A MAN who lives in a £100 box in the UK’s ‘caravan city’ dubbed it the ‘bottom of the barrel’ – despite trolls who say he’s ‘lucky’ to live for free.
The Bristol Downs was once hailed the “jewel in the city’s crown”, but now there are a rising number of caravans lining nearby streets.
Tensions are escalating between fuming locals who blast those littering the streets with broken glass and used needles – while others claim they’re just fighting to survive.
Kyren settled into Bristol’s caravan city two weeks ago after buying a decrepit, tiny home on wheels for just £100.
The 27-year-old, who earned himself a degree in illustration from the University of the West of England, is now cramped in his 8ft by 4ft box.
He told the Mail: “This is the bottom of the barrel. Nothing works. No water, no electricity, no gas.”
Kyren found himself in the predicament after his partner died and he was trapped battling mental health struggles.
His life began to spiral out of control after losing his job and raking up £1,000 in debt.
Where to seek support
Need professional help with grief?
- Child Bereavement UK Childbereavementuk.org
- Cruse Bereavement Cruse.org.uk
- Relate Relate.org.uk
- The Good Grief Trust Thegoodgrieftrust.org
- You can also always speak to your GP if you’re struggling.
You’re Not Alone
Check out these books, podcasts and apps that all expertly navigate grief…
- Griefcast: Cariad Lloyd interviews comedians on this award-winning podcast.
- The Madness Of Grief by Rev Richard Coles (£9.99, W&N): The Strictly fave writes movingly on losing his husband David to alcoholism.
- Terrible, Thanks For Asking: Podcast host Nora McInerny encourages non-celebs to share how they’re really feeling.
- Good Mourning by Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn (£14.99, Murdoch Books): A guide for people who’ve suffered sudden loss, like the authors who both lost their mums.
- Grief Works: Download this for daily meditations and expert tips.
- How To Grieve Like A Champ by Lianna Champ (£3.99, Red Door Press): A book for improving your relationship with death
Things are now on the up, with a new pub manager position on the table Kyren hopes to clear what he owes and get on the waiting list for a council property.
Despite lovers of the Downs hailing the lifestyle, Kyren holds a different view.
“Some say: ‘Ah, that’s great, you get to live for free on the Downs!’ But I’d rather just have a shower,” he said.
However, Kyren did advocate for the community and said horror speculation about violent crackheads was quickly squashed.
It comes as more working professionals are moving into caravans amid the cost of living and rising bills.
Maths tutor Callum ditched his £600 a month house share for a converted horse box.
St Paul’s used to be very respectful. But since the caravans arrived, people are shooting up heroin in the streets and using the bushes as a toilet
Daniel
Now his mobile home boasts double-glazed patio doors and a bespoke bathtub.
Callum, who did not wish to give his surname or age, said: “I decided to buy a van to beat the housing crisis.
“I plan to save for a house or a piece of land somewhere, but it might take me 10 years.
“I like the freedom and the idea of van life, but it’s a lot of work.”
The maths tutor claimed there’s a difference between ‘caravan people’ and ‘van dwellers’.
“Van dwellers tend to be explorers – we come and go, creating more space for other people. Generally we’re a bit tidier and cleaner,” he explained.
“I think the van people have chosen this life, while the caravan people have been forced into this life, that’s not their fault.
“Van dwellers risk getting tarnished by the same brush, although some of the caravan dwellers will pull other people up over mess or rubbish, and they have disciplined a few people and threatened to tow their caravan away.”
Others, like yoga instructor Amy Dickson, hold mixed views about their living situation.
While the massage therapist, 33, was forced out of her house share by their landlord – she dubbed her little house “cosy”.
But, she still has plans to get on the property ladder and leave the bohemian Bristol Downs lifestyle behind.
UK'S MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES TO LIVE IN
A 2023 study by chartered surveyors Stokemont found these cities are the most expensive in the UK to live in…
- London (£3,075.14 – estimated monthly cost of living for a single person in the city centre, including rent)
- Bristol (£1,913.86)
- Edinburgh (£1,735.90)
- Manchester (£1,682.63)
- Leeds (£1,604.77)
- Belfast (£1,567.48)
- Newcastle (£1,557.90)
- Southampton (£1,547.50)
- Glasgow (1,539.22)
- Liverpool (£1,532.77)
Meanwhile there are plenty of people, unlike Kyren, who love life in their caravan on the Downs.
Anthony Evans, 27, said he could afford to rent a flat but doesn’t want to.
The freelance steel fabricator said: “I love it. We try and keep the place clean and tidy and do our recycling, and I’ve asked the council to provide more bins we can use so we don’t attract rats.
“I think it costs me about £200 a month to live, and because of the lifestyle I’ve got money saved.
“I have enough to rent a house, but I don’t want to pay rent or bills and I don’t want to make some other landlord rich when I’m working hard.”
‘IT’S DISGUSTING’
But, furious locals have slammed the growing number of people choosing to make the lush green area their home in campervans.
It had ranked on the Sunday Times Best Places to Live for 12 years – until 2024.
According to last year’s figures, Bristol is the most expensive place to live in Britain outside London.
The average rent is now roughly £1,700 a month, which has seen hoards of Brits turn to alternative lifestyles.
A recent report from Bristol City Council said there are now up to 800 inhabitants of vans, motorhomes and caravans around the Downs.
This means it has the largest number of van dwellers in the UK – sparking fierce backlash from locals.
Helen Morris, 79, has been walking the Downs area for 40 years, and lived there since 2013.
She told The Sun: “I think it’s disgusting that they are allowed to live here
“They’ve parked directly on our road in the past and I’ve called the police because of the noise and mess.
“They make such a mess with their rubbish, I’d like them to disappear and think the council should do something about it.
“I don’t feel safe to walk over the Downs anymore.
“The people who live here don’t want them there at all. It’s ruining the area.”
And, Daniel, 25, told the Mail: “St Paul’s used to be very respectful. But since the caravans arrived, people are shooting up heroin in the streets and using the bushes as a toilet.
“I used to pick up needles and return them to the Bristol Drugs Project, but what’s the point now when there are simply too many to bother?”
Another woman claimed the street had become “a human sewer”, while someone else recalled a man in his underwear knocking on her door to ask for water.
But others are sympathetic to the harsh living situation some find themselves in.
Compassionate resident Kate Rick, 70, says: “If people need to live in a caravan because they can’t afford to rent, they have to live somewhere in these difficult times.
“I walk the dogs around the Downs and don’t mind them being there, they have every right.
“They don’t cause any disturbance and are not doing anybody any harm whatsoever.”
The council’s official policy states that it will support and manage vehicle dwellers in places that are “low impact” to local residents – including areas such as the Downs.
It added: “Vehicle dwellers are citizens of our city and need to be respected and represented as such, with equal access to services as would be available to any other resident or visitor.”
