With a wide range of new touring caravans available in the UK, it can be a daunting prospect to decide which is the best caravan for you and your family, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. So, too, if you’re an experienced caravanner looking to upgrade or downsize to something new. Where do you start?
Caravanning are all about a love for the outdoors and the freedom that touring offers as you pitch up at the best caravan sites up and down the country. However, there are a wide range of tourers to choose from – purchase one that’s inappropriate for your needs and it can become a costly mistake if you need to change it.
So, we’ve done the hard work for you to help you find the caravan to meet your requirements. Whether you’re looking for the best caravan for couples or are more interested in a van that offers space for the whole family to spread out in, there’s going to be an option here for you.
We’re able to choose the models in our guide in a couple of ways. Firstly, we run the Practical Caravan Awards, where our expert judging panel use our combined decades of industry experience to pick out the best caravans for the new season, covering a wide range of categories.
Couple this with our Owner Satisfaction Awards, where you, our readers, help the decisions of those looking to buy a tourer and we have a good basis to start selecting the manufacturers that are producing the best caravans to buy.
For our most recent Owner Satisfaction Awards, run in conjunction with the Camping and Caravanning Club, we received 4,660 responses, giving us a good indication of the condition of the market.
Now, from all our sources, including our many tests and reviews, we’ve selected the standout models on the market, featuring options from some of the best caravan manufacturers out there. Each van is new or refreshed for the 2025 season too.
What are the best caravans to buy?
Capsule Mini R
Coachman Lusso III
Sprite Exclusive Major 6 TD
Adria Alpina Colorado
Swift Sprite Exclusive Quattro MB
Bailey Unicorn Deluxe Madrid
Elddis Avanté 520
Coachman Acadia 460
Bailey Alicanto Deluxe Alvor
The best caravans:
Capsule Mini R
- Price: £16,995
- Berths: 2
- MiRO: 650kg
- Payload: 100kg
- MTPLM: 750kg
- Interior length: 2.8m
- Shipping length: 3.8m
- Overall width: 1.98m
Reason to buy:
- Very light weight and well designed
Reason to avoid:
- Doesn’t offer heating as standard
A double winner at the Practical Caravan Awards 2025, the Capsule Mini R is an impressive monocoque ‘van which, we think, offers incredible value and a very well-designed finish. It’s also very lightweight, with its MTPLM of 750kg making it suitable for matching for owners of the best small tow cars.
That well-designed interior includes a U-shaped lounge where four could sit comfortably – considering its price, we think this is very impressive. Daylight is able to flood in, despite the windows not being the biggest. Then there are rattan locker doors, wood-effect vinyl flooring, and magnet-fastening blinds and flyscreens, all creating a smart interior vibe.
We think the work surface in the kitchen is good too, considering the size of the caravan – you also get a one-burn hob, which sits in-line with the small sink.
We will highlight the washroom is a bit basic – there’s only a single drainage hole, for instance, and no fitted cassette toilet (there is room for the Thetford 565E Porta Potti which comes as standard though). There is no heating as standard either.
However, there’s a cheerful choice of colour schemes, an AL-KO chassis and hitch, plus a 12v 42-litre fridge – this is an impressive and innovative offering to the small caravan market, we think.
Full review: Capsule Mini R
Coachman Lusso III
- Price: £52,195
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1984kg
- MIRO: 1824kg
- Payload: 160kg
- Length: 7.89m
- Width: 2.44m
Reason to buy:
- Incredibly luxurious
Reason to avoid:
- Its price tag
With a superb kitchen and spec level throughout, the Lusso III is a twin-axle tourer which was our pick of the luxury caravans at the Practical Caravan Awards 2025 and, one that, we think, provides a family-friendly layout.
There’s an Al-Ko stabiliser, an E&P automatic levelling system and ATC, while its one-piece door comes with high-security locking. Like other models in the Lusso range, it has an L-shaped lounge, now adorned with lighter upholstery. We liked how Coachman has got around the potential issue of this type of lounge – where does the fourth person sit? They’ve managed this by adding a footstool, which may be heavy, but if you’re only touring as a couple, there is always the option of leaving it at home.
We found the kitchen really impressive too, with plenty on offer as you would expect in this type of caravan – the work surface is plentiful, there are three gas burners and a hotplate, a separate oven and grill, plenty of storage, and a 159-litre Thetford fridge-freezer.
