Trailer trash no more! Why caravans are fast becoming the 'cool' holiday of choice. Here's how you can make the most of these budget-friendly breaks that celebrities and influencers are loving this summer

Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn moreSomewhere beside anoraks and pickled eggs, caravan holidays hold a special place in the nation's psyche, as unmistakably British as they are – traditionally at least – naff.We warble between love and hate for the caravan, pinging between nostalgia, patriotism and mild fury about what they say about our country's tastes and the cost of living.Caravans conjure images of tacky lino floors, mouldy cupboards, flip-up beds, coal fires (if you have a posh one) and spending a week inside an aluminium box watching the drizzle and your wife-beater-wearing neighbours barbecuing in the rain.Not to mention the horror of holiday park clubs, featuring a sophisticated melange of bingo, discos, bad cabaret singers and other people's unruly children.But – whisper it – caravans are making a comeback. In fact, according to the latest figures from Visit Britain, camping and caravanning accounted for 18 per cent (5.7million) of domestic holidays in Britain in 2025.And it's not just the average family headed to the caravan park. Despite having the option of holidaying in the Caribbean or Côte d'Azur, celebrities from Coleen Rooney to Helen Mirren have confessed to caravan sojourns in Skegness.Glamour-loving reality TV star Gemma Collins frequents a static in Clacton, while singer and influencer Stacey Solomon prefers the Kent coast to the Amalfi. While caravans tend to conjure images of tacky lino floors, flip-up beds and unruly children, celebrities from Stacey Solomon (here with Joe Swash) to Helen Mirren are fans Caravan breaks are some of the best holidays I've had, writes Katie Glass. 'I love the kitsch aesthetic. My last van was packed with girlie paraphernaliaBut what has spurred this revival? It seems caravan holidays have the comeback of kitsch, the cost-of-living crisis and social media to thank for their recent resurgence.I admit a vested interest. Caravan breaks rank among the best holidays I've ever had. As a broke waitress in my 20s, dating a chef, we'd head every year to a caravan in Eastbourne with a pile of books and a crate of wine, praying for rain so we could spend the week reading, drinking and lounging about inside.I also love the kitsch aesthetic. My last van was a two-tone green and white 1970s Abbey tourer, with a Happy Days interior packed with girlie paraphernalia: pink cushions, rose-covered curtains and unapologetically pink bunting.Now on sites such as Airbnb and campsites.co.uk you can book vintage caravan holidays in everything from iconic Airstream trailers – polished aluminium 'silver bullets' – to their lightweight teardrop alternatives.The touring van has natural appeal to TikTokers and Instagrammers, always searching for fresh content, with a novel aesthetic to boot.On Instagram there are some 2.7million #caravan posts, and a further one million #caravanlife. On TikTok, thousands of influencers share their caravanning adventures, using the vehicles' sprightly mobility to reach breathtaking locations on cliff-tops and meadows.I have slept in caravans at festivals, damson orchards and once teetering on a mountain opposite Snowdon. God knows how they got it up there.And I'm not alone in my love of these old-school breaks. Lottie Gross, 35 – a dog-friendly travel writer with 17,000 Instagram followers – documents her caravan adventures online. She bought her first caravan in 2023, an Eriba Pan Familia from 1997.'She's retro, basic and beautiful,' she says. Lottie now also has a more modern 2024 Eriba Triton, 'which is a real upgrade'.Able to zip between destinations with ease, Gross revels in the practicality and convenience of caravanning.'I bought a caravan because I prefer having the freedom of a normal-sized car for day trips and evenings out,' she explains. 'The idea of packing up a motorhome or campervan so I can drive out for the day or to the pub for dinner is a pain.' Lottie Gross, a dog-friendly travel writer with 17,000 Instagram followers, bought her first 'retro' caravan in 2023, and loves the freedom and convenience it brings Her favourite caravan spot is Faichemard Farm in Great Glen, Scotland, which boasts amazing views of Ben NevisWhen she started making Instagram videos of her six-month trip to Scotland last summer, she suddenly had lots of interest from women of all ages, 'including those younger than me', she adds.'Lots of people messaged to ask where I got my caravan and lots asked about the logistics of towing, so I definitely think younger people are more open to it than I would have been in my 20s.'Lottie's favourite caravan spot is Faichemard Farm in Great Glen, Scotland, where she 'camped right next to their pond, with view of Ben Nevis, and a red deer walked right through my pitch'.She's also a fan of Winchcombe Camping & Caravanning