The mere mention of a caravan holiday might hurtle many of us back down memory lane to our own childhood adventures – sparking flashbacks of awnings flapping in the wind and midnight dashes to the toilet block.
But as England footballer and his wife Annie Kilner found on their recent ‘make-up’ holiday to Abersoch on ‘the Welsh Riviera’ in North Wales, today’s caravan parks have come on leaps and bounds.
On a break ahead of Euro 24 to help patch up their relationship, Kyle and Annie, with their four boys in tow, stayed at the The Warren, described as ‘the millionaire’s caravan park’, which offers a bar, spa and gaming zone.
When Kyle Walker took his wife Annie on holiday recently to try to patch up their relationship, he did not plump for Barbados or the Balearic Islands – but a caravan park in North Wales
A seafront suite at The Warren – on ‘The Welsh Riviera’ – where the Walkers stayed with their four boys
Many other sites also offer heated pools with saunas and steam rooms, wood-fired pizza restaurants, fancy bathrooms and shops stocked with bottles of Bollinger and organic meat.
Whether you’re rolling your own palace-on-wheels away for a few days’ exploration or renting a static that’s already on site, here are Britain’s 20 poshest caravan parks.
Warren Farm, Somerset
Run by the fifth generation of the Harris family, Warren Farm has perfected the caravan park craft.
Set just off Brean’s five-mile sandy beach in Somerset, it’s a family favourite thanks to its Play Barn arcade, soft play area, sports field — with adventure trail and zip-wire slide — and a peaceful paddock that’s home to two resident donkeys, Danny and Luna.
Entertainment including live music comes via The Beachcomber bar and restaurant, with fish and chip suppers on offer, too.
POSH FACTOR: There’s en-suite shower pods for hire.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £23 a night; two-bedroom static caravans for from £85 a night (three-night minimum stay), warrenfarm.co.uk
Ettie’s Field, Warwickshire
If Emily Eavis — co-organiser of Glastonbury Festival — opened a caravan site, it might well turn out like Ettie’s Field.
On a former pig farm in rural Warwickshire and in the same family for more than 40 years, it’s run by couple Linds and Dom, who began transforming their land into a glamping, camping and caravanning oasis back in 2015.
Kids are welcome, but there aren’t lots of children’s facilities: the joy of this site is the fresh air, boho vibes and meeting the animals — including Kunekune pigs and Nubian goats. A gift shop on site sells fair trade, handcrafted and recycled products, and there’s a quirky cafe, Flours, too.
POSH FACTOR: Guests get chimineas (outdoor wood stoves) to warm their toes next to.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £35 a night; ‘Ettie’ Airsteam caravan sleeping two from £240 for two nights, ettiesfield.com
Pencarnan Farm, Pembrokeshire
A working farm on 96 acres, a few miles west of Welsh cathedral city St Davids, Pencarnanfarm is also a master at rural tourism, having offered camping and caravanning for decades.
Whichever of the four fields you find yourself bedding down in, expect jaw-dropping views, including overlooking Whitesands Bay. Walkers have easy access to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, too, while Porthsele beach, which sits directly below the site, is a peach for surfing, wild swims and kayaking.
POSH FACTOR: In summer, there’s a craft beer bar and wood-fired pizzas on site.
BOOK IT: From £16.50 per adult per night; from £8 per child (aged six to 16) per night. Static caravan sleeping six to eight from £1,200 for seven nights, pencarnanfarm.co.uk
Parbola Park, Cornwall
Fancy staying in St Ives in high season without paying the earth? Book a stay (two nights’ minimum) at 16-acre Parbola Holiday Park just up the road, and you’ll pay less than £20 a night for a touring spot.
Different accommodation types — including lodges and glamping tents — get their own allocated space on this patchwork of emerald fields, but all guests can leap into the summer crowd-pleaser – a heated outdoor pool. There’s belly boards to hire, an Alice In Wonderland-themed mini golf and an agility course for dogs too.
POSH FACTOR: A caramel-coloured safari tent for communal dining.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £16.80 a night; seven nights in a two-bedroom caravan sleeping six from £348.50, lovatparks.com
Cofton Holiday Park, Devon
Near the mellow sands at Dawlish in South Devon, 80-acre Cofton Holiday Park has a medley of accommodation, from luxury lodges to cottages and statics, plus a BYO tent or caravan.
Pitches are roomy, fully serviced and close to a heated shower block that looks like a plush alpine lodge. And the pay-as-you-go activities will thrill the kids; there’s a tree-top rope course, pond dipping, splash pad and bowling alley.
POSH FACTOR: Sauna and steam cares away in the health suite.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £32 a night; two-bedroom static caravans for two nights from £155, coftonholidays.co.uk
Plassey, North Wales
Wrexham doesn’t just have a football team to shout about, it has one of Britain’s swankiest caravan parks. Scattered across 250 acres of Dee Valley, Plassey Holiday Park feels more like a luxe country club, thanks to its indoor pool, nine-hole golf course and games room — with a Welsh castle adventure playground ideal for the young caravanners in your life. There’s shopping, too, with converted farm buildings on site home to 20 independent stores.
