Quirky Campers Debuts Accessible Iris Campervan

Author: Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 3 Oct 2025 - Updated: 1 Sep 2026
Publication Type: Announcement

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This article highlights a significant advancement in accessible tourism through the launch of 'Accessible Iris', the UK's first wheelchair-accessible family campervan available for hire through Bristol-based platform Quirky Campers. The vehicle addresses a major gap for the 11% of UK children living with disabilities and their families, who have been largely excluded from campervan holidays despite the UK tourism industry's £155.4 billion annual value. Featuring wheelchair ramps, height-adjustable beds, dedicated medical equipment storage, and thoughtfully designed accessibility features developed through consultation with families and experts, the five-berth campervan makes van life adventures genuinely accessible to families who previously had no such options. Part of the broader Diversify Vanlife UK initiative, this launch represents practical progress in inclusive tourism, offering families the flexibility to maintain routines, carry necessary equipment, and create comfortable travel experiences while exploring destinations across the South West and beyond.

At a Glance

1 - The Diversify Vanlife UK initiative began in 2021. It grew from family feedback given at Camp Quirky 2019.
2 - The five-berth van is based in Bristol for South West trips. It reaches Devon, Cornwall, and the Welsh countryside.
3 - Quirky Campers won Gold for CX Team of the Year - SME at the UK Customer Experience Awards. Its fleet holds more than 250 vehicles.
4 - The company plans subsidised holidays for families with disabled children. It is exploring partnerships with disability charities to reach those most in need.

Topic Definition

Accessible Campervan: An accessible campervan is a self-contained recreational vehicle adapted so that people with disabilities, including wheelchair users, can travel, sleep, cook, and wash inside it with dignity and independence. These vans typically include features such as boarding ramps or lifts, height-adjustable beds, lowered or multi-level kitchen surfaces, adapted bathrooms, secure storage for mobility aids and medical equipment, and extra grab rails throughout the interior. Unlike standard camper conversions, an accessible campervan is designed around the practical needs of the whole family, giving those who use it the freedom to keep familiar routines, carry essential equipment, and stop wherever they choose, so that spontaneous holidays become possible for people who have often been left out of adventure travel.

Overview

Quirky Campers Launches UK's First Accessible Family Campervan for Hire

Bristol-based platform introduces 'Accessible Iris' to open van life adventures to families with disabled children

Quirky Campers has launched 'Accessible Iris', the UK's first wheelchair-accessible family campervan available for hire, addressing a critical gap in adventure travel for the 11% of UK children who are disabled. The five-berth vehicle, based in Bristol, features wheelchair ramps, height-adjustable beds, and dedicated space for medical equipment, making van life holidays accessible to families previously excluded from this form of travel.

The launch responds to a significant unmet need in the UK tourism market, where approximately 349,000 children aged 0-17 have a learning disability and many more live with physical disabilities. Despite the UK tourism industry being worth £155.4 billion annually, accessible campervan options have remained virtually non-existent until now, leaving families with disabled children unable to experience the freedom and flexibility of campervan holidays.

Breaking Down Barriers to Family Adventure

Accessible Iris represents a breakthrough in inclusive tourism, offering families the same spontaneous travel opportunities enjoyed by others. The specially adapted campervan accommodates wheelchairs with ease, provides flexible sleeping arrangements that can be adjusted for different needs, and includes storage solutions for medical equipment and mobility aids that many families require for travel.

Located in Bristol, the vehicle provides convenient access to popular family destinations across the South West, including the beaches of Devon and Cornwall, the Welsh countryside, and numerous accessible attractions throughout the region. The campervan's design ensures that all family members, regardless of mobility, can participate fully in the holiday experience.

The image shows a woman with curly red hair pushing a stroller with a child up a metal ramp into a white camper van parked on a grassy field. The van's side door is open, revealing a cozy, wood-paneled interior with seats and shelves. The weather is sunny, with a bright blue sky and green trees in the background.

Part of Broader Inclusion Initiative

The launch of Accessible Iris forms part of Quirky Campers' wider Diversify Vanlife UK initiative, established in 2021 to address underrepresentation in the van life community. The platform actively works to ensure that adventure travel is genuinely available to everyone, challenging perceptions about who can enjoy campervan holidays.

The initiative emerged from community feedback at Camp Quirky 2019, where families highlighted the complete absence of accessible campervan rental options in the UK market. This grassroots input shaped the development of Accessible Iris, ensuring the vehicle meets real families' practical needs rather than theoretical accessibility standards.

Supporting Families Beyond the Vehicle

Quirky Campers plans to introduce subsidised holiday options for families with disabled children, recognising that many face additional financial pressures from care costs and specialist equipment. The company is exploring partnerships with disability charities and support organisations to ensure the service reaches families who would most benefit from accessible adventure holidays.

