It can be hard to choose from the huge selection of tourers available, so to give you a helping hand, we’ve judged the best 2 berth caravan in the UK market for the Practical Caravan Awards 2024.
The difference between a couples’ van and a two berth caravan is that the former doesn’t exclusively have to have two berths – instead, there can be additional berths. In comparison, a 2 berth caravan will be just that.
This year, we’ve picked the Bailey Phoenix GT75 420 as the best 2-berth caravan on the market. We were really impressed by features like its spacious end washroom, despite its internal length of less than 5m. In this guide, you can see why we selected it as our number one choice, as well as find out what we made of the close contenders on our shortlist, which includes models from Campmaster, Swift and more.
As well as this, you’ll be able to find the options that were shortlisted last year, which includes tourers from Swift and Go-Pod. We also take a look at some of the best 2 berth models from recent years too, with models from Hymer, Compass, Bailey and more all included.
You can find out more about the different brands out there by reading our best caravan manufacturers guide.
Couples and solo caravanners looking for a new model should consider these two berth caravans.
The winner of the best 2 berth caravan is…
Bailey Phoenix GT75 420
- Price: £22,999
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 1142kg
- MiRO: 1025kg
- Payload: 117kg
- Shipping length: 5.56m.
- Width: 2.21m
Reasons to buy:
- Good price, good length, nice update
Reasons to avoid:
- You don’t get a fixed bed
The winner of our best 2 berth caravan category is the smallest model in the new Bailey Phoenix lineup.
It has an internal length of less than 5m, yet still manages to have a spacious end washroom. The manufacturer has also provided a comfortable front lounge with two settees that, at 1.92m long, should be long enough for most people to use as single beds – although if you prefer, the seating converts easily into a double.
An MTPLM of 1142kg makes this a fairly easy tow, without you having to make any particularly severe sacrifices on spec levels. You still get a Truma Combi 2 heating system, a kitchen with a 103-litre fridge, four-burner gas hob and an oven, and a washroom with a separate shower cubicle. Plus there is a payload of 117kg, which should be fine for just the two of you. And also new this time around is a SONOS Bluetooth speaker.
On the shortlist for the best 2 berth caravan are:
Swift Challenger Exclusive 480
- Price: £31,195
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 1442kg
- MiRO: 1315kg
- Payload: 127kg
- Shipping length: 6.68m
- Width: 2.28m
Reasons to buy:
- A useful upgrade makes this popular model last longer
Reasons to avoid:
- No fixed bed
Swift has stuck with the 480 end washroom caravan layout through the many different variations of the Challenger there have been throughout the years. It’s not hard to see why. Its body length of just under 5m gives the two of you enough room to move around without getting on each other’s toes.
So along with that end washroom, you get a spacious front lounge with settees that are long enough for most adults to enjoy as single beds, but still come together to make a great double. In between there is a kitchen and sideboard area that has been carefully thought through, rather than squeezed in the remaining space.
This season the Exclusive tag means you also get grey GRP side panels, fully diamond cut alloy wheels, exclusive graphics, an offside services light, onboard 4G wi-fi, a wireless mobile phone charger, an upgraded oven with a cast iron trivet, and an exclusive Willow fabric scheme with automotive quilting.
Campmaster Duo
- Price: £11,699
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 750kg
- MiRO: 615kg
- Payload: 135kg
- Shipping length: 4.60m
- Width: 2.00m
Reasons to buy:
- A cosy caravan with a great price and light weight
Reasons to avoid:
- It is very basic
Well, this new caravan from Camperlands really can claim to be a two-berth, because the double bed that is inside it takes up over half the internal space. You do get a kitchen inside (the first time Camperlands has such a vehicle) and a surprisingly large amount of storage space, both under the huge bed and in a side wardrobe.
The small caravan is fairly basic – you can’t get away from that. And it runs on a Knott chassis, rather than the standard Al-Ko chassis that you might be more familiar with. But it still has a stabiliser, and in an era where you can quite easily pay well over £20,000 for a fairly bog standard two berth caravan, and possibly even more than that, it is good to see this one retailing potentially at less than £12,000. With an MTPLM of just 750kg, you shouldn’t need to shell out for a huge gas-guzzling tow car either.
