A stay at one of the best caravan parks in the UK is a guaranteed way to enjoy a brilliant holiday. However, there are a lot of campsites to choose from, so how do you pick the right one for you? That’s where we come in, as we use the results of our Top 100 Sites Guide 2024, as voted for by our readers, to reveal the number one caravan sites in the UK.
Once you’ve chosen your destination, you can start thinking about the accessories that could help to enhance your trip, such as one of the best caravan awnings, which can offer valuable extra space when you’re on tour.
To identify the standout caravan sites, our readers have scoured the UK, from Cornwall and Dorset to Wales and Northern Ireland. Our expert team then judge the results and we compile the final 100. These are campsites that are all going above and beyond to cater for every guest, whether that’s supporting hobbies such as fishing, providing activities that the whole family can enjoy, offering a peaceful adults-only setting, or ensuring canine companions are given a warm welcome.
These sites are also working hard to get the basics right, from ensuring there are friendly staff and offering a great location, to having spacious pitches and spotless washrooms.
We then publish our Top 100 Sites Guide, which runs through the best caravan sites in the UK, breaking it down by region for added ease. The results of our 2024 guide, which is available as a free PDF, also include a directory where 600 more sites are listed.
In this round-up, we’re sharing the best caravan parks to stay in the UK from across the regions, as voted for by our readers, to help you find the right touring destination for the upcoming season. Whether you’re looking for a dog-friendly destination, a site for all the family to enjoy or a getaway by the sea, there will be somewhere here for you. We’re also answering some common questions caravanners can have when booking a pitch, from the considerations for choosing the right site to campsite etiquette to follow.
What is the number one caravan park in the UK?
The best caravan park in the UK and the Overall Winner of our Top 100 Sites Guide 2024 is Ballyness Caravan Park in Northern Ireland.
Providing visitors with picturesque surroundings, excellent customer service and good facilities, the North Antrim-based caravan site is a regular in our yearly guide. The site makes sure the whole family is made to feel welcome, with a play area for children and a dog walk for our four-legged friends.
The site’s location means there is plenty to do in the surrounding area too, including the vibrant city of Belfast, which is only an hour’s drive away. The Causeway Rambler Bus stops at the park’s gates from June to September, while the Causeway Coast itself is only a short drive away as well.
The best caravan parks in the UK:
1. Ballyness Caravan Park
2. Fields End Water Caravan Park
3. The Old Brick Kilns
4. Eye Kettleby Lakes
5. Pinecones Caravan and Camping
6. Back of Beyond Touring Park
7. Green Acres Caravan Park
8. Red Kite Touring Park
9. Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park
10. Cartref Caravan & Camp Site
The best caravan parks in the UK are:
1. Ballyness Caravan Park
40 Castlecat Road, Bushmills BT57 8TN, ballynesscaravanpark.com
- Tel: 028 2073 2393
- Open: 15 March – 3 November
- Touring pitches: 50
- Pitch+2+hook-up: £34
Best caravan park UK overall
Set in the North Antrim countryside, this stunning site has regularly graced our annual guide, bagging the Regional Winner category several times. The competition to be named number one was tight this year, but Ballyness Caravan Park’s picturesque surroundings, first-class customer service and luxurious facilities have seen it named the best caravan park in the UK.
The 50 immaculate hardstanding pitches are attractively arranged in three touring areas, each with its own electric, water and drainage hook-ups. The excellent amenities are housed in a cottage-style building, where guests will be able to find facilities including toilets and wet room style hot showers, a disabled shower room, and a family room. Free Wi-Fi is provided too.
Elsewhere on the site, children can make the most of a play park and football field, while an indoor games room with a TV will help to keep everyone entertained on any rainy days. For those touring with four-legged friends, there is a dedicated dog-walk too.
While the park itself has plenty of green space (and a duck pond), there’s no shortage of opportunities to enjoy nature nearby. It’s less than a 10-minute drive to the Causeway Coast, studded with beautiful sandy beaches and miles of breathtaking coastal paths. However, if you fancy a break from driving and are pitching up between May and September, the Causeway Rambler bus can be caught from the park, which allows visitors to take in the beauty of the Causeway Coastal Route.
Belfast is just an hour’s drive away, while the pretty harbour towns of Ballycastle and Portrush are closer to home. The historic village of Bushmills, with its pubs, cafés and shops, is a 15-minute walk from the site.
