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We leave our on all night during cold nights and thats in a tent.  If it falls over, then the trip switch on the bottom cuts it off.  It really depends whether the light bothers you or not.

Oil filled seems to be the choice on here for night time heating.  Never used one and the only exposure I have had of one was one that leaked all over the place.

How about something like this. Max output of 1000w which should be ok for most sites.

http://www.4air.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/103234839/pname/HOF5-1-kW-Oil-filled-radiator-5-Fins/google/kelkoo

Although I have left my caravans built in heater and fan on overnight I would be reluctant to leave a plug in one on. Someone is bound to spill something into it or drop an item of clothing or blanket over it. Same goes for the halogen heater, and the fact the light from it would keep me awake!

It's probably just me being cautious but i would feel safer with the radiator even though they weigh a bit more!

The gas hobs should never be an option for heating the van due to the possibility of releasing carbon monoxide, however because they also release water vapour some would see this as an advantage.The gas fire should be roomed sealed and will if properly serviced be perfectly safe to use 24/7, it should also be more than capable of heating the van.

What I have found is late 80's early 90's vans have excessive low level ventilation, roof ventilation is always excessive so without restricting the amount at floor level turning up the heat whether gas or electric only increases the speed of hot air rising out the top and being replaced by cold at your feet so theres no way the van can get warm.

In the mid 90's the rules were changed requiring a minimum hole size of 1500mm square or just 4" X 5/8" at floor level and a minimum of ten times this at high level, one standard 400x400mm skylight carries this much fixed ventilation when shut. I found on one van the door vent was twice the minimum alone and this van, (not counting gas drop holes),  had five holes in the floor as well!!. Blocking off some of these floor holes allowed the van to quickly become warm on a freezing cold day for the owner said the first time since new.

It's got to be remembered that these are minimums and for a van 12 to 18 foot in length Also if one single supply at floor level was blocked there could be a problem so some extra must be allowed elsewhere and not rely on a single source. When calculating you must measure the little holes in the vent and multiply by the number of holes to get the correct total size and not just the hole size the vent covers.

If you go electric, we've always found convector heaters best because they don't blind you or make any noise and they're not heavy, although they take up a bit more room than an oil-filled.

Good ones have a thermostat and cut out if knocked over. A 2kw one can be run off a 10 amp EHU providing you don't try to boil the kettle. make toast, dry your hair etc without turning it off first.

I recently got an oil filled heater from argos 400w, not heavy at all, about £40, keeps us nice and toasty at night.

Tony