England boasts a wide variety of landscapes and historic settlements that can be explored with a campervan rental. From its national parks to its 2,795-mile coastline, English travel itineraries can accommodate everything from cross-country round trips to short, regional stays. At the centre of all this is a rich cultural heritage that can be traced through literary and art trails. Discover Dickens’ London, Bram Stoker's Whitby, Coleridge and Wordsworth's Lake District. Choose the perfect campervan hire at motorhomebookers.com.
England is just one country in the UK's sovereign state, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Extended stays can explore all reaches of these isles with a motorhome. However, trips benefit from sticking to one area unless you’re off on a lengthy grand tour. England itself packs in over 5,000 years of living history, from neolithic henges and Arthurian legends to regal Tudor estates and Gothic cathedrals. Most of these historical sites are easy to reach outside of London by camper, whether you take your motorhome hire to Warwick Castle or Bodiam Castle in Sussex.
In this guide, you’ll discover why England is one of the most exciting destinations for an extended trip with a motorhome and which routes you should consider with your campervan hire.
England’s capital, London, is best explored before you pick up your camper because of its convenient public transport and congested roads. Highlights include Westminster Abbey, the Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum and the Tower of London. Noted areas in Southern England include Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon and the scenic university towns of Oxford and Cambridge. The Cotswolds is a bucolic region of medieval villages. The southwest area takes in neolithic Stonehenge and Avebury for the Jurassic Coast of Devon and Dorset. To the far west is Arthurian Cornwall.
Northern England provides attractive national parks like the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Northumberland. Historic settlements like York, with its Roman and Viking landmarks, and Whitby, with its wind-swept Gothic ruins, are nearby. The northeast coast takes in Lindisfarne Castle and Bamburgh Castle, landmarks of the Viking conquest. You can also discover rejuvenated former-industrial powerhouses like Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle or trace Roman history at Hadrian’s Wall.
England is packed with iconic motorhome routes that explore the whole country from coast to coast or hone in on a specific region. One of the most stunning is the Cornish peninsula. Starting in East Devon near Bridgwater, the roughly 400-mile roundtrip follows the Atlantic Highway (A39) before looping around Cornwall via the A390. You'll take in prized surfing beaches, quaint fishing towns like Padstow, and richly historic sites like the Arthurian-linked Tintagel and Benedictine-originating St Michael's Mount.
The Lake District is a popular campervan area with some of England’s most eye-catching roads, including the peak-flanked Honister Pass. Beginning in Kendal, travel northwest via the A590 or A591 to enter the Lake District. Skirt Windermere for a taste of the South Lakes, exploring Beatrix Potter's Hill Top home and lakeside Wray Castle. You then head north for Wordsworth's Grasmere and bustling Keswick, with hiking detours up Helvellyn and Scafell Pike, England's tallest mountain. Longer trips can then head to the Yorkshire Dales or Northumberland National Park.
England offers a wealth of campervan stops to suit all tastes. The country is dotted with campsites, from historic castle routes to secluded nature stays. May to September is the best time to travel by camper in England. Although road conditions are mostly fine all year-round, the dim winter light on rural roads is best avoided. Book your pitches well in advance during summer months as motorhome spots fill up in popular areas like the Lake District.
England is not a wild camping-friendly country and has trespassing laws. Stick to designated campsites that range from basic farmers' fields to full hook-up pitches. Compact campers are the best option for rural England trips, as roads are often single-lane. The minimum driving age is 18, but there is a minimum rental age of 21 years for campervans, including with our partners. A credit or debit card is required for campervan rental. Remember: drive on the left.
England offers diverse campervan road trip possibilities. Coastal roads, national parks and medieval villages all provide pitches that will delight campers. Explore the historic capital of London before heading off on your adventure with rentals from our motorhomebookers.com partners. You can pick up from London, Rye and Preston to conveniently explore all corners of this country. Book your dream campervan holiday in England. Contact motorhomebookers.com today.