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Camping / Caravaning
Touring Caravan
The independence of a caravan or camping around the UK means we can catch up on the many fun attractions and also make friends with our varied culture and history.
Being mobile, families and couples can pitch camp and then seek out the best in their selected holiday area, whether it’s major visitor attractions, such as theme parks, museums or the historic places that have contributed to making Britain what it is today.
While the British weather may not be as reliable as sunny Spain or Portugal, for example, a gloomy or rainy day can provide the impetus to get some fun or culture under our belts.
The UK has sights and places to rival anywhere in the world and in a four-part series we are looking at the huge range of things to do that it offers for families on caravanning or camping holidays in England, Scotland or Wales.
This week, we look at culture, heritage and just plain fun. Many caravan and campsites are within easy reach of some of the best cities, towns and attractions in Britain.
Fun Britain
Amusement and Themeparks
We may not be so well endowed for theme parks as Florida but for thrill seekers there are enough white-knuckle rides to keep them screaming.
On the English north-west coast Blackpool Pleasure Beach is 40 acres of thrill rides, shows and excitement. There are more than 125 rides to suit all ages and bravery levels. For young families there are gentle river cruises around the park and a monorail ride but for top scare value are the extreme white-knuckle experiences of the Pepsi Max Big One and Valhalla. The Big One is just that – the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Europe at 70 metres and with twists and turns at up to 87mph.
At Alton Park in Staffordshire rides such as Rita – Queen of Speed pull a massive G-force of 4.7 while the Corkscrew boasts steep drops and a double inversion. The Oblivion ride is a 200-foot, 4.5G, plummet.
Thorpe Park in Surrey has many rides to suit all ages and courage standards but for the adrenalin junkies just the names of Stealth, Colossus, Detonator and Nemesis Inferno give some idea that they will be thrill packed.
Many other seaside resorts have fairgrounds and amusement parks with rides for all the family – among them are Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, Rhyl and Barry Island in Wales and Southend-on-Sea in Essex.
Zoos and safari parks are also popular with families and among Britain’s most famous are Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey and in London, Longleat and Plymouth.
Historic Buildings
There are two millennia of relatively-modern history to explore across England, Scotland and Wales – and much to learn. Historic sites include Stonehenge from pre history, battlefields, castles that have survived the centuries and the well-preserved bank of stately homes.
Top sites are Culloden and Glencoe battlefields in Scotland and the 1066 Norman Conquest site at Battle in Sussex. Nelson’s preserved flagship Victory is at Portsmouth and the Tower of London and Windsor Castle are in and near London respectively.
Among the greatest of the stately or aristocratic homes open to the public are Castle Howard in Yorkshire, Buckingham Palace in London and Hollyrood House in Edinburgh.
While castle ruins can be found everywhere there are many historic fortresses and citadels in perfect condition and attracting many visitors. Excellent examples around the country include Caernarvon Castle in Wales, Colchester Castle in Essex, Carisbrooke on the Isle of Wight, Warwick in the English Midlands and Edinburgh and Stirling in Scotland.
Cultural Britain
Britain is chock full of museums; ideal places to learn about so many subjects. These range from local history to art and science. It goes without saying that the three country capitals – London, Edinburgh and Cardiff are the focus for top museums.
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London – a wealth of places to visit. Arts venues include The Tate, Tate Modern and the National Gallery. Museum subjects to explore include natural history, science and the many aspects – textile, fashion and ceramics – within the Victoria and Albert Museum.
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Edinburgh – home to the National and Royal Museums but it also has museums ranging across a great variety of subjects. There are museums of war, childhood and writers and among exhibits at the Museum of Flight is a Concorde supersonic jet.
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Cardiff – the National Museum exhibits cover a wide range about Welsh history and life. The city is also home to the Welch Regimental Museum.
Wherever families take a caravan or camping holiday there are also alternative interesting activities to partake in besides the traditional outdoor pursuits.
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