The best luxury caravan should combine style and sophistication with functionality and excellent build quality, providing plenty of home comforts when you’re on tour.
These types of caravan are set apart from the rest with their elegant, comfortable interiors, thoughtful storage systems and top of the range fixtures and fittings. So, if you’re thinking of buying a caravan at the top end of the market, how do you find the one for you? We’re here to help.
Our judging panel for the Practical Caravan Awards 2024 have used our combined decades of experience in the industry to do the hard work for you, picking out the best luxury caravans on the market for the 2024 season, as well as revealing our number one pick.
This year, we rebranded the category to the best luxury caravans – in previous years, it was the best caravan over £30,000. We think this is to better reflect the market.
Coming in top spot was Coachman’s Laser Excel 850, an impressive 4-berth luxury caravan that we think comes with just about everything you could need as standard. Here, you can see what we made of it and our shortlisted options.
The best luxury caravan is:
Coachman Laser Xcel 850
- Price: £46,095
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1929kg
- MIRO: 1769kg
- Payload: 160kg
- Shipping length: 7.90m
- Width: 2.44m
Reasons to buy:
- This caravan has just about everything you need included as standard
Reasons to avoid:
- It is really quite heavy
The changes that make this model new for 2024 are relatively minor – just the transverse island bed switched to the opposite direction, and, perhaps less helpfully, a wardrobe moved more into the back bedroom itself rather than in the large central washroom. But this is still a highly luxurious caravan, with everything that is likely to cater for your needs.
It’s an 8ft wide caravan, so you have extra space to move about, twin axle to make it easier to tow, and very stylishly designed, particularly with the new matt black spotlights and swan neck taps in the kitchen.
Go for a Laser Xcel and you get a levelling system fitted as standard too. This is still only an optional extra with some of the competition. So you don’t even have to worry about winding the corner steadies down and then adjusting them to ensure a good night’s sleep. The Coachman caravan does that for you.
Full review: Coachman Laser Xcel 850
Also on the shortlist for the best luxury caravan are:
La Mancelle Liberty 490 SA
- Price: £40,990
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1800kg
- MIRO: 1435kg
- Payload: 365kg
- Shipping length: 6.71m
- Width: 2.25m
Reason to buy:
- Well-equipped and with an excellent payload to boot
Reason to avoid:
- The distinctive looks might not appeal to all tastes
French designed and built, and brought to the UK exclusively by Marquis Leisure, this tourer is classic in looks but also distinctive – the Liberty 490SA will certainly turn heads on site.
With its stylish curved front lounge and rear fixed island bed, this is a traditional layout for couples, but it can also sleep up to four occupants in comfort. It also has a high specification, including an on-board water tank and air-conditioning, as well as an excellent payload, all of which should enable all-year touring in comfort.
The kitchen comes with a full oven, and the smartly designed washroom has practical as well as stylish features – this area also includes a side window for both natural light and ventilation.
The rear bedroom, meanwhile, offers excellent storage, thanks to the deep overhead lockers and twin wardrobes.
Overall, this distinctive tourer offers stylish good looks and a solid build quality, while the truly modern décor contrasts nicely with the retro exterior.
Full review: La Mancelle Liberty 490 SA
Swift Elegance Grande 860
- Price: £46,795
- Berth: 4
- MTPLM: 2077kg
- MiRO: 1867kg
- Payload: 160kg
- Shipping length: 7.98m
- Width: 2.45m
Reason to buy:
- Good headroom, plenty of features
Reason to avoid:
- Heavy, so will require a hefty tow car
The 8ft-wide Elegance Grande 860 more than lives up to its name, providing caravanners with a truly luxurious caravan experience.
Attention to detail is evident throughout. Spec includes a 100W roof-mounted solar panel and three LED awning lights, while its smart GRP sidewalls provide an injection of style.
Then there’s the highly comfortable lounge – the 6’5″ headroom creates a spacious feeling, while a Midi-Heki roof light and a sunroof (which incorporates recessed lights and speakers) create a well-lit interior.