You said:
- By far the best site we have ever visited. Very friendly staff, spotlessly clean site/pitches/facilities. Well located for local attractions and public transport.
- Having stayed in numerous sites in the UK, Ireland and Europe, Ballyness is the best, by far.
- This site is so peaceful and quiet even when it is full. The staff are very helpful. Ballyness is a joy to stay at.
2. Fields End Water Caravan Park
Benwick Road, Doddington, Cambridgeshire PE15 0TY, fieldsendwater.co.uk
- Tel: 01354 740 199
- Open: 1 March – 30 November
- Touring pitches: 80
- Pitch+2+hook-up: From £25
Well done to Fields End Water, which was not only named our new Regional Winner for Eastern England in our Top 100 Sites Guide 2024, but also finished second in our list of the top 10 caravan parks in the UK.
The adults-only campsite offers a relaxed and tranquil setting for taking in Cambridgeshire, with Ely, Peterborough, Duxford Imperial War Museum and RSPB Nene Washes all options to visit.
The best caravan parks will allow visitors to indulge in their hobbies, something that Fields End Water provides – the site is ideal for keen anglers, with three well stocked lakes offering a combined 70 swims. This includes Waterside, the newest addition, which is solely for the use of those who are pitched up around it, where spacious pitches offer beautiful views of the lake. Then there is The Pit, a 2.5-acre lake stocked with carp, crucian, tench, perch and roach, and The Pool, where carp, chubb, barbel, ide and tench can be found.
Site facilities include shower and toilet blocks, a launderette, a café and a shop. Dogs can make the most of one of the walks around the fishing lakes or the three-acre wood, as well as a fenced-off lead area. Alternatively, follow one of the public footpaths from the park to reach the Fens.
Trips around Cambridgeshire are made simpler by a bus stopping nearby, which heads towards Wisbech. Or you can walk the 1.5-miles into Doddington, a village with two pubs, a fish-and-chip shop and a post office.
You said…
- An excellent, clean and friendly site. And the fishing? Well, I didn’t see my husband for hours each day…
- The lakeside pitches are wonderful – it’s lovely to wake up by the water.
- The facilities and site layout are very well thought through and the organisation by staff is excellent.
3. The Old Brick Kilns
Little Barney Lane, Barney, Fakenham NR21 0NL, old-brick-kilns.co.uk
- Tel: 01328 878 305
- Open: 16 March – 2 January
- Touring pitches: 65
- Pitch+2+hook-up: From £31
Providing a relaxed setting, The Old Brick Kilns offers a combination of wooded pockets, open spaces and a small wildlife pond, with its environmental efforts having won David Bellamy Gold Conservation, Wildflower, Hedgerow and Honey-Bee Friendly Park Awards. There’s a shop and a play area, while guests can also enjoy a spot of fishing in a small pond, which is stocked with rudd, tench, carp and more.
Washroom amenities include showers, toilets, underfloor heating and hair dryers, while disabled and family facilities are also provided. A TV room and a games room are both available too.
Its location makes it an ideal base for exploration of the North Norfolk coastline, which is only eight miles away. The site is also well-placed for exploring some of Norfolk’s most popular destinations, such as Norwich, Sandringham and Blickling Hall.
After a day’s exploring, guests can head back to the site to enjoy Barney’s Bar, a bar and takeaway service, which is open on certain nights of the week.
You said…
- Brilliant location for the North Norfolk coast and the Broads.
- It is a clean and spacious site set in beautiful grounds.
4. Eye Kettleby Lakes
Eye Kettleby, Melton Mowbray LE14 2TN, eyekettlebylakes.com
- Tel: 01664 565 900
- Open: All year
- Touring pitches: 130
- Pitch+2+hook-up: From £34
The site that was named the best caravan site in our Top 100 Sites Guide 2023 stands at the edge of Melton Mowbray, in 150 acres of countryside, providing tranquillity and natural beauty. The site is a dream for anglers, with a total of nine lakes – two specimen carp lakes, six mixed coarse-fishing lakes and a private lake which is solely for lodge residents.
While families can stay in the log cabins, the touring park itself is adults-only. Pitches are spread across two main sections; the southern site, which is by a 4.5-acre specimen carp lake and houses private bathrooms in stone buildings, and the northern site, which provides individual bathrooms in log cabin-style blocks. Head to the clubhouse to enjoy a local ale or choose from the wide selection of gins – breakfast and lunch are also served here.
