How Do Site Fees Compare Between Large UK Holiday Park Chains and Independent Parks?

If you want to be a static caravan owner, you need to understand site fees. Sometimes called pitch fees, park fee or ground rent, they’re one of the most important parts of buying a static caravan in the UK. They’re not hidden costs, nor are they sneaky fees a holiday park adds on later. Site fees are important, non-negotiable and mandatory.

Site fees vary hugely depending on whether you buy a static caravan with a large holiday park chain, or you opt for a smaller independent park.

It doesn’t matter which route you take, what matters is knowing how much you’re going to need to pay. If you’re happy to pay more, you have the choice of the UK’s largest holiday park chains. If you want to keep ownership costs as low as possible, you might want to focus on smaller, quieter parks.

What are Static Caravan Site Fees?

Site fees are the annual amount you pay the park owner to keep your caravan on its pitch. 

These typically cover:

• Ground rent for the pitch
• Park maintenance and landscaping
• Security and lighting
• Access to park facilities 
• Waste collection 

They don’t usually include utilities – such as electricity, gas and water – which tend to be billed separately, alongside insurance and other running costs.

Average UK Holiday Park Site Fees for Static Caravans

There are a lot of benefits of buying a static caravan, but knowing if it’s within your budget means having a rough idea of what site fees you’ll have to pay.

According to Ripe Insurance, average annual site fees sit around: 

• £2,000 to £3,500 per year for a basic holiday park.
• £3,500 to £6,000 per year for a mid-range holiday park.
• £6,000 to £10,000 per year (sometimes more) for a premium or coastal holiday park.

This means the average site fees for holiday parks in the UK is between £4,500 and £6,000 per year.

Site Fees at Large Holiday Park Chains

There’s a lot of variability in site fees at large holiday park chains, but they do tend to be high.

For example, annual site fees on Haven holiday parks range from £4,770 to upwards of £10,000. At Parkdean Resorts, fees range from £3,250 to £12,495 per year.

Even within one chain, fees can vary by location, season length and caravan size. 

Site Fees at Independent Holiday Parks

You’re likely to find site fees to be lower at independent holiday parks.

This is largely because independent parks tend to have fewer high‑end amenities than big resort chains, which means lower operational costs passed on in site fees.

This makes independent parks attractive to buyers who are focused on location or price, rather than resort‑style facilities.

Site Fees Large UK Holiday Park vs Independent Parks: What Drives the Differences?

The majority of large UK holiday park chains offer:

• Swimming pools, entertainment venues, pubs and restaurants
• Children’s clubs and activity programmes
• On‑site shops and cafés
• Security and managed grounds

These amenities increase operating costs, and this is reflected in higher site fees.

Smaller independent parks often have fewer facilities, but they also have lower annual costs.

Do This Before Committing to a Holiday Park’s Site Fees

When comparing site fees at holiday park chains and independent parks, ask:

• What’s included?
• Are utilities included or extra?
• How often have site fees increased in recent years?
• What season length does the fee cover?
• Are there any additional charges?

The more you know about site fees, the better. You don’t want to commit to paying a certain amount, only to find that facilities, security and membership benefits are extra. 

It’s a good idea to shop around and compare site fees from both large holiday park chains and independent sites, to find the annual costs that best match your budget .

Sources

Ripe Insurance, 2025
Haven, 2026

Parkdean Resorts, 2026