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5 Best Sussex And Brighton Caravan Holiday Parks - 2022
East Sussex and West Sussex covers a long stretch of coastline and plenty of traditional seaside resorts including Eastbourne, Bognor Regis and Hastings. Of course, there’s also Brighton which is hugely popular and busy thanks to Brighton Palace Pier, Brighton beach and other attractions such as BA i360.
There’s a good choice of caravan holiday parks along the Sussex coast, including some from big names like Haven, Parkdean Resorts, Butlins and Park Holidays as well as some independent holiday parks. There isn’t an abundance of caravan holiday parks right within Brighton (presumably due to the high property prices). However, there are some good holiday parks which are close enough to Brighton for days out.
We’ve picked out five of the best Sussex Holiday Parks by looking at location, facilities, value for money, reviews and awards. We also did a price comparison for the cost of a week's holiday in August 2022 for a family of four.
There’s a good choice of caravan holiday parks along the Sussex coast, including some from big names like Haven, Parkdean Resorts, Butlins and Park Holidays as well as some independent holiday parks. There isn’t an abundance of caravan holiday parks right within Brighton (presumably due to the high property prices). However, there are some good holiday parks which are close enough to Brighton for days out.
We’ve picked out five of the best Sussex Holiday Parks by looking at location, facilities, value for money, reviews and awards. We also did a price comparison for the cost of a week's holiday in August 2022 for a family of four.
1. Haven Church Farm Holiday Park, Bognor Regis (indoor and outdoor swimming pool, near the beach)
**Winner: best value Sussex holiday park**
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Haven is probably the biggest name in the UK caravan park market, and they’ve got a couple of holiday parks in Sussex. They've both got a lot going for them for a family holiday.
Haven’s Church Farm Holiday Park is in West Sussex near to Bognor Regis whilst the repetitively named Haven Combe Haven is in East Sussex in Hastings. Both score 4/5 on average on most review websites. They offer a similarly busy, family-friendly seaside holiday for a similar sort of price. If that’s what you’re after then I would choose based on location or whichever is doing the best deal at the time. Haven's Church Farm just about edges it for me as it is a bit nearer to the beach. Church Farm Caravan Park is a 10 minute walk to a shingly beach whilst Haven Combe Haven is a 20 minute walk or 5-10 minute drive to a shingly beach. Both parks allow dogs and have got indoor and outdoor swimming pools with flumes (although you can’t take the dogs for a dip I’m afraid). They’ve both got a good choice of activities which will fill a couple of days, even if you don’t want to leave the park. These include indoor and outdoor playgrounds, onsite places to eat, various sports, nature trails and entertainment. Bognor Regis isn't a huge place but Arundel Castle is half an hour away from Church Farm or there are amusements at Harbour Park, which is a similar distance away. If you go for Combe Haven then you can get to Hastings or Eastbourne with a car. Local family-friendly attractions include the Blue Reef Aquarium (10 minutes drive) or there’s a popular zoo called Drusillas Park (30 minutes). Price: £748 for a family of four staying at Church Farm in a standard caravan for a week in early August 2022. That makes it one of the cheaper Haven summer holidays we've found. In our price comparison, Combe Haven was £749 for the same dates and accommodation. |
Haven Church Farm has indoor and outdoor swimming pools...
...and a big choice of caravans, including 'standard' and 'deluxe'.
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**Haven Offers 2022: Last minute bargains from £49 + Summer Holidays from £299 + Autumn Breaks from £69**
2. Parkdean Resorts Camber Sands Holiday Park, Rye (large resort, huge range of things to do)
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Parkdean Resorts has the biggest collection of holiday parks in the UK with more than 60 in total. In Sussex, their only resort is Camber Sands Holiday Park which was given a £3m refurbishment in 2021.
It's a whopping great caravan site with a really good range of things to do. I would steer you towards this one if you want action and adventure rather than silence and solitude. The sandy beach is right next to the park and goes on for miles. It is a good beach for those who enjoy wide open space rather than those who prefer cosy coves and secluded bays. The range of things to do is far better than most holiday parks. There are four (yes, four) indoor swimming pools and a water flume, as well as a go-ape style high ropes course, hoverboards, laser tag, a drone flying course, pottery painting, electric off roaders, bungee trampolines, bike hire, an indoor sports dome, dog agility play park, climbing walls, virtual reality experience, outdoor gym, minigolf and a splash zone. There's also something called 'hover archery' which is where children shoot at things whilst moving. What could go wrong?! Of course, you pay extra for a lot of these activities but I would say they are generally cheaper than Center Parcs. The activity prices are listed on Parkdean Resorts' website. To give you a rough idea, laser tag is £10, minigolf is £2-£6 and the high ropes course is £10. There's also an entertainment venue, a bar/restaurant, takeaway, coffee shop and friend chicken shop at Camber Sands Holiday Park. Camber Sands doesn't score as highly with customers as some Parkdean Resorts, but the average score is pretty decent at 3.5/5 on TripAdvisor and 3.9/5 on Google Reviews. You can bring pets to Parkdean Resorts Camber Sands Holiday Park. Price: £1049 for a Heathfield caravan for a family of four for a week in August 2022. There was a slightly cheaper chalet available, but it slept four in one bedroom whereas this model has two bedrooms. |
Parkdean Resorts Camber Sands Holiday Park has four swimming pools...
...a 7 mile stretch of sandy beach...
...and lots of new equipment after a £3m revamp in 2021
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3. Pevensey Bay Holiday Park, Eastbourne (indoor swimming pool, beachside location)
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Park Holidays has got five caravan holiday parks across East and West Sussex, but the two which get the best reviews from customers tend to be Pevensey Bay Holiday Park near to Eastbourne and Rye Harbour Holiday Park which is near to Camber Sands in East Sussex. Both score about 4 or 4.5/5 on various review sites (at the time of writing).
