Don't try it in service stations on the motorway, there's a maximum time you're allowed there before having to pay a parking fee.
I slept around in the UK for years, and in campers and cars, just give a bit of thought to picking your spot and drop off.
It's not illegal unless you're breaking some parking law somewhere.

To be fair councils have to restrict "overnight parking" otherwise they end up with 10 Gypsy caravans in a carpark and it takes them 28 days to evict them. This is probably why we don't have the right to roam in England. Scotland is a lot easier to wildcamp.

Funny enough, I got the odd suspicious look in my own very limited travels - driving an old Lada and being a scruffy bastard possibly doesn't help - but (and I don't mind admitting) I did feel a sting of resentment at the thought of being 'judged' - and that was just me on a trip. Actually got pulled in Belgium as they were having a clampdown on people smuggling. At least, that's what they told me.

Just my thoughts.

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

Up in scotland you will find alot of parking bays out in the country, we have a lot of vans parked near our little harbour in crudenbay and up at the castle nearby. These all have french/german plates so no one really bothers them unless they do something really stupid or park in residents parking spaces. The same goes for most the villages up and down the north east of scotland or in the highlands.

I have seen alot biker groups as well this year and again no one has problems. We also get quite alot of backpackers camping on the beach[ further down and out of site of the village] and up in the sand dunes. The screams at 2 am as my chinese crested finds them have indicated many are from over seas.

The problem at the moment is with the traveller/gypsy groups have really upset alot of locals in the north east of scotland with the damage and mess they make. There has also been alot of trouble with large groups coming up from England claiming to be travellers/gypsy people [and then admit their just on holiday to the press after the council has payed for toilets and skips for them] to park in nature reserves and tourist spots.
So if your a single van/camper you shouldnt have any trouble parking up in a layby somewhere. Just make sure its not one that has had the anti large vehicle barriers ripped up and I wouldnt recommend using a site that already has travellers on it or trying fields and farm tracks.
The police wont/cant move you on and the council need to go through the courts to do so. Although on the estates it may be a gamekeeper/farmer with a shotgun and they dont care about "human rights" and "discrimination" as much so I wouldnt recommend trying to camp out on the estates. Same goes for using tents out in private estates unless you go well off the tracks forestry guys and the local land owner will move you on and fires are a big no no.

Thanks for all the European advice

But, does anyone know the rule in the UK specifically ?


Can I LEGALLY drive down to a nice town, find a quiet road to park in and sleep there for the night ?? If someone wants to cause an issue and call the police, could i be moved on or prosecuted ?

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

There is different laws throughout the UK, scotland has no such thing as private roads or lands[ no such charge as trespassing], england does as far as I am aware or used to.
In the towns parking bays and car parks are generally owned so you may get moved on if you are classed as blocking access.Although recently my mother recieved a parking ticket from parking too long in a supermarket car park, It was sent from an english legal firm, used english law as its basis and therefore was not a legal charge in scotland so she phoned them pointed this out and they tore it up.

The best thing you can do is to use common sense. Dont park in a city, If in the country dont go into an area that isnt a proper rest stop or block a field or side road. And stay away from places with barriers. Its up to the police to move you on and explain why, so if you deal with them in a nice way say your stopping for 1 night only and that you are too tired to carry on they should be ok. IF you stop far enough away from any centres of population the chances of running into police or complaints are very slim indeed.

If as you said you find a nice town ect dont Park in someones space and try not to park in a residential area, as that way you will stick out.

Knowing your rights and having rights dont mean anything when the police are trying to move you on, as trying to tell a police officer they are wrong and you know your rights really wont get you anywhere. Unless you claim to be a gypsy/traveller and then the police will not do anything as its a discrimination charge against them waiting to happen.

I spent 7 months last year travelling around Europe in a campervan and the only time we moved on after parking up was when some idiot was doing donuts in the parking area we chose.

France has it really sorted with a lot of Aires de repose, with water, power and often toilets or chemical toilet dumps. Wild camping is easy, just choose a quiet spot, off main roads, away from nightclubs and pubs, and dont block someone's million $ views.

The UK is the hardest in Europe to park up without a sign prohibiting everything except breathing, without having completed an environmental impact statement, health and safety study and got approval from the relevant departments from the Parish Council, County Council, Westminster and Brussels - probably the UN and Washington now as well!!

Ouai, most places you're OK, there's a few places where you'll find a no overnight stays sign, or no campervans after a certain time, but that's usually either beaches or town squares. Lots of town/villages will have a municipal campground too, and they're only a couple of euros for a hook-up if you want it.

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Apart from where it is obviously sign posted you should be ok to stop, however, you will find yourself being checked out by local residents/farmers etc and the police, they will wonder why you do not use the local campsite or B&B etc, but as has been said I do not think you would be breaking the law.

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ChrisC

Its better just to have a MPV or a normal van, as many places have restricted parking for camper vans. On the westcoast of Jutland/Denmark, some counties have no parking between 9pm to 7am in the whole county.
I normally go for the parking on the harbour area, as they have a lot of space and always public toilets. I bought a VW Sharan/Ford Galaxy, as I can sleep in the back, but it looks like a normal car from the outside.
In Monaco they patrol all night and even check normal cars and send you away. In france, the police adviced me to park in a better lit place and in Germany, on the autobahn, the police just wanted to know, what went on, when we moved all the luggage to the front seats, at 12 o'clock midnight, to be able to sleep in the back.

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Poul
May you enjoy peace and good health !

Most towns in France have an overnight spot for camper vans free of charge. Often with waste disposal, water supply and electric hook up. Something to do with a law Napoleon introduced. I've only ever seen camper vans use them, not caravans. I've often thought you could live quite frugally just moving from one spot to another each day.

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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.

Make sure you don't this in the US, where there's even MORE rules. Having a van in the US means you're smuggling something or someone, and people will surely call the police. I had it happen countless times. :-( Which is why so many camp at parking lots like Wal-Mart. But who wants to wake up surrounded by bright lights and countless caravans???

Lorraine

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Could always gas the parking attendant.

Just a thought.

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.