The Best Budget-Friendly Family Holiday Spots in the UK

One of the easiest ways to keep costs low and flexibility high is by taking a caravan, motorhome or campervan holiday. Your accommodation comes with you, you can cook your own meals, you’ve got all of your things and you’ve got the freedom to change plans if the weather or mood shifts.

In this guide, we’ll share some of the best UK destinations where there are many free or low-cost things to do in a small area, plus nearby family-friendly campsites that keep your budget in check.

So, read on for destinations and just a few insider tips to help your holiday budget stretch even further.

Why does a leisure vehicle make budget holidays easier?

A leisure vehicle isn’t just a way to skip hotel costs (although that’s a great start). It’s your ticket to saving money in all sorts of ways while keeping your holiday as flexible as you like.

• Cook your own meals: With your own kitchen on board, you can swap expensive dinners out for cooking family meals together. Need some inspiration? You can see some great recipes for the road here.

• Stay where the action is: Campsites often put you right next to some of the UK’s best forests, beaches, trails, towns and attractions, without the price tag of nearby hotels.

• Pack everything you need: From bikes and scooters to wetsuits and kites, you can bring it all with you instead of hiring when you arrive. Need some packing tips? Read our article here.

• Go with the flow: If you’ve found a spot you love, you’ll most likely be able to stay another night (if they’ve got room, campsites are usually very flexible like this). However, if you are ready to move on with your road trip, just pack up and head to the next place.

A choice of campsites: When you’re planning your stay, you’ve got three main options:

• Club sites: Run by organisations like The Caravan & Motorhome Club and The Camping & Caravanning Club, these give you reliable facilities and a friendly, community feel. Many campsites are child-friendly and offer things like play areas and games rooms (check their respective websites for more info).

• Certified Location (CL) and Certified Site (CS) options: CLs (Caravan & Motorhome Club) and CSs (Camping & Caravanning Club) are small, often rural sites with space for up to five vehicles. They tend to have fewer facilities, but their lower nightly fees, peaceful settings, and unique locations make them a brilliant choice for budget-friendly holidays.

• Non-Club campsites: These are independent sites not affiliated with any UK clubs. They usually offer a full set of facilities and a lively atmosphere.

So, where are some great budget caravan holiday destinations?

We’ve picked five regions where you’ll find more than enough to fill a weekend or week, all including cheap or free-to-enter points of interest. So read on for the best budget family holiday destinations in the UK.

Pembrokeshire’s Secret Coves & Coast Path

This corner of West Wales offers some of the most dramatic coastal walks in the UK, but without the crowds you’ll find in Cornwall.

Time your trip for late spring or autumn when coastal wildlife is at its best, because many small towns host free harbour festivals or outdoor concerts in the summer.
Base yourself near Broad Haven or Marloes Sands for a while; both have sandy beaches that are perfect for sandcastle competitions, rock pooling and even a spot of paddling.

Walk part of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path (free, apart from parking) for seal spotting in autumn and puffin watching in spring.

Pop into St David’s, which is the UK’s smallest city, for a picnic in the cathedral grounds.

Where to stay?

Lincolnshire Wolds & Seaside Double

The Lincolnshire Wolds are an overlooked Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Here, you’ll find loads of free walking trails, more than its fair share of cycle routes, endless forests to explore and even historic market towns like Louth.

Look out for free seaside events like Mablethorpe’s kite festival and Sutton-on-Sea’s carnival week in summer. Inland, the Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival in May/June offers guided walks for all abilities, many of which are free.

Pair a few days here with the traditional seaside towns of Sutton-on-Sea or Mablethorpe, both of which offer budget-friendly sights like donkey rides, paddling and crabbing off the pier.

Visit Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve (free entry) for birdwatching and wild beach walks.

Where to stay?

North Yorkshire Moors & Coast in One Trip

Whitby Goth Weekend and Robin Hood’s Bay Folk Weekend are both free to enjoy and add a fun atmosphere to your trip. Steam railway rides can be pricey, so plan them alongside multi-attraction passes (some railways partner with National Trust or English Heritage sites for discounts).

