Short answer: Living in a campervan in the UK, whether for a weekend or for months, comes down to a few routines: packing the right kit, knowing your van's size, managing water and toilet waste, staying warm and dry, keeping powered and connected, and having the paperwork straight with the DVLA and your insurer. The guides below cover each one, from our own trips and the official sources.
Living in a campervan: where to start
We are Josh and Jenny. We converted our own van and travel the UK in it, sometimes for a long weekend, sometimes for weeks at a time. Most of what makes van life feel easy is not the big build. It is the small habits: where you fill up with water, where you empty the toilet, how you stop the windows streaming in January, and how you keep a laptop charged when there is no hook-up.
If you are new, start with the campervan checklist and the first trip guide. If you already travel, jump to the topic that is giving you trouble.
The habits that matter most
Know your numbers. Height, width, length and weight decide which car parks, lanes and sites work for you. Write them on a label by the steering wheel. Our guide to height barriers explains why.
Plan the boring stops. Water, waste and fuel are what really shape a route. A beautiful spot with nowhere to empty a cassette for two days is not a beautiful spot by day three.
Respect the place. Leave no trace, keep noise down and follow local rules on overnight parking. See where to stay for wild camping, aires and hook-up.
Keep the paperwork live. MOT, tax, insurance and breakdown cover all renew on different dates. Roam's My garage keeps them together and reminds you before they lapse, and Van recipes help you plan meals that fit a small kitchen. Both are in the app now; join the early access list.