More people are enjoying camping and caravanning

MORE than 8,000 caravan and camping sites across the UK enjoyed the warm summer, with the two largest clubs reporting bookings up on last year and over one million leisure vehicles currently owned in the UK according to the NCC, the event arm of which runs the UK’s largest leisure vehicle event, the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2018 in October.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club, with nearly a million members and 2,700 locations, saw a 12% uplift in 2018 summer bookings over 2017. There was also a 17% year-on-year increase over the May bank holiday across its sites network and a 5% growth in August bank holiday bookings. The August bank holiday produced record bookings for the club.

The Camping and Caravanning Club, which is celebrating record membership with approximately 720,000 members, started the summer season with a particularly strong 22% increase in pitch night sales over 2017 for the Early May Bank Holiday across its 106 UK Club Sites.

Both clubs’ bookings reflect a trend for multiple, short vacations amongst leisure vehicle owners and campers.

There has also been an increase in rental schemes, giving potential lei- sure vehicle owners the opportunity to ‘try before you buy’.

The industry website, www. FreedomToGo.co.uk also helps newcomers navigate through leisure vehicle ownership, rental and the vast range of holiday and activity options on offer.

More than 700 tourers, motorhomes, campervans, holiday homes and trailer tents will be on show at the UK’s largest leisure vehicle event, the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2018 at Birmingham’s NEC from October 16 to 21. Showing all the new-for-2019 products and thousands of accessories, celebrities take to the LIVE Theatre stage to launch new products, including architect and TV presenter George Clarke who opens the show on Tuesday, October 16, and television’s Dr Hilary Jones extolling the mental and physical health benefits of leisure vehicle holidays.

Exhibitors offer information and advice on holiday destinations and tours throughout the UK, Europe and farther afield. Visitors can enjoy live cooking demonstrations, relax in the new Woodland Trust Wellbeing Rest Area, and enjoy free attractions such as Motorhome Manoeuvring, Towing Tuition and the ever-popular Campervan Test Drive. A weekend crèche is available and a BSL interpreter will join the LIVE Theatre stage on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors can also pitch their caravans and motorhomes on-site at the NEC by pre-booking their places online.

Advance tickets for the Motorhome and Caravan Show are now on sale from just £8.50, with free entry for children aged 15 and under, and parking included in the ticket price. www. mcshow.co.uk or call 0844 873 7333.