POSH FACTOR: Short back and sides, sir? There’s even a barber.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £20; two-bedroom lodges for seven nights from £629, plassey.com
Eye Kettleby Lakes, Leicestershire
With afternoon teas served in the day and live music at night, The Clubhouse is the fun hub at 150-acre Eye Kettleby Lakes, a family-run fishery and caravan park in pork pie country — Melton Mowbray is just three miles away.
On site, there’s everything from glamping pods to lodges and camping and caravanning — although the touring part of the site is adult-only. A positive nirvana for fishing fans, there are nine coarse fishing lakes and two specimen carp lakes.
POSH FACTOR: Piped music in the showers to give them a ‘private en-suite feel’.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £41 a night; two-bedroom lodges for three nights from £796, eyekettlebylakes.com
Skelwith Fold, Cumbria
Set in 130 ambrosial acres on the fringes of Ambleside, and a short drive from Windermere and Coniston, Skelwith Fold regularly comes up in conversations about the UK’s more discerning campsites. There are 70 caravan pitches, plus 22 ‘premium’ spots, which come with picnic tables — and you’ll share these nature-filled lands with red squirrels and deer.
Guests can also book a static caravan, glamping pod, safari tent and even cottages. Other highlights? 100 walkable acres of woodland, and an extensive ‘trust’ library of books.
POSH FACTOR: No Marigolds required, there are — hallelujah — dishwashers.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £31 a night; one-bedroom lodges for seven nights from £673, skelwith.com
Concierge Camping, West Sussex
At the foot of the South Downs National Park, this West Sussex site bills itself as the ‘Ritz of camping’.
Caravanners cruise into the leafy environs of Grade II-listed Ratham Estate — a short cycle ride from Chichester — to find 27 fully serviced pitches, all framed by hedges for seclusion. Dog-friendly and with speedy wifi, since it opened in 2015, Concierge has garnered plenty of awards, including the prestigious ‘Loo of the Year’ accolade. You might spot the owners, Lord and Lady Hodgkin — known as Tracey and Guy to regulars — wandering the grounds.
POSH FACTOR: Bottles of Bollinger and organic meat in the park shop.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £45 a night; two-bed lodges for three nights from £485, conciergecamping.co.uk
Wooda, Cornwall
Ten minutes’ drive from charming Bude on the North Cornish coast, this family-run farm campsite has more than 200 pitches for tourers and tents — and wow-factor facilities.
The trio of gleaming shower blocks are contemporary in design and you can book en-suite bathroom pods for additional privacy. A Wellness Barn has a smorgasbord of divine-sounding spa treatments and locally sourced fodder is found in the Farm Shop, Courtyard Bar and Grill, and Lodge takeaway. Need a little garnish for dinner? Help yourself in the herb garden.
POSH FACTOR: Local artist Sue Read has a studio on site.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £25 a night; two-bedroom lodges for three nights from £753, wooda.co.uk
Cotswold Farm Park, Cotswolds
Countryfile presenter Adam Henson owns Cotswold Farm Park in the serene Windrush Valley
A regular on BBC One’s Countryfile, thanks to its owner, presenter and farmer Adam Henson, Cotswold Farm Park, in the serene Windrush Valley, might be the country’s most wholesome caravan park.
Book a pitch and you’ll enjoy the agricultural fun for free — overnighters get entry to the Farm Park attraction, plus there’s regular guided dog walks through the pastoral splendour. Don’t miss the shop, selling the fruits of Henson’s labour, including rare breed sausages crying out for a campfire BBQ.
POSH FACTOR: A delicious small plates menu — think hummus and halloumi — in the restaurant.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £41.50 a night; two-bedroom lodges from £563 for two nights, cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk
The Quiet Site, Cumbria
Back in 1963, The Quiet Site, overlooking Ullswater and in striking distance of Helvellyn, started life as a rustic camping field. Now, it has state-of-the-art amenities and impressive eco-friendly credentials.
There’s trendy glamping pods, cottages and burrows but the park remains faithful to those with tents and caravans too. Open year-round, there’s character in spades, including a wood-fired takeaway and pub that dates back to 1680. It’s The AA’s Campsite of the Year 2024, so you’ll need to book well in advance.
POSH FACTOR: The ‘zero waste’ store sells shampoo bars, milk in glass bottles and local cheeses — with no plastic packaging.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £40 a night; lodges sleeping two adults and four children from £900 for seven nights, thequietsite.co.uk.
Poston Mill, Herefordshire
Draw back the curtains and enjoy glorious views of the Golden Valley at this holiday park along the River Dore. Practise your golf swing at the pitch and putt, walk your pets across the secure dog field, and enjoy a meal at The Mill pub onsite. Pristine amenities and friendly wardens mean repeat visitor numbers are sky-high.