Full review: Campmaster Duo
Vagabond Rogue
- Price: £19,200
- Berths: 2
- MPTLM: 750kg
- MiRO: 550kg
- Payload: 200kg
- Shipping length: 4.60m
- Width: 2.15m
Reasons to buy:
- An innovative caravan with a unique canopy for a teardrop
Reasons to avoid:
- Quirky looks might not appeal to all tastes
A bit of a left-field choice, perhaps, but there is no reason why this rugged teardrop caravan with a kitchen out the back and an awning that spreads around two sides shouldn’t make a perfectly decent two-berth caravan for the more adventurous among you. The awning means you get much more living space than you usually do in these types of caravan, and you can even fit a shower too.
The Rogue has already proved a bit of a hit in its home country, South Africa, and in Australia too. So if your idea of heading off into the sunset really is just that – on a beach somewhere, say, listening to the waves, then this caravan really could be the one for the two of you.
Full review: Vagabond Rogue
These are the 2 berth caravans we shortlisted last year:
At the Practical Caravan Awards 2023, we picked out the Swift Sprite Compact as the best tourer on the market – we were really impressed by the spec it offered for its size.
Swift Sprite Compact
- Price: from £20,695
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 1094kg
- MiRO: 980kg
- Payload: 114kg
- Length: 5.37m
- Width: 2.03m
Reason to buy:
- Great spec for a small tourer
Reason to avoid:
- Beds too short for very tall people
When it comes to what couples want from a tourer, it’s usually a practical design with a proven layout. If you’re also wanting decent spec and a light weight then the Swift Sprite Compact ticks all these boxes. It’s a smart looking tourer that lives up to its name, with a width of 2.03m and a length of 5.37m. Using the tried and tested end kitchen front lounge corner washroom layout, this two berth offers those with restricted storage space or a small tow car a cracking tourer.
The front lounge feels surprisingly spacious, helped by the new grey upholstery and updated wood finish. A decent kitchen comes with an oven and microwave, as well as a Dometic fridge.
It may be a small and budget-friendly tourer, but we think this is a well designed caravan that has a lot of appeal.
Full review of the 2022 model: Swift Sprite Compact
Swift Challenger 480 SE
- Price: from £28,795
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 1435kg
- MiRO: 1308kg
- Payload: 127kg
- Length: 6.66m
- Width: 2.28m
It’s hard to believe, but the Swift Challenger range reaches its 38th year in 2023. It’s been seen in various guises over that long period of time and one designation is the SE, which is being brought back for 2023, adding even more specification to this established range.
The 480 is a long term favourite for those wanting an end washroom tourer which provides plenty of storage and living space. The new front and rear GRP panels make the Challenger one of the smartest looking tourers on the market.
Its 2.28m width provides an excellent floor area – in fact we’d say it feels more like an 8ft wide tourer. A large front lounge offers comfort for two while the well equipped kitchen comes complete with an extractor fan and a spacious side dresser unit. End washroom fans won’t be disappointed with the size of the washroom here, with a practical design that offers a decent amount of storage for toiletries too.
Full review: Swift Challenger 480 SE
Go-Pod Venus
- Price: £20,495
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 750kg
- MiRO: 540kg
- Payload: 210kg
- Length: 4.2m
- Width: 2.0m
Made for those who want a lightweight tourer to tow behind a small tow car or possibly even a motorbike, the Go–Pod is distinctive and tough, with a GRP shell. Offering a front lounge that turns into a double bed, this pop–top micro tourer comes with a side kitchen and wardrobe.
In Venus spec, you can choose a different exterior colour when you order, making your Go-Pod that bit more personal. Those who want a bit of extra room can also order a rear end awning that is designed for the Go-Pod.
The Venus also comes with a gas hob and a fridge, while a TV and clip on TV aerial is also supplied. Although there is no toilet, the Venus does have a Porta-Potti which stows away in the base of the wardrobe when it’s not in use. For its size, this is a clever tourer. Blown air gas heating is standard, while the wardrobe is placed next to the surprisingly spacious side washroom, which has great storage and a large side window.
This is a lightweight and well put together model; it’s a great two berth caravan, with the option of fixed bunks for the grandkids.
We also recommend the following best 2 berth caravans from recent years
All of these 2020 and 2019 models will suit those looking for a 2 berth caravan, and there’s a variety of spec levels and sizes to choose from – whether you want a micro caravan or a more spacious two berth model with more home comforts.
