safety and to check local guidelines.
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Bond With the Family
A caravan break doesn’t have to involve you always being “out and about”. On any given day, you could while away the hours playing board games or videogames with your loved ones. Or maybe you could engage in park-organised activities together, such as arts and crafts?
Regardless, back home, you might not always get much bonding time with your family amid the usual rush of life. A caravan break can be appealing for every age group from kids to grandparents, so it can be an ideal opportunity to get the family together.
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Get On Your Bike and Explore the Wider Area
Cycling is certainly an activity associated with a range of health benefits, such as improved cardiovascular health and enhanced mental wellbeing.
Those benefits can be even greater when you take on cyclist-friendly routes near you during your caravan break. Potential destinations for cyclists include Cornwall with its family-friendly Camel Trail, as well as Snowdonia in Wales, which is a prime location for mountain biking.
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Discover Nearby Farmers’ Markets and Artisan Fairs
Many of the UK’s caravan parks are a short drive away from regular markets that present a broad range of alluring local cheeses, baked goods, homemade crafts, and farm-fresh produce.
Whether you head to such an event as Stroud Farmers’ Market in Gloucestershire, Truro Farmers’ Market in Cornwall, or Winchester Farmers’ Market in Hampshire, it can be a highly rewarding experience to stroll among the stalls, sample regional specialities, and pick up some ingredients for your next picnic on your return to the caravan.
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Attend One or Several Local Events
Here’s one of the best reasons to do in-depth research in advance when coordinating a caravan break in the UK, instead of doing everything spontaneously: there might be certain events taking place in or near your destination that you won’t want to miss.
Many caravan parks, of course, put on their own events and activities such as live music and comedy shows. With or without this, the broader locality may host appealing events like music festivals, community cultural events, craft markets, or agricultural shows. So, make sure you check the local listings when putting together an itinerary for your caravan break.
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Head Into a Nearby Town or City
There is often a perception that someone might choose to holiday in a caravan in order to explore rural and coastal areas, rather than necessarily built-up towns and cities.
However, that isn’t always the case. Again, the sheer flexibility of caravanning comes into play here; the aforementioned White House Leisure Park, for example, is situated in the south of Bridlington. This resort, in turn, is well-placed for onward travel to the likes of Kingston upon Hull or Scarborough.
So, if you fancy making your way from your static caravan in Bridlington to one of the bigger nearby towns or cities to discover heritage sites, museums, theatres, and other attractions, a vacation by caravan can offer a lot of convenience in this regard, too.
There you have it; 10 of the best things to do on a caravan holiday that underscore how attractive and relevant this type of vacation remains during the 2020s. Perhaps you have some of your own suggestions that could be added to this list?