Head to the rear bedroom and you’ll now find it comes with a lift-up mattress headrest to ensure you get that bit of extra space.
The kitchen offers plenty for cooking on tour: there’s a dual-hinged 177-litre Dometic Series 10 fridge with a 35-litre freezer compartment, a stylish worktop with an extension if you need more space, a Thetford thermostatic oven and grill, complete with a three-burner gas hob and an electric hot plate – the list goes on.
There’s also the new Swift command control system, a 7-inch control panel which offers easy use of LED lighting, underfloor heating and more.
Full review: Swift Elegance Grande 860
Our pick of the best luxury caravans from last year – the best caravans over £30,000 from the Practical Caravan Awards 2023:
Last year, we picked the Bailey Alicanto Grande Evora as the best caravan over £30,000 – its spacious bedroom and comfortable lounge are just two of the factors that helped it to seal the win.
Bailey Alicanto Grande Evora
- Price: £38,499
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1855kg
- MiRO: 1694kg
- Payload: 160kg
- Shipping length: 7.86m
- Width: 2.45m
Reason to buy:
- Spacious bedroom, comfy front lounge
Reason to avoid:
- Table storage could be better
Bailey’s latest addition to its 8ft-wide Alicanto Grande range continues to offer all the design features and spec you would expect from a caravan costing close to £40,000.
The rear bedroom in particular includes a large wardrobe with two hanging rails. And yet you still get a dressing table unit complete with an adjustable mirror and a socket for that all important hairdryer. The bed can be rolled back to make a comfortable day bed where you can really kick back and relax.
The end washroom includes a huge shower cubicle, with plenty of space to get dressed in the main section. The door to it opens wide in the centre of the van, so it feels like a proper en suite washroom, not something that has just been tacked on to the rear of the van with only a narrow access door.
The kitchen includes a flatbed microwave and even a wine rack that is easy to reach if you fancy a tipple.
And the front lounge is light and airy, with a handy wireless charging pad for keeping your device going. Our only issue was really getting the heavy table out from under the bed. But if there are just the two of you eating, the central pull-out shelf is more than adequate.
Full review: Bailey Alicanto Grande Evora
These are the tourers that made our shortlist at the Practical Caravan Awards 2023 – you can also get more inspiration by taking a look at our guide to the best caravans.
Coachman VIP 675
- Price: £38,645
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1810kg
- MiRO: 1650kg
- Payload: 160kg
- Length: 7.89m
- Width: 2.31m
Reason to buy:
- Good storage and excellent spec
Reason to avoid:
- Kitchen extension butts into lounge
The Coachman VIP range has been synonymous with luxury tourers since 1988, gaining a firm following of caravanners wanting quality build, style and practical design.
The 675 has a luxurious layout that sleeps up to four. With a transverse fixed bed and rear full width end washroom, it’s a tourer that offers a practical design.
Storage in the 675 is also very good, especially in the kitchen area which offers great worktop space too. The VIP 675 also boasts an excellent spec, coming with the latest Alde heating boiler and Dometic fridge, as well as an alarm, a solar panel and wireless phone charging.
It’s a tourer that offers high standards in design and specification, making it a great choice in its class.
Full review: Coachman VIP 675
Eriba Touring 820
- Price: £78,980
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 2500kg
- MiRO: 2050kg
- Payload: 450kg
- Shipping length: 8.48m
- Width: 2.36m
Reason to buy:
- Excellent build, modern interior
Reason to avoid:
- Heavy, wardrobe tight on space
If you’re paying over £78,000 for a caravan, you’d be entitled to expect an excellent fit and finish – and that’s something that this famous caravan provides. It’s instantly recognisable on the road, thanks to that eye-catching silver exterior and the V-shaped front.
We love the touches such as the illuminated electric step by the door and the inclusion of tinted windows, providing a welcome bit of privacy. Luxurious touches are dotted throughout the caravan, including underfloor heating and a self-levelling system.