Dogs won’t feel left out, either, as there is a dedicated pet-friendly lounge, ideal for relaxing in after using the two secure dog-walks and the warm dog-washes. There is plenty to do in the area – head to Melton Country Park for a walk in its 137 acres, or enjoy an excursion to Leicester or Nottingham. Alternatively, visit some of the nearby market towns, such as Loughborough, Market Harborough and Oakham.
You said…
- This site never fails to tick all the boxes. No other campsite has come close to Eye Kettleby.
- A welcoming site with excellent facilities. We fished and were impressed with how well the lakes were maintained and the condition of the fish.
- Never lets us down. Always five-star standards.
5. Pinecones Caravan and Camping
A149 Dersingham Bypass, King’s Lynn PE31 6WL, pinecones.co.uk
- Tel: 01485 544 224
- Open: All year
- Touring pitches: 65
- Pitch+2+hook-up: From £30
Last year’s Regional Winner for Eastern England is a relaxing site that prides itself on its sustainable efforts, with electricity from renewable sources and solar pergolas helping with onsite demands. Facilities include luxurious individual shower rooms, a launderette and EV-charging points, with takeaway food also available at peak times. Free Wi-Fi is on offer across the whole of Pinecones too.
The site is open all year round, so guests who want to tour during the offseason will be catered for.
Destinations to explore in the area include Sandringham and Snettisham Beach. Guests who fancy a break from driving can make the most of the nearby bus stop when planning offsite trips too.
The site gives four-legged friends a hearty welcome, with a warm dog-wash and dog-walking area, as well as a special dog-brewery! Two canine-friendly pubs are only a short walk from the site.
You say…
- A lot of thought has gone into providing a relaxing stay with excellent facilities.
- The food was amazing.
6. Back of Beyond Touring Park
234a Ringwood Road, East Moors Lane, St Leonards BH24 2SB, backofbeyondtouringpark.co.uk
- Tel: 01202 876 968
- Open: 1 March – 1 January
- Touring pitches: 100
- Pitch+2+hook-up: From £34
Adults-only Back of Beyond deserves special recognition for securing its Regional Winner title in Dorset for a fifth consecutive year. This picturesque 30-acre campsite provides a tranquil getaway against a backdrop of birdsong. There’s plenty to see in the surrounding area, including the nearby New Forest National Park, which can be explored on foot or by bike.
The town of Ringwood is only a 10-minute drive away, with a great selection of shops, pubs and eateries. Alternatively, visitors can enjoy a trip to Bournemouth, Christchurch, Salisbury or Dorchester. There are also fishing spots in the area, including along the Moors River on the park’s boundary (a rod licence is required).
Guests can explore the 18 acres of woodland at Back of Beyond, including the area around the wildlife lakes, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Then at night, look up at the clear sky and enjoy some peaceful stargazing. Dogs are welcome at Monty’s Bar, which is open throughout the season.
Other amenities include a well-stocked shop, four heated facility blocks and a pitch and putt course. Food vendors regularly stop by. For 2024, the site is upgrading, to offer large, fully serviced pitches and two EV charging points.
You said…
- The most superb site I have ever stayed at.
- The site is very welcoming, clean and tidy. Monty’s Bar was fantastic and the visiting food trucks were great, saving me having to cook.
- Beautiful site with a very dog-friendly environment.
7. Green Acres Caravan Park
High Knells, Houghton, Carlisle CA6 4JW, greenacrescumbria.co.uk
- Tel: 01228 675 418
- Open: 16 March – 31 October
- Touring pitches: 52
- Pitch+2+hook-up: £29-£34
Well done to Greenacres Caravan Park, a site which has been crowned Regional Winner of the North-West in our Top 100 Sites Guide 2024, as well as making it into our top 10. This fine site is spending its second year in the top spot in the North-West, thanks to its tranquil surroundings and top-class facilities. The peaceful park offers adults-only touring in the countryside, surrounded by bucolic woodland and rolling fields.
With hardstanding pitches affording picturesque views, the site caters for a truly peaceful getaway. While electric hook-up comes with each pitch, visitors can choose from spacious standard pitches or fully serviced ones. Awarded Platinum by the Loo of the Year Awards, their spa-like facilities feature luxurious wet rooms with underfloor heating, complemented by modern toilet facilities and accessible options.