Bailey Discovery D4-2 (2020)
With a clear focus on first-time buyers, Bailey’s new Discovery range includes this smart, compact 2 berth caravan that is lightweight with an MTPLM of just 995kg. This makes it ideal for those with smaller and less powerful tow cars, as well as those with smaller budgets. It comes in at just £16,199 – a very affordable option for those that aren’t looking for top-spec.
The layout is fairly traditional, with a front lounge that makes up into a generous double bed, a side kitchen with a dresser opposite, and an end washroom.
The exterior design is a distinctive profile, with a curved front with a singe portrait-style window, and retro-style radius corners at the rear. Bailey has even designed an awning that fits right around the rear of the caravan, giving lots of space, although use of this may be restricted by site pitch sizes.
To find out more, and figure out if this could be the caravan for you, read our full review.
Adria Altea Aire 492 DT (2020)
This is a brand new model for 2020, and offers a very contemporary feel. The caravan has a spacious lounge with a large sunroof, an off-side kitchen, and a generously-sized rear washroom.
This is not the first iteration of this layout from Adria; the 2014 Adora Loire also had a rear washroom, but it didn’t quite have the same appeal as this newer model, which is less cramped and includes a lined shower.
This van is sure to appeal to couples that want a more compact and easy-to-tow caravan, but with a lower spec level to keep that price down.
The new-look interior and robust build quality make this a very good 2 berth caravan; read our full review to find out more.
Swift Elegance 480 (2020)
The top-of-the-range Elegance 480 includes quite a few pieces of high-end kit in this luxurious 2 berth caravan. It also benefits from Swift’s lifetime water ingress warranty – a sign of the confidence in its third generation SMART construction system.
The stylish front lounge, mid-ships kitchen and rear washroom layout is a popular one, and the elegantly styled lounge can either be turned into a pair of single beds, or made up into a 2m-long double bed.
High-end touches include a reversing camera which connects to your tow-car through the hitch, an on-board water tank, plenty of plug sockets, (including USB connections), a stereo system with speakers in both the lounge and the washroom, and much more.
It may cost a little more than the other caravans on this list, but you also get a very impressive list of gadgets and a stylish caravan. Read our full review to find out more.
Elddis Avanté 454 (2020)
Rather unusually for a 2 berth caravan, the new layout of the Avanté 454 includes an L-shaped lounge and a transverse fixed bed, with mid-ships kitchen and washroom making this feel like a far bigger caravan than it is. It still measures in at sub-7m in length, and has a modest MTPLM of 1310kg, making it ideal for those that want to keep to a lower train weight.
The designers have also maximised storage space, including a huge storage space under that fixed bed, as well as twin wardrobes and yet more cupboard and drawer space. You’ll have to keep a close eye on that 128kg payload, though!
At a push, this caravan could be stretched to sleep four, with that L-shaped lounge converting to two single beds, but this would be more of an occasional solution, and small families would be better looking at larger 4 berth models. The washroom is also a little on the small side for more than two people.
Find out what other features this caravan boast in our full review, including what’s in the impressively kitted-out side kitchen.
Wheelhome Dashaway (2019)
The super-compact Wheelhome Dashaway is a micro caravan that’s small and light enough to be easy to store and easy to tow. The inclusion of both a reversing camera and a motor mover make this even more manoeuvrable.
It offers a simpler way of caravanning; it really does go back to the basics. Inside you’ll find that the raising roof and electronic side pod increase the amount of space significantly. With the compact kitchen positioned in the nose of the trailer, the rear transforms into a generous 6ft 5in bed. There’s no washroom, but you can fit a Porta Potti in the cupboard at the bottom of the kitchen.
This caravan has been designed to carry two bikes – one on either side – the weight of which should help to keep it stable on the road.
For such a small caravan, the Dashaway has an impressive amount of kit. It’s certainly one to consider if you want to keep things simple and compact. Read our full review to see if it could suit your caravanning style.
Lunar Ariva (2019)
Since being introduced in 1995, Lunar’s Ariva range has stuck with this popular end-kitchen layout which has seen it sell steadily over the last 25 years.
Although looks-wise, it may be a little dated, this caravan is still a great 2 berth option for couples. The practical design includes a surprisingly spacious lounge area with a slide-out coffee table in the central chest of drawers, generous cupboard storage in the well-designed kitchen, and a perfectly practical corner washroom.
When it comes to set up for bed time, you can either use the two sofas as single beds, or you can make up a double bed using the pull-out metal frames.
