Best caravan parks UK: get away & save money

Looking for a cheap holiday or staycation? You might be surprised at the variety you get with caravan holidays, which also offer a much better price tag than an overseas trip. We’ve got the lowdown on the best caravan parks in the UK for all kinds of holidays and all kinds of families. 

You’ll find everything from beach experiences for enjoying a laidback holiday to activity-packed days and nights for entertaining every age. We also give you all the tips and tricks on how, where, and when to book so you can get the most out of your holiday.

So whether you’re a first-timer or a regular, you can find money-saving hacks for enjoying a cheap and cheerful staycation. 

Save money on a less popular location

Some of the most popular coastal locations are places like Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, and South Wales. However, popular also means crowded and more expensive.

Our top tip is to think outside the box and head north. There are hundreds of caravan parks in the UK in beautiful areas that are less well-known and less visited. Why not consider coastal regions in Northumberland, North Yorkshire, and Scotland, or the gorgeous countryside of North Wales and Lancashire?

Not only will you avoid the crowds, but you can save money, too. We did some price comparisons using the three most popular holiday park companies.

Our searches were based on a family of four (two adults and two children) staying in a caravan for seven nights from Saturday, August 10th to Saturday, August 17th, 2024. The prices in green highlight the cheapest price we found for each region.

Even from this small sampling, it’s pretty clear that northern locations are significantly cheaper. The difference between the cheapest from each group is at least £200, with some £400+. 

Of course, there are still some upscale places in the north, like the Lake District, but as a general rule, you’ll save money. Make sure you factor in travel costs before you decide on a location so your overall costs stay within budget.

Which park operators should you book with?

If you’re new to the world of holiday parks, it might be tricky to know where to get started. We’ve compiled a list of the best caravan parks (UK), including the major chains and private operators. 

Top UK operators

Three of the biggest chains in the UK include Park Holidays, Parkdean Resorts, and Haven. You’ll find more than 100 locations between these three, so it’s a good place to start for the best caravan parks in the UK. Here’s a quick rundown of what they offer.

Smaller park operators

If you’ve got your heart set on a location, you might be able to save money with smaller holiday parks. 

Hoburne features just eight locations within the southern part of England, which could be ideal if this is the region you’re set on. Perks include free lodgings for dogs and luxury hot tubs at select locations.

Away Resorts have a larger selection, with each park located within an area of natural beauty, place of interest, national park, or beach. They feature parks situated on the Isle of Wight and offer a specialty doggy menu at their dog-friendly locations.

Go private

Many of the caravans within holiday parks are privately owned, and you can rent directly from the owners. Cutting out a lot of the costs that are associated with major park operators means you can save more money this route.

So where can you find a privately-owned caravan? 

Direct Holiday Homes offer caravans on popular sites as well as standalone caravans on private land ideal for enjoying peace and quiet.

2cHolidays feature 73 parks on their site with a variety of holiday homes including caravans, lodges, cabins, and chalets, all from private owners.

Rentaholidaycaravan.com searches hundreds of parks across the UK and puts you in direct contact with the caravan owner.

Check voucher sites 

If you’re serious about money-saving, you could score incredible deals via discount sites. Voucher sites like Wowcher and Groupon often feature deals on caravan holidays in the UK.

The downside is you won’t have as much choice as booking through a dedicated caravan holiday site, so if you’re looking for a particular location, this might not be the tip for you.

However, the savings might more than make up for the lack of choice. When we looked – December 2023 – the biggest discount was 70% off for a Yorkshire glamping stay with Prosecco for up to 6 with a hot tub included.

There was also 62% off a 4-night cottage retreat for four in Anglesey, 56% off a Scottish Highlands Glamping Getaway for 2 with prosecco, and 47% off a Stonehenge 2-night hut stay with cocktails.

These deals are usually snapped up fast, so it’s best to look for last-minute deals or less-planned trips.

On Groupon we found smaller discounts, like £20 off Butlins, 10% off Parkdean Resorts, and £50 off Centerparcs. It’s worth checking frequently, as these will be updated fairly often.

Caravan holiday booking tips

Now you have an idea of where you want to go, you can get a good price by booking at the right time. It’s possible to bag a deal with a last-minute booking (more on that later), but generally, you want to be prepared to book well in advance.

