What we pack for a UK caravan holiday: what to check is included, what we take for long days out, and the games we played every evening.
Our master holiday checklist on one A4 page. No sign-up needed.
UK holiday parks, static caravans, lodges and families travelling by car
We've had several family caravan holidays at UK holiday parks, and they're one of our favourite ways to get away. Because you're driving, luggage space is far less tight than on a flight, which means you can pack the bigger games and home comforts you'd normally leave behind.
This checklist focuses on what we've found genuinely useful on our own caravan breaks, plus the things that are easy to forget.
What comes with a caravan varies a lot between parks and grades of accommodation. Check your booking before you pack, so you're not carrying things you don't need or arriving without something important.
Bedding and towels – some parks include them, some charge extra and some expect you to bring your own.
Toilet roll and kitchen roll – a starter supply saves an immediate trip to the shop.
Basic kitchen kit – most caravans we've stayed in had crockery, pans and cutlery, but check the inventory if you plan to cook a lot.
Bin bags – rarely provided, and you'll need one from the first evening.
Washing-up liquid, a dish cloth and a tea towel – annoying to buy on arrival, and easy to forget.
Tea and coffee – so the first cuppa is ready as soon as you've unloaded the car.
Slippers or thick socks – caravan floors can be cold first thing in the morning, even in summer.
A torch – for walking back from the clubhouse or entertainment venue after dark.
A USB charger with several ports – caravans often have only a few sockets, and rarely where you want them.
Cable organiser – keeps everyone's chargers together, so nothing gets left behind on the last morning.
BAGSMART Travel Cable Organiser
Keeps chargers, cables and a power bank together, so nothing gets left plugged in when you leave.
Earplugs – useful if you're a light sleeper and there's rain on the roof or noisy neighbours.
Reusable earplugs
Small, washable and handy for noisy neighbours or thin walls.
A small first aid kit – plasters for blisters after long walks, and the basics for scraped knees at the playground.
Compact travel first aid kit
A small ready-made kit covering plasters, wipes and the basics without taking much space.
Power banks – we always take them on caravan holidays for long walks during the day. Maps, photos and keeping in touch drain phones quickly when you're out from morning until evening.
INIU 10,000mAh 45W Power Bank
Compact, fast USB-C charging and enough capacity for a full day out without becoming a brick in your bag.
Anker 10,000mAh 30W Power Bank
A good alternative if you prefer an established charging brand, with 10,000mAh capacity and USB-C fast charging.
Waterproof jackets for everyone – a UK holiday means planning for rain, whatever the forecast says.
Comfortable walking shoes or wellies – coastal paths and park trails can be muddy.
A small backpack – for drinks, snacks, layers and the power bank.
Refillable water bottles
Insulated water bottle
Keeps drinks hot or cold for hours on long days out.
Waterproof phone pouch – handy on the beach and in the pool complex.
SYNCWIRE Waterproof Phone Pouch 2-Pack
Keeps your phone safe from rain, spray and sand on days out.
Evenings are where a caravan holiday really shines for us. With a table, plenty of luggage space and no need to keep things small, this is the one type of holiday where we happily pack bigger games.
Bomb Busters – we played it every single evening on our last caravan holiday. Our 10 and 13 year olds chose it over the on-site entertainment. It's too big for a flight, but perfect when you're packing the car.
Bomb Busters
Our caravan holiday favourite. A tense, funny cooperative game our children wanted to play every single evening.
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea – our other caravan regular. Compact, cooperative and great for a couple of hours after dinner.
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
Compact, cooperative and deep enough to keep older children and adults playing all evening.
The Crew: Family Adventure – we'd take this too, but we'd already completed the campaign on an all-inclusive holiday, playing in our room in the evenings. If you haven't played it yet, it's an excellent choice with children from around 8, and it's our 13-year-old's favourite version of The Crew.
The Crew: Family Adventure – Marooned in Paradise
A brilliant family campaign with a flip-out board that helps younger players follow what's happening.
Snacks and drinks – for the drive and the first evening, before you've been shopping.
Children's headphones and downloaded films – downloaded at home, as park Wi-Fi can be patchy.
Wired kids' headphones
No battery to run flat and nothing to pair. Plug in and go.
A bag for the first night – pyjamas, toothbrushes and chargers in one bag, so you don't need to unpack everything when you arrive tired.
Things the caravan already has – check the inventory before packing kitchen kit, hairdryers or extra bedding.
Too many outfits – layers and a waterproof matter far more than variety on a UK holiday.
A book or a Kindle – a Kindle weighs less than a single paperback and holds a whole holiday's worth of books, so you'll never run out halfway through the trip.
Amazon Kindle
About 158g and smaller than the Paperwhite, so it's our pick for travel. It isn't waterproof, so keep it away from the pool.
Dungeon Crawler Carl: Book 1
Our favourite holiday read: funny, addictive and eight books long. It's for adults, not children.
Games on these lists are ones we've packed and played ourselves. Other products are linked to our researched guides, so you can check whether something is genuinely worth the space before you buy.
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