The sleeping setup is excellent too, with the twin fixed single beds both a good size, despite only being 0.50m high. We thought the inclusion of features such as a light, a radio speaker, and a small shelf would improve this space for users too, while a TV point can also be found.
Even the best caravans have compromises though and here, it’s found in the washroom, where the wardrobe has been placed. Despite this, we thought the space had been used well, with the wardrobe sitting above the Thetford toilet and a fully lined shower cubicle providing continuous hot water, due to an Alde 3030 Plus boiler. We don’t think storage will be an issue either, with 11 overhead lockers provided – and that’s excluding the ones in the kitchen.
Full review: Coachman Lusso III
Sprite Exclusive Major 6 TD
- Price: £28,145
- Berths: 6
- MTPLM: 1622kg
- MIRO: 1445kg
- Payload: 177kg
- Shipping length: 7.63m
- Width: 2.25m
Reason to buy:
- A family van which ensures everyone will have their own space, cleverly redesigned
Reason to avoid:
- A layout which may not be so suitable if the children have big age gaps
What we like so much about the improved Major 6 TD is how Swift has successfully made a family-friendly tourer that bit more adult-friendly while providing an excellent spec, which includes a 120W solar panel, an Eco Camel Jetstorm shower head and 15-inch half diamond-cut alloys.
A good lounge is always important in the best caravans, and the one in the Major 6 TD will be big enough for the six of you to sit in comfort. A pull-out shelf is ideal for snacks, while the area is well lit, thanks to a large sunroof, big windows and a Heki. Something we really like is how the door has been repositioned to be nearer to the front and now sits on the other side of the kitchen. We thought this would mean there is now a place for the children to play further back in the side dinette – and helpfully, this is a space which has an aerial socket too.
The kitchen comes with a microwave, a four-burner dual-fuel hob, a separate oven and grill, and a slimline fridge, while a couple of sockets will allow the use of a radio, kettle or toaster. A step needs navigating to reach the washroom, but the separate shower cubicle can only be called huge. The wheel arch juts in, but we think this is actually useful in a family van, as it provides a seat for a small child.
Then, in the evening, pull the concertina partition across and the adults can move to the front, leaving the children undisturbed at the back. Storage is also plentiful throughout.
Adria Alpina Colorado
- Price: £44,305
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 2000kg
- MIRO: 1837kg
- Payload: 109kg
- Shipping length: 8.26m
- Width: 2.46m
Reason to buy:
- It provides plenty of contemporary style
Reason to avoid:
- The underseat areas have no internal access
Look at any model from the new season Alpina range and you’re bound to notice the fresh exterior, which now comes with a brand stripe of colour on each side, a look which we think provides both warmth and style.
We like the charm of the minimalist interior too, particularly with the contrast it provides to the exterior. There’s an airiness inside, thanks to the handle-free overhead lockers, while the space itself is comfortable, with cushioning extending down to the floor. Corner headrests add to the comfort of this U-shaped lounge, but one of our favourite features is how the central backrest can be removed to reach a fold-out table, perfect for placing a cup of tea. We found it straightforward to make a huge double here too, only requiring two infills, always something we look for in the best 4 berth caravans.
One downside we noticed is the lack of internal or external access flaps for the space beneath the settees – instead, you have to remove the cushions. It’s a similar story with the fixed single beds, where there’s no internal access, although the one on the nearside can be reached via an external door.
In the kitchen, you get plenty of work space, two mains sockets, an oven and separate grill, a microwave, a three-burner hob and a 140-litre fridge, which should be more than capable of catering to the needs of four of you.
The airy vibe continues in the end washroom too, a space which includes good headroom in the shower cubicle.
Full review: Adria Alpina Colorado
Swift Sprite Exclusive Quattro MB
- Price: £30,345
- Berths: 6
- MTPLM: 1687kg
- MIRO: 1507kg
- Payload: 180kg
- Length: 7.98m
- Width: 2.25m
Reason to buy:
- Excellent space provided for all considering its MTPLM
Reason to avoid:
- It’s 7.98m so will need to be carefully manoeuvred
What impressed us the most with the Quattro MB, part of the new nine-model Sprite Exclusive range, is how the designers have come up with an innovative take on the corner bed. By rotating it 90 degrees, it now runs across the back, keeping its cut-off corner to provide space for a socket and a mirror in front of the dresser.
