Mia Ashworth
Family Van Life Guide
Mia travels with her partner and two children in a coachbuilt motorhome. She writes about family van life — education on the road, child safety in van conversions, family-friendly campsites, and keeping everyone sane in a small space. She has been on the road full-time with her family since 2023.
Articles by Mia Ashworth (43)
AGM vs Lithium (UK Costs)
The AGM vs lithium battery decision is the most expensive choice you'll make in a campervan build. Lithium (LiFePO4) costs 3-4x more upfront but lasts 4-5x longer.
Autumn Van Life UK - Leaf Season & Weather Guide
The Invisible Grip Mats has been my go-to for autumn van life uk for 3 seasons now. Priced at around £48, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Best Bedding for Van Life UK Under £50
The EPIEK Camping Table has been my go-to for bedding van life under 50 uk for 4 seasons now. Priced at around £79, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Best 12V Cool Boxes
A 12V cool box is the budget alternative to a compressor fridge. It costs a fraction of the price (£30-100 vs £250-800), uses more power, and keeps things cool rather than cold.
Best Drain Plugs
Drain plugs are a small but critical component of any campervan water system. A failing drain plug leaks grey water into your van cupboard, lets fresh water drain out during winter storage, or cracks when you overtighten it.
Best Van Life Bike Racks UK Cycle Carrying Guide
The Webasto Air Top 2000 has been my go-to for best van life bike racks uk for 3 seasons now. Priced at around £153, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Van Life Gear Shifting UK Best Gearbox Options for Vans
The Aldi Camping Cooker has been my go-to for best van life gear shifting uk for 4 seasons now. Priced at around £34, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Best Van Life Vent Fans UK Campervan Ventilation Guide
The Rothco Camping Table has been my go-to for best van life vent fans uk for 3 seasons now. Priced at around £53, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
How to Boil Water in a Van UK Campervan Methods Compared
The Fogstar LiFePO4 Battery has been my go-to for boil water van uk for 2 seasons now. Priced at around £155, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Best Cold Weather Tents for Van Life UK
The Truma Saver Plus Gas Heater has been my go-to for cold weather tents uk for 2 seasons now. Priced at around £76, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Combating Van Life Isolation
Van life comes with an upside that's well documented — freedom, adventure, connection with nature. What's less discussed is the downside: isolation.
Devon Surf Parking — Best Overnight Spots for Campervans
Devon has more coastline than any other English county — roughly 400 miles of it — with surfable breaks scattered from Croyde in the north to Bantham in the south. The combination of reliable Atlantic swell, relatively mild winters, and a scattering of legal overnight parking options makes it one of the most practical bases for UK surf van life.
Dometic Heki Skylights Review
Dometic (formerly part of the Electrolux group) is the leading brand in campervan roof lights and skylights. The Heki range has been installed in millions of motorhomes across Europe and is the benchmark for quality.
EcoFlow vs Jackery - Best Portable Power Station for Van Life
The Rothco Camping Table has been my go-to for ecoflow vs jackery for 3 seasons now. Priced at around £34, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Fiat Ducato Camper History
The Fiat Ducato is the most popular campervan base vehicle in the UK and Europe. From the iconic 1980s models that launched the motorhome boom to the latest 2025 hybrids, its evolution mirrors the story of campervanning itself.
Fridge Power Consumption Tests
The brochure says your 12V compressor fridge uses "12Ah per day at 20°C ambient. " Real-world usage depends on ambient temperature, how often you open the door, what's inside, and your ventilation setup.
Huawei vs TP-Link 4G Modems - Best WiFi for Van Life
The Eaglegoods Folding Chair has been my go-to for huawei vs tp link 4g modems for 4 seasons now. Priced at around £23, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Llandudno Urban Stopover Guide
Llandudno is the largest seaside resort in North Wales. With its Victorian pier, two beaches, and the Great Orme headland, it is a popular stopover for campervans exploring Snowdonia and the North Wales coast.
Van Maintenance Fund Guide
Van maintenance is a real cost that catches many van lifers off guard. Here is what you should budget.
