30 amazing places to take your campervan in 2022

As the world starts getting back to normal after the pandemic, 2022 is looking like a very promising year for some amazing adventures in your campervan. Here’s our pick of some of the best adventures you, the family and the van can have this year.

We've gone for a mix of British and European destinations. Remember to make sure that you have the correct campervan insurance for each country you travel to. And, if it's day trip inspiration you're after, have a look at our guide to some of the UK's best picnic spots.

1. The Queen's Platinum Jubilee

2nd-5th June, London
This year has one very big event in store for London, and indeed for the UK as a whole. The month of June will mark 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, and to mark this very special date, London will be hosting several major events over the May/June Bank Holiday. The culmination will be a huge Jubilee Parade around the palace on Sunday 5th June, with street art, theatre, music, circus and more.

2. Snowdonia

On the other hand, if you want to get far away from the crowds, we'd recommend somewhere beautiful and remote. Like, say, Snowdonia, North Wales' wild and wonderful mountainous region. There are some great, campervan-friendly campsites, such as Aberafon or Gwern Gof Isaf. Pitch up in any of these beautiful sites and spend your days wandering (and climbing!) one of Britain's most magical landscapes. There are some fairly narrow and vertiginous mountain roads in this corner of Britain, so drive carefully and make sure your insurance for your campervan includes breakdown cover.

3. Pembrokeshire Coast Path

There are many amazing coastal paths around Britain's shoreline but, if we had to pick one, it might just be the Pembrokeshire section. Secluded beaches, dramatic cliff top walks, seabird galore – the Pembrokeshire Path has it all. Pitch up your van at any of the region's beautiful campsites, and away you go.

4. Norfolk

Like Snowdonia above, Norfolk is one of Britain's less crowded regions. That said, in other ways, it couldn't be more different from the rugged Welsh mountains. Norfolk's flat terrain makes for some legendarily huge and beautiful skies, while areas such as the watery Norfolk Broads contain some of the UK's most peaceful and idyllic scenery. The beach at Holkham, meanwhile, just seems to go on forever. Bliss.

5. Armata Festival

September, Spetses, Greece
This popular maritime festival commemorates the Spetses naval battle, which took place on 8th September 1822, during the Greek War of Independence from the Ottoman Empire. Each year, the island hosts traditional dances, exhibitions, theatre… and, splendidly, dramatisations of this famous Greek victory. Remember that, in order to travel in Greece, you'll need EU cover as part of your campervan cover. And why not read our handy guide to driving your campervan in Europe after Brexit?

6. Shropshire

One of our most sparsely populated counties, Shropshire is full of areas of wild, rugged beauty, including the Stiperstones and the evocatively named Long Mynd. Tumbling streams, craggy mountain peaks, wild moorland and rolling hills: Shropshire has some truly breath-taking landscapes. And, if you need the buzz of humanity, the pretty town of Ludlow, with its castle and lively foodie scene, makes a great base.

7. Kaunas

Lithuania
Lithuania's second city, Kaunas is one of three European Cities of Culture for 2022. And it fully deserves the accolade, too, being a fascinating city full of history. A Medieval Ducal Palace, and a wealth of churches from the 16th century, are among its many charms. By the way, Lithuania has relatively high figures for road accidents, so definitely make sure that your insurance is up to date and has EU cover.

8. Shetland Isles

The northernmost part of the UK, the Shetlands are home to some dramatic landscapes and some fascinating history. The latter is brought to life in vivid detail at Up Helly Aa, the annual festival commemorating the islands' Viking past. This amazing event culminates with a torch-lit procession and the burning of a replica Viking galley.

9. Oktoberfest

September-October, Munich, Germany
Munich's famous autumn shindig is the world's largest beer festival and travelling funfair. There is a lot of beer present, of course – but there are also funfair rides and a huge range of food stalls, ranging from classic German fare to more eclectic global cuisine. Just don’t risk drinking and driving in your camper!

10. Liverpool

From football to the Beatles, few British cities have contributed as much to our national culture as Liverpool. And it makes a wonderful city to visit, too, with its buzzing nightlife, historic port area and vibrant cultural scene. Take a Beatles bus tour, or a Mersey River cruise, or visit the Royal Albert Dock – a stunning mix of heritage industrial buildings and cutting-edge architecture and great culture, nightlife and shopping.

11. Aalborg

Denmark
Denmark's fourth city has plenty to offer. Families will want to make a beeline to the city's zoo, with its giraffes, tigers, polar bears and many more. Lovers of art and architecture, meanwhile, should seek out the Kunsten, a modern art museum within a beautiful marble building.

12. Szeged

Hungary
Hungary's third-largest city Szeged has an atmosphere of calm about it. That's down to several factors, including the wealth of relaxed streetside cafes, and the very photogenic old town, with its warrens of cobbled streets. You may want to keep an eye on Hungary's possible plans to leave the European Union. EU Cover is included with most camper insurance policies, but you may need separate cover should Hungary leave the Union.

13. Ring of Kerry

County Kerry, Ireland
This deservedly popular tourist route takes you on a 111-mile circle around some of the most beautiful landscapes in southwestern Ireland. Points of interest are almost too many to mention, but a good example is the Gap of Dunloe, a narrow mountain pass that separates two beautifully named mountain ranges: MacGillicuddy's Reeks and the Purple Mountains. There are plenty of wonderful campsites en route, including Glenross and Mannix Point.

14. La Tomatina

August, Buñol, Spain
This famous annual event is basically a massive tomato fight. Apparently, the event started as a fight amongst children, after the annual tomato harvest in the Spanish town of Buñol, way back in 1945. Now, La Tomatina annually welcomes hundreds of spectators (and participants!) for a messy, colourful, and unforgettable tomato-chucking free-for-all in the town square. Take plenty of clean clothes.

