Things to Do in Dorset for Families During the School Holidays

 Looking for fun things to do in Dorset during the school holidays? You’re in luck! From beautiful beaches and wild country parks to charming villages and historic sites, there’s something for every family in Dorset — whether you want to keep the kids busy, make memories together, or simply appreciate the magic of your home county. 

🍦 Spend Time at Our Amazing Beaches 🍦

Did you know Bournemouth Beach and Weymouth Beach made it into Tripadvisor’s Best Beaches in Europe for 2025? (Yes — we’re up there with the world’s finest!)

✅ Bournemouth Beach — Miles of sand, traditional amusements, ice cream stands — perfect for children and families!
✅ Weymouth Beach — Shallow waters, sheltered sand, and plenty of space for games. More of a traditional seaside town
✅ Studland Bay— Much quieter than it's Bournemouth and Poole neighbours - great for a more restful family day by the sea. We particularly love Knoll Beach. Look out for the ice cream boat! 

Knoll Beach, Studland

🍉 Outdoor Adventures  🍉

Looking for something more energetic?
✅ Dorset Adventure Park (Corfe Castle) — Water slides, an assault course, and lakes to splash in — a wild day for children and adults alike!
✅  The Alpine Adventure Park at Snowtrax offers swings, trampolines, super slippy slides, and much more including a pirate ship situated on it's own island— perfect for children who love a bit of a challenge.

🦉 Get Closer to Nature 🦉

✅ Brownsea Island — Take a short ferry ride from Poole Quay and discover peacocks, red squirrels, secluded beaches, and rich wildlife — a magical adventure for children!
✅ Blue Pool — Wander through this tranquil spot near Wareham, where a dramatic pool glows blue and green, surrounded by heathland and forests — a wonderful opportunity for children to connect with nature. Look out for their special events throughout the year, we love visiting at Halloween! 
✅ RSPB Arne Nature Reserve — Amazing trails, rich birdlife, deer, and beautiful views — a perfect spot for a family wildlife adventure in Dorset. 

Blue Pool

🍃 Enjoy Our Country Parks 🍃

✅ Moors Valley Country Park and Forest — Amazing trails, a miniature railway, high-ropes course, playgrounds, a lake, and it's very own Gruffalo  — perfect for children of all ages!
✅ Avon Heath Country Park — Miles of walking trails, wildlife spotting, a children’s play area, and plenty of space for a picnic with the whole family.
✅ Upton Country Park — Stroll through beautiful gardens, explore the woodlands, let the children burn off energy at the large playground, or enjoy a cream tea in the well stocked cafe afterwards

The Gruffalo at Moors Valley Country Park

 🐷Fun for the Whole Family 🐷

✅ Farmer Palmers Farm Park — Petting sessions, bouncing castles, a dinosaur trail, ride-on toys, and much more — a classic Dorset family day out during the school holidays! (Plus the cakes in the Hen House cafe are 10/10!)
✅ Monkey World — Home to over 250 rescued primates — a wonderful blend of education and entertainment for children of all ages.

Meeting a new friend at Farmer Palmers

🦕 5. Dig Into History — And Some Fossil Fun! 🦕

✅ Lyme Regis  — The Jurassic Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — grab a fossil hammer, go fossil hunting with your children, and uncover ancient creatures!
✅ Charmouth Beach and  Heritage Coast Centre — Learn alongside your children about dinosaurs, ancient creatures, and their stories — and then go and explore the rock pools where you might find your very own ammonite to take home

Fossil Hunting on the Jurassic Coast

🎪 Local Festivals 🎪

Dorset really knows how to throw a family-friendly festival — and summer is bursting with music, magic, and muddy knees (the fun kind). Here's what not to miss during the school holidays in Dorset:

✅ Poole Harbour Festival (25–27 July) — Amazing food trucks, live bands, children’s entertainment, and a chilled holiday-like atmosphere — a perfect Dorset festival for families!
✅ Camp Bestival (31 July - 3 Aug) - The ultimate family festival! Think glittery wellies, circus tents, Mr Tumble, fireworks, fancy dress parades, big-name bands, and a dedicated kids’ field full of crafts, theatre shows, and activities. This one’s family festival royalty — a proper bucket-list experience!
✅ DorsetFest (27–28 June) – A charming folk festival in the countryside with live music, craft stalls, children’s games, storytelling, and plenty of space to run wild.

