Which jamboree of festivities will walk away with this summer’s best family festival award? It’s anyone’s prize so far, Seonaid McGill picks the top contendors.
Circus skills, Nozstock Hidden Valley Festival, Herefordshire
Nozstock the Hidden Valley Festival: age range 0 to 101 years
Come one come all to Herefordshire on 19 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 19 July 2025
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 Tinkertown, where kids can learn to make new structures out of recycled wooden pallets – this could come in surprisingly handy in the future.
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!
Camp Bestival 31 July to 3 August 2025
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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 Aardman Animations is holding model making workshops.
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.
Wilderness 31 July to 3 August 2025
Green Man: another good reason for Wales this summer
Nobody needs an excuse to do Wales in summer, but if you did, Green Man from 14 to 17 August is a good one.
Kneecap are on stage and kids can get up to anything from yoga to art workshops. This year’s festival comes with the usual hordes of different areas covering comedy, art, literature, music, cabaret and loads for families including The Flying Seagulls, Darn It, Coron Moron and Louby Lou’s Storytelling.
Green Man 14 to 17 August 2025
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 Nelly Furtado, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Mabel.
In other good news, they’re cooking up a storm from 22 to 24 August 2025, so come hungry.
And Boutique Camping is delivering luxe, because Bedouin tents and Airstream campervans are exactly the late August mood!
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