Greenacres is also home to a games room and a sports hall that are perfect for rainy days, hosting badminton courts, a pool table, board games and table tennis. For four-legged visitors, the site provides a scenic dog-walk and exercise area, set in woodland. The historic city of Carlisle is just 4.5 miles away, where the cathedral and castle will tempt history buffs, while nature-lovers can explore the North Pennines and the Lake District, which are both within easy reach.
You said
- A well-maintained park with friendly staff, five-star facilities and good information pack. Good onsite sports hall, vehicle washing bay, laundry and shop.
- Best campsite we have visited.
- Beautiful, peaceful site. Maintained to a high standard. The facilities are first-class.
8. Red Kite Touring Park
Van Road, Llanidloes SY18 6NG, redkitetouringpark.co.uk
- Tel: 01686 412 122
- Open: 1 March – 3 January
- Touring pitches: 62
- Pitch+2+hook-up: From £33.50
Set in the heart of Wales, this adults-only park ensures caravanners enjoy a truly peaceful retreat. The generous pitches offer sweeping vistas of the country and dense woodland bordering the site. While you’re enjoying your stay, keep your eyes peeled for some of the wildlife that you may encounter in the vicinity, ranging from red kites to great crest newts.
The well-appointed amenity block provides modern toilets and showers, along with a launderette, a washing-up room and an indoor Elsan point.
For guests who fancy a spot of angling and have a valid rod licence, Red Kite offers a course fishing pool, stocked with carp, bream, crucian carp and tench.
Guests can also make use of the onsite shop, which sells essentials and local treats. The site has a 10-acre dog-walk, with a doggy pond and a fenced training section. Llanidloes is a short walk away, and picturesque Llyn Clywedog Reservoir is nearby, where you may spot ospreys.
You said…
- Well-equipped pitches, great views. Very friendly.
- Peaceful, relaxing. Excellent dog facilities. Perfect!
9. Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park
Ham Lane, Bishop Sutton, Nr Bath BS39 5TY, bathchewvalley.co.uk
- Tel: 01275 332 127
- Open: All year
- Touring pitches: 35
- Pitch+2+hook-up: From £40
Positioned near the shores of Chew Valley Lake, this renowned and picturesque touring site is a well-deserved champion in its region. Situated within walking distance of Bishop Sutton village, the five-star park offers exclusive touring for adults in a captivating setting.
Open all year, visitors have the opportunity to bask in the site’s serene surroundings across all seasons. The adults-only park is thoughtfully designed, with manicured gardens, gravel pitches interspersed with grass and the option for fully serviced pitches. Each pitch includes hook-up and is bordered by shrubbery and trees. Guests can enjoy the luxurious heated washrooms, individual bathroom suites and laundry facilities.
Additional amenities include a lending library, tourist information area, motorhome service point, facilities for those with disabilities, and a dog-walk onsite. Nearby Bishop Sutton is home to a pub and shops. The local area is a paradise for nature enthusiasts, birdwatchers and hikers. Fishing is available in Chew Valley Lake, just 800 yards from the park, while the Chew Valley Trail is conveniently located nearby.
For urban excursions, Bath, Bristol and Wells are easily accessible, and the neighbouring Mendip Hills and Somerset’s scenic walking trails invite exploration.
You said…
- Very clean, well-kept site. In a great location for walks. Friendly staff. Top facilities and super clean.
- Very warm welcome. Extremely neat, tidy and clean campsite. Great location for walks and visiting the local attractions.
10. Cartref Caravan & Camp Site
Ford Heath, Shrewsbury SY5 9GD, cartrefcaravansite.co.uk
- Tel: 01743 821 688
- Open: All year
- Touring pitches: 43
- Pitch+2+hook-up: From £30
Located only five miles from Shrewsbury, Cartref focuses on providing a tranquil setting for exploring Shropshire. Destinations to visit include Ludlow, Ironbridge and Ellesmere, while walkers and cyclists can explore the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Open all year long, the site has been adults-only since January 2023.
Pitches are fully serviced, and for something a bit different, there’s the option of staying in a restored 1930s caravan. The onsite bar, stocked with local beers and ales, makes an ideal location for some rest and relaxation after a day’s exploring. Guests touring with a canine companion will be able to make use of the off-lead dog-walk too.