Camp Bestival - Dorset's biggest festival

Whether you're a local looking to rediscover your favourite spots or planning brand new adventures with the kids, Dorset is packed with unforgettable experiences this summer. From beach days and castle explorations to nature trails, festivals, and fossil hunts, there’s something to excite every kind of family. So pack the buckets and spades and get ready for a Summer full of fresh air, fun and memories that’ll last long after the school holidays end.

CAMP BESTIVAL DORSET 2024 REVIEW - DAY VISITOR!

Camp Bestival, held annually in the picturesque grounds of Lulworth Castle in Dorset, is a celebration of music, arts, and family fun that stands out as one of the best family-friendly festivals in the UK. This vibrant event, curated by DJ Rob da Bank and his wife Josie, offers an enchanting blend of entertainment that caters to all ages, making it a must-visit for families seeking a magical festival experience.

If camping is your thing then you pitch up with the family, you can bring motorhomes and campers, you can even splash out and do Hospitality Camping...which I'm told is the most exclusive festival experience. 

If you prefer to sleep in your own bed, then there is a great option to purchase a day ticket. We live locally to the festival so for us, this is perfect as we can drive in and spend the day, then be tucked up in our own beds within half an hour! 

The festival opens on Thursday to campers but the main days are Friday - Sunday. We had weekend tickets but chose not to camp, we actually drove in from Poole on the Friday and Saturday. Both days were very different, so read on to find out what our family of 4 got up to...

Day 1 - Friday

Due to work and childcare commitments, we weren't able to start our festival experience until late Friday afternoon but as soon as we drove in and saw the sea of tents and the colourful big top in the distance, we were eager to explore!

We were directed to the YELLOW car park and it took around 15-20 minutes to walk to the entrance. (We did arrive late though so our car was definitely one of the last in and the parked at the furthest point!). This isn't our first time at Camp Bestival but our last visit was in 2021 and it was interesting to spot the small changes. 

Making our way in to the Magic Meadow area, my husband was happy to see Caravanserai - this is one of his favourite parts of CB and is a great place for people watching! Made up of old caravans and vintage fairground bits and bobs, Caravanserai feels a bit like something you'd find in an apocalyptic world. In one corner you might find DJ's playing drum & base with little kids raving on their dad's shoulders, in another nook you might catch an artist singing an acoustic version of Radiohead's Creep with an accompanying banjo. It's all abit bonkers but it certainly has character!

Caravanserai - Camp Bestival

Good to see the Lovebot in the Magic Meadow, and we encountered the Earthbot who made her festival debut in 2023. Earthbot stands at over 8 metres tall and has two slides, a treehouse den and a huge sandpit. The queues were minimal to climb inside her and my two really enjoyed the slides. 

A new addition to this year's Camp Bestival is the Explorer's Passport. Designed by Josie Da Bank, the passport is packed full of illustrations and information, plus space to add your CB memories. Scattered around the festival are Stamping Stations and each one has a different stamp to put in your passport.  Erin (age 7) absolutely loved this activity - it encouraged her to really explore all the areas in the quest to find all the stamps and it made a lovely momento to bring home.     

Moving onto the Upper Kids Garden, my children were delighted to find the Circus area and the Crazy Bikes. This is somewhere we usually spend quite a bit of time in and this year was no exception! The crazy bikes are always a big hit and it was a race to see who could try the craziest bike. 

The Upper Kids Garden is also home to the Feast Collective - here you can find all kinds of food and drink offerings and the smell from DJ BBQ will lure you in! We found lots of benches and tables here and it was a great place to chill out for a while. Food is on the pricy side but to be expected at a festival. We paid £13-14 for burger and fries. Kids options can be found at most of the vendors for £6, although this isn't neccessarily a meal. Erin had a hotdog for £6 and we upgraded it to come with chips for an extra £2. She enjoyed this so much that she also chose it on the Saturday! 

If you are coming for the whole weekend then it's definitely worth looking into the Camp Kids Extra Pass. For £39.99 you will receive meal tokens which will get you six kids meals (x3 lunch options, x3 dinner options), daily sweet treat and unlimited fruit and water. 