At the front of the tourer, the L-shaped front lounge can be found, with a large square window on the offside not only ensuring it’s well-lit but providing a spot for taking in the scenery. Ok, fitting all six of you in could be a struggle, but the side dinette offers a solution. A useful new feature here is the wireless charging pad, something which indicates the overall spec level provided.
Then there’s a good kitchen, where a slimline fridge can be found, while the central washroom features a decent shower cubicle. The remaining berths include a double bed which is made up in the lounge and a single bed and bunk bed which is made from the side dinette.
Full review: Swift Sprite Exclusive Quattro MB
Bailey Unicorn Deluxe Madrid
- Price: £32,699
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1550kg
- MIRO: 1380kg
- Payload: 170kg
- Shipping length: 6.88m
- Width: 2.26m
Reason to buy:
- Excellent spec, great washroom
Reason to avoid:
- Elder children could feel a lack of privacy
The Madrid is part of Bailey’s upgraded Unicorn Deluxe range, with the tourer offering numerous new features that make it, in our opinion, an ideal family caravan.
For instance, there’s a great spec level which should appeal to all ages, including a wireless charging pad, a SONOS speaker, and the new correlated colour temperature system, which can be used to control the lighting to create different vibes throughout.
The front lounge is comfortable for daytime use and can either be made into two single beds or a comfortable double. Then in the side dinette, two solid bunks can be made up in a space which could be ideal for the children to relax in during the day.
The kitchen’s 137 litre tower fridge should be able to cater to the needs of a family, while other features on the single axle tourer include a 130-watt solar panel and a full-width end washroom which offers both a separate shower and wardrobe.
Elddis Avanté 520
- Price: £26,299
- Berths: 2
- MiRO: 1214kg
- Payload: 126kg
- MTPLM: 1340kg
- Shipping length: 6.70m
- Overall width: 2.23m
Reason to buy:
- The lounge and washroom are both highly comfortable
Reason to avoid:
- It doesn’t have a flatbed microwave
It’s not just the sleek new exterior profile that impresses us with the Avanté 520 – it’s how it successfully provides enough space for the two of you to enjoyably tour in too.
There’s a comfortable front lounge, which, thanks to its pale colour scheme, gives owners the freedom to create the vibe they choose. We like how spacious it is too; after all, the best caravan to buy needs to offer enough space for hosting, and here, four or even five could relax. It’s nicely lit too, with a Heki and a sunroof combining with the windows to allow light to flood in.
There’s a large sink, a dual-fuel four-burner hob, a 98-litre fridge, and a separate oven and grill in the kitchen in another nicely lit area. One thing we did note here was the microwave wasn’t flatbed, something to be aware of when towing. However, it’s the washroom that we particularly liked – it’s the biggest that Elddis has ever produced, with plenty of room to get changed in and a large shower cubicle.
The beds are straightforward to make up in the lounge as well, with slats that pull out from the chest.
There is also good storage throughout, particularly in the washroom, where a wardrobe and shelved cupboards are among the options.
Full review: Elddis Avanté 520
Coachman Acadia 460
- Price: £29,745
- MTPLM: 1335kg
- MIRO: 1211kg
- Payload: 124kg
- Berths: 2
- Shipping length: 6.26m
- Width: 2.26m
Reason to buy:
- Large washroom, comfortable interior
Reason to avoid:
- The clashing pattern may not be to everyone’s taste
With its smart 3D exterior graphics and usual Coachman features of a mains socket, A-frame and external barbecue point, the Acadia 460 is a stylish option, one which makes a great choice for couples on tour.
We thought the homely touches it offers throughout would make it highly appealing; for instance, the mirror to the right as you enter, while a double cupboard offers shoe storage. The lounge looks very elegant, coming with a new superior foam construction which offers plenty of support, while lighting will not be a problem either, thanks to a panoramic sunroof, a Heki and side windows. Then there are Bluetooth speakers, TV sockets and handleless locker doors too.
The lounge itself is also easy to turn into a large double bed, although we think the single beds are perfectly adequate.
