Owner Awards 2025
Owner of the Year
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Meet the UK's 2025 Owner of the Year: Daniel Miller from London
The 2025 Camplify Owner Awards celebrate the people who make our community brilliant – and this year's Owner of the Year for the UK is living proof that a childhood dream, a gap in the market, and genuine hospitality can turn into something rather special.
Daniel, from London, joined Camplify in April 2022 with a motorhome he'd bought specifically to hire out. Three years, countless bookings, and one very well-travelled van later, he's become one of our most responsive, thoughtful, and successful owners – the kind who sends how-to videos at 10pm and genuinely wants to hear where his van has been.
"If it could tell a story," Daniel says, "I'd love to hear it."
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A childhood dream meets a gap in the market
On how it all started...
"I read an article about companies like Camplify before I even bought the van” Daniel explains. "I thought that it sounded really interesting. And so I bought my motorhome with the intention of doing this, basically."
The entire purchase was planned around hiring out – a proper business decision from day one.
"It's always been a childhood dream of mine to own a motorhome. I also felt there was a gap in the market – I'm in London and there doesn't seem to be too many London owners with something bigger and more practical."
At nearly 6 foot 3 inches tall, Daniel needed space. His motorhome delivers.
"There's nowhere in the van I have to stoop. Everywhere's got plenty of room. It's light, airy, cleverly packaged – it really does feel like a house on wheels."
Where the van has been (spoiler: everywhere)
Daniel's motorhome has racked up some serious adventures – many he's envious of.
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"It comes back on the drive and I just think, if you could tell a story, I'd love to hear it."
Highlights:
Glastonbury: Every year since 2022. The van's been to Glastonbury more times than Daniel has (he's never managed to get tickets!).
The NC500: Four or five times across the years. Daniel watches the tracker dot appear on the Outer Hebrides and thinks, "I'd love to do that."
Norfolk Tank Festival: Paul and Liz, a couple who volunteer as first aiders, sent a video of the van parked among tanks and military paraphernalia. "They did a 360 view and it was just so unique. There's the van, right in the middle of it all."
Oasis in Cardiff: Four lads in their late 20s drove down the M4, parked on a friend's driveway, watched the gig, and drove back. "That's the flexibility of a van, isn't it? Otherwise, you're paying through the roof for a…hotel."
Poland for Christmas: Daniel's own family trip – a three-day odyssey through Germany in sub-zero temperatures, trees covered in snow, icicles hanging everywhere. "Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful."
He's also hired to people from New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, and France. For the Kiwi couple, who emigrated years ago and came back to reconnect with family, Daniel drove the motorhome to a Heathrow hotel so they could start their trip the moment they landed.
"I wouldn't normally do that," he admits. "But they were ever so grateful."
Daniel's approach: wrap-around support
What sets Daniel apart isn't just his van – it's how he looks after the people in it.
On handovers...
"I spend 30 to 45 minutes with each hirer before they leave. Outside the van, inside the van – how to change the fridge from gas to electric, how to do the heating, all of it. But I appreciate it's a lot to take in when you're excited and nervous."
So he backs it up:
A booklet in the van with everything they need
Phone and WhatsApp support throughout
A library of how-to videos he can send instantly ("Can't work the heating? Here's a 30-second video.")
"In four years, I've never had someone turn up without bedding," Daniel says. "Because I put it in the pre-message. That pre-hire information is key."
For first-time motorhome hirers, that level of support makes all the difference.
On being upfront...
"If there's any issue with the van – even cosmetic – I always tell people before they arrive. I don't think it's nice for someone to have a surprise when they're collecting. They're grateful for the honesty, and pretty much everyone says, 'That's fine, we can still use the van.'"
Top tips for hirers (and fellow owners)
Don't cram too much in...
"If you're doing a four-day booking, don't go too far. Make time to stop. Make time to enjoy being in the van in one place. Otherwise, you're just going point-to-point – and that's not what it's about."
Daniel's changed his listing to a three-night minimum for next year. Too many people were trying to do Wales in two days and ending up stressed about mileage.
Book a campsite with hook-up...
"If you're new to motorhoming, book a campsite and have a hook-up. It makes it more home from home. Without it, you can't use the van in quite the same way – the plug sockets don't work, things like that."
Looking for sites? Check out our guides to UK campsites, the New Forest, or Dorset.
On the business side...
"It's really fun running a side hustle. My day job is very different – chained to the laptop, lots of emails, lots of meetings. So it's nice to have something away from that. Roll your sleeves up, meet people, build a network of support for when things go wrong."
The best bits
On why he does it...
"I said to my wife, 'I don't know if I'm doing this for the money or the validation of getting these lovely reviews.' In day-to-day life, people don't say, 'Daniel did a great job.' This is a nice way to get that, you know?"
On bucket lists...
"So many people are fulfilling their bucket lists – going away in a motorhome, going to a specific place. I feel like I'm playing a part in people's holiday dreams. And that's really lovely."
On the people...
"I've met loads of lovely people. The not-so-nice ones? You could count them on one hand. Everyone generally comes back really excited to have done it."
Daniel's local recommendations
When Daniel takes the van out himself, he keeps it simple:
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The New Forest: About an hour and a half from London – perfect for a quick escape
Hayling Island: Easy distance, proper seaside feel
Portsmouth and Bournemouth: Close enough to actually enjoy rather than just drive through
For route inspiration, check out our South-West England road trip guide or coastal road trips around the UK.
Hire Daniel's motorhome
Whether you're heading to a festival, tackling the NC500, or just escaping London for the weekend, Daniel's motorhome is ready – and so is Daniel.
Browse Daniel's listing and book your trip →
Collect from London or have a chat with Daniel about delivery options if you're flying in from further afield.
Got a motorhome sitting on the drive? List your vehicle on Camplify →
Meet all our 2025 UK Owner Award winners and discover more inspiring stories from our community. See all winners →