Visiting the UK - What facilities ?

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Maxieras

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I am planning a trip to the UK this summer. I am used to the French system where every village has parking for camping cars, overnight stops are free on the motorways and there are water/dump points everywhere.

How do you manage a trip in the UK, looking on S4S all I seem to find are pub carparks (no facilities) or caravan club sites (which I have no intention of joining).

How do you do your filling and dumping ?
 
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Maxieras said:
I am planning a trip to the UK this summer. I am used to the French system where every village has parking for camping cars, overnight stops are free on the motorways and there are water/dump points everywhere.

How do you manage a trip in the UK, looking on S4S all I seem to find are pub carparks (no facilities) or caravan club sites (which I have no intention of joining).

How do you do your filling and dumping ?
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Avoid caravan and motorhome club, very expensive sites. You may want to join the other club as they have many THS (£10-15 a night pitch, no per adult fees) in summer (Camping and caravanning club).

Depending on age and unit size, their sites may suit too, we are booked on. abank holiday weekend for 3 nights for a total of £70 for grass no electric for 2 adults, it would be under 50 quid if one adult, and even cheaper if you were over 60. Thats at a club site, 10 mins from a major town on a bank holiday. Safe to say it's even cheaper midweek in summer on a non bank holiday. Be aware unlike France, camping and caravanning club you only get the best price usually at > 3 days stay. For some reason they penalise 1-2 day stays with a higher rate as their (season long) discount codes published on website usually have a 3 night min stay. If you need 2 nights with them you are invariably better to book 3, pay for 3, and use a discount code as the discount code is often > 33% off.

Camping club also allows (service) visits at many sites for a flat fee.

Ref; dumping/filling when not on a site, we tend to visit a site every few days when we need -> but when we've done a week totally off grid we found a friendly CL (which didn't require the CAMC membership) at £10 a night, which is less than parking in these parts, and could empty and fill both water, elsan and waste there.
 
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You can park on motorway service areas but it's not recommended by most.

No such thing as an aire in the UK.
People have tried but always fail.

Wild camping is possible in quiet areas but always be prepared to move on.

Pub stops, if you buy a meal or drinks, are quiet popular but the laws around this have just changed so they will soon die out

Club sites are plentiful but quiet expensive.

As for services, water can usually be found in cemeteries and public toilets etc. otherwise it's pay for a few hours at some club sites to empty grey and cassette and refill water.

Unless you like club sites the UK is lagging far, far behind Europe.

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We have found it difficult not to be in one of the two large clubs. As the UK has no real aire system and it is illegal to sleep in the van on 90% of the roads, we normally stop at the '5 vans only' small sires run by those clubs. We sometimes stop at a pub but found it expensive as feel it would be rude not to eat and drink there.
Some like to wildcamp, or wildpark in fact, using industrial estates and backstreets in towns but probably not legally. There are very very few genuine wildcamping locations.
Remember although there is no national law forbidding sleeping on roads or verges, almost all roads are governed by local bylaws which do ban it.
Be careful when drinking alcohol and wildcamping, the Police may ask you to move. It is also illegal to be drunk in charge if a vehicle in a 'public place'. This means anywhere the public has access to.
 
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Maxieras said:
I am planning a trip to the UK this summer. I am used to the French system where every village has parking for camping cars, overnight stops are free on the motorways and there are water/dump points everywhere.

How do you manage a trip in the UK, looking on S4S all I seem to find are pub carparks (no facilities) or caravan club sites (which I have no intention of joining).

How do you do your filling and dumping ?
Click to expand...
Welcome (back?) To the UK, there are very, very few aires like the French ones in the UK, you can probably count them on your fingers and you probably wouldn’t need your toes, most of us belong to at least one or the other of the major clubs or both, there are lots of small sites referenced as CL's or CS's technically you should be a member of their parent club, but give them a ring and they will probably let you stay, most will need paying in cash but some will take cards if they have another business that requires them to take them, farm shops for instance. Most of these can provide black and grey water dumping as well as fresh water, there may also be electric hookups available at the majority but not all.
HTH
 
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There are a few 'Aire' style places around. These are being encouraged/helped by an organisation called CAMPRA (Campaign for Real Aires)

They are listed on Search for sites. They are few and far between though.