Site in the Cotswolds, which has its own lakeside pitches, and the Caravan & Motorhome Club's Moreton-in-Marsh site, which has a different food truck visiting nightly.For some, caravans appeal as a back-to-basics trip: cider by the campfire, getting bitten by horseflies, not showering and defecating in a bucket – what's not to love?The environmental angle appeals to keen 'greens' too, with some sites boasting solar energy, electric vehicle charging and carbon-sensitive stays.It's also cheap (although I'm not talking trailer trash). While an average motorhome costs tens of thousands; my last caravan cost £1,000.The Camping & Caravanning Club, which has 572,000 members, put the resurgence of caravanning among younger people down to a combination of nostalgia and cash.'Caravanning is an affordable way to enjoy incredible road trips,' Rob Ganley, editor in chief of the club's in-house magazine explains.'Second-hand caravans can be picked up at a great price, and taking on a project such as renovating an old caravan is highly aspirational for lots of people – anything involving gas or electricity should be tackled by a professional - but there are plenty of styling tips on TikTok for example.' For many, caravans appeal as a back-to-basics trip. The environmental angle can be a draw too, with some sites boasting solar energy and electric vehicle chargingAt the other end of the spectrum, some caravans find cachet in the rise of glamping. After all, no one will force you to sit in your van eating sad cheese on toast – you can fill it with foie gras and claret instead, if you really like.Now, plenty of well-off families and affluent professionals have taken to hiring luxe vans on sites featuring wood-fired hot tubs and posh onsite facilities, or spending £40,000 on high-spec tourers featuring all mod cons (wifi, air conditioning, skylights, cupboards that stay shut).Rhiannon Batten has rented her beautifully renovated vintage caravan, The Scrumpling near Frome, Somerset, for four years.Set in a private two-acre woodland and meadow, the van features a custom-built king-size bed – fitted with a high-quality mattress and posh linen – a cosy lounge and a kitchen and bathroom in little outside cabins.For her, the site has two key appeals: 'For younger visitors it's the romance – the idea of a tiny house on wheels – while for older people it's a sense of nostalgia, a harking back to the simpler, analogue joys of childhood summer holidays.'Most of our guests come as couples, to celebrate anniversaries,' she explains. 'Having said that, no one wants to be stuck in a cramped, kitschy space with mildewed cabinets and brown floral curtains,' she grins.'We thought there was an opportunity to create a cool caravan – everything is spacious and light. Guests don't want to "rough it", which is why we built a separate kitchen and bathroom, and include lots of frills, such as a hamper of locally sourced breakfast supplies and lovely bathroom toiletries.'We also built a wood-fired bath out among the trees last year, so now they have a DIY woodland spa to wallow in too.'I, for one, am rather glad the caravan is making a comeback. It has a quintessentially British charm no yurt or hotel could ever recreate.Buying a second-hand van? Follow these expert tips to get the most bang for your buck The first thing Richard and Lyn Stark, owners of The English Caravan Company, advise when buying a second-hand caravan is to look for damp and rot.'The vast majority leak – especially the vintage ones,' says Richard, who has been converting, refurbishing and renovating vintage English caravans, or 'ol' girls' as he calls them, for 16 years. The oldest van he's worked on was from 1948.The most important thing is to check is that any caravan is sold with a gas safety check carried out by a Gas Safe trained engineer.The National Caravan Council (NCC) issue guidelines and regulations on how electric and gas installations should be fitted and maintained. 'You can't mess around with gas or 240 volt electrics, especially where damp and water are involved,' he says. When buying a second-hand caravan, it's crucial to check the brakes, tyres and tow hitch to make sure the vehicle is roadworthy Moreover, it's essential, Stark advises, to first make sure a van is roadworthy: 'The essentials to look at are brake lights, brakes, tyres, jockey-wheels and tow hitch. Check the awning rails, they're notorious for leaking and letting in water.'A key maintenance job is resealing – especially the awning, skylight, roof, roof lights and windows – to make sure your van is totally waterproof.'These ol' girls were never built to be left outside permanently,' he adds. 