Van life guide: England
Van Life in Gloucestershire: Best Spots, Meetups & Where to Park
Meet other van lifers, plan walks and brews, or meet someone who gets the lifestyle in Gloucestershire. Gloucestershire is the Cotswolds, the Severn Vale and the Forest of Dean in one county, with honey-stone villages and wooded hills.
The van life scene in Gloucestershire
The Cotswolds National Landscape runs along the eastern edge of the county, with limestone escarpments and wool-town villages. West of the Severn, the Forest of Dean is an ancient woodland with trails, sculpture and wildlife.
When you are based in Gloucestershire, it is simple to meet people when you share a brew with fellow van lifers.
Meeting people in Gloucestershire
Pick a walk somewhere public and busy, let a friend know where you are going, and keep your exact pitch to yourself until you trust someone. With VanDates you choose what you are open to, whether that is friendship, convoys or romance, and you only ever show an approximate area.
Gloucestershire at a glance
- Where: Gloucestershire, England
- Best time to go: April to October, with autumn colour in the Forest of Dean
- Local flavour: Double Gloucester cheese, Gloucester Old Spot pork, local cider and perry
- Approximate location only: never your exact pitch
Best spots in Gloucestershire
Must-see places in Gloucestershire include Bibury, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham’s Regency streets, Gloucester Cathedral, the Forest of Dean and Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
Things to try: a walk along the Cotswold Way, a cycle on the Forest of Dean trails, birdwatching at Slimbridge, a pub lunch in a Cotswold village.
Parking up and staying legal in Gloucestershire
Cotswold villages such as Bibury have very limited parking and narrow lanes. Use campsites, visit early or late in the day and check overnight rules in car parks.
In England, wild camping is generally not allowed without the landowner’s permission, and overnight stays on roadsides, in car parks and at beauty spots are often restricted by signs, byelaws or council orders. Dartmoor has its own arrangements, so check the national park’s current guidance. Use campsites, Certificated Locations, farm stopovers or pubs that welcome vans, and follow the Countryside Code.
Read the Countryside Code. Please take your litter home, be considerate to residents, and see our Community Guidelines and Safety Tips.
Ready to meet van lifers in Gloucestershire?
Join The Crew. Discover who is parked or travelling near you, join upcoming community meetups, or find someone special who truly gets life on the road. Membership is £1.99 a week and you can cancel any time.