Inside, you’ll find a well-lit interior. We’re fans of the wraparound windows, while a large panoramic sunroof ensures there’s plenty of daylight flooding in.
The inclusion of leather upholstery leads to a luxurious feeling, while the options of a fold-down coffee table or a freestanding table gives you the flexibility of creating the space you need, depending on the situation.
Full review: Eriba Touring 820
Compass Camino 668
- Price: £39,899
- Berths: 6
- MTPLM: 1880kg
- MiRO: 1701kg
- Payload: 179kg
- Shipping length: 8.19m
- Width: 2.45m
The Camino models, and their Elddis counterpart the Crusaders, have all been widened to 8ft this season. They have also been given new front and rear panels which, along with flush-fit windows, bring them to look much more like their more upmarket Buccaneer cousins.
At the same time, Erwin Hymer has taken the opportunity to reintroduce the Tempest layout and to mirror it in the (to our eyes) slightly more sophisticated looking Compass Camino range. This layout includes a double bed and a bunk bed at the rear of the van, so the kids can go to bed and leave you to enjoy the rest of the evening up at the front lounge before you go to bed yourselves, either using the settees as single beds or making up the generous double bed.
Put that all together, and you should realise that the Camino 668 gives you spacious and stylish touring with a layout that should grow with your family.
We also recommend the following best caravans over £30,000 from recent years:
Coachman Laser Xcel 850 2019
STAR RATING – 4 out of 5
• Berth: 4
• MTPLM: 1927kg
• Shipping length: 7.9m
• Width: 2.44m
In 2019 this took the Best Luxury Tourer title in our annual awards and with its spacious bedroom and excellent washroom it’s easy to see why. Towing is made easier with the inclusion of Al-Ko’s ATC and an AKS 3004 stabiliser as standard and all Coachman Xcel models come with an E&P self-levelling system fitted as standard. A barbecue outlet is conveniently located on the front nearside corner.
There are parallel settees in the 850, with lots of daylight coming through the windows, the rooflight and the sunroof that still runs right across the width of the caravan, even in this 8ft-wide model. The two settees are not the longest you will come across, they would accommodate four people quite easily, but not many more.
The narrowness is probably a result of the caravan layout, which needs to pack a lot into its 6.27m length. But the entrance doesn’t feel too spacious either, partly because Coachman has included an L-shaped kitchen unit, which rather protrudes into the floorspace.
The extra width provides a huge door to the central washroom. The shower on the nearside is circular and retains the useful clothes hook that Coachman introduced last year. It doesn’t have a roof vent, but it does include a large LED light and two sensibly placed shelves.
Not having wardrobes either side of the transverse bed adds to the sense of space in the rear bedroom. The bed can be rolled back for extra space. The front settees only work as single beds for those under 5ft tall, but they make a great double (using slats), thanks to the sprung upholstery.
BUY IF… you’re looking for luxury and a spacious bedroom
PROs:
Spacious bedroom
Well-planned washroom
CONs:
Front lounge is a little cramped
Read more in our Coachman Laser Xcel 850 caravan review
Hymer Nova 470GL 2019
STAR RATING – 4 out of 5
• Berth: 2
• MTPLM: 1800kg
• Shipping length: 6.88m
• Width: 2.3m
The build quality is the USP when it come to the Nova 470GL, it’s solid and well finished. It features Hymer’s couples’ layout, with a front lounge and end washroom, and can be plated to 1800kg, so it’s no lightweight.
It’s built on an Al-Ko chassis, complete with heavy-duty corner steadies, the chassis also has an extra-long A-frame. An AKS hitch is fitted, as well as ATC, and a cycle rack is placed at the front, too.
The front lounge area is bright and airy, with natural light flooding in through the window and sunroof. The kitchen on the offside is well equipped, and a full oven with a dual-fuel hob is placed next to the large stainless steel sink. There’s a fridge fitted opposite in the dresser, but a microwave isn’t standard.
