About Roma Campervan Hire
From the Magic Bus to Modern Journeys
Roma Campervan Hire has its roots long before the vans themselves — beginning with my parents’ one-way overland journey from London to Australia in the 1970s, travelling on a long-distance overland coach known as the Magic Bus.
They bought a one-way ticket in the UK and followed what was then known as the Hippie Trail, travelling slowly overland through Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and India. From Delhi, they flew on to Bangkok, hitchhiked through Thailand and Malaysia, flew to Sumatra, travelled across Indonesia by local transport, and eventually continued on to Australia.
This was not a holiday, but a way of life. Living on the road across continents, cultures and landscapes, they learned how to travel lightly, adapt quickly, and build a life shaped by curiosity rather than convention. Those values — freedom, resilience and connection — quietly became part of our family fabric.
Years later, those same values shaped my own childhood.
Growing Up on the Road
I grew up travelling across Europe and Morocco, much of it by van. After their overland journey, my parents went on to run a handmade clothing business on the festival circuit, which meant a childhood spent moving between countries, fields and temporary communities.
Festivals were not just events — they were classrooms. I learned how to live communally, how to make do with what you had, how to cook outdoors, set up camp, meet people from every walk of life, and feel at home wherever you landed. Travel was never rushed; it was layered, textured and deeply human.
One of my strongest memories is a three-month journey from Wales to Morocco as a family — crossing borders, navigating unfamiliar landscapes, and discovering the rhythm of life on the road. Those experiences shaped not just how I travel, but how I understand space, comfort, and what it means to feel settled while constantly moving.
Taking Those Values on the Road Again
Years later, those same values re-emerged in my own life — this time travelling as a parent.
My first adventures with my children were in a caravan, learning again how to live simply, travel slowly and make the road feel like home. Travelling with children brings clarity: what works, what doesn’t, and what makes life on the road genuinely enjoyable rather than complicated.
As those trips grew longer and more ambitious, the need for something more practical and comfortable became clear — and that was the beginning of Roma.
Building Roma — and the Journey That Followed
Roma was originally built as our own family campervan, shaped by real travel needs rather than hire trends. Fixed beds, generous storage, flexible living space and thoughtful details were all designed so life on the road felt easy and settled.
We travelled through France with Roma, testing her in real conditions — cooking, sleeping, living and moving day after day. It was during these journeys that it became clear Roma wasn’t just working well for us — she was working well, full stop.
Friends, fellow travellers and campsite neighbours began asking if they could hire her. That interest planted the seed for something bigger.
From One Van to Roma Campervan Hire
Roma Campervan Hire grew naturally from that experience.
As demand grew, Azure was built to sit alongside Roma — offering a second, flexible family-friendly campervan designed with the same principles of space, comfort and practicality.
What began as one family’s way of travelling became a small, considered campervan hire business — built on lived experience, not theory.
A Natural Ending
This grew slowly and organically — shaped by generations of travel, years on the road, and the practical realities of travelling as a family.
From the Magic Bus to childhood journeys, from caravanning with my own children to building Roma and travelling through France, each step informed the next. What exists now is simply the continuation of that journey — a way of sharing a form of travel that values space, comfort and time.
Roma Campervan Hire is based near Bristol (BS40), ideally positioned for adventures across the South West, Wales and beyond. Collection details are shared after booking to ensure a smooth and relaxed start to your journey.