More than half a million Brits were reportedly living in vans or campervans as of August 2025, but for those who want one for the odd holiday, the costs can add up quickly
Clare took the plunge after she realised the downside about campervans (stock) (Image: Getty)
For many, the idea of a portable home on wheels is a dream: the chance to hit the road, live more adventurously and avoid expensive hotel bills. Some have even opted to live full-time in converted vans, swapping traditional bricks-and-mortar living for life on the move.
More than half a million Brits were living in vans or campervans as of August 2025, according to estate agent Property Revolutions Ltd. But for those who want one mainly for the odd holiday, the costs can add up quickly.
Former campervan owner and journalist Clare Macnaughton spotted this downside and eventually sold hers. As she explains, a campervan for her meant a “third vehicle”, complete with MOT, insurance, servicing bills and a “diesel habit to feed”.
So what’s the alternative? Clare chose a vehicle famously loathed by petrolhead Jeremy Clarkson. She and her family bought an Adria Action 361 LT — a traditional two-berth caravan.
Clare admits the caravan wasn’t fault-free at first – she’s had a couple of early niggles, including trouble with the fridge switch and a fuse in one of the sockets. Even so, she says one feature has won her over completely, describing it as a “revelation”.
She wrote in The Telegraph “And then, the revelation: the bed. This caravan may be tiny, but the bed is colossal. Pete is 6ft 1in, with a back ruined by a lifetime of lugging tiles up ladders, and the campervan’s bed was always a couple of inches too short for him.
“This one swallowed Pete, me and Maya with room to spare. Whoever designed this caravan clearly understood the priorities of middle age: you can compromise on almost anything, just don’t compromise on the bed.”
The Caravan and Motorhome Club also rates the model highly. In a write-up on its site, it awarded it 92%, calling it “singularly attractive” and saying it’s “easy to tow”.
“Singularly attractive, nicely made, easy to tow, good value and a brilliant lounge. Wholeheartedly recommended.” It also highlighted the generous sleeping space, calling it a “behemoth of a double bed”.
The comments come after psychologist Dr Sophie Mort, who told the Express that camping can support mental wellbeing — noting how “camping gives everyone a task”.
She explained: “When we’re away from screens, work pressures and daily routines, we’re more likely to have meaningful conversations, share experiences and form deeper connections with those around us.
“So many of us are burned out, stressed out and even talked out right now. Camping gives everyone a task, putting up the tent, unrolling the sleeping bags or getting the stove going for tea, so people can be together without the pressure of more talking and dissecting.
“It’s often in those low-stakes, side-by-side moments that conversation starts to flow naturally.”