What if I told you that travel this year is alive and well? With so many beautiful destinations to explore within the UK, the best way to embrace adventure is to hit the road and discover my own backyard. And I did it in style! For our UK road trip, we rented a classic 1976 VW Campervan from Camptoo, often described as the Airbnb for campervan rentals.
Traveling in a campervan allowed us to enjoy the freedom of the open road while soaking in some of the most stunning scenery the UK has to offer—all just a short drive from London. Our four-day journey took us through winding country lanes in Somerset and led us to the charming towns of the Cotswolds.
Join me as I share our quintessentially British road trip itinerary, packed with cream teas, antique shopping, village hopping, and even playing fetch with 26 Golden Retrievers (yes, really!).
UK Road Trip Itinerary
Day One: London to Somerset
I’ve always dreamed of going off the grid in a classic VW campervan. So, when I found Glenda—a beautiful 1976 camper—on Camptoo, it felt like stumbling upon a solid 10 on Tinder. I clicked “Request reservation” faster than I ever swiped right on any dating app!
Glenda was our home for the road trip, and she was restored to perfection with a new leather interior, a fresh paint job, and a new engine. Justin felt confident that we wouldn’t break down in the middle of nowhere! Inside, the van had a fridge, a gas hob, a sink, and all the pots and pans we needed, plus a cute pull-out table for those romantic campsite dinners. The roof even extended up, giving us enough room to stand comfortably—Justin, who is 6’3″, could stand upright with ease. The bench seating folded down to create a cozy bed, and the cushions turned into surprisingly comfortable mattresses. We even had dimmable lights, perfect for finding my socks in the dark or setting the mood for a relaxing evening.
When we arrived to pick up Glenda, her owner was incredibly helpful, giving us a tour of all the features and even taking Justin for a test drive to master the art of driving the van. With the papers signed and the keys in hand, we were excited to start our campervenure!
We set off towards Forde Abbey—a privately owned former Cistercian monastery in Dorset and our first intended stop on this great British adventure. However, time was not on our side, and we had to abandon this pit stop to head straight to our campsite. After all, what’s a road trip without a few unexpected twists?
With our 4G signal fading with every mile, we finally arrived at Halse Farm, our rest area for the evening. Admittedly, this spot was in the middle of nowhere, but I didn’t mind; it offered stunning scenery, with rolling green hills dotted with cattle and free-roaming red deer. It was the perfect peaceful location we needed to unwind from the stresses of city life. We paid £20 for a touring pitch with an electrical hookup for the night.
We parked up, poured ourselves some G&Ts, and enjoyed the sunset while playing Connect Four. If that isn’t a campsite cliché, then I don’t know what is!
