Best UK campsites: complete travel guide & top picks

Whether your road trip is influenced by a desire to travel slowly, to try something new, or to recreate scenes of the open road that you’ve seen on screen: there’s nothing better than the highs of Van Life and getting set for an adventure.

On Camplify you’ll find thousands of vehicles that provide the perfect home away from home for your trip, but selecting and hiring the right one for you – whether it’s a campervan, motorhome, caravan or trailer – is only the first step. With so much to see and do around the UK, and endless campsites to choose from, it can be hard to whittle them down and pick a pitch that suits you.

As experts in Van Life, we know a thing or two about what makes a campervan holiday great, and have done all the hard work for you with our brand-new Best Campsites Index , helping you focus on the most important thing, your trip.

Searching high and low, our new index considers all the factors that road trippers should consider when looking for a campsite, including their proximity to Areas of Natural Beauty and iconic landmarks that make it easy for you to tick things off your bucket list. It also takes into account the facilities they offer guests on site – from the functional bare necessities needed for a comfortable stay (WiFi, laundry facilities, drinking water and shops) to the fun added extras that will make your stay one to remember (we’re talking BBQs, swimming pools, water sports and more!)

All corners of the country feature in this list, so look no further for inspiration on where to book this summer…

According to the analysis, Elysian Fields Campsite in Ashton, Cornwall comes out on top - scoring particularly highly for its location, close to areas of natural beauty, attractions, beaches, and national parks. Three campsites tallied scores that put them in joint second, with Hendra Holiday Park in Newquay, Bryn Gloch in Caernarfon and Beer Head Caravan Park in Devon missing out on the top spot by only three points. Golden Cap Holiday Park in Dorset completes the top five.

1st Place: Elysian Fields Campsite - Ashton, Cornwall

Open all year round, Elysian Fields is set in seven acres of beautiful countryside, offering distant sea views and proximity to the World Heritage site Tregonning Hill. An ideal base for exploring South Cornwall’s lovely beaches, the campsite has grass pitches that accommodate campervans with electric, water and drainage hookups. For down time, there’s a host of facilities including a children's playground, a shop, and the restaurant and bar.

Joint 2nd Place: Hendra Holiday Park – Newquay, Cornwall

Hendra Holiday Park is set in the beautiful Cornish countryside just five minutes from Newquay's sandy beaches. Spread over 80 acres, the park is pet-friendly and offers a variety of spacious pitches, with excellent facilities including both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, play parks, eateries, live entertainment, and a shop. Recognised with numerous awards, Hendra provides a great base for exploring Cornwall while enjoying a range of on-site amenities and scenic views.

Joint 2nd Place: Bryn Gloch – Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales

Bryn Gloch Caravan and Camping Park is a serene site located at the foot of Snowdon in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park, offering stunning views and access to a range of outdoor activities. It caters for campervans, caravans, and motorhomes with spacious grass and hardstanding pitches, offering options for electric and fully serviced hookups. There are facilities for paddleboarding, swimming, and fishing in the river. The park includes a games room, bike hire, play areas, and a stone-built BBQ. Open from March to October, it welcomes dogs in designated areas and provides a tranquil setting for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Joint 2nd Place: Beer Head Caravan Park , Devon

Beer Head Caravan Park offers a peaceful retreat along the Jurassic Coast. Located next to the South West Coast Path, it's a short walk to the historic fishing village of Beer and its sandy beach, with Lyme Regis just a 25-minute drive away. The family-run park provides grass and hardstanding pitches with electric hookups, and campers can enjoy sea views, an on-site bistro, a dog walk, and a shop.

5th Place: Golden Cap Holiday Park, Dorset

Golden Cap Holiday Park, situated on the Jurassic Coast next to Seatown Beach, offers a variety of grass and hardstanding pitches for tourers, motorhomes, campervans. Surrounded by 2,000 acres of National Trust land, the park boasts breathtaking sea views and direct access to the South West Coast Path. Family and dog-friendly, the park features non-electric grass pitches, fully serviced hardstanding pitches and more.