The latest on campsites reopening in England

From 12 April 2021, as part of step 2 of the Government's roadmap out of the national lockdown in England, campsites are allowed to open and people will be able to take camping holidays. Initially it was announced that it would only be campsites where indoor facilities like shower and toilet blocks were not shared with other households, meaning campers would need to have their own self-contained washing and toilet facilities, whether they were in a motorhome, campervan, caravan or tent.

However in good news for tent and campervan campers, new guidance from the Government on 8 April for guest accommodation including campsites, clarified the following:

Campsites and caravan parks will be permitted to open as long as the only shared facilities used by guests are receptions, washing facilities (including facilities for laundering clothes), public toilets, baby changing rooms, breastfeeding rooms, water points and waste disposal points. These should be cleaned regularly and be well ventiliated and campers are being urged to keep contact with other households to a minimum. Shower facilities should be only be operated in a way that ensures no household mixing takes place. This would mean either assigning private shower facilities to one group or running a reservation and clean process – where one household can exclusively book the shared facilities for a fixed time, and the facilities are cleaned between reservations.

As always, we recommend you check in advance with individual sites to find out what facilities they will have open and what units they are allowing to pitch. If sites decide to open without shared facilities then you may be allowed to bring your own toilet and shower facilities, but again, check what the site will allow. All other overnight accommodation – including campsites with shared facilities – will be allowed to open fully in Step 3, no earlier than 17 May.

Want more information on the latest travel guidance during Coronavirus? Check out this regularly updated guide on our sister website OutandAboutLive.

Campsite image: Red Kite Touring Park, Wales