One thing that could divide opinion – the pattern on the splashback, especially as it contrasts with the marble-effect worktops. Otherwise, we think the kitchen is a good space, with a dual-fuel four-burner hob, a chrome-and-black tap, a flush-fit stainless-steel sink, a 91-litre fridge freezer and a flatbed microwave.
The washroom is spacious and well-lit, with a nicely sized shower cubicle.
Full review: Coachman Acadia 460
Xplore XC Lite
- Price: £22,749
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1090kg
- MIRO: 955kg
- Payload: 135kg
- Length: 5.54m
- Width: 2.18m
Reason to buy:
- Cleverly utilises its compact proportions
Reason to avoid:
- The beds in the dinette are really only for children
Our winner of the best budget caravan at the Practical Caravan Awards 2025 is a great choice for couples or families, offering comfort and plenty of features throughout.
The tourer is ideal for hosting, with a spacious L-shaped lounge, complete with a large Heki, providing light and ventilation, while the external gas barbecue point will allow you to enjoy a spot of al fresco dining.
When you feel like a spot of relaxing, you’ll be able to turn to the directional TV aerial to help you create the setup you want.
A spec that includes a microwave, oven, fridge-freezer and extractor fan will make rustling up a feast straightforward, while helpfully, it offers blown-air heating, which will make it appealing for winter caravanning.
Bailey Alicanto Deluxe Alvor
- Price: £40,499
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1852kg
- MIRO: 1682kg
- Payload: 170kg
- Length: 7.90m
- Width: 2.45m
Reason to buy:
- Excellent spec
Reason to avoid:
- At 7.9m, it’s a big tourer to store and tow
If a brilliant specification is an important trait when you’re picking a van, this Bailey could be the best tourer caravan for you. It’s spacious, well-built and comfortable – what more could you ask for?
The L-shaped front lounge offers plenty of room and comes with a wall-mounted TV bracket – caravanners have the option of making up a double bed here too.
The remaining two berths are found in the king-sized transverse island bed, one which should provide plenty of comfort and help you get a good night’s sleep. An extra TV bracket can be found here too.
We reckon the kitchen should have everything chefs could want for cooking on tour, with a 156-litre Thetford tower fridge, a microwave, an oven and plenty of work surface.
At the rear, the end washroom provides all you could want, with a large shower cubicle, a dressing area and four towel hooks.
The best caravan to buy: what you need to know
How do I decide what the best caravan is for me?
Think about how frequently you plan to use your caravan; where you intend to venture in it; how many people will use it – often, and occasionally; whether it’s a family tourer with toddlers or teenagers soon to leave home, a young couple or empty nesters looking for a child-free zone (or enjoying the occasional company of grandchildren), or for adventurous solo travel.
Then write your list of must-haves and would-likes – they’re very different. If you’ve owned a caravan before, what didn’t you like about your previous van that you’d like to get right this time? What would make your tourer the best caravan for you?
It’s just a caravan I need to buy, right?
Well, possibly not. You may also need or like (which comes back to our first question) a host of caravan essentials such as an awning for additional space on rainy days or to accommodate occasional sleepers, a motor mover to assist with manoeuvring the van at a campsite, solar panels and extra batteries if you like touring off-grid, an outdoor shower to hose down the dog and so on.
Some of these may come as part of the caravan package you buy, but you’ll need to deduct the cost of these from the overall price of your caravan if they don’t.
How do I match a suitable caravan to a tow car?
While it’s not a legal requirement, experience has shown that the weight of a laden caravan is best not to exceed 85% of its tow car’s kerbweight (unladen weight). This provides a stable combination and good towing performance. Legally, the caravan must not exceed the weight of the tow car or its maximum towing limit (determined by the manufacturer).
Therefore, you’ll need to take the weight of the caravan you intend on purchasing into consideration in relation to your tow car.
Take a look at our best tow car guide to see our top picks currently on the market.
What caravan can I tow with my driving licence?
Before you think about towing a tourer, you’re going to want to ensure you have the right licence for towing a caravan. On December 16 2021, the rules on towing officially changed. Under the new laws, anyone who passed their driving test after 1 January 1997 can tow trailers up to 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) without taking the additional B+E test.
