London ExCel was the venue for the February 2012 - Motorhome, Caravan and Camping Show.

The lack of a February NEC Caravan Show this year has, I am sure, had an effect on those buyers who traditionally bought their new touring caravan, motorhome or caravan holiday home at the 50+ year show. Well established, the February show had good attendances over the years.

London ExCel, the new venue for the Motorhome, Caravan and Camping Show worked well as a venue, but the location was not ideal. This was proved with a low foot fall, though no official figures have been released yet. New ranges, and additional caravan models did give visitors plenty to look at though.

Here are some of the stars of the ExCel show.

Pennine's Artemis is the new kid on the folding caravan block.

Last week I was the first journalist to be given the opportunity to use Pennine’s all-new Artemis folding caravan.

The setting certainly helped – I stayed at the Caravan Club’s rather wonderful site at Burrs Country Park (open all year, contrary to what’s been printed elsewhere), on the outskirts of quintessential market town Bury. It was also rather fitting for my stay in what has become a uniquely British leisure vehicle.

First, let’s go back to 1970s and give credit to Gobur. Norfolk-based company that’s had the folding caravan market to itself since it unveiled its Govan (that’s “go-van”, rather than the Glasgow suburb, which incidentally gave its name to tents under the Vango name).

The multi-functional caravan from the USA.

OK, folks. You read it here first, but there are some interesting new caravan ideas coming to the UK at the start of next year. And there’s a clue in the current relative weakness of the US dollar versus the good old pound sterling.

First off, check out the name Eterniti, it’s on a range of all-new caravans with slide-out sections. They’re from America but built on chassis from BPW in Germany, using a GRP shell constructed in the US, and promising full UK specifications and reasonable weights. They’re expected to retail around the £20,000-£25,000 mark. Definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Next up is a concept so new it doesn’t actually have a brand name yet. It’s being made under the working title of the “multi-functional caravan”, using a special box-construction chassis and frame, again from the USA.

The Sprite heritage wall at the NEC Caravan Show, with extracts from my latest book.

Well it’s been a busy last few weeks, checking out the latest caravans being released. There is some exciting stuff including the launch of the Bailey motorhomes.

The October NEC show got off to a great start (no doubt helped by the Caravan Club day and cut price tickets), but visiting the various stands some of the dealers whom I have known (some over 25 years!) told me that sales were steady and that seemed the case so far on that first day. Plus it’s the first National Caravan Council (NCC)  show organised by them for many years and all looked to be running smoothly.