Campsites to reopen on July 4

The Government has confirmed that campsites and holiday parks can open again on July 4 in England.

It is expected that Scottish campsites will reopen on 15 July. The timescales for reopening campsites in Wales is still not confirmed, while some campsites Northern Ireland can open from 26 June.

The confirmation that campsites can reopen came among a raft of lockdown-reduction measures announced by the Prime Minister in Parliament, this afternoon (June 23).

It is welcome news to the industry and to motorhome, campervan and caravan owners, as well as tent campers, who can all now enjoy a summer break.

In response, the director generals of the Camping and Caravanning Club and the Caravan and Motorhome Club, as well as the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, made a joint statement welcoming the announcement.

“Our three organisations were delighted to hear today’s announcement by Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, regarding the reopening of England’s hospitality sector on 4 July and his specific mention of campsites to cheers from the backbenches.

“The three organisations have been busy building plans for the reopening of our campsites and holiday parks, and we are all looking forward to welcoming holidaymakers back. We hope it will be a bumper summer for UK holidays, which will be a key contributor to the nation’s economic recovery while also being essential for the health and wellbeing of individuals.”

The news was also welcomed by the National Caravan Council (NCC), whose Director General, John Lally, said: “This is great news for the over two million caravan owners and for the parks industry in England - and not a moment too soon.

“We have been working hard to explain to Government that caravan products are ‘socially distanced by design’ and that the parks industry across the UK can be safe places for people to holiday.  Not only are caravans required to be 5m or 6m apart, but caravan parks are big open spaces, the ideal base for hard working families to enjoy the great outdoors.

“Parks already are working on safety protocols to keep their staff and visitors safe.  So we are delighted that the great British caravan holiday can recommence in less than two weeks time!”

Campsites are now taking bookings, with many reporting greater interest than normal.

If you are looking for a campsite, try searching on CampsiteFinder, which has hundreds of campsites to choose from.

And, if you are after a luxury campsite, try a Premier Park, which are the top 100 campsites in the UK and all of which have been independently assessed.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club had already started to plan for the reopening prior to today’s confirmation. It is also planning to reopen some Scottish campsites on 15 July.

“At this moment we are not able to open all of our Club sites, however, we will constantly review whether we are able to open any more campsites in the future,” said the Club.

“All of our campsites that are to reopen will be adapted to the new social distancing and safety requirements set out by the UK government and administrations. Our priority is first and foremost the health and safety of our staff, members, guests and the local communities.”

You can find out which Caravan and Motorhome Club sites are reopening here.

The Camping and Caravanning Club is also set to open many of its campsites on July 4. It said it has seen demand increasing and is asking members to book in advance to guarantee a pitch.

As with the Caravan and Motorhome Club, the C&CC has introduced a series of measures to ensure compliance with social distancing rules and enhanced hygiene measures.

You can view a list of Camping and Caravanning Club campsites and whether they’re open or not here.