The best caravans provide a comfortable base for making amazing memories. However, finding the right one for you isn’t always so easy. To give you a helping hand, we’re taking a look at the Bailey caravans that have really impressed us over the past couple of years.
Bailey is a popular brand – at our Owner Satisfaction Awards, the brand won gold and silver medals, while they also enjoyed a successful Practical Caravan Awards. Here, the Bailey Grande Pegasus SE Ancona won the best caravan for families and the manufacturer was nominated for a further eight categories too.
The British manufacturer, who you can find out more about in our guide to the best caravan brands, is one of the biggest caravan makers in the country – here, we reveal our top picks from recent years…
The best Bailey caravans: mini reviews
Bailey Alicante Grande Porto
- Year: 2022
- Berth: 4
- MTPLM: 1847kg
- MiRO: 1687kg
- Payload: 160kg
- Shipping length: 7.86m
- Width: 2.45m
Reasons to buy:
- Great washroom
Reasons to avoid:
- Storage for table could be better
This family-friendly Bailey caravan is part of the second generation Alicanto Grande range.
In response to customer demand, Bailey decided to move the mains hook-up connection to the offside, meaning you would no longer have a cable trailing through your caravan awning.
We like that the twin-axle caravan has a lounge with a central window that is now 50% larger, as it allows plenty of light in. There’s also a large table in here which is more than capable of seating four. Comfortable settees will be well-lit as it darkens too, thanks to LEDs and spotlights which include USBs.
A good caravan kitchen is an essential for keen cooks; in this model, you get a dual-fuel four-burner hob and a separate oven and grill, along with a microwave that has a built-in plate. We also appreciate the 153-litre fridge, which should be more than adequate for families on tour.
We think the washroom is incredibly impressive, with enough space to act as a dressing room. In here, there’s a large handbasin with a useful surround, as well as a lit mirror and a ladder radiator. On the nearside is the shower cubicle.
The rear bed is five feet wide and very comfortable, while another bed at the front can be made up.
Full review: Bailey Alicanto Grande Porto
Bailey Discovery D4-4
- Year: 2021
- Berth: 4
- MTPLM: 1206kg
- MiRO: 1059kg
- Payload: 147kg
- Shipping length: 7.14m
- Width: 2.23m
Reasons to buy:
- Lightweight
- Excellent large washroom
Reasons to avoid:
- No microwave
This Bailey caravan from 2021 combines both style and comfort.
A bright and spacious lounge is on offer; the skylight may be a controversial feature but we found it let in plenty of natural light. Spotlights – with USB charging points – and LEDs are also to hand for the evenings.
In the kitchen, you get a three-burner Thetford hob and a combined oven/grill. We would like to have seen a microwave though, and also found work surface to be at a premium, unless the fold-up extension is used.
However, you do get a 103-litre Dometic fridge, and it comes with a 12-litre freezer compartment too.
We’re fans of the large washroom at the rear of the van. A Thetford cassette toilet, complete with push-button flush, is in here, while there’s useful storage for toiletries. The shower sits on the nearside corner and is a bit on the small side – the roof light only lets a little bit of light in, but an LED strip runs above the mirror and there’s also a downlighter by the door.
A double bed is made up with slats that come from the front bulkhead, with the gap between the settees plugged with the backrests. Something to bear in mind is that it could be a bit on the small side if you’re taller than 6ft 2in.
A fixed double can also be found at the rear of the van. It has a comfortable padded headboard, with small shelves on either side.
If you’re a first time buyer looking for a pre-owned van, the D4-4 is well worth considering – you can also get more inspiration in our guide to the best used caravans.
Full review: Bailey Discovery D4-4
Bailey Phoenix 642+
- Year: 2021
- Berth: 4
- MTPLM: 1410kg
- MiRO: 1255kg
- Payload: 155kg
- Shipping length: 2.37m
- Width: 2.21m
Reasons to buy:
- Smart exterior
- Bright interior
Reasons to avoid:
- Compact washroom
This limited edition Bailey caravan was also released in 2021. We really like the upmarket exterior of the van, a look that’s achieved courtesy of the 14-inch silver alloy wheels and Dove Grey sides.
