Top 10 Low-Cost Caravan Holidays in the UK

Modern life tends to mean spending money… there seems to be no avoiding it. Even when you’re out on the road and think you’re living a free life (for a few days at a time), the things you do tend to cost something.

However, it is possible to keep your activities to a truly miniscule budget – once you’ve factored out the cost of fuel, the cost of food, etc. Those things come with a price tag attached, so you can use some creative accounting in your head and consider all of the following as free, or extremely low cost, things to do and places to visit.

While you’re travelling the UK on a budget in your caravan, these are our recommendations for things you can see and do after parking up for a day…

The Angel of the North

A must-see when you’re up in the north-east, Antony Gormley’s magnificent metal sculpture weighs over 200 tonnes and is 66 feet tall with a wingspan of 177 feet – larger than a Boeing 757 jet liner! Tyne and Wear’s significant landmark is iconic when viewed from miles around – the nearby roads or the passing railway, for instance – but up close it is imposingly impressive and even quite moving. The sculpture can be reached on foot by a number of footpaths, and a nearby vehicle park allows people to stop and view it at close quarters, and the multi-sensory experience (ie. touching the sculpture) is encouraged.

Norwich Cathedral

Set in over 40 acres of wonderful grounds, Norwich Cathedral is a beautiful site to visit whether you’re religious or not. One of the finest complete Romanesque cathedrals in existence, it has the second tallest spire in England and the largest monastic cloisters. There are over a thousand roof sculptures to look at, regular tours and events digging into the history of the building. It’s completely free to visit.

Dolphins at Cardigan Bay

Something of a playground for dolphins, Cardigan Bay on the coast of Wales is a fantastic place to spend a few hours checking out these highly intelligent marine mammals. It’s possible to pay for a boat-trip further out into the bay to get up close to the dolphins, porpoises, seals and occasional whales and sharks (the harmless varieties), but if you want to see it all for free you can. Find a spot on a nearby cliff and settle down to watch…

The White Cliffs of Dover

There’ll be bluebirds over… Park up and stroll some of this beautiful – legendary, in fact – region of English coastline, which faces the Strait of Dover and out to France. The eight-mile stretch of 350m cliff face is composed of chalk accented by streaks of black flint, deposited during the Late Cretaceous period (between 66 and 100 million years ago). The National Trust now owns some of this iconic landmark.

Gretna Green

A small town just over the border into Scotland from England, Gretna has a magnetic charm. Its Famous Blacksmiths Shop has been famous for over 250 years as the destination for eloping couples to marry. A small exhibition brings the personal drama of runaway weddings to life, and there is also a fascinating collection of memorabilia. You can enter the actual room where couples, past and present, get married – and touch the famous anvil. Legend has it that if you do then you will enjoy good fortune in matters of the heart – so it’s a must!

Avebury

If megalithic culture is your thing, then Avebury is quite possibly your Mecca. It’s an extraordinary set of Neolithic and Bronze Age sites which seem to suggest the area was formerly a vast sacred landscape. Near to Avebury’s incredible henge and stone circles you will find West Kennet Avenue, West Kennet Long Barrow, The Sanctuary, Windmill Hill, Cherhill Down and the mysterious Silbury Hill – all of them free to visit. If you’re very lucky, you may also see 1980s pop star turned modern antiquarian Julian Cope, now an acknowledged authority on megalithic culture, who lives in a nearby village.

Dovedale

An iconic spot in the Peak District, Dovedale is worth avoiding during the busier holiday seasons as its very popular. But if you’re prepared to visit midweek or off season then you’ll be able to get the most out of this beautiful parkland area. A great walk will take you the three miles from Dovedale to Milldale, during which you’ll encounter some spectacular views of a wonderful part of our country.

The Piece Hall, Halifax

Okay, so if you’re going on a budget then you’re going to have to exercise some restraint here. Halifax Piece Hall has shops and eateries which are more than sure to tempt you. But if you can hold off from prising open the wallet, then you’ll gain much from studying the architecture. This sprawling Georgian complex has an incredible interior plaza surrounded on all four sides by three tiers of balcony-style walkways. There’s also a museum where you can learn more about this architectural marvel – and the former mill town its sited in.

Imperial War Museum

One of a UK family of museums dedicated to telling the story of armed conflict – from both personal and political perspectives as well as military – the IWM in Manchester is a powerful visit. It makes full use of an extraordinary exhibition space to deliver award-winning experiences and is often sobering. It is also life-affirming, as it loudly reinforces the value of human life against the vivid reminders that mankind’s tendency towards aggression and dominance are costly mistakes repeated over and again.

Bluebird

The Ruskin in Coniston, in Cumbria’s Lake District, is a low entry cost museum well worth some of your time. Within you’ll find not only local history but also much connected to the tragic story of speed ace Donald Campbell. In 1967, while attempting to break the 300mph speed barrier, technical problems with his hydroplane (Bluebird) caused an horrific crash. Campbell’s body was eventually recovered from the bottom of the lake in 2001, and he is now buried in the town’s Cemetery. The remains of Bluebird were recovered and in the last few years have been fully restored – though there is legal dispute over ownership. At this moment Bluebird is not in the museum, but you will find more information about the campaign to bring her home, as well as many artefacts, photos and exhibits.

Here at Spinney we have plenty of new caravans for sale, and used caravans too, so once you’ve gone ahead and made your purchase, you can start planning your holidays!

We hope you’ve enjoyed these suggestions. In truth it’s not possible to do any kind of caravan holiday on a budget of zero – but it really is possible to enjoy yourself without spending vast amounts of money.

You could even make the theme of your break ‘doing it all on a budget’ and plan out in advance lots of low cost or free days out. You might find this takes you to wonderful and fulfilling new experiences you might not otherwise have had – a bit like shopping at Spinney!