POSH FACTOR: An onsite pub keeps the vino flowing in summer.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £36; Two nights in a two-bedroom caravan sleeping four from £271, morris-leisure.co.uk
Herding Hill Farm, Northumberland
Tourers are welcome year-round on this bucolic spot, which sits in the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall and has many shiny stars to its name, bestowed by both The AA and Visit England.
There’s glittering stars above, too, for this is Northumberland Dark Sky territory, and caravanners can rent a fire-pit to warm their bones while staring at celestial skies.
Facilities? Where to begin… the wash facilities have underfloor heating, there’s a petting farm and playground, plus you can order homemade pizzas to your door.
POSH FACTOR: The cool BBQ hut can be hired for a family feast.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £35 a night; three-bedroom lodge for three nights from £690, herdinghillfarm.co.uk
Bargoed Farm, Ceredigion, Wales
Bargoed Farm been such a hit since opening in 2017 that this pretty park in Cardigan Bay has grown by 50 pitches this summer. It’s an enticing combination of close-to-the-coast green fields and fashionable foodie fare — with a Play Barn kids can tumble around in, too.
Grab your Earl Grey — and Welsh produce galore — in the farm shop, or book a table at The Moody Cow bistro, loved by locals and caravanners alike; there’s a Celtic Pride 35-day aged sirloin on the dinner menu.
POSH FACTOR: A deli counter in the shop stacked with gourmet treats.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £20 a night; upgrade to pitch with hot tub from £50 a night extra, bargoedfarm.co.uk
Old Brick Kilns, Norfolk
Set across 13 verdant acres eight miles inland from the Norfolk coast, and seven from the market town of Fakenham, Old Brick Kilns is already on the radar of many caravanners who love the site’s tranquility.
There are 60 pitches, plus five premium spots in a nearby secluded meadow. A contemporary washroom has high pressure, untimed showers and underfloor heating, you can order warm croissants and bacon turnovers to collect for breakfast and there’s a small but well-stocked fishing pond.
POSH FACTOR: Barney’s bar serves up Sunday roasts with all the trimmings.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £34 a night, old-brick-kilns.co.uk
Pine Cones, Norfolk
Just how posh is North Norfolk hideaway Pine Cones? Well, the neighbours are regal enough — the Royal Sandringham Estate sits less than three miles south. Sustainability is a core focus at this open-all-year site, with renewable sources and solar pergolas amongst the eco efforts. There’s a good mishmash of family accommodation – from traditional pitches to trendy pods, with dogs welcome too. New for this year is Ben’s Bar and Cinema, a pub with Scandi decor which shows movies and matches while serving up sausage rolls and pints of Estrella.
POSH FACTOR: Find homemade doggy ice cream in the shop.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £35, pinecones.co.uk
Reraig Camping, Scotland
A ten-minute drive from Skye Bridge — and opportunities for Scottish island exploration — Reraig Camping on Scotland’s West Coast was recently called ‘one of the most immaculate sites in Europe’ by one happy punter.
Also a stop-off on the North Coast 500 — the 500-mile tourist route across northern Scotland — this is a summer-only site (it shuts up shop on September 30) and lets the spectacular scenery do the talking, with the cobalt blue waters of Loch Alsh moments away.
POSH FACTOR: Dom’s Seafood van serves fresh fish on site
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £20 a night, reraigcamping.com
Kingston Lacy, Dorset
Kingston Lacy, in Dorset, where holidaymakers can stay on a 8,500-acre National Trust estate
Less is more, right? The lack of facilities at Kingston Lacy, a country mansion with Japanese-inspired gardens close to Wimborne, makes a stay on this regal 8,500-acre Dorset estate somehow all the more desirable.
There’s just five pitches for motorhomes, campervans and caravans in this grandiose back yard; quiet your engine and bask in the stillness. Run by The National Trust, Kingston Lacy caravanners get an electric hook-up and free access to the house, with the fossil-filled Jurassic Coast just 20 miles south. The downside? You’ll need to bring your own loo.
POSH FACTOR: The house art collection includes works by Rubens, Titian and Sebastiano del Piombo.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £24 a night; nationaltrust.org.uk
Clachtoll Beach Campsite, Scottish Highlands
Get in quick, for pitches on this gorgeous site near Lairg on the Stoer peninsula, with big sky panoramas across to the Isles of Lewis, Harris and Skye, get snaffled quickly.
Those lucky enough to bag a spot are just 100 metres from Clachtoll’s soft-sand beach and turquoise waters — and the on-site amenities are top notch, too, having had a revamp in 2022.
Included in the price of your stay (two nights minimum) is a treasure trove of beach games, wetsuits, kayaks and paddleboards, plus there’s dishwashers, decent laundry facilities and media charging lockers. It’s right on the North Coast 500, Scotland’s scenic road trip route, too.
POSH FACTOR: GHD styling irons in the shower block.
BOOK IT: Caravan pitches from £62 for two nights, clachtollbeachcampsite.com