Inside, we found the Light Oak furniture finish created a bright interior. This effect is enhanced by the large central window that lets plenty of daylight in, while ambient lighting and spotlights are also to hand.
If you’re wanting to watch TV on tour, you’ll be pleased to know there’s a suitable spot for one – if you’re looking for a model, be sure to take a look at our guide to the best caravan TVs.
There’s plenty of work surface in the kitchen, even if there isn’t an extension. A 106-litre fridge can be found in here, along with an 800W microwave, and we like that you can fit the four-burner hob with a wooden cover to provide some extra space for preparation too.
The end washroom is on the compact side but it’s nicely lit, as is the shower cubicle.
When it comes to sleeping arrangements, the front single beds are only 9cm shorter than the fixed beds, and as they’re 1.81m, they’re well-suited for most adults. The base cushion and backrests are split too, allowing a comfortable double to be made up.
Full review: Bailey Phoenix 642+
Bailey Alicante Grande Lisbon
- Year: 2022
- Berth: 4
- MTPLM: 1700kg
- MiRO: 1546kg
- Payload: 154kg
- Shipping length: 7.38m
- Width: 2.45m
Reasons to buy:
- Big lounge
- Well-lit interior
Reasons to avoid:
- Accessing table will be a two person job
- Front beds could be bigger
This single-axle has a caravan layout that means you get an island bed, as well as a garage that extends across the rear of the van and can also be accessed via a door on both sides.
As the central window is 50% larger than it was in the previous generation, there’s plenty of light that floods into the airy lounge.
The table in here is more than big enough for four – one thing we should point out is that you need to store it underneath the bed, so accessing it is likely to be a two-person job.
Comfortable settees are also to hand, with spotlights beneath the lockers and LEDs in the window housing providing some evening lighting.
Avtex Wi-Fi is also a factory fit on the roof.
The L-shaped kitchen includes plenty of worktop, a dual-fuel four-burner hob – which resides over the separate oven and grill – and also a microwave. The two-way opening fridge is 133 litres too, so should be more than suited to meeting the needs of four on tour.
The central washroom includes a nearside shower cubicle which provides good headroom. We like the touch of marbling that adds a bit of character, but you only get a single drainage hole.
A comfortable 5ft wide bed is provided, although the tradeoff here means the double at the front is not quite so wide. Here, you can make up a double with slats and an infill cushion that comes to 3ft 8in wide, while the singles that are made up from the settees will only be 5ft 9in at most.
We really appreciate the decent amount of USBs dotted throughout the van, while storage in the rear bedroom is also good.
Full review: Bailey Alicante Grande Lisbon
Bailey Phoenix+ 440
- Year: 2022
- Berth: 4
- MTPLM: 1347kg
- MiRO: 1197kg
- Payload: 150kg
- Shipping length: 6.88m
- Width: 2.21m
Reasons to buy:
- Lightweight
Reasons to avoid:
- Lounge is a bit small for more than four
This is a lightweight and compact Bailey caravan that includes a rear washroom and a corner bed.
Due to its shorter length, there have been some compromises in the lounge. For instance, if you’re planning to host a gathering when you reach the site, you may want to consider an awning to give yourself some extra space. However, comfortable settees are provided, with daylight flooding in through the big window.
As evening comes around, you can rely on two LEDs and two directional spotlights, while a Truma Combi 2 heating system will keep everyone warm.
The kitchen has a gas-only four-burner hob, with a separate oven and grill. As well as this, you’ll find a 98-litre half height fridge, although we think this could be a bit on the small side for four.
