A couple have revealed how they’ve sold their family home to travel around Europe in a converted van with their three children under six.
Keira Reid, 29, her husband, Richard, 34, from Carlisle, sold the family home and will spend 12 months driving around Scandinavia and the Netherlands with their children Piper, six, Jack, four, and one-year-old Teddy.
The couple, who spent several months travelling Europe in their van on a separate adventure, will juggle sight-seeing with ‘road schooling’ their children.
Keira Reid, 29, her husband, Richard, 34, from Carlisle, sold the family home and will spend 12 months driving around Scandinavia and the Netherlands with their children Piper, six, Jack, four, and one-year-old Teddy
The couple converted the van themselves, adding a double bunk at the end of the space (seen at the back), as well as a stove (right) and seats for the children (left)
The back of the van opens out, giving a stunning view of the outdoors from the lower bunk. Above, Keira on the road with her children Piper, Teddy and Jack
From the outside, it looks the same as many other white builder’s vans, but it has become a home on wheels for the family. They previously had a road trip adventure in 2019
Keira said: ‘The best thing about van life is the freedom it gives us and the adventures it provides for us as a family.
‘It started as a throwaway comment about selling up and going travelling, but it all just spiraled from there.
‘We love that it means we aren’t tied down to anywhere and we are seeing and experiencing new places as a family. They are mesmerised by all of the different countries.
‘The van is quite small and you’d think it would be a challenge to have us all in such a small space, but it works perfectly for us. The children thrive off it and they love travelling as a family.’
Keira and Richard, who document their journeys on Instagram, first travelled across Europe with their two eldest children in 2019 after selling their family home and moving into a motor home full-time.
They returned to the UK in 2020 to welcome their youngest child, Teddy, and bought another house.
The couple sold their family home to move into the van full-time and spend a year travelling where they will ‘road schooling’ their children. Pictured (left to right) Richard, Jack, Piper, Teddy and Keira out exploring
The van has been designed to accommodate the children as best it can, and often use an awning as extra inside space. There are two double beds in the back of the van and storage along one side (right)
While they have enjoyed trips around the UK in their van the last couple of years, they have now sold their house and are pre
Keira said: ‘We got bored being back home and in one place. We wanted to keep showing the children the world and enjoyed it so much the first time we did it, we had to do it again.
‘We converted the builders van into our travelling home ourselves, but we have recently ripped out the inside and we are redesigning it so it is perfect for us to move into full time.
‘It can be tight for space, but it works for us. We try and do everything on a budget because it’s not a holiday. We can’t buy ice creams every single day or visit every attraction in every location.
The couple want to keep showing their children the world and say it’s an amazing experience for them as a family. Above, an example of how surfaces and storage are hidden in the van
Little Teddy is now one, and all three children enjoy life on the road so much they moan much less than when at home
They admit the van is a squeeze but they get used to it, and if anything it’s a good lesson for the family and enjoy the outdoors more than ever. Above, Richard playing with his children
‘We prioritise what we want to do. It’s mainly about getting out in to nature for us. We make lots of one-pot meals, pasta dishes and barbeques. We will also be road schooling the children along the way.’
Keira says she is feeling confident about taking the reins on her children’s education and will take inspiration from their surroundings to help lead their learning.
She added: ‘For our up and coming trip, we plan to spend a year travelling in our van. We will be starting in the Netherlands, heading up to Scandinavia and making our way back down through Finland.
In 2020 they were back in UK for the birth of little Teddy, but they have sold their house again and are preparing to move into their converted van, pictured from the outside
‘We have a rough plan, but we will mainly be deciding our route as we go along. The children can’t wait.
‘We hope our way of life teaches them that they don’t have to have the standard 9 – 5 way of life.
‘We want them to feel the freedom to be able to do what they want and not feel the pressures of society.
‘As a family, we have formed such an amazing bond through travelling and living in such small spaces together. We wouldn’t change it for the world.’