End-washrooms are a selling point for some buyers, so the Hymer scores well here in many respects. The entrance door has a full-height mirror mounted on the back, and there is a small mirror above the handbasin. The shower cubicle is on the right as you walk in and the wardrobe is placed opposite.
The 470GL has the standard two-berth end-washroom layout, with front lounge, and it’s the lounge seating that converts into a bed.Making up the comfortable double bed is easily done, with a high-quality slatted system that is simple to operate. The bed converts quickly to a double, or you can use the twin settees as single beds.
BUY IF… you’re after a solid build with a high-quality finish
PROs:
Great build
End washroom
CONs:
No window in the washroom
Read more in our Hymer Nova 470GL caravan review
Alaria TS 2019
STAR RATING – 4.5 out of 5
• Berth: 4
• MTPLM: 1845kg
• Shipping length: 7.88m
• Width: 2.46m
With its stylish, high-quality interior, and this TS is ideal for couples wanting lots of space and luxury. TS stands for twin single beds, and it’s a popular layout that combines an end washroom and a spacious, L-shaped lounge.
The Alaria is on an Al-Ko chassis, with AKS hitch, plus ATC for added towing stability. A spare wheel is included, plus an on-board 40-litre water tank and alloy wheels. Al-Ko Wheel Secure is fitted as standard, as is a Status TV aerial.
The L-shaped lounge works well in this 8ft-wide configuration. It’s comfortable, very sociable, and comes with good overhead lockers for storage. The side kitchen has plenty of worktop, which includes an extending flap that makes this area very practical. For 2019, a new Thetford oven (with a Cramer extractor) was fitted, and the fridge/freezer placed opposite, with the Sharp microwave located above.
The washroom in the TS is spacious and well-equipped, with a sizeable wardrobe and an LED night-light.
To use the front double bed, you’ll need to make the L-shaped seating into a sleeping surface. But the front settee has a slide-out metal frame, so bed-making is pretty simple. The rear twin singles are over 6ft long, so most should find them comfortable.
BUY IF… you want an elegant tourer, with a modern interior
PROs:
Brilliant lighting
Washroom
CONs:
No solar panel
Read more in our Alaria TS caravan review
Buccaneer Aruba 2019
STAR RATING – 4 out of 5
• Berth: 6
• MTPLM: 1983kg
• Shipping length: 8.16m
• Width: 2.44m
This new model for 2019 was based on the tried-and-tested six berth from the Avante range and features a raft of luxury equipment, everything from a self-levelling system to cast iron pan stands, it’s a range for buyers who refuse to compromise.
All Buccaneer tourers are 8ft wide and run on Al-Ko chassis. Like the rest of the range, the Aruba is a twin-axle model.and at 8.16m in length, it’s good to know the ATC anti-snaking system comes as standard.
The Aruba’s galley is arranged in full on the nearside. A dual-fuel cooker to the left of the kitchen unit features cast-iron pan stands – a new touch for 2019. Underneath that, you’ll find a separate oven and grill, and next to the cooker there’s an oblong sink. There’s a decent amount of work surface to the right of the sink, and a trusty tip-up flap if more space is required.
The washroom is sited in the offside rear corner, but is arranged like an end washroom in all but orientation. The shower lining’s tiled effect confirms this tourer’s luxury credentials.
In addition to the Aruba’s rear French bed, which is 6ft 3in long, there’s a large make-up double at the front of the van, which measures 6ft 11in by 4ft 8in. Another two berths are on hand in the side dinette, in the form of a small double that measures 6ft 1in by 4ft 2in.
BUY IF… you want a well-designed and kitted-out tourer with a tried-and-tested layout
PROs:
Superb spec makes the most of the floorplan
Plenty of storage,
CONs:
You’ll need the likes of a Disco to tow an Aruba
Read more in our Buccaneer Aruba caravan review
Vanmaster V640s 2017
STAR RATING – 4 out of 5
• Berth: 4
• MTPLM: 2500kg
• Shipping length: 7.94m
• Width: 2.3m
A big beast at a big price, the V640 is not one for the feinthearted, but setting it up won’t be much of a problem. The Al-Ko chassis is a special heavy-duty design and comes with ATC and an AKS hitch.