To find out about this caravan’s other great features, read our full review of the 2019 model.
Hymer Nova 470GL (2019)
This caravan should definitely be on your 2 berth shortlist, although some are put off by the higher MTPLM and fairly hefty price, plus a few surprising omissions from the spec.
This is a good, solidly-built caravan, though, with a large front lounge that is bright and airy, a well-equipped off-side kitchen, and an end washroom with plenty of storage space.
There are a couple of things we would have expected included as standard at this price point, such as a microwave and a window in the washroom, but in all, this caravan has plenty going for it.
To find out exactly what is included in Hymer’s 2 berth offering, read our full review.
Venus 460/2 Deluxe (2019)
This 2019 dealer special from Marquis already had plenty of kit included, but with Marquis’ added spec, it becomes even more attractive for those looking for a practical 2 berth caravan.
The layout includes a front lounge, a side kitchen with a generous amount of worktop, and a spacious end washroom. The latter is particularly impressive, with lots of neat design features, a large side window as well as a roof vent, and not one but two wardrobes adding to the generous storage space.
The front lounge converts into a comfortable double bed, using slide-out frames, but can also be used as twin single beds by simply removing the backrests.
The Venus 460/2 was already good value for money, but adding in Marquis’ Deluxe spec makes it even better. Find out exactly what’s included in our full review.
Bailey Unicorn Merida
For 2019, Bailey introduced the Merida to its popular Unicorn range, with a suitably upmarket spec list and a reintroduced rear washroom layout. For the 2020 season, the Unicorn models all received a Black Edition makeover. This includes new graphics, updated design features such as a circular stainless steel sink and curved dual-finish locker doors, an optional upholstery upgrade and more.
The lounge is spacious and, come night-time, can either be used as two singles (comfortable for all but the tallest) or can be transformed into a generous double using pull-out slats.
It’s the spec list that really makes this 2 berth caravan attractive; starting with the impressive allocation of 230v and USB sockets, a roof-mounted 100W solar panel, programmable Alde central heating and a Bluetooth compatible sound system.
Distinctive Bailey touches such as the drop-down hob cover that gives extra worktop space are also appealing. Read our review of the 2019 version to find out more.
Compass Capiro
As part of the Erwin Hymer Group umbrella, the baby of the Capiro range has been through several changes over recent years; for 2018 the end washroom of the Capiro 462 was swapped for an end kitchen layout, which it kept for 2019 when we reviewed the 462.
In the 2020 line-up, the 2 berth option is the Capiro 520, a brand new model with a mid-ships kitchen and a spacious rear washroom. The latter boasts being one of the most spacious Compass bathrooms yet, with a separate shower cubicle, a dressing area and plenty of closet space.
We haven’t tested this latest model yet, but it promises to be a stylish, lightweight option, and for 2020 the Capiro range received new graphics, upholstery and the addition of a Dometic midi-Heki rooflight.
How we choose the best 2 berth caravan
The key considerations we assess when we’re judging the best in this category include the space on offer, the value for money the tourer provides, how easy it is to use the washroom and kitchen, and more.
Since Practical Caravan first launched in 1967, we’ve been regularly testing and reviewing the newest models – you can find many of these by heading to our caravan reviews section. Each test is fair – we make sure we draw attention to the pros and also the cons of each model. If you would like to find out more about our testing process, our About Us page provides further information.
Our Owner Satisfaction Awards provide further insight, where our readers vote to tell us about their buying experience.
Pooling this together leaves us in a good position to start drawing up our shortlist. We then start to whittle it down, to create our final list.
Those looking for a bigger van might like to check out our best 4 berth caravans or best 6 berth caravans. Alternatively, if you’re constricted by budget, you may like to consult our list of the best caravans under £20,000. If your budget can stretch a bit further, we’ve also compiled a list of the best caravans over £30,000.
If none of these models sound like the caravan you’re looking for, check the rest of our caravan reviews to see if there might be a model more suited to you – we’re uploading more all the time!
Looking for the place to head to on your next tour? Well, our round-up of the best caravan sites to head to will provide plenty of useful inspiration.
Maybe you’re looking for accessories too, in which case, be sure to look at our best caravan cleaners and best caravan gadgets guides, both full of ideas that are sure to improve your touring experience.
Or what about a motorhome? Check out some of these options Best 2 berth motorhomes, Best 4 berth motorhomes, Best 6 berth motorhomes and more
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