Personally I'd join one of the camping clubs (they are not to expensive at about £70 a year) and then try to use their smaller affiliate sites (CL or CS sites) which are more basic and limited in facilities (like an Aire) but also cheaper.
 
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Maxieras said:
I am planning a trip to the UK this summer. I am used to the French system where every village has parking for camping cars, overnight stops are free on the motorways and there are water/dump points everywhere.

How do you manage a trip in the UK, looking on S4S all I seem to find are pub carparks (no facilities) or caravan club sites (which I have no intention of joining).

How do you do your filling and dumping ?
Click to expand...
As other members have pointed out, it's a little more difficult than in your own delightful country but do not be put off. Things can be overcome. As suggested, a spare toilet cassette is a very good idea. With a spare ourselves we can manage for up to 6 days ( depending on how much wine/ beer is consumed) and parking areas near canals have often got emptying facilities and water nearby. As mentioned, cemeteries often have water. As a member of this forum you have reasonably priced access to small sites connected to us ( our ring leader, JIM, has a nice one himself) we have managed for many years to avoid expensive sites in this country. We live not far from Dover or the tunnel and depending on when you plan to visit you could always message me personally and I would only be too happy to pass on any tips.
John

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If you’re coming over soon then it might be worth joining the Camping and Caravan Club and getting the digital magazine. You then need to download the Site Seeker app. With the app you can then access the CLs and THSs (temporary holiday sites). These are a relatively inexpensive way of being able to fill with water and empty waste.

Sadly there’s nothing really that’s easy like on the Continent.
 
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If you decide to go into an asda, for example, to buy some bits and then realise you'd forgotten something after you'd left. Then go back in to the same asda and buy the rest of the things you need, you'll get a nice £100 fine in the post a week later.

It's great!
 
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carolyn said:
If you’re coming over soon then it might be worth joining the Camping and Caravan Club and getting the digital magazine. You then need to download the Site Seeker app. With the app you can then access the CLs and THSs (temporary holiday sites). These are a relatively inexpensive way of being able to fill with water and empty waste.

Sadly there’s nothing really that’s easy like on the Continent.
Click to expand...
Worth noting many THS these days you can just turn up though (some you need to ring) -> clearly tells you which are which in the app.
 
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You are going to be very disappointed if you expect facilities such as they have in France.
There are a few (very few) councils that provide a meager number of parking spots for MH usually without any facilities.
One or two places around the country do have facilities that you would equal your Aires but most have a charge.
Lots of campsites won't let you empty and refil unless you are actually staying with them even if you are prepared to pay for the privilege.
We were with the C&MH club for years but they are now stupidly expensive so we left as have a lot of people.
We may give C&CC a try if we tour the UK again.

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Dannco75 said:
If you decide to go into an asda, for example, to buy some bits and then realise you'd forgotten something after you'd left. Then go back in to the same asda and buy the rest of the things you need, you'll get a nice £100 fine in the post a week later.

It's great!
Click to expand...
60 years of great family value.
 
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Asda is mentioned above, to explain Asda is one of the big supermarket chains. Most supermarkets and “centre commercials” have parking restrictions which limit parking to a set period, there are signs posted but not always in a prominent position so be wary of where you park. I have no experience of the London Exclusion zone (LEZ) but I am sure someone with a greater knowledge will explain its limits and how to avoid it.
 
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Maxieras said:
How do you do your filling and dumping ?
Click to expand...

Generally, we would cough up for a Camping and Caravan club (C&CC) Certified Site (CS) or Temp Holiday Site (THS), or a private/community run stopover, every 3/4 days.

C&CC do have a limited number of 'Service stop-offs'

Service Stop-Off Points - The Camping and Caravanning Club

Are you making a long journey and need somewhere to fill up your water, freshen up and take a break? A number of our Club Sites offer Service Stop-Off Points.
www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk

But Caravan and Motorhome Club (CAMC) do not even allow this. :shake:

I'd say it's generally easier to find cheap/free stops in Scotland where Forestry Scotland, Nature.Scot & RSPB have 'Stay-the-night' schemes - albeit these are light on facilities.

Try Park4Night as well as S4S...
 