Other facilities include showers, toilets, free Wi-Fi and a shop stocked with local produce.
You said…
- A peaceful and beautifully kept site with a lovely dog walk.
- A very picturesque site. Plus there’s plenty to do in the area.
How do I choose the best caravan park to stay at?
The most important step of guaranteeing an enjoyable touring experience will be picking a caravan site that best suits you. Don’t like being around children? Then choose an adults-only park; there are plenty of these available. Not crazy about dogs? Then look for parks that are dog-free or have dog-free areas. The same goes for space – look online or phone the site to find out how big the pitches are and if there are any limitations on party sizes or the use of additional gazebos.
Many sites prefer not to accept larger groups – if that’s you, find a site that caters for larger parties. The same goes for fires and barbecues: some sites encourage the fun, communal element, while others recognise that other residents might find them disturbing.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that you should never camp with children or animals, given some people’s reactions, but if you do, plenty of sites welcome them! Look for the best family caravan parks in the UK with playgrounds, children’s activities, football fields and so on. And if you’re touring with a pooch, a site with a dog shower and dog-walking areas is going to be more suited to you.
Dogs should also be tethered, where site rules require, and of course, you should clean up any mess immediately. But if you find campsite rules too limiting, perhaps think about going off-grid instead?
How do I choose the best pitch at my caravan site?
So you’ve chosen one of the best caravan parks in the UK to stay at – it’s now time to think about pcking the ideal pitch. This is something that can make a big difference to how much you enjoy your stay, and of course, what suits one caravanner won’t automatically please another. Have the kids finally moved out, leaving you to enjoy child-free holidays for the first time in 20-odd years? Then ask for a pitch well away from the playground or any other magnet for excitable youngsters.
Touring with your offspring no doubt caused a few headaches, and if the nest is now empty, you deserve some peace.
Do you prefer to use campsite facilities rather than the washroom in your tourer? Then a pitch close to one of the shower blocks will save tripping over guy ropes as you head off to spend a penny at 3am.
For the ultimate in luxury and convenience, choose a fully serviced pitch, to keep your daily chores to a minimum. You’re on holiday, so treat yourself!
Do I need to follow any etiquette while staying at a caravan site?
Most campsite visitors are friendly, well-behaved and considerate to their fellow campers, but it only takes a little thoughtless or inconsiderate behaviour to change the dynamics.
But establishing what is acceptable behaviour on a caravan site is not quite as clear-cut as you might think – one person’s fun evening with friends could be another’s disturbed night’s sleep.
And while you might not enjoy the sound of children playing outdoors, no campsite can be expected to have library levels of noise. Nobody likes dogs barking, smelly food or banging doors… but a lot of us aren’t that crazy about the imposition of rules, either.
Two words worth keeping in mind are ‘tolerance’ and ‘consideration’. We should all be able to tolerate fellow campers being a little noisier than usual on a Saturday night and hopefully, we can put up with a bit of barbecue smoke or even the occasional barking dog!
By the same token, show consideration for your neighbours and remember that campers are by nature early to bed and early to rise. Amplified music, raucous laughter and traipsing over other pitches can be disturbing and rude and should be avoided, especially late at night. In addition, remember to keep your driving speed within park limits at all times and to dim lights and torches at night, when other people are trying to sleep.
Staying at one of the best caravan sites with a pet
We Brits certainly love our animals, and many of us take our beloved pets on tour with us. But not everyone on the campsite wants our dog (or cat, parrot or ferret) to disturb their holiday peace, so here are a few bits of advice we would offer to help you choose the best caravan sites when you’re touring with a pet and then the right etiquette for when you’re pitched up.
The first place to start will be choosing a pet-friendly park. It’s an obvious starting point, but not every site will accept dogs, and even of the ones that do, some are more pet-friendly than others. Keep your pet under control at all times – dogs should remain on a lead whenever you’re away from your caravan.
Clean up after your dog. If you don’t, it not only reflects badly on you, but on the rest of the dog-owning community, too; plus, of course, it’s a huge health hazard.
If you plan to leave your dog in the van while you’re out, triple-check your pet is comfortable and won’t bark. Many a holiday has been ruined by a yappy hound. Follow these tips, and you and your pet can enjoy great tours all year.
Written with contributions from Joanna Davies.
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