We’re chasing the sunrise in our latest issue, setting off to discover more than 40 essential places to visit in our Eastern England special.

Group Editor Alastair Clements and his wife Emma set off to the East Coast in an Auto-Sleeper Wave, leaving their children with the grandparents. They enjoy a rare child-free holiday exploring the sandy beaches and ice cream sundaes on the Isle of Thanet. Of course, Charles Dickens got here first, and they visit the character Miss Betsey Trotwood’s cottage from David Copperfield and see Dickens’s writing desk. Vintage planes are more Al’s cup of tea, so he persuades Emma to visit the Spitfire and Hurricane Museum with him before they enjoy all the fun of the fair at Dreamland in Margate.

The Suffolk Heritage Coast yields yet more eastern treasures in terms of soft sandy beaches, donkey rides and an exceptional wildlife park. We join Rebecca Hunt and family during their relaxing week by the sea.

The tranquil waters of the Norfolk Broads are next in our pick of fantastic touring holidays in East Anglia. It’s a photographer’s dream destination, with big skies, watery reflections and unusual birds to fill the lens. Visit the Norfolk Broads for a relaxing break.

Wildlife, scenery, history and seaside resorts are the big draws in Eastern England, and we’ve also selected 10 great tourist attractions, along with the best sites to use as your base for each one. From Lincoln Castle to Sandringham, Skegness to Bury St Edmunds, we’ve chosen some fascinating places to see.

Motorhome owners with larger vehicles really appreciate tip-offs when it comes to finding the best parking spots in each new area. In this issue we feature Graham Hadfield and his 2227 motorhome parking locations.

Also, don’t forget you don’t have to join any club to use our Nightstops, the economical and motorhome-friendly locations dotted around the country. Each Nightstop has room for up to five motorhomes a night, at the landowner’s discretion, so make sure you ring ahead to check availability. 

Your free Top 100 Sites Guide 2016

This issue of Practical Motorhome is bagged with your free copy of our new Top 100 Sites Guide 2016. Wherever you go, use this to find the best campsites in the area – as voted for by your fellow readers!

Our next travel feature is The Best of British 2016 – our handy digest of UK attractions to put on your ‘must-see’ list. It’s all inspired by the destinations you love, throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as featured in the new Top 100 Sites Guide 2016. 

Owner Satisfaction Awards: the best used motorhomes

Are you buying a used motorhome this year? If so, don’t miss our 2016 Owner Satisfaction Awards report on the best pre-owned motorhomes – as voted for by you.

Over the past year, we’ve asked readers who bought a new or pre-owned motorhome since January 2012 to share their experiences. The results make essential reading for anyone who is about to buy a ‘van. In the May issue we analyse the data to find out exactly how happy current owners are with each brand of motorhome, then we assess the satisfaction ratings for dealers of used motorhomes, and finally the popularity of each of the base vehicles.

So, if you’re trying to decide between a Rapido or an Adria, an Auto-Trail or an Auto-Sleeper, make sure you look at our latest league tables for used motorhomes.

Our feature also looks at what went wrong with the motorhomes – and the good news is that there are fewer warranty claims on pre-owned motorcaravans, because any teething troubles have been sorted out. 

Win food festival tickets, Heat Holders and a journal

This month we’re offering you a chance to win tickets to two Great British Food Festivals! Enter our competition online and you may be one of the lucky readers heading off to Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire for the first festival, from 30 April to 2 May. Or perhaps you’ll win tickets to the second Great British Food Festival, at Harewood House in Yorkshire, from 28-30 May. 

One of the great joys of motorhome life is eating al-fresco, whether round a barbecue or tucking in to fish and chips as you watch the sun go down. Make sure you can enjoy that special moment for longer, by entering our next new competition to win sets of Heat Holders! We have warmers for your feet, head and neck to give away, so why not enter online?

The third competition this month is to win a journal in which to record your best motorhome memories. We have six journals up for grabs, each one with 160 pages, each with space to log your mileage, the dates of your journey and a short diary entry. 

Make sure you enter all three competitions online by midnight on 5 April 2016!

A new motorhome that looks like a yacht

The IH Motorhomes N-Class 630 RL is a panel van conversion on the outside – but just wait until you see the way it’s fitted out inside! Read our review to find out what Gentleman Jack thinks of this glamorous motorhome. The N-Class 630 RL boasts a luxurious, yacht-like build, and customers have the option to add all manner of equipment to the excellent standard specification. Lottery winners and high rollers, please step this way!

In our new May issue we also bring you our 2016 Bessacarr 494 review, in which Editor Niall Hampton explores the reasons for Bessacarr’s stonking sales success.

If you like Ford Transit-based campervans, you’ll enjoy our 2016 Hillside Leisure Castleton review. Nick Harding tests this new elevating-roof camper, explaining the refinements of the Ford Transit Custom Limited base vehicle as well as the innovative conversion. Want to know how on earth you can get two double beds in what looks like a traditional campervan layout? Don’t miss our review!

To get your hands on a superb A-class motorhome to suit your budget, make sure you read our used ‘van buyer’s guide to the Hymer Exsis-i built from 2007 to the present. Our expert highlights the best models to choose, what to pay and any problems to look out for.

This month’s used ‘van challenge sets Nick Harding the task of finding three small campers to compare. So don’t miss this article if you’re looking for a small campervan that will get you to work in the week and also allow you to escape when you like. Nick reviews three used ‘vans – a ‘good as new’ Auto-Sleeper, ‘great value’ Nu Venture and ‘Super saver’ Auto-Trail camper – giving the pros and cons of each to help you decide which you’d buy.

Other reviews in this issue include our portable airer reviews and the Outwell Hollywood Freeway inflatable awning. 

Cracked shower tray repairs and more

The May issue is so full of helpful articles that we can’t mention them all, but don’t forget that we give practical advice on running your motorhome. For instance, what would you do if you spotted that your motorhome shower tray was beginning to crack? Would this mean you’re in for a big bill to have it replaced? Not if you read this new DIY advice by Donna Garner!

There’s more practical help from Michael Crook, who explains how to make a folding dinette table for your motorhome. 

Then Alan Jenkins explains how he completed the DIY ‘bird’s-eye’ 360° camera system he fitted to his Elddis Autoquest 130. 

We hope you’ll enjoy the May issue – it’s in the shops from today!