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68c said:
and it is illegal to sleep in the van on 90% of the roads,
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Where did that one come from?
HarryML7 said:
I have no experience of the London Exclusion zone (LEZ) but I am sure someone with a greater knowledge will explain its limits and how to avoid it.
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& This^^^^^^^means if you wish to enter the LEZ & Ulez m which is basically nearly anything inside the M25 m then you will have to register with Transport for London. Assuming that you have a reasonably new motorhome as nothing pre 2016 is exempt.
If you have an older one you can pay a daily charge to enter.
 
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A few other cities have Low Emission zones to watch for
www.gov.uk

Drive in a clean air zone

Find out if you need to pay to drive in a clean air zone and check your vehicle meets emission standards.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk

I don't know what powers they may have to fine a foreign-registered vehicle (if that's what you have) which doesn't pay the charge.

68c said:
it is illegal to sleep in the van on 90% of the roads
Click to expand...
News to me, too.

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Maxieras said:
I am planning a trip to the UK this summer. I am used to the French system where every village has parking for camping cars, overnight stops are free on the motorways and there are water/dump points everywhere.

How do you manage a trip in the UK, looking on S4S all I seem to find are pub carparks (no facilities) or caravan club sites (which I have no intention of joining).

How do you do your filling and dumping ?
Click to expand...
Personally… I wouldn’t bother. It’s a nightmare in the uk and we always head straight to Calais
 
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Maxieras said:
I am planning a trip to the UK this summer. I am used to the French system where every village has parking for camping cars, overnight stops are free on the motorways and there are water/dump points everywhere.

How do you manage a trip in the UK, looking on S4S all I seem to find are pub carparks (no facilities) or caravan club sites (which I have no intention of joining).

How do you do your filling and dumping ?
Click to expand...
I would head for Scotland or Wales . There are lots of Free , low cost aires/ parking overnight places, water points but not so many elsan points.
Best to download park4night and search for sites. Which will show rural parking areas and campsites that have facilities.

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gus-lopez said:
Where did that one come from?

& This^^^^^^^means if you wish to enter the LEZ & Ulez m which is basically nearly anything inside the M25 m then you will have to register with Transport for London. Assuming that you have a reasonably new motorhome as nothing pre 2016 is exempt.
If you have an older one you can pay a daily charge to enter.
Click to expand...


OK, perhaps I should have said most roads, not 90%. Loads of websites stating this, just google 'can I sleep in my motorhome on the road'. No national law, just local bylaws covering 'most' roads.
 
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Maxieras said:
I am planning a trip to the UK this summer. I am used to the French system where every village has parking for camping cars, overnight stops are free on the motorways and there are water/dump points everywhere.

How do you manage a trip in the UK, looking on S4S all I seem to find are pub carparks (no facilities) or caravan club sites (which I have no intention of joining).

How do you do your filling and dumping ?
Click to expand...
On S4S look for the sites with a green (CL) or red (CS) flag with the number 5 under the flag. Just turn up with cash in hand and most will not turn you away if it’s only for one night.
If they do just move onto the next one.
 
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Dannco75 said:
If you decide to go into an asda, for example, to buy some bits and then realise you'd forgotten something after you'd left. Then go back in to the same asda and buy the rest of the things you need, you'll get a nice £100 fine in the post a week later.

It's great!
Click to expand...
That rather depends where your vehicle was registered though.
 
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You can join the C&C Club as an overseas member but it will cost you £53, the CAMC do a similar scheme but even more expensive at £66. :oops:

Can't see it being worth that if you're just visiting for a one off holiday, I always thought they both did temporary membership, say for a month or two for those overseas but can't find anything. :confused:

Overseas Visitors - The Camping and Caravanning Club

Find out about temporary overseas membership for visitors to the UK. With our Temporary Overseas Membership, it's easier than ever to get outdoors and explore.
www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk

Join the Club from Overseas

Live overseas? Don’t worry, you can still become a Caravan and Motorhome Club member from £66. Gain access to the largest network of sites in the UK.
www.caravanclub.co.uk www.caravanclub.co.uk
 
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pjay said:
You can join the C&C Club as an overseas member but it will cost you £53, the CAMC do a similar scheme but even more expensive at £66. :oops:
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Given their site pricing, under 4 nights at C&C site and you better off being a member (it's £15 night extra if not a member). And remember you need to be a member to even see the THS listings (out and about app) for areas you may visit, and THS's also require membership.

Some of the THS are published on the website though of the relevant sections of C&CC club, just it's more difficult to find without their app (which requires the membership).
 
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