15. The Old Vine Festival

29th Sept-2nd Oct, Maribor, Slovenia
The Slovenian city of Maribor is home to the oldest vine in the world – a venerable plant that is now some 450 years old. Every autumn, this seasoned vine is honoured with its own festival, featuring a variety of events dedicated to wine and cooking, plus a wealth of entertainments and specialist food and wine stalls.

16. Øyafestivalen

9th-13th Aug, Oslo, Norway
An annual music festival held in Oslo's Tøyen Park, Øyafestivalen started life back in 1999 and is now one of Norway’s biggest festivals. The last festival before the pandemic, back in 2019, welcomed The Cure, among others. It's also known for its sustainability and green credentials. Norway isn't in the European Union, by the way – worth remembering when you arrange your campervan insurance for the trip.

17. Pinta Malasaña

September, Madrid
The district of Malasaña is one of Madrid's coolest areas. A perfect place, then, to host its own annual street art festival. The Pinta Malasaña sees around 100 street artists descending upon the district to create works of art in its shops and streets.

18. Salon du Chocolat

28th Oct-1st Nov, Paris
Anyone with a passion for chocolate needs to experience this vast annual celebration of this most cherished confectionery. You'll find around 20,000 square metres of exhibition space, featuring more than 200 chefs and pastry chefs from France and all over the world, all coming together to celebrate the magic of chocolate. Oh, and don't miss the famous Chocolate Fashion Show…

19. Edinburgh International Festival

6th-28th Aug
The Edinburgh Festival is definitely something everyone should experience at least once in their life: an enormous cornucopia of brilliant music, theatre, opera and dance from around the globe. Don't miss its slightly unrulier sibling, the Edinburgh Fringe, for comedy and alternative theatre. Campsite options include the Edinburgh Caravan Club Site and Mortonhall Caravan and Camping Park.

20. Brighton & Hove Pride

August
The UK has some great Pride festivals, of which the biggest is the Brighton & Hove Pride. Don’t miss the Pride Carnival and Village Party, with live cabaret, stalls, fairground rides, live music and much more. Tip: the surrounding Sussex countryside and coastline is home to some wonderful campsites.

21. Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling Festival

May, Cooper's Hill, Gloucestershire
The UK has a strong line in eccentric festivals – and they don't come much more madcap than the annual cheese rolling event celebrated every Spring Bank Holiday at Cooper's Hill in Gloucestershire. Competitors race down this very steep hill after a large round cheese. Yes, it's as hilarious and crazy as it sounds.

22. Bigfoot Festival

17th-19th June, Warwickshire

This new festival only made its debut in 2021, but it got off to an extremely positive start. There were some great bands and DJs, plus some of the UK's best craft beer makers in attendance. Better still, between sets the crowds got to sample some food, roasted on open fires, from some of Britain’s best chefs. Well worth investigating for 2022.

23. Loire Valley

France
The Loire Valley, in central and Western France, is home to some of that nation's most beautiful chateaus. These include Azay-le-Rideau,the ultimate fairy-tale castle complete with turrets and moat; Blois, with its wealth of buildings spanning the 13th to the 17th centuries; and Chenonceau, dramatically built out onto the Cher river. There are camping and campervanning options aplenty, too.

24. Wilderness Festival

4th-7th Aug, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
There are so many summer music festivals in the UK that it can be hard for any given event to stand out from the crowd. Oxfordshire's Wilderness festival has managed it, though, thanks to its magical woodland setting, plus its eclectic menu of bands, comedians, authors, and chefs.

25. Giant's Causeway

Northern Ireland

On the wild and windswept shores of the Atlantic Ocean, and backed by a dramatic landscape of rearing cliffs, Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway has long been a source of inspiration for artists, and has entranced generations of visitors. Camping options nearby include Feigh Farm and Maddybenny.

26. Semana Santa

Towns and cities throughout Spain and Portugal, Easter week
Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is a big deal in the Catholic countries of Spain and Portugal. Towns and cities all around the peninsula host vibrant, colourful, and spiritual processions. Among the most noteworthy is Braga's in Portugal, where residents decorate the city centre with lights and flowers.

27. Stuttgart Springfest

April, Stuttgart, Germany
In the German city of Stuttgart, they celebrate the arrival of spring every year with a three-week festival, featuring a wealth of stalls, funfair rides and more. One of Europe's largest and friendliest events, it's well worth a look should you be having a central European campervan adventure.

28. Tulip Festival

March-May, Holland
Over in Holland, meanwhile, they mark the beginning of spring in one of the most beautiful and colourful ways you can imagine: an enormous display of tulips, the beautiful flower for which the country is famed. A wealth of tulip-related events take place across Holland, including the Dutch Flower Parade and tours of the amazing tulip fields. The Dutch are keen campers, so you'll find a wealth of great campsites around the country.

29. Infiorata di Noto

May, Sicily
On the third Sunday of May, in the Sicilian town of Noto, teams of young artists use millions of flower petals to cover an entire street with colourful, exuberant designs. It's a thing of beauty, and one of the most impressive feats of community creativity we've come across.

30. Jurassic Coast

Any fossil fanatics in the family will thank you for taking them to Devon and Dorset's amazing Jurassic Coast, whose rocks record some 185 million years of geological history. But in fact, the constant interest and beauty of this 95-mile stretch of coastline – including the amazing cliffs at Beer, the historic town of Lyme Regis, and the beauty and seclusion of Lulworth Cove – will be enough to win over all the family. Campervan-friendly campsites are plentiful, too.

Protect your travels with campervan insurance from Lancaster

We hope your campervan takes you on some wonderful adventures this year. Just make sure that you've arranged the right level of campervan cover for wherever you're planning to go.

Contact us to find out more.