Caravan holidays in 2012 offer access to a range of events

Britons who opt for a caravan holiday in 2012 will not be disappointed by the number or quality of events their country has up its sleeve.

Of course, the stand-out dates in the UK's diary are the Olympic Games, which come to London in July and August, as well as the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

But the nation has even more than that to offer over the next 12 months, in the view of Laura Smith, destination public relations manager at VisitEngland.

She said 2012 is set to be a "bumper year" for entertainment on these shores, first pointing to several events that are associated with the Olympics.

These include the Paralympic Games, as well as the Torch Relay and Cultural Olympiad gatherings.

Ms Smith suggested it will be a "fantastic year to holiday at home" – with popular destinations perhaps including those with excellent access to London, such as Sussex, Kent, Essex and Hampshire.

Commenting on more of the events due to be staged in the UK this year, she stated: "In January, Dickens on Film - the largest retrospective ever staged of television and film works based on, or inspired by Charles Dickens – will premier at the BFI Southbank before it embarks on a national and international tour.

"The same month, Bond in Motion opens at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu."

Exhibitions will also be of particular interest in the months to come, with Ms Smith picking these out as something to look forward to.

Laura Smith, another of the destination public relations managers at VisitEngland, recently said another key advantage of taking caravan holidays in the UK this year is that there are plenty of free attractions to be enjoyed.

She identified the Imperial War Museum in London as one of the best examples of this, adding Sudeley Castle in the Cotswolds is another.

Posted by Geoff Barnes