Guide to lifestyle and leisure time
For a healthy, balanced life, we all need a little rest and relaxation. Our cars can help us enjoy leisure and lifestyle activities to break the monotony of the working week. Plus, if you’ve been working on that campervan conversion project, you’ll want to carve out opportunities to delight in your hard work.
There are so many ways to spend your well-earned down time, but sometimes we may lack inspiration. With lifestyle and leisure in mind, we’ve put together a short guide on lifestyle and leisure time, including links to our favourite products to maximise your experience.
On this page, we’ve broken down what you need for a great camping weekend, what you can do to care for your car and some kid’s entertainment options, too.
Camping
You can get more information about which campervan or motorhome to select on your camping holiday.
All the information you need to make a staycation superfantastic.
Cooking in the Grand Californian heat – The Parkers guide to cooking in a campervan
Get the lowdown on the best way to cater while enjoying the great outdoors.
Breathalysers are one way of staying on the right side of the law on any driving holiday, but these low to no alcohol drinks are also a great hit too.
Best espresso machines for cars
If you have to get your caffeine hit each morning, you don’t need to compromise this habit on any camping trip.
Best cool boxes for cars and camping
Whether it’s for pop or the morning milk for tea, a cool box is a crucial convenience to keep everyone a happy camper.
Parkers’ guide to the best campervan accessories
Find out what accessories are most essential to make your home-from-home in the wilderness as safe and convenient as possible.
The best camping gadgets for campervans
When space is tight, it’s easy to overdo it in the packing department. Figure out which gadgets will suit you best for camping, so you can lighten the load.
The best sand shoes for camping
Even the most experienced campers would agree, the key to a successful camp is comfort. That includes your shoes.
Some are put off camping when considering the lack of amenities. Fear no more. Dignity-protecting portable toilets are the solution.
If comfort is the top priority for camping, water supply is definitely the second most important. Stay hydrated and safe while enjoying yourself. In the same spirit, check out the best travel flasks.
Best air-con units for camping
As temperatures soar across the UK this summer, you’d be forgiven for wanting a portable air-con unit for the campervan cab. Nothing disrupts sleep more when you’re uncomfortably hot.
If it’s a lifelong dream to soak in the woods after a walk in them, this choice of portable baths could be the answer to the best woodland spa.
We cover this bike rack comparison test and recommend tow bars for your bikes to make sure you have all the gear you need for getting on two wheels when you get to your destination.
While it’s lovely to see the sun, dawn and dusk driving can be hazardous if it causes glare. Invest in some car sun shades to keep cool and stay safe.
Car Care
While technically most will view this as a chore, some amateur detailers will recognise the therapeutic value of car care. Without doubt, for enthusiasts, keeping the motor pristine is absolutely a lifestyle choice.
Car Cleaning 101: The Ultimate Guide
Offers a step-by-step guide, complete with product recommendations, to get your car gleaming, your paintwork protected and your resale value high.
Best leather car seats for a classy interior
Leather car covers are a brilliant way of protecting your car interior from the busyness (or should that be busy mess?!) of life and giving your cabin a fresh look.
Children
Some of the best childhood memories can be made on family holidays where budgets insist you create your own fun. But travelling with children can prove a feisty challenge. Here are some ways to minimise that stress.
Investing in a decent car seat isn’t just a luxury, it’s the law. Keeping your precious ones cocooned in case of emergency protects a holiday from turning into an avoidable hell.
Swot up on all the latest regulations for baby and child car seats in the UK, tackling all ages, heights and weights.
Car sun shades for journeys with kids
If you dread the question ‘Are we there yet?’ moments after leaving the driveway, don’t magnify the discomfort with hot and bothered babies too.
Budget wisely and find out which car accessories for kids are worth your cash.
Entertainment
Entertainment works two-fold. It can bring a bond between friends, family and foes but it’s also handy as a distraction device when adults need time away from the children. Consider these suggestions:
The Parkers office certainly knows the amount of joy toy cars can create. You can check out the best Revell model kits too.
If you can make the console portable, the kids can get motoring virtually with these racers.
Best car TV shows in the UK today
Despite the rocketing temperature, we still get rainy days in Blighty. Car lovers will love this selection of top telly content to helpfully while away wet days.
Movie night doesn’t need to stop just because you’re on-the-road. In fact, choose from one of these wheels-inspired tales to tune out of the daily slog.
Every senior generation remarks on ‘how easy kids have it these days’. Such a phrase couldn’t be truer when it comes to kid-sized cars. These ones definitely beat a wrecked shopping trolley!
Does anyone not like LEGO? (Except when you stand on it in bare feet…)
Gift-giving
Gift ideas you can rely on throughout the year.
Best gifts for car enthusiasts
For all the car fanboy and fangirls in your life.
When that special February date rolls out, get the loved one in your life a special car-themed Valentine’s gift.
Best driving experiences for petrolheads
Forget food, drinks and other dust-collecting gifts, paying for memories is often the best treat you can give.
Pets
During the pandemic, dog ownership in the UK moved from 33% to 62%. A cracking rise, many families will have found these eternally forgiving balls of fluff surprisingly expensive. Check out these recommendations to keep Fido safe and secure and the car as clean as possible.
As gorgeous as they are, dogs can be so messy. Especially after a muddy roam. Keep things clean (or at least manageable) with one of these easy-to-use boot liners.
If your dog loves a look out of the window, keep them strapped in safely with a dog car seat.
Best dog car carriers and crates
Some pooches really do suffer from motion sickness. Keeping them securely in a crate not only helps with their feeling of security, but can also double up as a sleeping crate when away from home.
Just so you know, while we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on our product page, we never allow this to influence product selections. Read why you should trust us.
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