The platform provides comprehensive support for families using Accessible Iris, including detailed accessibility guides for campsites and attractions, pre-trip planning assistance to ensure routes and stops meet specific needs, and connections with other families who have used the service to share experiences and advice.

Meeting Real Family Needs

With 2.5 million Blue Badges in circulation across England and millions more people living with disabilities that affect mobility, the demand for accessible travel options continues to grow. Traditional accommodation often fails to meet families' specific needs, whilst package holidays can lack the flexibility required when travelling with disabled children.

Campervan holidays offer unique advantages for families with disabled children, including the ability to maintain routines, carry all necessary equipment, stop whenever needed, and create a familiar 'home' environment throughout the journey. Accessible Iris makes these benefits available to families previously excluded from this travel option.

Technical Accessibility Features

The vehicle incorporates thoughtfully designed accessibility features developed through consultation with families and accessibility experts. Beyond the essential wheelchair ramps and adjustable beds, the campervan includes accessible kitchen facilities positioned at various heights, bathroom adaptations for different mobility needs, and multiple charging points for medical equipment and mobility devices.

Safety features specifically address the needs of families with disabled children, including secure storage for medications, additional grab rails throughout the vehicle, and clear sight lines allowing supervision from multiple positions within the campervan. The layout maximises manoeuvrability for wheelchair users whilst maintaining comfort for all family members.

Industry Recognition and Future Plans

Quirky Campers' commitment to accessibility has contributed to recent industry recognition, including winning Gold in the CX Team of the Year - SME category at the UK Customer Experience Awards. The company's 250+ vehicle fleet and 100,000+ monthly website users position it uniquely to drive change in accessible tourism.

Following the launch of Accessible Iris, Quirky Campers aims to expand accessible options across its platform, encouraging other van owners to consider accessibility adaptations and working with converters to develop more accessible campervan designs. The long-term vision includes multiple accessible vehicles stationed across the UK, making this travel option available nationwide.

Community Response

The announcement has generated significant interest from families, disability organisations, and the wider van life community. The vehicle represents not just a new rental option but a statement about inclusion in adventure travel, demonstrating that van life can and should be accessible to everyone.

Early enquiries indicate strong demand from families across the UK, with particular interest from those who have previously struggled to find suitable holiday accommodation. The service opens possibilities for multi-generational trips where grandparents with mobility challenges can join family adventures, previously impossible with traditional campervans.

About Quirky Campers

Founded in 2010 by Lindsay Berresford and David Ffrench, Quirky Campers is the UK's leading platform for handcrafted campervan hire. Winner of the Family Business Entrepreneurs of the Year 2023 for South West England at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, the company operates a platform featuring 250+ unique campervans across the UK. With 160,000 Instagram followers and a 4.9-star Trustpilot rating, Quirky Campers champions planet-positive travel and believes adventures should be accessible to everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people can sleep in the Accessible Iris campervan

The Accessible Iris is a five-berth campervan, meaning it can sleep up to five people. This makes it suitable for family trips as well as multi-generational holidays.

Who founded Quirky Campers and when

Quirky Campers was founded in 2010 by Lindsay Berresford and David Ffrench. It has since become the UK leading platform for handcrafted campervan hire.

Do I need a special driving licence to hire an accessible campervan

Most campervans of this size can be driven on a standard UK car licence, though rules vary by vehicle weight and the date you passed your test. You should always check the specific requirements with the hire platform before booking.

Where can I take the campervan on holiday

Based in Bristol, the campervan offers easy access to popular destinations across the South West of England and Wales. Families often travel to the beaches of Devon and Cornwall and the Welsh countryside.

What support does Quirky Campers offer families before a trip

The platform provides accessibility guides for campsites and attractions along with pre-trip planning help. It also connects families with others who have used the service to share advice.

Can grandparents with mobility challenges use the campervan

Yes, the accessible design supports travellers with a range of mobility needs, not only children. This makes multi-generational trips possible where older relatives can join the adventure.

Is Accessible Iris suitable for people who are not wheelchair users

Yes, the campervan is designed to be comfortable for all family members while remaining fully wheelchair accessible. Adjustable beds and flexible layouts adapt to a variety of needs.

How do I book the Accessible Iris campervan

Bookings are made through the Quirky Campers online platform, which lists availability and pricing. Early interest has been strong, so booking well in advance is recommended.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: The introduction of Accessible Iris marks a watershed moment in UK tourism, exposing how an entire segment of society has been quietly excluded from experiences many take for granted. What makes this initiative particularly noteworthy is its origin in genuine community feedback rather than corporate obligation - families themselves identified the need at Camp Quirky 2019, ensuring the solution addresses real-world challenges rather than ticking accessibility boxes. As Quirky Campers plans subsidised holidays and partnerships with disability charities, this single campervan could catalyze industry-wide change, challenging other operators to recognize that accessible travel isn't a niche market but a fundamental right affecting millions of British families.

Ian C. Langtree Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability, a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.