Can I sleep in my car?

It's fine. Layer up. Have a good warm sleeping bag. Stay out of the cops/local authorities view and you're away!!!!

Try the www.club80-90.co.uk or www.justkampers.co.uk website which are good sites for VW campers. Go to the forums and ask your question there.

Club 80-90 is an owners club for 1980's VW campers, I think they were called Vanagon's in the USA. JustKampers is a supplier for all VW camper spares but the forum is excellent.

We have a VW 1980's Camper but wouldn't be keen on wild camping although a lot do, especially in the more remote areas. You'd be fine in rural Ireland, Scotland and Wales. England is a bit more highly populated. You should be able to get on a basic campsite for £10-14 a night although it might be more in peak summer season.

It's not just the police and local bylaws that might stop you sleeping in your vehicle though, you would have to make sure you don't get problems from local kids/youths/morons who would see you as a target for some "fun". You do say you have done this in the states though, so I'm sure the same thing would apply there. Some towns will have a council car park that allows overnight stays for a fee, Where we live in Chester does at the Little RooDee carpark.

Ebay is a good source of camper type vehicles.

If you are thinking of sleeping in the vehicle you might be best off with a van (no windows in the back) that no one can see into.

If you do get a VW camper, unless you are mechanically useful, make sure you get some sort of breakdown cover, probably with your insurance, as they can be temperamental.

You should be able to get a VW van/bus/camper in useable condition for £1-2K (maybe less but it will be a dog) and probably sell it afterwards for similar money, especially if you buy in early spring and sell while it's still summer (the price goes up in the summer, best time to buy is December). You should assume something will go wrong though as it probably will.

Have a fantastic trip. The UK is beautiful and touring round in a camper is a great way to see it.