Here are a few of our top tips for making the most out of the booking periods and getting the best price.

Book in advance

This one is pretty obvious, but it bears repeating. Booking early means you can find some of the best deals and prices. If you know when you want to go, put time aside for planning and booking as soon as possible.

Book during term time

For those without school-age children, take advantage of term time prices. School holidays are some of the most expensive weeks of the year. You can still enjoy a cheap summer holiday in June or September when the costs are significantly lower than in July and August.

Check the last week of August

Most people looking for caravan holidays will have school-age children, of course. If this is you, you might still be able to find cheaper options during school holidays. 

Generally, the end of August and very early September tend to be the least popular time to go away, as people start getting ready for the beginning of school. 

If you live outside of Scotland, you could take advantage of their difference in school holidays. Visit Scotland in mid-August and you’ll find lower prices as Scottish kids are back in the classroom and demand is much lower.

Go midweek

This tip might not be so obvious, but we tried it out and it’s completely true. Starting and ending your holiday on a Saturday usually costs a lot more. Start midweek and you could save a chunk on your booking. 

Take a look at the prices we checked for a seven-night booking for four guests at Haven’s Perran Sands Park in Cornwall.

Last-minute caravan holiday deals

Booking in advance is often the best way to secure a good deal, but that’s not always a possibility. If you’re looking at the eleventh hour, you could take advantage of last-minute caravan holiday discounts. 

If lodgings are going empty, park operators would rather have them go cheap than not at all, so they’ll often offer a good deal. We don’t recommend relying on this as a tactic every time, but it works when you need it.

We looked at last-minute deals from leading operators in 2023. Here's a summary of the best deals we found.

A few last money-saving tips

We’ve covered a lot of major tips for bagging yourself a deal or last-minute discount on a UK caravan holiday. With any luck, these will save you £££s, but we’ve got a few more minor tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of your booking.

If you’re going away as a family of three or four, you might be tempted to book a six-berth caravan for extra space. For those willing to spend the extra money, that’s fine, but be aware it’s not a cost-effective option.

Extra space is great, but if you’re booking a summer caravan holiday, consider how much time you’ll be spending indoors. Is the extra space – and cost – worth it? You could save that expense and spend it on activities instead.

Many UK caravan parks have fantastic facilities for both children and adults. You’ll usually find indoor and outdoor pools, clubhouse entertainment day and night, kids’ play areas, and games rooms.

If you’re not travelling with children or you’re more interested in exploring the local area than staying onsite, these facilities only add cost. Finding a more basic holiday park will not only suit your needs but it will be cheaper.

Lots of caravan parks come with even more facilities, like spa baths and water parks, as well as activities like kayaking, wall climbing, and Go Karting. Some will offer bundles with activities included, but if you’re unlikely to try them all, it might be cheaper to pay for them as you use them.

Save money on pet care by bringing your four-legged friends with you. All of the park operators mentioned in this guide feature dog-friendly parks and at Hoburne Holidays, dogs go free.

Other dog-friendly caravan parks will charge a small fee, which is likely going to be cheaper than forking out for pet care. Many parks feature seasonal sales throughout the year where you can find bookings with free stays for dogs. 

Haven parks offer dog-friendly dining at select locations and Away Resorts offer specialty doggy menus for furry friends.

Earn cashback

Get a little extra back when you book online through a cashback site. At TopCashback, we get a little commission for sending customers to brands, but we give 100% of that commission to you, the customer. We feature Away Resorts and Parkdean Resorts on our site, so if you’re looking to book at either of these chains, why not earn money? 

Visit the brand page on our site and click ‘get cashback now’, which will take you to their site. Book as you normally would, then once you’ve made your purchase, your cashback will start tracking. Once the brand pays us, we’ll pay you!

Book your budget break

Now that we’ve covered pretty much every aspect of booking caravan holidays in the UK, we hope you feel more equipped and ready to save money. Here’s a rundown of the main takeaways for a budget staycation:

Book in advance for the best prices

Avoid term time if possible, or aim for very early/late school holidays

Try less popular locations for cheaper bookings

Take advantage of last-minute deals & check voucher sites

Only pay for the space & facilities you need