Camping and Caravanning Club
A UK not-for-profit membership organisation providing campsites, camping services and community activities for campers and caravan enthusiasts.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Camping and Caravanning Club is a United Kingdom not-for-profit membership organisation serving people interested in camping, caravanning, motorhomes and related outdoor activities. Established in 1901 as the Association of Cycle Campers, it developed from the early twentieth-century cycle-camping movement into one of Britain's largest camping membership bodies. Its founding membership included Thomas Hiram Holding, an influential advocate of recreational camping who had also helped establish the Bicycle Touring Club and later wrote The Campers Handbook in 1908. The organisation's early purpose was to encourage outdoor travel, practical camping knowledge and fellowship among enthusiasts. In 1906 it opened its first camping site at Weybridge. The association subsequently changed its name several times as its membership and activities broadened: it became the Amateur Camping Club in 1909, the Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland in 1919, and the Camping and Caravanning Club Ltd. in 1983. Although the organisation now supports caravans and motorhomes as well as tents and cycle campers, its central identity remains that of a member-led club promoting access to the outdoors. Membership expanded substantially during the second half of the twentieth century, reaching 100,000 members by 1967 and more than 300,000 by 2000. The reference material describes the club as having more than 730,000 members in the modern period. Its activities combine campsite operations, site accreditation, travel information, member services, local groups and special-interest communities. The club operates nearly 100 club sites across the UK and supports more than 1,100 certificated sites. These certificated sites are generally small, independently operated locations available to members, with capacity limits of up to five caravans or motorhomes and up to ten tents at a time. The club's role as an exempted organisation under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 enables it to issue certificates to qualifying landowners. This framework allows small certificated sites to operate without obtaining specific planning permission that would otherwise be required for a larger or differently structured campsite. The arrangement gives members access to a broad network of smaller rural and local sites while allowing landowners to provide limited camping accommodation within the statutory scheme. Governance is based on a National Council made up of elected and appointed councillors, section representatives, youth representation and an honorary treasurer. Operational work is managed through staff directors reporting to a director-general, in collaboration with the executive committee and National Council. The organisation is divided into 13 UK regions and local district associations. It also accommodates specialist sections covering activities and interests such as lightweight camping, caravanning, canoe camping, walking, cycling, folk dance and song. The club's public profile has also been shaped by prominent presidents, including polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott, Robert Baden-Powell, Robert Crause Baden-Powell, broadcaster and environmental campaigner David Bellamy, broadcaster Julia Bradbury and television presenter Hamza Yassin. Today, the Camping and Caravanning Club combines the functions of a campsite network, membership association, outdoor recreation community and advocate for accessible camping in the UK.
History
The Camping and Caravanning Club traces its origins to the organised cycle-camping movement of the early twentieth century. It was founded in 1901 as the Association of Cycle Campers, at a time when improvements in bicycles, roads and leisure culture were making self-directed travel increasingly accessible. Thomas Hiram Holding was among the founding members. Holding was a prominent camping enthusiast and an earlier founder of the Bicycle Touring Club, which later became the Cyclists' Touring Club and is now known as Cycling UK. His 1908 book, The Campers Handbook, helped articulate the practical and recreational values associated with organised camping. The association established its first camping site at Weybridge in 1906. This marked an important transition from being principally a social and information-based association to also providing a network of places where members could camp. As the popularity of camping grew and the organisation began to serve people using different forms of outdoor accommodation, its name changed. In 1909 it became the Amateur Camping Club. In 1919 it adopted the name Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland, reflecting a broader national and regional identity. In 1983 it became the Camping and Caravanning Club Ltd., a name that recognised the growing importance of caravans alongside traditional tent camping. Membership grew strongly over the following decades. The club reached 100,000 members in 1967 and exceeded 300,000 by 2000. The modern organisation is described as having more than 730,000 members, making it a major UK membership body for camping and caravanning. Its development mirrors the changing nature of leisure travel: the organisation that began around cycle campers came