Van Camping at Haggerston Castle?!

Let Them Be Wild
Jul 18
4 min read

Updated: Aug 2

While it may not fit the traditional camping mold, if you own a campervan, motorhome, or trailer tent, then camping at Haggerston Castle is an exciting and often overlooked option for a family getaway! It's perfect for a quick escape with the kids, filled with fun and adventure.

Our family has cherished caravan holidays at Haggerston for generations— fondly collecting tokens from the Sun newspaper! This time, we decided to trade our caravan for a vanlife experience, and we're all in agreement, we are now completely hooked!

Why Choose Van Camping?

More bang for your buck? When you consider that a caravan holiday can set you back hundreds of pounds, the opportunity to van camp for as little as £38 per night is a game changer! This includes full entertainment passes for the venue and the flexibility to book shorter stays—a no-brainer for families looking for value!

Nestled in Northumberland along the stunning North East Coastline, Haggerston Castle is the ultimate destination for a classic action-packed Haven holiday with kids with the bonus of great day trips out to the coast!

Your Home Away from Home

Touring and Camping Area

The touring and camping area is conveniently located just a 5-minute stroll from the main entertainment complex. This prime location means you can easily access all the fun and excitement without the hassle!

The on-site facilities are top-notch! The toilets are impeccably clean and well-maintained, featuring two toilet/shower blocks and washing up facilities at both ends of the camping area. Plus, you'll find plenty of outdoor drinking water taps to keep you refreshed during your stay.

So pack your bags, grab the kids, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure at Haggerston Castle!

Entertainment Complex

The entertainment complex is a short 2 minute Walk from the camping area. The whole complex is designed to be pushchair and wheelchair friendly and is mostly flat. There's plenty of indoor crafts and activities indoors for rainy days but early booking is highly recommended. (We recommend the dinosaur digging but avoid the slime factory - or atleast don't bring it home, its still stuck in our sofa!)

The evening entertainment is always fun...just make sure you get in early to guarantee seating, most seasoned haven holidaymakers attend the bingo first to guarantee table seats!

Its also worth noting that the toilets next to the main hall can get very busy so its worth toileting beforehand or taking the 2 minute walk through the arcade to use the cleaner, less busy ones inside wetherspoons!

Once seating for the evening is sorted there's plenty for the kids to do but its not cheap! the soft play is free but very crowded and needs supervision during busy holiday seasons. The arcades are always fun but £10 wont get you far! Ollie loved the egg grab machine but at £1 a go this ended up being the most expensive part of the holiday! Most other rides are £2 a go! I'd calculate £1 per minute per child.

Food and drink

There are numerous food choices available around the complex, but they aren't cheap! There's an on-site 'mini market' shop that stays open late every day for those who plan to cook at camp, offering a good supply of essentials. Additionally, there's a reasonably priced Wetherspoons on site, along with Papa John's, Tower Bar, Chopstix, Burger King, an ice cream parlour, fish & chips, and an Indian restaurant. While all these options are expensive, they are quick and convenient. You can also order deliveries to your tent via the Haven app or order from outside the holiday park!

Activities

There's a whole host of activities for kids but its essential to book weeks in advance, activities can be booked via the haven app 12 weeks before your holiday starts. The minimum age is 4 for most of the activities but there is still plenty to do for those under 4. There's an indoor swimming pool, aerial adventure, NERF camp, inflatables arena, off road buggies, bug hunts, pedalos and bike hire, active tots and football factory clubs... you name it, there's something for everyone but remember to pre-book!

Local Attractions. Taking day trips out from Haggerston Castle is straight forward. There's a bus stop just outside the main entrance for those wanting to leave cars behind which travels to most attractions. Haggerston is a great location for days out with kids - check out the new lilidorei at Alnwick Castle! (we've not been yet but its top of our list!). For sunny days its worth exploring both Lindisfarne/ holy island and Bamburgh Castle. Just check tide times beforehand! For the more adventurous paddleboarding at Druridge Bay is always fun! For quicker trips, a bimble around Berwick historic town for a coffee is a great pasttime! Happy Holidaying! :)