Camp Kindling
From the makers of Camp Wildfire, the first British summer camp for grown-ups (as seen on Dragons’ Den) comes the gorgeous escapism of Camp Kindling, a version designed just for families. It’s a festival set deep in a beautiful Kent forest, and has thought of everything when it comes to entertaining young and old(er). No more joylessly wheeling them around in a cart while they wail for their screens. They’ll barely have time to pause for breath with the endless supply of activities, music, comedy and storytelling on offer. And every age group has something to do. Older kids have free run of the site during daylight hours and can safely explore without you. In the evening, you can book the on-site childcare and dance to guest DJs including Rylan and Dick and Dom. No more festival FOMO.
Heritage Pine Forest, Knock Mill Lane, Sevenoaks TN15 6FP – campkindling.co.uk
Latitude
You’ve undoubtedly heard of this Suffolk-based summer shindig (and its neon sheep) because it’s been running since 2006 and now attracts the like of Sting, Fatboy Slim and Elbow (just some of this year’s headliners). But perhaps you haven’t considered taking the kids? Having won Best Family Festival at the UK Festival Awards, it might surprise you to know that Latitude has a tonne of fun waiting for the children in your life. The dedicated Kids Area is open from 10am until 6pm every day and all activities (aside from the funfair) are included in your ticket. Everything from ribbon workshops to puppet shows will have your nippers entranced and all tired out for bedtime, when you can toss a coin to see who gets to go to Basement Jaxx on the main stage. Inside the dedicated family camping area, you’ll also find the Enchanted Garden, which has a more chilled vibe and runs even more activities from 9am till 4pm.
Henham Park, Southwold, Beccles NR34 8AQ – latitudefestival.com
Big Feastival
If you’re obsessed with all things culinary then the Big Feastival, in the heart of the Cotswolds, not only offers a world of eating opportunities, it also lays on some of the best kids’ activities you’ll find this summer. Strictly Come Dancing pro Oti Mabuse salsas onto the main stage this year to take a mass dance class. Mr Tumble himself (Justin Fletcher) will be entertaining the smalls in the festival’s famous Big Top, a space totally dedicated to whipping up youngsters into a frenzy with giant bubble machines, a Hey Duggie live show and a Dragon Training Academy to name just a few items on this year’s menu. While the main stage lineup has yet to be revealed, there are enough dining experiences and celebrity DJ sets to keep you all entertained until you’re full up and ready for bed. Perfect for that last hurrah before the end of the school holidays.
Churchill Heath Farm, Kingham, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 6UJ – bigfeastival.com
Carfest
Radio DJ Chris Evans first brought together his love of cars with a bulging celebrity contacts book to create this weekend extravaganza in 2012. And this year it returns, bigger and better, to its Hampshire home at Laverstoke Park Farm. Aside from the petrol-head’s paradise you’d expect, the kids’ activities (a whole festival on their own) are jaw dropping. They can drive their own miniature car, spend all day bouncing off the wall-to-wall giant inflatables in the Play Patch, try their hand at being a (well supervised) daredevil in the Adrenaline Arena which includes a climbing wall, giant slides, a foam pit and a BMX racetrack. If your kids have a lot of excess energy, this is the perfect festival for them. But if they’re of a quieter persuasion, there’s also a brilliant Curiosity Factory where they can try out science experiments, virtual reality space exploration and launching their own rocket. Meanwhile, you can enjoy headlines sets from Madness, Rita Ora and Busted. Phew.
Laverstoke Park Farm, Overton, Basingstoke RG25 3DR – carfest.org
Camp Bestival
Now in its 17th year, Camp Bestival prides itself on being the OG festival for families. With headliners this year including the crowd-pleasing Sugababes and Sir Tom Jones himself, they’re pulling out all the stops to keep the adults entertained. So, what do they have for the little-uns? As it turns out, absolutely loads of stuff. Kids’ yoga, craft workshops, archery, Silly Science Shows, a talent competition, family costume competition, a Pimp My Trolley Competition. The list goes on and on. Unlike the flashier fests on offer, outside of the top-notch musical entertainment, this one concentrates on holistic escapism, getting back to nature and a providing a beautiful place to make wonderful memories with the family. While the kids play on the World’s Biggest Bouncy Castle, you can sneak off to the treatment tents for a fragrant massage. Do the family lots of favours the week before, then cash it in for some time to yourself.
Lulworth Castle, East Lulworth, Wareham BH20 5QQ – dorset.campbestival.net
Deer Shed
As well as being a gorgeous explosion of arts and culture, Yorkshire’s Deer Shed Festival is well known for being almost entirely populated by families. The campsite and facilities are all designed with this in mind and at this small-scale festival, you’ll find it’s less noisy and full-on than some of the bigger events. With around 10,000 tickets sold, this one brings it back to basics: campfires, crafts, beautiful music on the festival’s multiple small stages, and delicious street food, beer and cocktails to fuel the grown-ups through to the early hours. While major acts like Kae Tempest and Idlewild grace the main stage, the kids can be at the on-site cinema, at a theatre show, covering themselves in glitter at a craft tent or just chilling with some bubble mix and an ice cream. If a laid-back vibe is your thing, Deer Shed takes you away from the fast pace of daily life and puts you into a lower gear.
Baldersby Park, Topcliffe YO7 3BZ – deershedfestival.com
Lysanne Currie is editor-in-chief of Meet the Leader. She also writes for Robb Report, Diplomat, Guardian, Influence, Tempus and Investor