'Ideally, they should be kept covered when not in use or routinely checked and resealed.'Stark trained under the NCC, who set the standards and guidelines for caravans, and notes that if you are having work done, it should be in keeping with the NCC's guidelines and recommendations.'If you want something professionally done and guaranteed safe for the road, it's work that should be done by an experienced and trained professional,' he says.A basic, full service can start from around £500, plus any repairs, and then up to £45,000 (and even beyond) for a total rebuild depending on the size of the caravan and how much work is involved.He's rebuilt a van where the whole rear side and rear end had dropped off the chassis, rebuilding every inch with custom-built bunks, kitchen cabinetry and seating. He was also once asked to paint a van pink, cream and blue 'similar to the colour of Neapolitan ice cream', for a woman who wanted it for her children to use as a playhouse in the garden. Refitting the interior of a caravan can be very costly, especially if the owners would like to modernise the space with custom-built beds or kitchen cabinetryAnd what about flipping caravans? 'Financially it's never really worth it,' Stark says. 'If you pay £300 for a caravan you could easily spend £5,000 to make it useable, however the reality is, that van would still only ever be worth around £1,000.'But for bringing alive the memories of years gone by, for being able to relive those childhood memories, and for the feeling of owning and being able to use a genuine piece of unique history, what price can anyone put on that?'With vintage caravans, the vast majority of people do it because either the van has been in the family all their lives or they have bought the one they had holidays in as children years ago.'For that kind of thing, that kind of emotion, for those kind of memories, it's priceless'. Pulling up with a vintage caravan on any campsite will always attract attention, owning and using a vintage caravan will always bring you new friends.And how to make your van cool? 'It's the internal "soft" aesthetic work people can generally do themselves,' says Stark, 'the carpets, curtains and upholstery, painting and decorating, changing light fittings.' He recalls one particular mermaid caravan in aqua blue, aqua lace and crystals. Stark similarly suggests hand-painting your van with a brush or roller to save the cost of a professional respray – a finish that often adds character as well as being cost effective. It's easy to add character to your caravan with fairy lights, rugs, throws, curtains and cushionsSoft furnishings such as rugs, throws and cushions add warmth in a cosy space. Deep colours can make a van feel atmospheric, while lighter colours brighten it. Lighting is an essential, fairy lights and LEDs add warmth – but don't forget the practicality of needing enough light to see properly if you're going to be parked in rural spots.Caravan style often tends towards kitsch, with pastel bunting and gingham curtains. Your 'home on the road' can also extend beyond its four walls, with awnings and outside furniture, too.That said, Stark also makes the good point that objects within caravans do move – meaning clutter can be a hazard, and food storage is essential.Hanging spaces, shelves, rails and hooks all come in handy, while objects can be attached with magnets for security.Your essential caravan accessories Battery-operated fairy lights Suitable for both indoors and outdoors, these fairy lights offer a warm, soft glow to add charm and ambiance either inside your van, or outside on the awning. £11.89 Shop Caravan blackout curtains Available in 11 different colours, these blackout curtains can add both a stylish pop of colour to your van and promise a decent night's sleep, too. £16.00 Shop Fabric bunting Adding just the right amount of kitsch to your home on wheels, this triangle fabric bunting is the perfect addition to any cosy caravan. £15.59 Shop Caravan tealight lantern Functioning as both a decorative storage pot and a lantern, this sweet tealight latern brings a soft glow either inside or outside your van. £12.00 Shop Caravan shoe storage This handy, over-the-door shoe rack has deep pockets for all of your different footwear, from trainers to walking boots. £19.94 Shop Caravan adaptor extension cable Designed for connecting the lighting and electrics from your vehicle to the lighting board on your caravan, this 13-pin plug adaptor lead is a must for any motorhome owner. £21.62 Shop Multi-shade canopy in orange Ideal for either short trips or overnight stays - and easy to set up - this colourful canopy provides a generous space for outdoor seating and dining while on the go. £110 Shop Outwell Fremont Lake Sofa This well-padded outdoor sofa is the perfect place to relax after a long day on the road, and there's a mesh pocket at the back handy for storage too. £122.99 Shop Classic picnic cooler box Available in both stylsh olive green and cold, this classic picnic cooler box is the perfect accompaniment to a stylish outing while adventuring with your van. £34.00 Shop Vacuum bags With a practical gusseted design, these handy vacuum bags make storing your clothes in your hidden corners all the more possible, and protects your items from dust and moisture too. £10 Shop