Half Term UK Tour: Newark to Chester in a Motorhome
School half term usually means one of two things: an overpriced week in a Center Parcs or a week at home watching the kids climb the walls. This time we decided to do something different. We packed the motorhome and set off on a tour of England, hitting Newark, Cambridge, London, Cirencester and Chester in just over a week. Five very different places, one very full motorhome and some genuinely brilliant memories along the way.
The Route
We planned the route so that each stop was no more than about two hours from the last. Long drives in a motorhome with restless children are nobody's idea of fun, so keeping the legs short meant we could spend more time at each destination and less time listening to complaints from the back seats. We headed south first, then looped back up through the Cotswolds and finished in Chester before driving home.
Newark: A Town That Surprised Us
We started in Newark on Trent because it was on the way south and we had never been. That turned out to be a brilliant decision. Newark is one of those places that does not get the attention it deserves. The castle ruins right in the centre of town are impressive, the market square is lovely and the antique shops along the high street kept us browsing for longer than planned.
The highlight for the kids was the National Civil War Centre. It is genuinely well done and pitched at a level where primary age children can engage with it without getting bored. There are interactive displays, costumes to try on and the staff were excellent at explaining things in a way that made sense to young minds.
We parked at a small campsite about ten minutes outside town. Nothing fancy, but it had everything we needed: electric hook up, fresh water, a clean toilet block and a flat pitch. Sometimes that is all you want after a day of exploring.
Cambridge: Punting and Curiosity
Cambridge was the stop the kids were least excited about before we arrived and the most excited about by the time we left. There is something about the college buildings, the narrow streets and the river that captures the imagination, even for children who would normally rather be on a trampoline.
We did the obvious things: punting on the Cam (which the kids thought was hilarious, mainly because I was terrible at it), walking through the backs, looking at King's College Chapel from outside and wandering through the market square. But the real highlight was the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, which is free and absolutely brilliant for children. Fossils, minerals, dinosaur bones. They did not want to leave.
Parking a motorhome in Cambridge itself is not really practical, but there are park and ride options on the outskirts. We used one of the larger car parks that could accommodate our size and caught the bus in. It worked perfectly and saved us the stress of trying to navigate narrow streets in a vehicle that was never designed for them.
London: Yes, You Can Take a Motorhome to London
People always look surprised when I say we took the motorhome to London. And fair enough, it sounds mad. But it is entirely doable if you plan it right. The key is not to try and drive the motorhome into central London. Instead, find a campsite or caravan park on the outskirts and use public transport.
We stayed at Abbey Wood Caravan Club Site in southeast London. It is a proper, well run site with good facilities and it has direct train links into central London from the nearby Elizabeth line station. Honestly, it is one of the best kept secrets for visiting London with a motorhome. The pitches are generous, the facilities are clean and you can be at Westminster in about 40 minutes by train.
We spent two days in London: one doing the tourist hits (Tower of London, the South Bank, Buckingham Palace from the outside) and one doing things the kids specifically asked for (the Natural History Museum, which is still free and still one of the best museums in the country, and a ride on the Emirates cable car across the Thames).
London with children is exhausting but rewarding. The trick is not to try and see everything. Pick three or four things per day, build in plenty of breaks and accept that you will walk more than you think is humanly possible. The kids slept very well those nights.
Cirencester: The Cotswolds Without the Price Tag
Cirencester is often described as the capital of the Cotswolds and it has all the charm you would expect: honey coloured stone buildings, independent shops, a beautiful church and a genuine market town feel. What it does not have (at least compared to places like Bourton on the Water or Bibury) is the overwhelming tourist crowds. It felt like a real town where people actually live, not a theme park version of the Cotswolds.
The Corinium Museum is excellent if you have any interest in Roman history. Cirencester was one of the largest towns in Roman Britain and the museum does a great job of bringing that to life. The kids did a Roman themed project while we were there and actually enjoyed it, which says something.
We explored a few of the surrounding Cotswolds villages too. The roads are narrow and some are not ideal for larger motorhomes, so do your research before driving down a lane that looked fine on Google Maps but turns out to be approximately two and a half inches wide. Speaking from experience.
There are several good campsites in the Cirencester area, most of which are reasonably priced and have decent facilities. The Cotswolds in February is quiet, which is exactly what we wanted.
Chester: The Grand Finale
Chester was our final stop and arguably the best. It is one of those cities that has something for everyone: history, shopping, good food, a river, city walls you can walk around and a cathedral that is worth the entrance fee. The kids loved walking the city walls (it is about two miles all the way around and the views are brilliant) and the Roman amphitheatre, which is the largest uncovered amphitheatre in Britain.
Chester Zoo is nearby and if you have children, it is more or less mandatory. It is expensive but it is genuinely one of the best zoos in the country and the kids talked about it for weeks afterwards. We spent the whole day there and still did not see everything.
The Rows in Chester are unique. These two tiered medieval shopping galleries are unlike anything else in the country and they are full of independent shops, cafes and restaurants. We had dinner at a pub overlooking the river and it was one of those meals where everyone was happy, the food was good and nobody argued. Those are the moments you travel for.
We camped at a site about 15 minutes from the city centre. Well maintained, friendly owners and a good base for exploring both Chester and the surrounding area.
What the Kids Learned
The educational value of this trip was enormous, even though we were not trying to make it a formal learning experience. The kids came home knowing about the English Civil War (Newark), the history of Cambridge University, the Tower of London's role in English history, Roman Britain (Cirencester) and medieval city planning (Chester). They learned it by being there, seeing it, touching it and asking questions. No worksheets required.
They also learned some practical things: how to read a map, how to budget (we gave them a small amount of spending money each day and they had to make it last), how to be flexible when plans change and how to live in a small space with other people without losing the plot entirely.
Practical Tips for a UK Half Term Motorhome Tour
Book your campsites in advance during half term. Even in February, the popular ones fill up. We booked everything about three weeks ahead and that was cutting it fine for a couple of the sites.
Keep the driving legs short. Two hours maximum with kids in the motorhome. Any longer and the mood deteriorates rapidly.
Have a backup plan for rain. This is England in February. We had at least two days where the weather was awful and we ended up at indoor attractions or just having a movie afternoon in the motorhome. Flexibility is everything.
Budget about 25 to 35 pounds per night for campsites, plus fuel and food. Eating in the motorhome for most meals keeps costs down dramatically. We ate out for dinner about three times during the week and cooked everything else ourselves.
Pack board games, colouring books and anything else that keeps children entertained in a small space during the evenings. Our motorhome becomes a surprisingly cosy living room once the table is set up and the heating is on.
Would We Recommend It?
Absolutely. A UK motorhome tour during half term is one of the best value holidays you can do together. You see places you would never normally visit, the kids learn things without even realising it and you come home with stories and great memories that are worth far more than a week in a holiday park. Start planning yours.