Pevensey Bay Holiday Park has a larger swimming pool and is better located for days out in the local area. Pevensey Bay Holiday Park is also right by a long stretch of mostly shingle beach which is dog-friendly. Facilities at Pevensey Bay Holiday Park include a playground, restaurant, amusement arcade, a small gym and a sports court. Eastbourne’s Pier is only 10 minutes away by car and the town has a number of other family-friendly days out including Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway and Fort Fun which is an adventure park. If your children won't complain, then you might enjoy Towner Art Gallery, which is free. Meanwhile, Rye Harbour Holiday Park is next to a nature reserve but it will take you about 20 minutes to drive to the beach at Camber Sands or Winchelsea Beach. It's got a small indoor swimming pool, kids clubs, evening entertainment, bar/restaurant and a playground. Price: £1991 for a week in a Platinum lodge for a family of four in early August 2022. It's worth noting that there weren't any standard caravans available for the dates we searched at Pevensey Bay Holiday Park, so the price is higher than it would normally be. For comparison, a caravan at Rye Harbour Holiday Park was £1070 for a week for the same dates. |
Pevensey Bay Holiday Park has a playground, sports court and indoor swimming pool...
...and it's near to a long, shingly beach...
...whilst its sister park - Rye Harbour - is next to a nature reserve
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4. Butlins Bognor Regis (huge resort, excellent waterpark, shows, funfair, catering options)
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Butlins has come a long way since knobbly knee competitions and flimsy chalets. It now offers a jam-packed holiday in a seaside location with options to upgrade to posh accommodation.
Butlins Bognor Regis is on a different scale to the other holiday parks on this list. During a busy week it can accommodate more than 6000 people. You may well spend your whole week onsite, as the range of activities and facilities is really impressive. The highlight at Butlins Bognor Regis is Splash Waterworld, which opened in 2019 after a whopping £30m investment. It is more like a waterpark than a swimming pool, with seven 'rides'. The waterpark is themed around a classic seaside holiday with a slide shaped like a stick of rock and the world's only helter skelter water slide. The rapids/lazy river splits into two routes outdoor before heading back into the swimming pool. There are also spa facilities which you pay extra for. Besides the waterpark, Butlins Bognor Regis also has a funfair which has 10 rides and is included in the price of your holiday. There's a large skyline which houses a number of attractions and places to eat. There's also soft play and football sessions. If you don't mind paying extra, you can try go-karting, sand art, bowling, minigolf, archery, high ropes, laser tag and target shooting. Throughout the year there are family-friendly shows, some of which are done by the onsite staff and some from visiting celebrities. Reviews for the resort average 4/5 on TripAdvisor or 4.3/5 on Google reviews. That puts it on a par with Butlins Skegness and slightly ahead of Butlins Minehead. Unlike most holiday parks, you have the option of paying extra for inclusive dining which means you can use the buffet rather than catering for yourself. The cheaper accommodation are 'apartments' which sleep 4-6 people. The posher options are within a hotel, including some with sea views. The beach is easily accessible from the resort. It is a mix of shingle and sand so not exactly a sandcastle building spot but nice for a walk. Price: £1188 for a standard apartment for a family of four for a week in August 2022. That price includes things like shows, the swimming pool and the funfair. However, you pay extra to have meals included. |
The Skyline at Butlins Bognor Regis is home to several attractions and places to eat
Splash Waterworld at Butlins Bognor Regis cost £30m and opened in 2019
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5. Bunn Leisure West Sands Holiday Park, Selsey, West Sussex (large caravan park, indoor pool, coastal)
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West Sands Holiday Park is a large and well equipped family friendly caravan holiday park in Selsey in West Sussex. It ticks a lot of boxes for me, as it’s near a beach and has enough to fill a day or two onsite if the weather doesn’t live up to the brochure.
It’s run by a company called Bunn Leisure which has four holiday parks on the site. West Sands is the largest and has the most facilities, so I’d start by looking at that one. The four parks as a whole score 4/5 on most review sites, when I checked. Facilities at West Sands Holiday Park include a good sized indoor swimming pool with slides, kids' clubs, several places to eat, minigolf, go karts, evening entertainment, an outdoor swimming pool, playgrounds, tennis, a fun fair and a gym (some activities cost extra). If you want to explore beyond the park, it will take you about 20 minutes to drive to Chichester or 30 minutes to get to Bognor Regis. Attractions in Chichester include Fishbourne Roman Palace or Weald and Downland Living Museum is 30 minutes away. It's worth noting that you can also book privately owned West Sands caravans via Booking.com. Price: £699 for a family of four staying for a week in August 2022. |
West Sands is a large holiday park near a beach with lots for families...
...including swimming, restaurants and kids' entertainment.
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Price comparison of 5 of the best caravan holiday parks in East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton
We looked at the price of a holiday for a family of four, based on the cheapest accommodation available at the time of searching. We looked for a holiday for a week in early August 2022, without any optional extras. Bear in mind that some caravan holiday parks charge extra for some activities. We searched in November 2021.
From cheapest to most expensive:
Images are from Haven, Park Holidays, Snaptrip, Butlins and Parkdean Resorts.
From cheapest to most expensive:
- Bunn Leisure West Sands Holiday Park - £699
- Haven’s Church Farm Holiday Park - £748 **Winner: best value caravan holiday park in our top 5**
- Parkdean Resorts Camber Sands Holiday Park - £1049
- Butlins Bognor Regis - £1188
- Pevensey Bay Holiday Park - £2147
Images are from Haven, Park Holidays, Snaptrip, Butlins and Parkdean Resorts.
