I was fortunate enough to run a VW California for six months a full decade ago. Back then, the revised T5 Transporter had just been launched, and looking back at my notes it’s interesting to see what’s changed and what’s remained the same ten years on.

There are a few sure signs that spring is just around the corner: the first sightings of daffodils, the evenings getting lighter and the doors opening on the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at the NEC in Birmingham. 

There is half-a-hall’s worth of campervans at this year’s Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at Birmingham, and that’s only counting the smaller, VW T6-style campers. Add in the slightly-larger panel-van-conversion styles and they probably number in the hundreds.

As someone with zero experience in the world of camping and caravanning, I had no idea what to expect when I attended this year's Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at the NEC.