There is an amazing variety of Vanlife festivals to attend this year. If you are interested in Vanlife, campervans, motorhomes, overlanders, 4x4s and offgrid living then you should certainly put some of these in your diary!
Living vanlife or traveling in a campervan has become very challenging in the UK, with more and more height barriers going up and local authorities putting restrictions on overnight parking it is making owning and using a campervan quite difficult.
As a fulltime vanlifer, I love to travel around in my LWB Sprinter parking at scenic locations, exploring food and cooking with a view, but the last two years I have seen more and restrictions appear on my favourite spots.
Unless you hop from campsite to campsite, the UK can be really challenging to find a good parkup now. Even the parkup apps are massively out of date.
So how to live vanlife in the UK?
This is where the events come in to play. You get to meet you new people who share your interests and mindset, get inspired by amazing van builds, get inspired by peoples lifestyles, learn technical and van build techniques as well as enjoy a huge variety of activities and workshops. Often cheaper than staying on a campsite too!
That is an awesome reason to get or build a van and head off to all the events! You can easily fill your diary with a selection of events and meetups and do the vanlife circuit.
Are all Vanlife Festivals the same?
Absolutely not! As an organiser myself I can assure you that most of the organisers of vanlife festivals have a great relationship with one another and we often chat and ensure we bring a variety of lore and entertainment to each show.
What is the best UK Vanlife Festival?
Everyone likes different types of events, be it a large event or a small event there really is something for everyone. I have spoken to a lot of people who love the small meetup type events as well as speaking to people who love the huge shows fully loaded with vans. They are all really good festivals with a lot of love and personality put into each show.
What UK Vanlife Festivals are there in 2024
This taken from the facebook group Vanlife Festivals UK which is where most of the uk Vanlife festivals are advertised.
- Vanlife Eats
A festival featuring vans, food, foraging, cooking, health and wellbeing, celebrity chef demos, and foodie workshops. Awesome live music all weekend and there is also activities for dogs!
Date: 23-25 August 2024
Location: Dummer Down Farm, Hampshire
More Info - Campervan Campout
Includes self-build showcases, amazing live music, a huge shopping village, and a dog-friendly environment.
Date: 3-5 May 2024
Location: South of England Showground, Ardingly
More Info - VanLife Festival
A major event with live music, workshops, and family activities. This event is HUGE! There is loads to do and is the perfect festival for getting inspired by van build after van build!
Date: 31 May – 2 June 2024
Location: West Mid Showground, Shrewsbury
More Info - VanLife Fest
Family-friendly with live music, a trade village, and free family entertainment.
Date: 21-23 June 2024
Location: Scampston Hall, Malton, North Yorkshire
More Info - Mighty Dub Fest
Celebrates VWs with live music, craft workshops, fairground attractions, and a dog show.
Date: 14-16 June 2024
Location: Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
More Info - Vanlove Fest
An inclusive festival with an epic music lineup, comedy, workshops, and a wellness village. The unique element of this festival is how it is all laid out on a runway. Don’t miss the great finale where hundreds of vans take to the strip!
Date: 19-21 July 2024
Location: Elvington Airfield, York
More Info - She’s at the wheel
A unique women’s only event featuring handmade crafts, live music and a safe supportive atmosphere. A great event to connect with nature!
Date: 28-30 June 2024
Location: Oxfordshire
More Info - Camper Jam
A recognized VW festival with activities for all ages, including craft workshops and live music.
Date: 5-7 July 2024
Location: Weston Park, Shifnal, Shropshire
More Info - Vanlife and Overlander Celebration
A family-focused event with live music, food, trade stands, and talks. This event is as genuine as it gets for a real vanlife vibe. Hosted by the legendary Built Not Bought Campers
Date: 26-28 July 2024
Location: Newbury Showground, Berkshire
More Info - Urban Van Fest
A summer festival with wellness areas, live entertainment, and activities for children.
Date: 19-21 July 2024
Location: Plumpton Racecourse, East Sussex
More Info - VW Breakout
A family-friendly VW festival with drag racing, live music, and camping.
Date: 17-19 May 2024
Location: Santa Pod Raceway, Northants
More Info - Van Vibes Festival
A chilled environment to enjoy music, food, and relaxation in the beautiful Surrey countryside.
Date: 6-8 September 2024
Location: Burstow Park Farm, Outwood, Surrey
More Info - Camper Marmalade
A family-friendly festival celebrating the camper van lifestyle with live music, food, and various activities.
Date: 21-23 June 2024
Location: Bramley Farm, Bay Tree Lane, Polegate, East Sussex, BN26 6QN
More Info - The Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show
A comprehensive exhibition event for new motorhomes, campervans, caravans, and camping accessories.
Date: 13-18 October 2024
Date: 15-20 October 2024
Location: NEC, Birmingham
More Info - Warners Shows
There are so many Warners shows scattered across the UK all with excellent exhibitors relating to campervans and motorhomes.
More Info
Load up your diary with this amazing selection of Vanlife festivals and campervan events and show off your very own campervan or take to the festivals and get inspiration for your van build.