We’re also fans of the built-in ceramic plate the Phoenix’s microwave comes with; it means you don’t need to worry about it sliding out and breaking when you’re towing the caravan.
A comfortable rear double bed has some handy corner shelves. When it comes to the front lounge, we found the size of the settees meant they can only really be used as single beds for anyone under 4ft 11in, but, the slats can be pulled out easily to make up a double.
Full review: Bailey Phoenix+ 440
Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Ancona
- Year: 2022
- Berth: 5
- MTPLM: 1600kg
- MiRO: 1435kg
- Payload: 165kg
- Shipping length: 7.38m
- Width: 2.45m
Reasons to buy:
- Excellent kitchen and washroom
- Great lounge
Reasons to avoid:
- Fridge could be bigger
This Bailey caravan really impressed our judging panel at the Practical Caravan Awards 2022, where it won the best family caravan category.
The 8ft-wide five-berth also made it onto our best caravan round-up, with the single-axle tourer boasting great storage options and a homely lounge.
A central window, side windows and two roof lights ensure the front lounge is well-lit. There’s a table that could easily seat six, although storing it could be tricky, as it needs to go in a central wardrobe that also houses the pedestal leg, the top of the rear lounge table, and infill cushions for the beds.
The caravan also boasts a nice rear lounge. We like how it feels like a proper lounge, an effect that’s achieved by having the ‘L’ settee facing away from the washroom.
Another useful addition is being able to use a concertina partition to shut off this area – a welcome touch for a family caravan, we think.
We’re also big fans of the kitchen; we’d consider it nothing short of excellent for the price you pay. A generous work surface is provided, and it’s also nicely lit, thanks to LEDs and a window. There’s a four-burner dual-fuel hob, a separate oven and grill, and four power sockets, as well as a sink and a microwave.
One thing we would like to have seen is a bigger fridge – it’s only 103 litres and is half-height, so it could be a squeeze to get enough food in.
The washroom is also excellent, with a huge shower cubicle and and large lit mirror being just two of the features to impress us.
The front lounge settees provide comfortable single beds, with the option of creating an excellent double if required. In the rear lounge, you can put up a bunk and also a double.
Full review: Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Ancona
Bailey Unicorn Vigo
- Year: 2022
- Berth: 4
- MTPLM: 1600kg
- MiRO: 1430kg
- Payload: 170kg
- Shipping length: 7.34m
- Width: 2.26m
Reasons to buy:
- Bright and cheerful lounge
- Comfortable bed
Reasons to avoid:
- Clear window in the washroom
This four berth Bailey caravan is a single-axle model.
It’s an arrangement that sees a transverse island bed and end washroom, and as far as we’re concerned, this tourer – now in its fifth generation – looks sleeker than ever.
We’re fans of little additions such as the service light that will make life a lot simpler when you’re on site – if you’re looking for somewhere to stay, be sure to take a look at our guide to the best caravan parks.
The cheerful lounge has Light Oak furniture to create a warm interior. We should point out that previous iterations had shelving, but now, the Vigo has lockers that extend to the front – we think this is a practical addition.
It’s a relaxing lounge, with spring settees that are very comfortable and provide a great spot for reclining.
The kitchen is more than adequate too, with a separate oven and grill, a turntable-free microwave and a two-way Series 10 Dometic fridge.
We like how the rear washroom feels nice and bright, with an excellent shower cubicle that contains a shelf, roof vent and hanging rail. However, it only has a single drainage hole, and there’s a clear window too.
We’re also big fans of the island bed. It’s now both larger and more comfortable than before, a feat that is achieved by having the wardrobes curve around the edge.
The settees in the lounge will most likely need to be turned into a double bed – this can be achieved with pull-out slats. As singles, they could be a bit small for adults.
There’s plenty of storage in this caravan, including a massive space beneath the bed which is accessed externally.
Full review: Bailey Unicorn Vigo
- Looking for a towing vehicle instead? Then be sure to check out our guide to the best tow cars.
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