National Camping and Caravanning Week Launch 2019

Wednesday 22 May 2019

• Julia Bradbury, TV presenter and President of The Camping and Caravanning Club, is celebrating 100 years of a great British holiday icon – the caravan – by staying on the first-ever floating campsite on the Thames, which will be moored near Tower Bridge in London for one night only – Tuesday 21 May – ahead of National Campingand Caravanning Week (NCCW), which runs from 27 May to 2 June

• The first production caravan was made in the UK in 1919; since then the caravan has become a great British holiday tradition enjoyed by millions, a major contributor to the UK economy and a concept that is now enjoyed around the world

• NCCW is an annual celebration to get the nation out camping in all its forms and enjoying the great outdoors and is led by The Camping and Caravanning Club, the largest and oldest Club in the world for all forms of camping, on behalf of the industry

London commuters and tourists were surprised to see a caravan on a floating campsite on the River Thames by Tower Bridge with TV personality Julia Bradbury on board. Julia was enjoying a staycation to celebrate the 100th anniversary of a much-loved British holiday icon – the caravan.

The unique floating campsite, created for one-night only, has everything for an enjoyable caravan holiday including a barbecue and outside table and chairs. The Eccles 560 caravan also boasts home comforts such as a large double bed with ensuite shower room, a fully-equipped kitchen with fridge and even the ability to control its interior lights, hot water and heating via an app on a smartphone. The floating campsite’s tent, by Field Candy, features the World’s Smallest Pub design.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first caravan built on a commercial scale to be towed by a car instead of a horse. That first caravan was an Eccles, a brand still in production today with the Swift Group, and cost £90 when it launched in 1919 (or just over £5,000 in today’s money).

This is not the first time Julia has been camping in an exclusive central London location. Well known for her love of the outdoors, and in her capacity as President of The Camping and Caravanning Club, she launched National Camping and Caravanning Week 2016 by spending the night in a tent on top of The O2 Arena. Julia is also hosting a birthday party to mark the caravan’s milestone.

Julia said: “National Camping and Caravanning Week is all about inspiring the nation to get outdoors whether that’s through caravanning, motorhoming or traditional tent camping. And we’re all more aware than ever that getting into the great outdoors is good for our mental health and well as being great fun.

“Caravanning is easier than you might think and offers the freedom to tour and enjoy our wonderful countryside. Today’s caravans have all your modern home comforts and luxuries – they have come a very long way since those early pioneering caravans – and today represent a great British success story.”

According to the latest research from the UK Caravan and Camping Alliance, the UK’s campsite and holiday park industry generates £9.3 billion of visitor expenditure and supports 171,448 full-time jobs.

Robert Louden MBE, the Director General of The Camping and Caravanning Club, added: “For many decades the British caravanning, motorhoming and tent camping industry has made a significant economic contribution to the country while also creating lasting holiday memories for millions of people. We hope people continue to enjoy our great pastime for years to come.”

To celebrate 100 years of the caravan, the Club will give one lucky competition winner a new Eccles 560 caravan including Vango awning, worth £26,500. The Club is also asking caravanners to share photos of why they love caravanning on social media using #lovemycaravan to be in with a chance of winning an Outwell awning.

National Camping and Caravanning Week 2019 is supported by the Swift Group, Truma, The Outdoor Guide, Outwell, Vango, Powrtouch and Field Candy.

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For more information, images and interview requests with Julia Bradbury and/or representatives from The Camping and Caravanning Club, please contact the Communications Team.

Additional photographs and video footage, including archive material, together with a caravan fact file and timeline are available on request.

Notes for Editors

1. The Camping and Caravanning Club is 118 years old and is the largest and oldest Club in the world for all forms of camping. It has 103 award-winning sites.

2. The Club runs Caravan Manoeuvring Courses throughout the year. Courses are designed to improve participants’ confidence when towing for the first time, or if they are keen to build on skills when reversing or manoeuvring a caravan. To view the full list of courses, dates and venues, visit: www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/club-courses.

3. More information on National Camping and Caravanning Week 2019.

4. Click here for more information on starting out in tent camping, caravanning or motorhoming or here for more information on joining the Club.

5. For further information about the UK Caravan and Camping Alliance’s ground-breaking economic report visit www.ukcca.org.uk.