Which jamboree of festivities will walk away with this summer’s best family festival award? It’s anyone’s prize so far, but here are our top contenders. Take your pick!
First of summer, Elderflower Fields, Sussex
Elderflower Fields: first of summer’s family festivals kicks off in May
Elderflower Fields makes no pretence, it’s billed as ‘The Family Festival’ and means every word.
Perfect for easing kids into the festival spirit, it’s on from 24 to 27 May in the gorgeous (and we hope sunny) Sussex countryside and comes with kayaking and skateboarding in the mix.
If you only do one day make it Sunday for the big family picnic.
Elderflower Fields 24 to 27 May 2024
Space Hoppers are go, The Cambridge Club
The Cambridge Club: June kicks off with pop, funk, soul, disco and BBQ
The feelgood festival is back this June in partnership with Visit The USA and a line-up of funk, soul and disco icons to make the rest of summer read and weep. None other than The Queen of Funk herself, Chaka Khan, is headlining.
Kids who don’t yet understand nothing in life can’t be improved with a disco-beat, have The Ultimate Playground presented by Visit California to look forward to. And ultimate isn’t a throwaway term here. This playground is really bringing it with everything from dance workshops to Bedtime Raves, circus shows, dodgeball and space hopper races. Feeling the 70’s vibe? You are not wrong!
Though food and drink from Club USA is all about what’s happening now. Think ‘low and slow’, smoked, barbecued, grilled, rubbed and loaded, washed down with Californian wines, Kentucky bourbons and speakeasy cocktails. Traditionalists can get excited about Fortnum & Mason picnic hampers, available now to pre-order. And who doesn’t love street food? Fortunately, there’s plenty of that to love this June too.
The Cambridge Club 7 to 9 June 2024
Timber: summer’s fantastic forest festival
Timber is probably the greenest family festival this summer. It’s even rewarding sustainable travellers: arrive by foot, bike or public transport and you get a Green Wristband which then gets you 10% off food and drink, plus free entry to the Woodland Sauna competition.
If you want to do the right thing Timber is on from 5-7 July in Feanedock, the National Forest. Book early to bag a bell tent and bring your kids with confidence, they’ll love this one.
Timber Festival 5 to 7 July 2024
Circus skills, Nozstock Hidden Valley Festival, Herefordshire
Nozstock the Hidden Valley Festival: age range 0 to 101 years
Come one come all to Herefordshire from 18 to 21 July. Still called the Hidden Valley festival, this sleeper hit isn’t such a secret any more, but it’s still staying true to the age range of 0-101.
This year’s Nozstock comes with camping just for families, right down to kid-size toilets. Although is it wise to lull a whole generation into believing clean toilets are a festival thing?
Leave that question for another day, and just roll up and enjoy – there’s even a circus planned this year.
Nozstock the Hidden Valley Festival 18 to 21 July 2024
Family friendly Isle of Wight Festival, James Bridle Festival Photography
Isle of Wight Festival: best family festival for vintage vibes
Feeling groovy? Then the Isle of Wight Festival 2024 is your mood.
No need to tell you where – it’s the Isle of Wight – and as always there’s a sweet retro vibe with headliners like The Pet Shop Boys and Simple Minds.
Kids get their own zone at this one, and boutique camping is back, because who doesn’t need a pamper parlour and luxury toilets in their life?
Isle of Wight Festival 20 to 23 July 2024
Dorset, Camp Bestival
Camp Bestival: the original and still the best family festival
The original Camp Bestival is back in Dorset from 25-28 July with headliners including Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
All family fun is free, and we’re really liking the sound of new Caravanserais, billed as a ‘ramshackle world of alien circus feats and fairground frippery’.
If the Camp Pre-Pitch offer doesn’t make you fall in love with festivals again, then The Loo Lounge just might – this will be the last time we mention festival toilets!
Good to know that, should you miss Camp Bestival in Dorset, it’s back in Shropshire from 15 to 18 August this year too.
Camp Bestival 25 to 28 July 2024
READ MORE ABOUT SUMMER EVENTS
This destination claims the win on family festivals, is it deserved?
Festivals you might not have thought were that child-friendly
The world’s biggest cherry festival probably isn’t where you think
The UK city where family festivals are free during summer
Wilderness festival, Cornbury Park © Aline Aronsky
Wilderness: get outside and let your kids go wild
There are a lot of contenders for the best family festival title this summer, but Wilderness at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire might just walk away with the prize.
It’s resoundingly family-friendly, right down to having babysitting services and creative workshops for kids, as well as wild swimming, boating and forest roaming. The food is another star turn and The Flying Seagull Project is in residence for all three days.
All tickets are for the full weekend, so come and immerse, it’s what Wilderness is all about. And you don’t have to stay over, but everything from Family Camping to Quiet Camping to adorable Meadow Camping, could persuade you. Best to book now-ish, this one is hugely popular – no surprise!
Wilderness 1 to 4 August 2024
Greenman: another good reason for Wales this summer
Nobody needs an excuse to do Wales in summer, but if you did, Greenman from 15 to 18 August is a good one.
Big Thief and Arlo Parks are on stage and kids can get up to anything from yoga to art workshops. This year’s festival comes with 10 different areas covering all areas of interest, up to and including Welsh beer, alchemy and Little Folks – 0 to 12 year olds should know the 2024 theme is ‘shapes’.
Greenman 15 to 18 August 2024
Wild animals, Just So Festival, Cheshire
Just So Festival: a family adventure beyond your wildest dreams
The ‘wildest dreams’ thing is in Just So Festival’s own words, but we’re inclined to run with that considering it has been voted ‘Best Family Festival in the UK’.
This year it’s promising a weekend of mischief, mayhem and magic so, either they really love an alliteration, or it’s the find of summer.
Go see for yourself in Cheshire from 16 to 18 August – they had us at the mention of ‘Animal Carnival’!
Just So Festival 16 to 18 August 2024
Silent Disco, Big Feastival, Cotswolds
Big Feastival: last of the summer festivals
Let’s hear it for Big Feastival taking the late summer lead with a strong female line up, including Kate Nash and Becky Hill.
In other good news, they’re cooking up a storm from 23 to 25 August, so come hungry.
And Green Yurts will be delivering lux camping, because tents with Chesterfields are only exactly the late August mood!
The Big Feastival 23 to 25 August 2024