There’s nothing quite like like a true British caravan staycation. Who needs a holiday abroad when there’s so much to see right here, with many beaches being just a few hours away – regardless of if you live up north, down south or in between. Celebrating the true essence of a family holiday, Cove UK’s offers family-friendly destinations across England and Scotland, spanning from coastal beach holidays to scenic rural escapes. Whether you’re looking for a traditional caravan self-catering stay, touring holidays or unforgettable safari and eco-lodge experiences – Cove has it all, at reasonable prices.
Mother&Baby Digital Writer Hannah Mellin visited Cove’s Seal Bay resort in Selsey, nestled in the beautiful county of West Sussex and just a stones throw away from Chichester with her family (two adults, two toddlers ages 18 months and 4 years) for three nights in May 2025, staying in a platinum caravan lodge.
In this review, she delves into the full Seal Bay experience, exploring its accommodations, amenities, activities, pools, dining options and experiences. Whether you’re planning a weekend retreat with friends or a budget-friendly family adventure, Cove may just be the perfect destination. Take it from Hannah, she didn’t need to leave the park once during her stay, Cove really did have everything and more to keep her and her little ones entertained.
Accommodation
Seal Bay resort offers an array of different accommodation, including caravans that suit all budgets, luxury lodges, beach pods, luxury houses and even camping and touring holidays. We stayed in a platinum caravan in the Hollyhocks area of the park.
Upon arrival, we headed straight to reception and received a warm welcome by the Cove staff who told us the directions to our accommodation. We quickly realised that we were definitely staying in the more quiet and tucked away area, which was a bonus for us who have an 18-month-old and almost four-year-old who like to go to bed bang on 7pm most nights.
The Seal Bay resort is vast and there are so many different caravans that you can stay in at all different areas of the park (including right on the beach if you pick a beach pod to stay in), but I will say that some are closer to the entertainment areas than others, so it is definitely worth looking at a map before you book if you want to stay away from the noise.
Our caravan was incredibly clean and tidy and the appliances looked brand new. You get all the appliances included: fridge, freezer, small dishwasher, oven, kettle, toaster and microwave. It really is self-catering at its best. I've stayed in a few caravans in my time and this is definitely the most spacious I've ever stayed in, the double bedroom was really roomy and we were lucky to have two bathrooms. The second bedroom is a lot smaller, with the two single beds and space for not a lot else. The outside area was lovely and the wraparound decking was incredibly safe and secure for the little ones to run around.
Cove UK Seal Bay tip: You don't need to bring towels, or toilet paper. They were in our platinum caravan when we arrived but you may want to bring more if you're staying a while. You will probably need to bring towels for swimming though. You get the basic utensils in your accommodation: plates, bowls, saucepans, frying pan and sieve. I would have loved a chopping board, we didn't have one in our caravan but that is the only thing we missed. You'll need to bring condiments (salt and pepper etc), bin bags, washing up liquid, kitchen spray and everything like that but they do provide a box of emergency essentials that includes a few tea bags, sachets of coffee, dishwasher tablets and even a washing up sponge.
The living area, with its soft furnishings and ample seating (there’s plenty of room on two snuggly sofas) had a Smart TV with Netflix and Amazon Prime, making it the perfect place for relaxing after a day of exploring the resort. We also got free WiFi in the platinum caravan, a really lovely and modern touch from a caravan resort.
The park
The Seal Bay resort is broken into three different areas: Green Lawns, White Horse and West Sands. Green Lawns is where we went for activities and there is plenty on offer, White Horse is where you will find a huge sports field, the Dockyard that has a massive climbing wall, arcades, the outdoor Lido, the White Horse theatre for entertainment, a NISA shop to stock up on essentials, the bowling alley, a soft play area and even pottery painting. West Sands is where we spent most of our time, as that is where you'll find the gorgeous beach, the Oasis pool and Waterfront restaurants with incredible views of the sunsets. We were incredibly lucky with the weather when we went in May, but there are so many rainy day activities I don't think any of us would have uttered the words 'I'm bored' at any point. Plus, the Oasis pool really is for everyone and you can spend hours going on the slides and round and round the lazy river.
Seal Bay resort is relatively big, but everything is walkable if you're willing! However, there is a handy bus that goes all over the park, including to your accommodation. The bus starts bright and early and runs until midnight. You can also drive to each destination, but I wouldn't recommend this in the busy seasons as you probably won't find a parking space and you need to take your pass to get through the gates.
Activities
What isn't there to do at Seal Bay? If you're all about activities on a family holiday, you can fill your schedule here incredibly easily. From climbing at the Dockyard to enjoying an afternoon pantomime on a Sunday afternoon. I would say that you should research your activities you would like to do before your stay and book as soon as possible, as they get booked up, especially in the summer months. There are some amazing free activities, including sports and games, evening entertainment and free swimming included in some bookings when you book through Cove UK directly.
There's plenty for adults to do too, from a morning Aquacise class to the Wave Rider where you can try out your balance as you try and stay on your surfboard. There was even a Country Bottomless Brunch that we definitely would have booked if we didn't have two small children in tow. We were lucky enough to try out a few age-appropriate activities during our stay, including Tots Pool Play (£6.50 per child), Superhero Academy (£10 per child) and Pirate Party (£7.99).
