The short answer is no. You cannot sleep in a van anywhere you like in the UK. The longer answer is more nuanced, and it depends on where you are, how you park, and how visible you make yourself.
Sleeping in a van isn’t illegal by default. What causes problems is where you do it and how it’s interpreted. There’s a difference between being parked up and camping, even if that difference can feel blurry when you’re inside the van at night.
In England and Wales, there’s no general right to camp or sleep on public land. That includes sleeping in a vehicle. If you’re parked somewhere with no restrictions, staying inside the van overnight isn’t automatically a crime, but that doesn’t mean it’s always allowed. Local councils can set their own rules, and many do. Coastal areas, tourist hotspots, and beauty spots are more likely to have overnight parking bans, height barriers, or signs that specifically prohibit sleeping in vehicles.
Scotland works differently. Wild camping is generally legal there, but that doesn’t automatically extend to vehicles. Sleeping in a van isn’t explicitly protected in the same way as pitching a tent, and local bylaws can still apply. Some places welcome vanlifers. Others don’t. National parks, in particular, may have seasonal restrictions or specific zones where overnight parking is not allowed.
Private land is straightforward. If you have the landowner’s permission, you can stay. Without it, you’re trespassing. Most of the time, that doesn’t lead to anything dramatic, but you can be asked to move on. Farmers’ fields, pub car parks, and business premises all fall into this category unless you’ve been given clear permission.
Public roads are a common grey area. Parking legally during the day usually means you can stay there overnight, as long as there are no signs saying otherwise. That said, some councils use bylaws to restrict overnight stays, especially in laybys or near residential areas. Laybys are often assumed to be fair game, but many are monitored, and some are specifically signed against overnight use.
Motorway service areas are different again. Sleeping in your vehicle there is generally discouraged and, in some cases, restricted. Extended stays can attract attention, and overnight fees may apply. It’s not the place for a quiet, unnoticed stop.
Car parks are one of the most variable options. Some allow overnight parking, some allow parking but not sleeping, and some ban overnight use altogether. Height barriers are common, and signage matters. If a sign says no overnight parking or no sleeping in vehicles, that’s enforceable. If there’s no sign, you’re relying on discretion and local tolerance.
The biggest issue most vanlifers face isn’t fines or legal action. It’s being moved on. A knock on the door in the early hours is far more common than a ticket. Usually it’s polite, sometimes it’s abrupt, and occasionally it’s frustrating, but it’s part of travelling this way.
How you behave matters. Turning up late, keeping things quiet, not putting anything outside the van, and leaving early all make a difference. The more you look like you’re camping, the more likely you are to attract attention. Chairs, awnings, open doors, or staying multiple nights in the same place tend to tip the balance.
There’s no single rule that covers the whole UK. It comes down to local rules, signage, land ownership, and how visible you are. Sleeping in a van is often tolerated, sometimes welcomed, and occasionally penalised. Knowing when to stay and when to move on is part of the learning curve.
If you’re prepared to be flexible, accept the odd interruption, and read the signs carefully, it’s possible to travel the UK in a van without sticking strictly to campsites. Just don’t expect every place to be okay with it, and don’t assume silence means permission.