The History of Motorhomes in the UK
The allure of being able to get away for a weekend, a week or an extended trip in a convenient and comfortable environment like a motorhome has long been present in the United Kingdom. Whilst caravans have been a key part of Romany Gypsy culture for centuries and were first historically linked to biblical caravans of travelling merchants, the leisure associations with caravans and motorhomes are far more recent. This type of leisure escape didn’t erupt until the establishment of The Caravan Club of Great Britain and Ireland in 1906. Motorhomes have since exploded in popularity since and have been reimagined over the years to become almost unrecognisable from their humble origins.
Traveling around the country in motorhomes and caravans has been a key feature of British culture throughout the 20th and 21st century. During the 1920s and 1930s various car manufacturers experimented with motorhome designs yet these early prototypes left a lot to be desired! Progress was slow throughout this period due to the war effort but upon the conclusion of World War II there was an uptick in demand for this type of vehicle. There was a realisation among manufacturers that domestic vans not only needed to serve workplace purposes during the week but also become a family vehicle at the weekends. Thus, as technology progresses into the 1950s the popularity of motorhomes exploded and as such demand saw the creation of innovative new designs encompassing extra seats, beds, cookers and windows. Motorhomes became increasingly well-equipped into the 1960s and as such the industry became fully established, as these vehicles filled an affordable niche in the leisure market. Quickly the market swelled and there were soon over 80 different models available with manufacturers competing for the roomiest and most comfortable family accommodation.
However, the glory days of British motorhomes came to a halt in 1973 upon the introduction of VAT, which shifted the price of these vehicles out of budget for most families. Despite this hike in prices, motorhomes did not disappear from Britain’s roads and throughout the 1970s and 1980s they became increasingly comfortable and capable of undertaking extended journeys. This marks the emergence of the long distance and duration motorhomes which we see today throughout the UK and the rest of the world! Therefore, motorhomes have had a long and interesting history in the UK and the industry that we see today has been emerging for over 100 years.
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