The front lounge area feels more like a five-star luxury hotel thanks to its comfortable upholstery, and the wood grain is the real deal, with no photo veneers.
If you like a plain, practical kitchen with tonnes of storage, you’ll find it here, and iit comes complete with Vanmaster bone china. A full oven from Thetford is fitted, plus a Thetford dual-fuel hob, which sits level with the Corian/Tristone special kitchen worktop. A microwave is fitted just above the kitchen to the right, in the overhead locker.
Centrally placed, the washroom comes with a shower on the nearside, and the loo and vanity unit opposite. It’s luxurious with excellent storage and, again, the wood furniture is very much in evidence.
It comes with twin single beds, which can be closed off from the main part of the caravan to give complete privacy. The front double dinette can be easily transformed into a sizeable double bed (2.08m x 1.62m) using pull-out seat extensions for the bed base, the cushions then slipping into place.
BUY IF… you’re looking for super service and build quality and can afford it
PROs:
Sturdily hand-built and looks distinctive
You get a good level of kit
Owners get great personal service
CONs:
Heavy and expensive
Read more in our Vanmaster V640s caravan review
Buccaneer Galera 2017
STAR RATING – 4.5 out of 5
• Berth: 6
• MTPLM: 2000kg
• Shipping length: 8.14m
• Width: 2.45m
This luxury six-berth is packed with features and a high spec, a great van for all the family.
It’s a big twin-axle tourer which rides on a BPW chassis with smart alloy wheels, and a Winterhoff hitch stabiliser plus an IDC electronic stability system.
The silver sidewall graphics really look the part, while the front and rear moulded panels are full-height and of a very smart appearance.
The lounge is a glamorous place to sit and enjoy the view, cossetted in the lap of luxury. There’s also a side dinette, where the family can sit during mealtimes
A well-specified kitchen is essential for six, and the Buccaneer Galera comes up with the goods. There is a Dometic fridge and separate freezer, a microwave, and a full Thetford Aspire oven with a gas and electric hob. Excellent worktop space is also a plus point, and includes an extension flap.
The corner washroom is a swish affair, even if it isn’t particularly large. Its separate shower cubicle has a mock-tile effect, giving it a domestic feel.
The settees in the front lounge can be used as single beds, but at 1.81m (5ft 11in) they aren’t overly long, so most users will no doubt make them into a double measuring 7ft x 4ft 9in. And making the side dinette into a second double is an easy task. The two fixed bunk beds at the rear each have a light, curtain and window, plus good headroom.
BUY IF… you want an excellent specification
PROs:
It is well-built with a high-quality feel
The kitchen area is superb
CONs:
You need to use slats to make up the front double bed
Read more in our Buccaneer Galera caravan review
Note: prices correct at time of original reviews
How we choose the best caravan over £30,000
When we’re compiling our shortlist, there are a number of factors we look at, ranging from the build quality to the practicalities of the layout. We’re well placed to judge this – between us, our team have decades of touring experience, giving us a keen sense of what it is that makes a good caravan.
We also carry out regular tests of the latest vans on the market, many of which can be found in our caravan reviews section. We make sure that each review highlights both the pros and the cons of each model – head to our About Us page to find out more about our testing process.
We also run the Owner Satisfaction Awards, which sees our readers vote and let us know how they have got on when buying a van.
Combining this puts us in a strong position to start compiling a shortlist, which we then whittle down to a final list. In this guide, you can see the models that we consider to be the best caravans over £30,000, as well as the reasons we have included them.
Not found what you want or would like to see some more options – take a look at Best caravans under £20,000 and more. Looking for a more compact tourer instead? Then our guide to the best small caravans is worth a look.
Or what about a motorhome? Check out some of these options Best motorhomes under £60,000, Best motorhomes under £80,000, Best motorhomes over £80,000 and more
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