Quirky Campers Debuts Accessible Iris Campervan
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2025/10/03
Publication Type: Announcement
Category Topic: Private Disability Transport - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
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 - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
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
Main Content
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. Full details and booking information for Accessible Iris can be found at https://www.quirkycampers.com/uk/campervan/362403/
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.
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 - Disabled World (DW).
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.