If you’re in any van groups, you’ll have seen the headlines this autumn. Residents packing out meetings on the south coast, overnight bans spreading along the Yorkshire coast, and councils trying to work out what to do with more vans than places to put them. The comments sections fill up fast, and they usually split into two camps.
We’re not here to pick a side. Most van owners are considerate, most residents just want to get out of their drive and keep their streets tidy, and both can be true at the same time. So this guide looks at what’s actually been reported, why the tension is building, and the simple habits that keep van life welcome wherever you go.
What’s been happening around the UK
Bournemouth: Boscombe and Southbourne Overcliff
In October, BBC News reported that hundreds of residents had packed a community meeting about overnight van parking along Boscombe and Southbourne Overcliff Drive. Their concerns included blocked sightlines on coastal bends, gas canisters and human waste in public spaces. One resident said it had “really become like an unregulated campsite”.
The Bournemouth Echo also heard from the other side. A van dweller called Adam said he usually moves on every few days to avoid causing disruption, and supporters urged people not to tar every van owner with the same brush. The meeting organiser told the Echo he was asking for restricted van parking from 6pm to 6am rather than a blanket ban.
BCP Council said it takes reports of anti-social behaviour, obstruction and littering seriously, and that it is working on a long-term solution. It also pointed out that it had consulted on parking controls along that route before, but residents objected strongly, so its options are limited while the road is unrestricted.
The Yorkshire coast: Scarborough
North Yorkshire Council brought in an overnight ban on motor caravans in 2024 at Sandsend, Royal Albert Drive in Scarborough and Cayton Bay, and made it permanent this spring. In September, the BBC reported that it had been extended to Belvedere Road, Holbeck Road, Esplanade Crescent and Sea Cliff Road, banning motor caravans from parking there between 11pm and 7am all year round.
The reason given was “displacement”. The local councillor said banning vans in one place had pushed them into residential streets, and argued that an aire-style scheme with designated overnight parking should have been considered. The new restriction is an experimental order, and the consultation is open until 22 February 2027, with written responses only. You’ll find the details on North Yorkshire Council’s traffic orders page.
If you’re planning a trip that way, our campervan guide to the North Yorkshire coast is a good place to start.
Keswick and the Lake District
In February, The Keswick Reminder reported that Keswick Town Council was dealing with vans being slept in overnight on residential streets, as well as earlier problems at Lakeside car park and on the roads to Portinscale and Castlerigg stone circle. A camper van strategy for the whole of Cumberland is being drawn up, and the town council has said it supports aires and waste disposal points. It has struggled to find suitable sites near the town and an operator to run them.
Cumbria Police also made fly camping around Keswick and Derwent Water a priority for the 2026 season, and reminded visitors to use designated campsites and follow the Countryside Code.
Keyhaven, Hampshire
Keyhaven shows the other half of the story. Hampshire County Council brought in daytime parking charges and an 8pm to 8am overnight ban on New Lane and Salt Grass Lane after years of complaints about vans staying for weeks at a time, according to the Lymington Times.
This month, a Milford parish councillor called for the nearby New Forest District Council car park to allow vans overnight next summer. She said vans had moved into residential streets since the ban, and that “we have not replaced it with anything”. The parish council agreed to write to the district council and ask it to reconsider. For now, that is only a proposal, so don’t plan a trip around it.
Why the tension keeps building
Put those stories side by side and a pattern shows up.
- More vans, not many more places. Keswick’s town council said the popularity of van travel isn’t being matched by parking and waste disposal.
- Displacement. Both Scarborough and Keyhaven reported vans moving into nearby residential streets after a ban.
- Social media. In Keswick and Keyhaven, local reports mention spots being shared online as places to stay the night.
- A few spoil it for the many. The complaints are mostly about waste, blocked roads and long stays, not about someone kipping for a night and moving on.
- Not everyone is on holiday. In Bournemouth, the council and supporters both mentioned people facing housing difficulties. That’s a wider issue, and one to approach with a bit of kindness.
