A campsite in North Yorkshire has just been named the best in the UK at the 2025/26 AA Caravan & Camping Awards, which recognise the finest sites for camping and caravanning across the country.
Founded in 1976, St Helens in the Park, located in Wykeham near Scarborough, secured the top spot thanks to its “exceptional quality and customer service.”
Simon Roe, the campsite manager, wrote on Instagram, “We are so proud to be setting the standard for English caravan sites with our first-class services and facilities. Everyone on the team pitches in – pardon the pun! We would also like to thank our loyal repeat guests.”
Spread across 36 acres of landscaped grounds on the edge of the North York Moors, St Helens in the Park combines old-school camping charm with modern comfort. There are separate adults-only areas for those who prefer birdsong to boy-scout pranks. Campers have a choice of proper tent pitches (with amenities brought from home), camping pods with electricity, en suite bathrooms, and a kitchenette, or for those who are more into glamping, a luxury lodge is available too – ensuring a comfortable stay for the entire family, from the grumpier ones to the arachnophobes.
A cycling route leads straight to the Wykeham Estate, where visitors can explore forest trails or head to the nearby North Yorkshire Water Park for paddleboarding, kayaking, wakeboarding, and family-friendly adventure courses, where they might find themselves facing alpacas or donkeys on their path.
An AA inspector described St Helens as “an immaculate park with pods and terraced pitches close to the North York Moors.”
@st_helenswykeham Don't just take our word for it 📢 Here’s what some of our lovely guests have said recently… 💬 “Absolutely one of the best sites we’ve been to. Great amenities, very clean, fantastic play area for the children — nothing more to wish for!” 💬 “Our stay was nothing short of perfect! The coffee shop staff at Hitch & Brew were so friendly they even knew our order off by heart!” ☕ 💬 “It’s spotless, relaxing and so dog friendly — we’ve walked miles and made amazing memories.” 🐾 💬 “Best site we’ve stayed on in the UK. Beautiful location, friendly staff (special shoutout to Lydia!), and amazing service at Hitch & Brew.” 💬 “The shower blocks are the cleanest we’ve ever seen, and the pizzas are soooo good!” 🍕 Thank you all so much for the wonderful words, it means the world to our team 💛 If you haven’t stayed yet, maybe it’s time to plan your next trip… we can’t wait to welcome you! #StHelensInThePark #DogFriendlyCamping #YorkshireCamping #CleanCampsite #FamilyFriendlyCamping #YorkshireStaycations #CampingPods #CustomerLove ♬ Violin Inspiration – Stanislav Barantsov
The site includes five grass pitches, 18 hardstanding pitches, 22 fully serviced pitches, and 27 adult-only pitches, plus four amenity blocks (two unisex) and a 24-hour launderette. The dog-friendly café serves full English breakfasts, lunches, homemade cakes and themed dinners, and the licensed shop sells bread, beer and local produce, and families can enjoy a large children’s play park.
There are additional pubs and restaurants a few minutes’ drive away from the camping site.
Visitors with tents, motorhomes, or caravans are welcome, with prices starting at around £24 per night.
Simon Numphud, the AA Media managing director, said that British camping “has never been more inspiring, with parks across the country offering something truly special, from peaceful rural retreats to unforgettable coastal vistas.”
“This year’s winners highlight the incredible variety and quality of outdoor stays in the UK, where passion, creativity, and care combine to give holidaymakers experiences they’ll treasure,” he added.
Here are Travel Tomorrow’s top three favourites, plus two coups de cœur
Top Three:
- St Helens in the Park, North Yorkshire – the overall winner and a model of modern British camping where comfort, care, and countryside meet.
- Camp de Rêves Glamping, Guernsey – the AA Glamping Site of the Year. Perfect for those who love nature but prefer a proper bed, good coffee, and no insects.
- The Quiet Site, Cumbria – ideal for eco-conscious campers. The AA Sustainable Park of the Year is 90 per cent self-sufficient thanks to solar panels, a biomass boiler, and a ground-source heat pump. Sustainability without the sermon.
Coups de cœur
• Hopton Holiday Village, Norfolk – the AA Holiday Park of the Year, a classic seaside favourite offering pools, tennis, a six-hole golf course, and evening entertainment.
• Riverside Camping, Gwynedd – the AA Campsite of the year Wales, a riverside gem in Wales, offering fishing, badminton, and private sauna lodges against the backdrop of Snowdonia.
The full list of winners appears in the newly released AA Caravan & Camping Guide 2025/26.
