From Camp Bestival to Cornbury
We bring you all the latest on the family friendly festivals taking place in 2023, offering plenty of activities for little ones to enjoy plus great music line-ups.
Family-Friendly Festivals 2023
The UK’s best family-friendly festivals are a summer affair, with the likes of Latitude, Camp Bestival and CarFest all occurring throughout July and August. Here’s our line-up of the best to come in summer 2023, listed in date order.
Sarah Koury
Latitude Festival
Where? Henham Park, Suffolk
When? 20–23 July 2023
The award-winning family-friendly Latitude festival has activities for kids, teens and families spread across three areas. Think pond dipping, star gazing, pizza making, a dedicated In Betweeners area for teens and a magical Enchanted Garden with a family-friendly programme for under-13s. The line-up is looking stellar, too, with Pulp headlining alongside Paolo Nutini, George Ezra, The Kooks and Metronomy.
BOOK IT: Tickets from £90.75 for a day ticket. latitudefestival.com
© Photography by Fernando Bonenfant for Here & Now, wearehereandnow.net
Standon Calling
Where? Hertfordshire
When? 20–23 July 2023
Hertfordshire’s hottest boutique festival ensures a family line-up your kids will be excited about; the highlights of festivals past have included Horrible Histories and Andy & the Odd Socks. There’s plenty for adults too, with Years & Years, Self Esteem, Bloc Party and The Human League headlining in 2023.
BOOK IT: Adult weekend tickets from £195, and day tickets from £50. standon-calling.com
Tunes On The Sands
Where? Blackpool Sands Beach, South Devon
When? 21–22 July 2023
This new-ish family-friendly festival arrived at Blackpool Sands beach for the first time in 2021. While the 2023 line-up is yet to be announced – aside from an extremely tempting 80s Party courtesy of Martin Kemp – there’s plenty of draws without the big names, including beach activities, kayaking, art installations and silent discos.
BOOK IT: Early bird tickets now on sale. Day tickets from £30. tunesonthesands.com
Camp Bestival, Dorset
Where? Lulworth Castle, Dorset
When? 27–30 July 2023
In our opinion, the very best of child-friendly festivals, Camp Bestival is a wonderland for little ones. It has been taking place in Dorset for a number of years – and there’s also a second event in Shropshire that was added to the mix last year (see below). Not to be confused with more grown up sister-festival Bestival, Camp Bestival vetoes the beer sludge and raving all-nighters for more child-friendly pursuits like bouncy castles, go-carts, fairgrounds, face painting, sandpits and glitter – the list goes on. In fact, most of the festival is dedicated to little party people, including a roller disco, circus, skate ramps, and family shows and entertainment from Mr Tumble and Horrible Histories. What’s in it for the parents? Oldies can enjoy all day yoga and meditation, hot tubs and ice baths, and music from the likes of Grace Jones, Craig David, The Kooks, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ella Henderson, Sam Ryder, and the always fun Scouting For Girls.
BOOK IT: Adult weekend tickets from £190. dorset.campbestival.net
Deer Shed Festival
Where? Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire
When? 28–31 July 2023
Started by a group of music loving parents, dissatisfied with paying over the odds for below average music, the founders of Deer Shed know what makes a good family festival. Their success is in not regarding children as second-class citizens, but also not over compromising for that ‘family friendly’ experience. Music, spoken word, theatre, cinema and workshops are all top notch. Under-fives activities include a sensory tent and soft play. Boom Chikka Boom baby rave anyone?
BOOK IT: Weekend tickets from £180. deershedfestival.com
Camp Bestival, Shropshire
Where? Weston Park, Shropshire
When? 17–20 August 2023
As above, Camp Bestival truly is the best in the game when it comes to family-friendly festivals. If you can’t make the Dorset weekend (or you can’t get enough), head to Shropshire for Camp Bestival #2. The circus area remains (with farmyard circus and wall of death), as does the roller disco, the skate ramps and comedy club – but there’s also the Temple Wood area, featuring wild swims, paddleboarding, raft building, a nature trail, tree climbing, wild runs… The list goes on. As for music, get excited for some serious disco vibes with Primal Scream, Rudimental, The Human League and Sophie Ellis-Bextor all set to perform along many, many others.
BOOK IT: Adult weekend tickets from £170. shropshire.campbestival.net
CarFest
Where? Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire
When? 25–27 August 2023
Previous headliners of CarFest – an event in aid of children’s charities – have included Jools Holland, The Jacksons and The Human League. This year, Anton Du Bec, Russel Brand, Jimmy Car and Roby Brydon are all confirmed, along with family favourite Basil Brush. There’s plenty on offer for kids, including the Vintage Village, where they can step back in time and visit the vintage market, tea rooms and sweet shops, and discover cars from the 30s through to the 70s. There’s also the Farm-Olympics, kids theatre and the Car-Nival.
BOOK IT: Tickets from £365, based on a family weekend ticket without camping. carfest.org
Big Feastival
Where? Cotswolds
When? 25–27 August 2023
Held on founder and Blur star Alex James’ farm in Kingham, the Big Feastival features a host of big names in family-friendly entertainment. CBeebies’ Justin Fletcher and Horrible Histories have performed in the past, while the adults can get excited for a seriously good line-up, featuring The Human League, Anne Marie, Stereophonics and Sugar Babes among many more.
BOOK IT: Adult weekend tickets from £197.95. thebigfeastival.com
Featured image: The Big Feastival
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