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How to be the van everyone’s happy to see
Check the rules before you stop
- Read every sign in the car park or lay-by, including the small print about overnight stays and sleeping in vehicles.
- Rules can change quickly, and signs sometimes go missing, so check the local council’s website before you set off.
- “No overnight occupancy” means exactly that, even if there are other vans already there.
- Don’t rely on an old post in an app or group. The Scarborough and Keyhaven bans are fairly recent.
Leave no trace
- Take all your rubbish with you, or use proper bins with room to spare.
- No fires or barbecues where they aren’t allowed.
- Leave the spot as you found it, or tidier.
Deal with waste properly
- Toilet cassettes go at a proper chemical disposal point, never in a bin, a drain, the woods or the sea.
- Grey water from your sink or shower goes at a proper disposal point too, not in the gutter outside someone’s house.
- Plan your stops around where you can empty and refill. Campsites, aires and some service stations have the facilities.
Be a good neighbour
- Never block driveways, junctions, dropped kerbs or sightlines on bends.
- Don’t park right outside someone’s window, especially on a residential street.
- Keep it as parking, not a pitch. Chairs, awnings, washing lines and generators on the pavement are what turn a quiet night into a complaint.
- Keep noise down and move on in good time.
Use proper places to stay
- Campsites give you waste disposal, water and a pitch where you can spread out.
- Certificated Locations and Sites are small sites run through the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club, often on farms.
- Aires and stopovers are designated overnight spots. There aren’t many in the UK yet, but it’s worth looking for them, and some pubs and farms offer stopovers too.
- Organised meets and festivals are the easy option for a weekend: a proper place to park up, facilities sorted and a field full of like-minded people.
Organised meets: the easy answer for a weekend
This is where we’re a bit biased, but hear us out. At a meet or a festival, nobody’s tutting at your van. It’s the whole point. You get a proper place to park up, toilets and facilities, a crowd who love vans as much as you do, and somewhere the kids and dogs can run about.
Dubbed Out Festival 2027 is on Thursday 29 July to Sunday 1 August 2027 at the Royal Cheshire Showground. It’s family-friendly and every make and model is welcome. Tickets for 2027 aren’t on sale yet, so if you want to hear first when news drops, sign up to the newsletter at the bottom of the festival information page. Got questions about how it all works? Our campervan festival FAQ has the answers.
If you’re converting a van or thinking about how yours is registered, our DVLA motor caravan and pop-top guide is worth a read too. Some of the restrictions above apply specifically to vehicles registered as motor caravans.
Join the conversation
Have you been moved on, found a brilliant stopover, or live somewhere vans like to park? Tell us in the Dubbed Out Facebook group, or find us on X @DubbedOutFest and TikTok @dubbedoutcommunity.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to sleep in a campervan overnight in the UK?
It depends on where you are. Many places have no specific restriction, but some car parks say “no overnight occupancy”, and some councils have banned motor caravans from certain roads overnight. Always check the signs and the council’s website.
Where can I park my campervan overnight?
Campsites, small certificated sites, aires and stopovers, and organised meets and festivals are the safest bets. They give you a place to stay the night and somewhere to empty your waste.
Where do I empty my campervan toilet?
At a proper chemical disposal point, which you’ll find at campsites and some aires and stopovers. Never use a bin, a drain or open ground.
What happens if I ignore an overnight parking ban?
Councils can enforce their restrictions. In Bournemouth, BCP Council said enforcement can include Penalty Charge Notices and, where necessary, removing vehicles.
- Photo: “Section of the car park for motorhomes” © Bill Boaden, CC BY-SA 2.0 (edited), via Geograph
- Photo: “The old A82 at Duck Bay” © Mick Garratt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (edited), via Geograph
- Photo: “View of a VW camper van parked in the Peterboat car park” © Robert Lamb, CC BY-SA 2.0 (edited), via Geograph
- Photo: “Dim Aros Dros Nos – No Overnight Parking” © Alan Fryer, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Geograph