to support tent campers, touring caravans, motorhomes, lightweight campers and other forms of self-contained or mobile accommodation. The club's campsite system has two principal components. It operates nearly 100 club sites, while also supporting a much larger network of more than 1,100 certificated sites. Certificated Sites are small sites operated independently for club members. Their permitted scale is limited, generally accommodating no more than five caravans or motorhomes and ten tents at one time. The club's status as an exempted organisation under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 allows it to certify qualifying landowners, creating a legal route for small-scale camping sites without the planning requirements associated with larger sites. This network gives members access to varied locations while retaining a small-site character. The organisation has developed a substantial governance and community structure. Its National Council includes elected and appointed councillors, representatives of specialist sections, the chair of the National Youth Committee and an honorary treasurer. Staff directors oversee five operational areas and report to the director-general, who works with the executive committee and National Council. The club is organised into 13 UK regions, each containing district associations that support local communication and activity. Specialist sections represent interests including lightweight camping, caravanning, canoe camping, walking, cycling, folk dance and song. Presidents have helped connect the club with wider outdoor, environmental and broadcasting communities. The recorded presidential succession includes Robert Falcon Scott, Robert Baden-Powell, Robert Crause Baden-Powell, David Bellamy, Julia Bradbury and Hamza Yassin. These appointments reflect the organisation's longstanding association with exploration, outdoor education, environmental awareness and public interest in the countryside. In its current form, the Camping and Caravanning Club is both a service provider and a member community. Its work encompasses campsite operation, certification of small sites, member information, local organisation and specialist outdoor recreation. Rather than operating as a conventional commercial holiday company, it presents itself as a not-for-profit club whose infrastructure and activities are intended to support camping access and participation across the United Kingdom.
- 2000
Membership exceeded 300,000
[1]Membership passed 300,000 as camping, caravanning and touring became established mass-market leisure activities.
- 1983
Became the Camping and Caravanning Club Ltd.
[1]The organisation adopted its modern legal-era name, explicitly recognising caravanning as part of its remit.
- 1967
Membership reached 100,000
[1]The club's membership exceeded 100,000, indicating the growing popularity of organised camping in the UK.
- 1919
Renamed the Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland
[1]A new name reflected the club's wider geographic and organisational identity.
- 1909
Renamed the Amateur Camping Club
[1]The organisation adopted the name Amateur Camping Club as its membership and activities developed.
- 1908
The Campers Handbook published
[1]Founding member Thomas Hiram Holding published a handbook that documented practical knowledge and enthusiasm for camping.
- 1906
First club campsite opened
[1]The association opened its first camping site at Weybridge as it expanded beyond community activities into campsite provision.
- 1901
Association of Cycle Campers founded
[1]The organisation was established as the Association of Cycle Campers, bringing together enthusiasts of cycle touring and outdoor camping.
Products and positioning
A member-led, not-for-profit UK camping organisation combining campsite access, small-site accreditation, outdoor expertise and community participation. It serves tent campers, caravanners, motorhome users and specialist outdoor groups rather than positioning itself solely as a commercial holiday-park operator.
Campsite network
Club campsites
The club operates nearly 100 campsites across the United Kingdom. These sites provide places for tent campers, touring caravans, motorhomes and other forms of outdoor accommodation, forming the core physical infrastructure of the membership organisation.
Small-site accreditation and access
Certificated Sites
Certificated Sites are independently owned small campsites made available to club members. The network includes more than 1,100 sites, generally limited to five caravans or motorhomes and ten tents at a time. The club's exempted-organisation status supports the certification of qualifying landowners under the relevant UK campsite legislation.
Membership programme · 1901
Membership services
Membership connects campers and caravanners with campsite access, site information, practical advice, local district associations and specialist sections. It also provides the social and governance structure through which the not-for-profit club operates.
Outdoor recreation communities
Special-interest sections
The club supports communities organised around particular outdoor interests, including lightweight camping, caravanning, canoe camping, walking and cycling, and folk dance and song. These sections broaden the organisation beyond campsite booking and provide opportunities for shared activities and member communication.
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