I lived in a van for three months. Here are 5 things I learned
VanLife gave a lot of perspective
In April 2025, I used much of my redundancy money from Future to buy a converted campervan. In April 2026, I sold it.
For a few years, I was enamoured by the idea of living in a van full-time. The idea of simply setting off in a random direction with everything I needed felt incredibly appealing. After a few months of looking around, I bought a Ford Transit that was already converted.
Soon after, I spent some time working on the van to suit my needs, before setting off at the end of June. Living in the van was really fun from start to finish. I'd park up in places I'd have never considered before, from sleeping in a layby to using an app to pay for a parking space. I also had the best fish and chips I ever had near Blackpool. But this period taught me a lot that could help someone who's looking into VanLife someday.
With this in mind, I've listed five points below that will help reassure you or even make you reconsider.
The Internet is everywhere
Before setting off, I'd read how some campervan owners bought Elon Musk's Starlink service, which lets you access high-speed internet wherever you are. But having an unlimited data plan on my iPad was a cheaper and far easier method than using one of Musk's products.
For £20 from SMARTY, which offered a SIM with unlimited data, I was able to stream, download, and do everything else via my iPad. The coverage impressed me - I was staying in a park in a village called Howarth in July, and I was getting full bars of 5G service. Of course, experiences may vary, but a lot of work was done in that van thanks to the iPad.
YourParkingSpace and park4night are essential apps
A big question you'll likely have if you're considering VanLife is, "Where will I be able to park?" That was mine for a good few months before I set off, but I was steered toward two free apps that saved me so much hassle over the summer.
YourParkingSpace (Apple / Google) lets you book a space for an hour up to a month if you wish. I booked a month in a car park in Glossop once, which cost me £40. I could come and go as I pleased, and I wasn't bothered once. But it's important to mention that YourParkingSpace is not limited to VanLife. If you're visiting somewhere and having trouble parking your car, the app makes it incredibly easy to find a space somewhere.
Yet park4night (Apple / Google) is another essential app in a different way. After finding your location, it highlights places that you would previously have never considered parking. From lay-bys to free car parks, villages and wooded areas, they're all given reviews which help to give peace of mind. I used it every week, but I recall one time where I needed to stop for the night, and it recommended this quiet lay-by. Toilets were nearby as well as a tap, and it was ideal. If you're struggling with where to stay, park4night is an incredible companion.
Be as silent as Solid Snake
Of course, there were times when I had to make sure there were no loud noises once sunset came. I quickly noticed a growing disdain for people who live in vans full-time, with the stereotype that they are messy, unhygienic, and noisy. I never met anyone of the sort - everyone was respectful. However, it always helps to keep things quiet after 9 PM.
A van can give the impression that it's one that belongs to an electrician or a plumber, not someone who lives in it full-time. So I made sure that the exterior didn't give much of an impression that it was a portable box room. There were times when I simply had to park up and sleep, and that's where park4night was a saviour. But being respectful at all times, no matter where you are, is crucial if you want to keep living in a van for the foreseeable future.
Have a Gym Membership for Showers
Another point high up on the list was hygiene. Early on, I was looking for a van with a shower system, but I found that it simply took up too much space that would be better used for a bigger bed or a desk to write and play games on. Having been a member of PureGym since 2024, all of its gyms feature showers across the UK. So on my way to a village or a seaside town, I'd take a detour to the nearest PureGym and have a shower.
But to be frank, despite this being a fantastic solution, some of these showers were grim. I'll leave it to your imagination as to why, but sometimes I'd avoid some cubicles just so I could wait for a cleaner one. Nevertheless, it made things much easier. There were even times I'd just walk in, have a shower, and walk out without using any of the machines. If you're worried about this aspect of VanLife, don't be - there's always a way.
Have the right power station
This was the main priority when I was looking for a van. Unsurprisingly, I use a lot of electronics, big and small, so making sure they were charged at all times was crucial to me. When I bought the Van, it came with two BLUETTI Power Stations. These featured several UK plug sockets, USB-C and USB ports, as well as a few ways to charge them when the weather was too cloudy for the solar panel at the top of the vehicle.
It meant my MacBook, iPhone, iPad, Nintendo Switch 2, and more were always charged up when needed. In addition, Summer 2025 saw plenty of sunshine across the UK, so it was never a problem. But there were some rare moments when the power station wasn't getting enough charge, so I'd take it out of the van and hook it up to a power socket in a coffee place or a house when needed.
But if you're starting from scratch with a Van that's not been converted, or you've bought one without a power station, buy one now. If I were looking for a replacement or starting afresh, I'd be buying one of the Anker SOLIX power stations. They're faster to charge, lighter to carry, and able to store far more power.
I did enjoy living in the van for much of Summer 2025, but eventually, you start missing basic comforts, like heating, a water system, and total privacy. But VanLife was something I wanted to do for years, and I always maintain that you'll never know what something's like until you give it a go. Living in a van was also eye-opening into how we all pay for bills and, essentially, survive.
Council tax, electric bills, rent, etc - it feels irrelevant when you're listening to music in a village, parked up with the trees swaying and the sunshine cracking through the leaves. But eventually, you miss the comforts and security, which makes you reconsider if VanLife is truly the way to go.
However, if you're fortunate enough to own one but also able to live in accommodation, a campervan is fantastic for weekend getaways. But if you're seriously considering VanLife, check with the five points above before you start looking for a vehicle - you'll thank me later.
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