Celebrate Local History Month 2025 with your caravan
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Explore History Month 2025 with your caravan
With May marking Local and Community History Month, there’s never been a better time for caravanners to get involved in celebrating the nation's rich and diverse heritage.
From historic castles to ancient abbeys, the stories of the past are woven into the landscapes, some of which many of us walk (or tow) through on our holidays.
Hero image courtesy of Homing Park
Macaulay Nichol Content Editor: Caravans
Macaulay Nichol Content Editor: Caravans
Help map local history
Caravan owners are invited to share local history through Historic England’s Missing Pieces Project
This year, Historic England is encouraging caravanners to take part in their Missing Pieces Project, where you can share your pictures on the National Heritage List.
A Historic England spokesperson said,
“Caravanners are perfectly positioned to help us build a more complete picture of Britain's rich heritage.
"As they move to different regions, they discover authentic local stories that enrich our understanding of history.
"The Missing Pieces Project helps to ensure that everyone can access and contribute to our shared national story.
"Every snapshot and story added is an important piece of the picture.”
Top caravan campsites with historic sites nearby
Kenninghall Road, Banham, Norfolk NR16 2HE
Applewood Countryside Park
Applewood Countryside Park is a peaceful, family-friendly site in the Norfolk countryside.
Open year-round and just a short walk from Banham Zoo, it’s ideal for caravanners looking to explore the area’s wildlife and scenic surroundings.
Wymondham Abbey
Just a short drive from Applewood Countryside Park, Wymondham Abbey stands as one of East Anglia’s finest Norman churches.
Founded in 1107, the abbey features twin towers, a fully restored angel roof, and the famous gilded altar screen by Sir Ninian Comper.
Thetford Priory
Thetford Priory offers caravanners the chance to explore one of medieval East Anglia’s most important monastic sites.
Founded in the early 1100s, the priory served as the burial place of the powerful earls and dukes of Norfolk for 400 years.
Crow Lane, Great Billing, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN3 9DA
Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park
Located in the Nene Valley, Billing Aquadrome offers lakeside relaxation across 235 acres.
Open from March to November, the campsite features an indoor pool, splash park, water sports and on-site dining – perfect for family-friendly breaks.
Abington Park Museum
Located in a former manor house in one of Northampton's most scenic parks, Abington Park Museum brings local history to Northamptonshire.
Open weekends and daily during school holidays, entry is free with a suggested donation.
Visitors will be able to explore Abington's medieval estate, discover military galleries and enjoy the surrounding park’s rose gardens.
78 Derngate
Caravanners are able to explore the only house in England designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh – 78 Derngate.
Restored to its original 1916 design, this award-winning museum offers an insight into early twentieth century interior design.
You can enjoy the on-site restaurant, galleries and shop, all housed in an historically stylish townhouse.
Church Lane, Seasalter, Whitstable, Kent CT5 4BU
Homing Park
Just a short walk from Seasalter Beach and only a couple of miles from the seaside town of Whitstable, Homing Park is a long-established coastal retreat in Kent.
Operating since the 1950s, it’s the perfect base for exploring the local coastline, unwinding by the heated outdoor pool or spending quality time with the family in the clubhouse and several play areas.
Whitstable Castle & Gardens
Whitstable Castle offers a journey through centuries of coastal and industrial history.
Originally a manor house tied to the early chemical industry of copperas in the fifteenth century, the site evolved through the hands of influential families.
Today, the restored castle and gardens are open to the public, hosting regular events and offering a historical spot to explore, relax or enjoy community events.
A perfect pick for caravanners keen to connect with local heritage during Local and Community History Month.
Canterbury Cathedral
One of the standout sites to explore this May, Canterbury Cathedral stands as one of England’s most iconic and historically significant landmarks.
Founded in 597 AD by St Augustine, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the spiritual home of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.
Home to the shrine of Thomas Becket, Canterbury Cathedral is a living monument to England’s religious and political heritage.
Peter Tavy, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 9LS
Harford Bridge Holiday Park
Set within Dartmoor National Park, just two and a half miles from the historic market town of Tavistock, Harford Bridge Holiday Park is a long-established campsite offering a riverside escape for tourers.
The campsite enjoys a rural setting beside the River Tavy, with easy access to the Tamar Valley National Landscape, Dartmoor’s wild moorland, and the Cornwall and West Devon Mining World Heritage Site.
Cornish Mining World Heritage Site
A true highlight, the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape is the UK’s largest industrial World Heritage Site and a testament to the country’s mining legacy.
Spanning ten unique areas across Cornwall and Devon, this UNESCO World Heritage Site tells the story of how Cornish mining powered the Industrial Revolution.
From towering engines, to historic settlements, the site captures the lives and struggles of the mining communities that shaped the landscape of the modern world.
Morwellham Quay
Part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, Morwellham Quay is an open-air museum which invites visitors to the region’s industrial past.
Once a transport hub on the River Tamar, it was central to exporting copper ore from nearby mines, with operations dating back to the 1700s.
Caravanners can journey back in time by exploring original mine workings and taking part in the Mine Train Adventure. This train ride carries you along the riverbank and deep into the historic mine, where a costumed Victorian copper miner shares the story of hard rock mining.
How caravanners can get involved
- Visit a site near your caravan park
- Take photos
- Upload them to the Missing Pieces Project
- Share stories or observations you learn from locals or site guides
For this local and community history month, caravan owners have a unique opportunity to explore local heritage and add their voice to the national story – one photo, one site, one memory at a time.
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