Tots Pool Play happened on Saturday, just before the Oasis Pool opened and we loved it so much that we wanted to go back on the Sunday too. The sessions were for children aged 0-5 and can be booked through the app or the activities team. I would definitely suggest doing this if you have smaller children as the pool gets so busy at weekends that I would be hesitant to take my 18-month-old to the pool when it is incredibly busy. As soon as we finished our Tots session people were queuing out of the door to head into the pool.
The changing facilities were great, but I would have loved bigger family changing rooms so we could all get changed together. Superhero Academy was perfect for our four-year-old, who was so excited to learn the superhero ropes from Spiderman and Iron Man, we found the activity leaders to be really engaging and friendly.
What I loved about Seal Bay was that there is something for the little ones to do every corner you turned. We spent a few hours one afternoon exploring the funfair on West Sands beach and really got our money's worth. You pay £15 and you can go on everything! From rides to trampolines, I found it such good value as I normally spend a lot more at my local fun fair and this was much more fun. The evening entertainment is also worth shouting about, especially the Tots Rave at the beginning of the night, it really helped wear our little ones out for bed so we could put our feet up and relax in our caravan.
I would have preferred if the entertainment venue wasn't so dark during the daytime and early evening though, as my 18 month old was a little scared and overwhelmed at times, but he couldn't take his eyes off the Cove Crew in the Pirate Party and was absolutely beside himself when he met Fisher the Penguin in the flesh.
Food and drink
We stayed in a self-catering caravan so we were able to cook up a storm in our own time. However, we did eat out a few times, including at Smokeys on the Waterfront where we sampled a feast of BBQ food including delicious mac and cheese, loaded fries, Caesar salad and juicy hot dogs with fried onions. Smokeys does get busy of an evening, especially if there is sport on the big screens, but we found it relatively easy to bag a table in a quiet spot and the customer service was impeccable even though we visited at a busy time. They also serve cocktails if you're able to have a night away from the kids!
If you fancy a night off cooking, Seal Bay has a diverse range of dining options that cater to various tastes and preferences, ensuring that you can enjoy everything from quick bites to full-course meals. I was particularly intrigued by Smugglers, a seafood restaurant, where you can treat yourself to a more gourmet meal. The menu looks gorgeous, offering up dishes such as cod loin, slow-cooked beef ragu and Sunday lunch.
A lot of the dining options are catered for families with children, so there's chips and chicken nuggets on offer everywhere (there's also a lot of fast food options), but Smugglers is the resort’s fine dining option and the only table you'll need to book beforehand.
One thing I loved about Seal Bay was the QR codes on the tables, simply scan the code and you can order food straight away, skipping the need to queue or wait for table service. You can also order fast food right to the door of your caravan if you wish.
Cove Holidays App
The Cove app is a great way of looking at the resort map and timings of activities and you can even check in and find your pitch or caravan on the afternoon before you arrive! It is a slow app and I had to keep updating it, but it does really benefit your stay. I would have loved to have been able to book swimming through the app though, as mine kept glitching so I had to call the activities team to book. It also sends you notifications when your booking is coming up – yet another example of how Cove Holidays really is a hassle-free and modern holiday.
Final thoughts
From Centre parcs, Bluestone and Haven, there are so many holiday resorts in the UK to choose from but in my opinion, Cove Holidays should be shouted about more. Traditional but full of new features and modern quirks (like ordering through QR codes and up to date arcades with a soft play in the middle corner), Cove Seal Bay has the classic feel of a caravan park but with a little added sparkle thrown in.
There are also so many resorts to choose from and I've got my eyes on resorts in the Lake District and Scotland! There are caravans and experiences to suit all budgets at Cove, whether you stay in a bronze caravan and take your own food and just enjoy the free evening entertainment or if you stay in a beach pod on the beach and dine out every night, you are guaranteed to have a family holiday to remember. A special shout out to being able to park right next to your caravan the whole stay (unlike some Center Parcs where you have to park a long way away) and being able to drive to and from each area if you really have to.
For a family of young toddlers, Seal Bay resort ticked so many boxes. I would definitely say it best suited for families with children under 10. We found you really didn’t need to leave the resort if you didn’t want to and could happily remain in the Cove bubble throughout your stay as everything you need is in easy reach. If you're after a holiday that definitely won't break the bank with so many things to do to fill your time, I would recommend Cove Seal bay to every young family. You can even spend all the spare change you saved in the arcades! I would love to return one day and do everything I wanted to, but just didn't have the time to do in our three-day stay.
Cove UK's Seal Bay is a multi-award-winning holiday park on the South Coast. Ideal for family beach holidays, self-catering breaks, holiday home ownership, and much more!
Hannah Mellin is Digital Writer at Mother & Baby. She is a mama to a nearly two year old little boy and is is navigating her way through first-time parenthood, every developmental leap at a time. She is up for trying anything and everything to make mums feel less anxious and overwhelmed. She is passionate about nature, body positivity and children's mental health.