Meet the UK's 2025 Listing of the Year: Mike's VW California from Camberley

The 2025 Camplify Owner Awards celebrate the people (and vans) that make our community brilliant – and this year's Listing of the Year for the UK belongs to Mike from Camberley and his beautifully presented VW California.

With over 108 bookings since 2021, a listing that's helped countless first-time hirers fall in love with van life, and personal touches that make it feel like home, Mike's California has earned its spot as the UK's standout listing.

"Listing the van has basically made us fall back in love with it," Mike says. "I expected it to be a business transaction. It's much more than that."

The van: a VW California with character

Mike's van is a proper VW California – factory-built in Germany, not a conversion.

"You can always tell a California from a conversion when you're driving down the road," he explains. "The awning's on the right-hand side because of the sliding door."

But what makes this listing special isn't just the badge. Mike's wife Sarah has transformed the interior with handmade bunting, artwork, custom seat covers, and coordinated duvets.

"She loves craft projects and textiles," Mike says. "We feel like we're doing something. It's another little project. We're supposedly renovating our house, but we spend more time messing about with the van."

The California is compact but perfectly formed – ideal for couples or small families wanting to explore without wrestling a larger motorhome.

Hire Mike's VW California →

Where the van has been

In four years, Mike's California has racked up some serious miles and stories.

The three-month UK tour: A Dutch couple sold their own campervan to fund a year off, flew to New Zealand for a few months, then came straight to Mike's driveway.

"They basically travelled the UK for three months," Mike recalls. "Cornwall, Devon, everywhere. We've been in touch with them since – when England were playing the Netherlands, we were exchanging messages. You wouldn't have known they'd spent three months in the van when we got it back."

The Oasis reunion: A French couple in their twenties hired the van to walk the Brecon Beacons – and attend the first Oasis reunion concert in Cardiff.

"They looked at booking a hotel for one night and it was cheaper to hire the van for four or five days. So they got the walking trip AND the concert. Very jealous. I thought they were going to offer me the tickets."

The festivals: Glastonbury, food festivals, and – Mike's favourite – two 50-year-old women who went on an adult PGL activity holiday.

"Just crazy stuff like that. It's really nice hearing what people have done."

For route inspiration, explore our guides to Cornwall road trips, Devon adventures, or the Brecon Beacons.

Why this listing works

Mike's success comes down to one thing: communication.

On settling nerves...

"More often than not, people are saying 'we've never hired a van before, don't know what to expect.' It's just saying it's fine. Everything will be okay. Some people book and say 'I'm panicking, can you give me a call?' Five or ten minute conversation and they're happy."

On building trust...

"The people who will converse with you – they're going to be fine when they turn up. You know it's going to go smoothly because you've had that communication."

On overseas hirers...

With good train and coach access to airports from Camberley, Mike gets plenty of international visitors. He picks them up from the station, does the handover at home, and drops them back at the end.

"We had a couple from New Zealand who emigrated years ago and came back to reconnect with the UK. Absolutely lovely."

On try-before-you-buy...

"A lot of people say 'we're thinking of buying a van and thought we'd hire one first.' The first year we did it, over half the people offered to buy it. I can have the conversation – if you want a California, these are the benefits and drawbacks."

Mike's local recommendations

Cornwall is Mike's "specialist subject" – he grew up in Dorset and has been exploring the south-west for decades.

"We go to Cornwall every year. We pick a campsite, stay there, then go out in the van during the day. We come back thinking we missed half the things we wanted to do – so we go back the next year. Finally we've done pretty much everything."

His advice for hirers:

• Dorset: "I grew up there. I love Dorset. I tell hirers what they have to do – they don't get a choice."

• Cornwall: "On a nice day in the UK, in the right place, it's fantastic. We went during the heatwave this year – it was like the Med. I swam every day."

• Don't over-plan: "You see the sky, you see the sea. It's so peaceful, even when it's busy."

For destination ideas, check out our Dorset camping guide or best UK beaches.

Top tips from a listing legend

Mike's advice for fellow owners:

Don't be too precious...

"I think you have to have had the van long enough to not be too precious. You could really stress yourself out if you had a new van and started hiring it out. The first time I dinged anything, I was distraught. You've got to be quite relaxed."

Let it pay for itself...

"The van essentially runs itself with the income. It allows us to update it – seat covers, getting the bonnet re-sprayed. If you're able to disassociate your van from hiring the van, it could be fantastic because it pays for itself all the way through."

Build your templates...

"I have standard emails I send at different points. If I get a couple of people asking the same question, I better put that back into my template."

The best bits

On falling back in love...

"Myself and Sarah go away – we abandon the kids, they fend for themselves – and we'll book out a week. That's something we hadn't done for years. The biggest takeaway is that hiring it out means we now have to book time in it. Some of the holidays we've had have been fantastic."

On surprising himself...

"I'm a grumpy old man. What's really surprised me is how much I've enjoyed talking to people and showing them the van and hearing about their trips. I'm always getting told 'cheer up, stop being a grumpy old man, you never leave the house.' So no, it's lovely actually."

On what the van has funded...

"It's bought the kids their first cars, frankly, hiring it out."

Hire Mike's VW California

Whether you're a first-time hirer wanting a proper introduction to van life, planning a Cornwall adventure, or flying in from overseas and need a home on wheels – Mike's California is ready.

Compact, beautifully presented, and backed by 108+ successful hires.

Browse Mike's listing and book your trip →

Collect from Camberley – easy access to the M3, M25, or Mike can pick you up from the station if you're flying in.

Got a campervan sitting on the drive? See how Mike turned his into a self-funding adventure machine (and bought his kids their first cars). List your vehicle on Camplify →

Meet all our 2025 UK Owner Award winners and discover more inspiring stories from our community. See all winners →