Previously, if you had passed your driving test on or after 1 January 1997, your tow car and caravan needed to have a combined MAM of less than 3500kg unless you passed an additional Category E driving test to attain a B+E licence. This allowed you to tow heavier combinations of tow car and caravan.
Drivers that passed their test prior to this date have been unaffected by the recent change in the rule, and may drive a car/caravan outfit with a combined weight up to 8250kg.
What does a new caravan cost?
Manufacturers design caravans aimed at specific markets, and purchasers with a particular budget in mind. Within our regularly updated Buyer’s Guide, which highlights the many models of caravans for sale, we categorise these markets as entry-level, mid-market, upmarket and luxury.
Entry-level, mid-market, upmarket and luxury
Entry-level caravans are great for first-time buyers and those with the most limited budget. Ranging anywhere between £15,000 and £25,000, these new caravans can be purchased for less than the price of a pre-owned van. Examples include the Xplore 304, a four-berth caravan that, at £18,549, is the lowest priced new caravan in our guide.
Mid-market tourers, ranging from £26 to £33k, is where the fiercest competition is among manufacturers, offering the most choice to customers looking to buy a caravan. All the largest UK manufacturers produce two- to six-berth caravans within this price range.
Upwards of this, you’ll find that caravans within the £34k to £39k price bracket reflect ever-more luxurious interiors, manufactured to a higher specification and, potentially, have a greater amount of gadgetry inside and out.
At the very top of the market are the most luxurious caravans, which retail from £40k for units from, for example, the Coachman Laser range or Buccaneer (from Erwin Hymer UK), and continental manufactured vans such as the Knaus Starclass or Eriba Nova. For an exclusive spec, you’ll be looking at British manufacturer Vanmaster, whose caravans range from £55k to £63k while the very pinnacle is the iconic American-inspired aluminium-riveted Airstream, now available in UK-tailored versions, which retail between £78k and £92k.
How we choose the best caravans
We are constantly testing and evaluating touring caravans of all sizes and budgets; since Practical Caravan magazine launched in 1967 we have reviewed thousands of caravans to build up an unrivalled knowledge of the models for sale; more than 400 of these caravan reviews are here on our website. Our reviews are unbiased and we’re not afraid to point out little niggles we think could be improved.
Initially, we take a ‘first look’ at new models and layouts that we believe warrant closer review and how they fare in relation to other caravans of similar size and price. Then we’ll run a full live-in test where we’ll head off for a weekend or an extended trip around the UK or overseas, just as you would. We’ll retain some vans for long-term tests over a period of six months.
We have an extensive team of testers who review all aspects of the caravan, from how it tows behind a tow car – including differing road conditions – to how practical and comfortable it is to stay in. We look at its build quality, its internal and external design, layout and how well it functions.
Our team of testers are generally very experienced caravanners – and know what to look for in a good caravan, including from the perspective of a newcomer to camping and caravanning.
8 great benefits of buying a new caravan
1. Your own facilities
No need to share a campers’ kitchen, or traipse out to public amenities at night; you’ve your own on-board shower and toilet, and a kitchen you can call your own.
2. Home-from-home
There’s no place like home, except your own brand new caravan, which also offers your own home comforts to come back to after a busy day of activities or sightseeing.
3. You know where it’s been
Or, better still, where it hasn’t. When you’re buying a brand new caravan, you know that it hasn’t been dragged along – or through – inappropriate ‘road’ surfaces.
4. You know how it has been used
A brand new oven that has never been used to cook chips, soft furnishings you know haven’t had sticky marmalade dropped on them and a washroom that you know hasn’t been used to hose down the dog!
5. A place for a good night’s sleep
Everyone sleeps better in their own bed, at their preferred temperature. That includes the bed in your own caravan rather than the unknown, possibly lumpy, too hard or too soft mattress in an overly hot hotel room.
6. Take your holiday with you
Enjoy the freedom of touring; when you’ve been there and done that, move on – except you can take that comfortable accommodation with you to the next place.
7. Enjoy the view
All the new vans reviewed here include large panoramic windows and, often, sunroofs to enjoy your view of the sea, the lake, the mountains, the stars. It’s one of the best things about camping in a caravan.
8. Extra peace of mind
Construction technology has come a long way in recent years and caravans built today are less permeable than some of yesteryear. Most mainstream manufacturers now offer lengthy bodyshell or water ingress warranties.
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