Then head to the coast for Robin Hood’s Bay, which is ideal for fossil hunting and teaching the kids about the smugglers of time gone by; there’s even a chance of heading to Whitby for fish and chips on the pier.

If you’ve got bikes, the Cinder Track offers traffic-free cycling between the two.

Where to stay?

Shropshire Hills & Storybook Castles

A gem for families who like walking without big crowds.

Carding Mill Valley has free hill trails that even young kids can manage, and you can wild paddle in the stream on hot days.

Visit during the Ludlow Food Festival for free street entertainment and market stalls, or during one of the town’s open-air theatre nights.

Bring binoculars for the RSPB reserve at Lake Vyrnwy (free entry) and try the sculpture trail.

Where to stay?

Isle of Bute’s Beaches & Bikes

A short ferry ride from the Scottish mainland, Bute feels like a proper island getaway but is small enough to explore in a few days.

Free fun includes beach-hopping between Scalpsie Bay (seal spotting) and Ettrick Bay (perfect for picnics), plus cycling around the coast road.

Plan your trip around the free Bute Highland Games in August or the island’s open studios weekend for arts and crafts lovers.

Rothesay’s Victorian seafront is great for a low-cost family stroll with an ice cream. You can even spot deer in the island’s woodlands if you go early.

Where to stay?

Further tips & tricks to make your budget work for you

• Consider joining a club: The Caravan and Motorhome Club or the Camping and Caravanning Club offer member-only discounts on sites, ferries and even attractions. Most regulars find that they more than make back their annual membership fee.

• Consider memberships: National Trust and English Heritage passes can save you a lot if you visit more than a couple of sites in a year.

• Travel off-peak when you can: Campsites often drop their prices when it’s not the school holidays. While this can be difficult to navigate, it does give you the chance of grabbing a cheap weekend away. Some also lower prices midweek, so even during the holidays, you might be able to have a few lower-cost days if you’re not worried about your arrival day.

• Pitch positioning matters: On busy sites, ask for a pitch near the playground or facilities if you’ve got younger kids. It saves countless “Can we go to the swings?” walks. Or, if you want quiet evenings, ask for a pitch at the far end away from reception.

• One-night stopovers: When travelling between destinations, many small farms and pubs let you park overnight for free or for the price of a meal. Search for Brit Stops, which is a scheme full of these hidden gems.

• Free swimming and leisure passes: Some holiday parks include free or heavily discounted access to nearby leisure centres, pools or even golf courses. Worth asking before you book.

• Stock up before tourist prices: Fill the fridge and cupboards at supermarkets en route rather than buying in high-cost tourist areas.

• Rainy day backups: Keep a stash of rainy day activities on board, like card games, baking kits or scavenger hunts for inside the van, so you don’t end up spending on last-minute indoor attractions.

• Use fuel apps: Track down cheaper petrol or diesel en route using apps like PetrolPrices; small savings like these can add up over a long trip.

• Family railcards for day trips: If your van’s pitched somewhere for a few days, taking a train into the nearest city can be cheaper than driving and parking.

• Plan with festivals in mind: Some towns host free summer festivals, events, regattas or outdoor concerts. While these might be what draws you to these areas, campsites may hike their prices during this period, so if you’re looking to spend as little as possible, it can be best to stay slightly out of town when places are hosting.

Ready to plan your next adventure?

You don’t need a huge budget to give your family the kind of UK holiday they’ll remember for years. Simply pick a destination where there’s plenty to do nearby, take your base with you (and the things you need) and enjoy the freedom to spend your days exactly how you like.

With a Bailey of Bristol campervan, motorhome or caravan, the UK opens up, from coast to countryside, castles to caves, all at a pace (and price) that suits you.

Want to read more UK holidaying tips? Head to our blog section for more.