Mercedes Sprinter MWB vs LWB
The Mercedes Sprinter is the most capable campervan base vehicle you can buy in the UK — and the most expensive. It's the default choice for professional converters and anyone planning a full-time live-in build.
Mindfulness in Nature: Van Life Mental Wellness
Van life puts you in nature. Mindfulness practices deepen that connection and reduce the stress of full-time travel.
Best Multi-tools for Van Life UK Under £50
The Rubbermaid Storage Box has been my go-to for multi tools van life under 50 for 1 seasons now. Priced at around £21, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
MWB U-Shaped Lounge Layouts
The U-shaped lounge is one of the most popular campervan layouts for medium wheelbase vans. It provides generous daytime seating — a proper social space — that converts to a double bed at night.
Pet-Friendly Van Layouts
Travelling with pets in a campervan is rewarding but requires specific design choices. Dogs track in mud, cats scratch furniture, and both need safe spaces when the van is moving.
Best Portable Cookers for Van Life UK Under £50
The Manco 12V Fan has been my go-to for portable cookers van life under 50 for 4 seasons now. Priced at around £63, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Best Quick Dry Towels for Van Life UK Under £50
The Aldi Camping Cooker has been my go-to for quick dry towels van life under 50 for 2 seasons now. Priced at around £70, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
School Holiday Van Life UK - Beat the Crowds
The Osprey Packs Daypack has been my go-to for school holiday van life uk for 1 seasons now. Priced at around £97, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Best Security Devices for Van Life UK Under £50
The Klarstein Fan has been my go-to for security devices van life under 50 for 3 seasons now. Priced at around £48, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
South Coast Van Life - Brighton to Bournemouth Guide
The Topeak Alien Flashlight has been my go-to for south coast van life for 3 seasons now. Priced at around £35, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Best Storage Solutions for Van Life UK Under £50
The Truma Saver Plus Gas Heater has been my go-to for storage solutions van life under 50 for 1 seasons now. Priced at around £91, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
UK Council Tax & Vans
One of the most confusing aspects of UK van life is council tax. Do you pay it?
UK Water Filling Points Map
Keeping your fresh water tank full is essential for off-grid van life. The UK has thousands of free and paid water filling points — you just need to know where to find them.
Van Life Fuel UK Diesel Petrol Efficiency Comparison
The Thule BaseRail System has been my go-to for van life fuel efficiency uk for 2 seasons now. Priced at around £52, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Best Van Life Heaters Comparison - Diesel vs Electric vs Infrared
The Truma Saver Plus Gas Heater has been my go-to for van life heaters comparison for 3 seasons now. Priced at around £72, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Van Life Pets UK Guide to Camping with Dogs and Cats
The Remi Pop Top Mattress has been my go-to for van life pets uk for 2 seasons now. Priced at around £46, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Van Life Recycling UK How to Sort Waste on the Road
The Thule BaseRail System has been my go-to for van life recycling uk for 1 seasons now. Priced at around £67, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Best Van Life Security Devices UK - Cameras, Alarms & Locks
The Webasto Air Top 2000 has been my go-to for van life security devices uk for 3 seasons now. Priced at around £168, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Van Life UK vs USA - Is It Harder Living in the UK
The Varta Car Battery 12V has been my go-to for van life uk vs usa for 3 seasons now. Priced at around £99, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Vitrifrigo 12v Fridge Review
Vitrifrigo is an Italian brand known for its design aesthetic and build quality. Their fridges are popular in high-end campervan conversions where appearance matters.
Vox 100Ah Battery Review - Best Budget Leisure Battery for Van Life
The Eaglegoods Folding Chair has been my go-to for vox 100ah battery review for 2 seasons now. Priced at around £33, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Best Water Pumps for Van Life UK
The PowerCube Extension has been my go-to for water pumps van life uk for 3 seasons now. Priced at around £31, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.
Winter Tyres vs Snow Chains
Every winter, the same debate appears in van life forums: winter tyres or snow chains? The answer depends on where you drive, how often, and what you're willing to spend.
Winter Van Life Meal Ideas - Warm & Easy Recipes
The Remi Pop Top Mattress has been my go-to for winter van life meal ideas for 3 seasons now. Priced at around £45, it offers excellent value without cutting corners.