Next to the Castle, we found the BBC Sounds Garden which turned out to be my son's favourite bit of the festival. A great place to chill - here we found deckchairs, giant beanbags, shade, headphones to listen to various different stations and podcasts and we were even able to have our photo taken in the Sounds Studio Photobooth. We realised that we could connect to wifi here so this place was a godsend over the weekend when our usual phone signal failed us! 

As the sun began to set, we made our way to the Castle Stage - this is the place to be if you want to catch some big name artists and bands over the weekend. Mcfly were the Friday night headliner and I for one, was very excited about this! The grassy area in front of the stage is pretty big and you'll find that lots of families with chairs and wagons will sit further back. We decided to head down to the front of the stage and join the throng of people waiting for Mcfly. As soon as the first song kicked in, it was a brilliant atmosphere and the kids were loving in! We sadly didn't get to see the entire set as both children were very tired but Mcfly were brilliant as always. 

As we made our way towards the exit, the fairground looked absolutely stunning all lit up and there was such a buzz in the air with families of all ages enjoying themselves. The walk back up to the car certainly felt longer on the way back but we couldn't wait to return in the morning to explore the rest of the festival. 

Day 2 - Saturday

We arrived bright and early to glorious sunshine across the festival site and we were excited for another fun day at Lulworth. The kids had lots of ideas about what they wanted to see/do so I was more than happy for them to take the reins! 

There are so many activities for children at Camp Bestival and this can be a bit overwhelming at first. Alot of these have to be prebooked (bookings generally open the day before) but for us, we were happy to explore and see what took our fancy. You can easily still find plenty to do without prebooking and I always find half the fun of festivals is stumbling upon random activities! 

We spent a bit of time playing on the swings in the Magic Meadow, and we also noticed a talent show happening inside the Big Top which was fun to listen to. A few minutes before we arrived there was a big Nerf battle which apparently happens every year. Saturday was fancy dress day and so many people had made amazing efforts for this years Space theme - we passed an entire family of aliens by the Lovebot! 

Just before 11am, we headed back up to the Upper Kids Garden to the Library where a whole host of talks were happening throughout the day. The line up included author Katie Kirby, who's Lottie Brooks books have been topping the book charts since their debut in 2021 and just so happen to be Erin's favourite! The Library tent was packed with tweens and parents and it was interesting to hear Katie talk about the books, and the characters. We were able to meet her at the book signed after and it made Erin's day to get a photo. Whilst this was happening, Elliot had been amusing himself in the BBC Sounds garden again! We did find it tricky with the lack of signal, especially when he wanted to go off by himself but we agreed a central meeting place at a specific time which worked...just. Shout out to the WI tent which can be found near the Library - here you can buy sandwiches, cakes and lots of refreshments that won't break the bank. 

After another play with the Crazy Bikes, we headed down to the Lower Kids Garden. Here you can find the old science tent which is now Space Camp - an exciting new venue where you can find demonstrations, workshops and plenty of interactive experiences. Erin really wanted to check out the Super Moose Toys Super Happy Playhouse - she was in her element with Bluey meet and greets, plus demonstrations from toys such as Magic Mixies, Cookez Makery and Little Live Pets. 

The Lower Kids Garden has so much for the kids to do and we ran out of time to do everything but we loved the vintage fairground rides and climbing up the observatory to look down at the festival. You can also find Navigation Town and lots of stamping stations for the activity passports.There are plenty of food options down in the garden and lots of shady areas to sit. We found the toilets here the nicest too! 

Looking out over Navigation Town

Next on the agenda was the much requested Dingly Dell area - both kids loved visiting here last time and it's a great place to come to get away from the hustle and bustle of the festival. Tucked away in the nearby woods you'll find a tranquil area where children can go wild with their imaginations. There are mud kitchens, instruments made from recycled instruments, you can create models from clay....there is even a lovely big play area which my kids love. The big plus is that it's lovely and shaded so I had a wonderful time sitting out of the sun whilst the kids played! 

We spent the rest of the afternoon having a wander round the festival - we caught a bit of Mr Tumble on the Castle Stage, we danced to some beats in the Bollywood Tent, we drank huge slushies when we got too hot, we chilled in the BBC Sounds area, we practised our tightrope skills at the Circus, we listened to some fab kids singing and playing Nirvana at Rock School, we waved at Mister Maker in the CBeebies bedtime tent and we played some retro games at the Games Museum. 

We also managed to catch another Q & A at the book signing - this time it was Cerrie Burnell who we know from her CBeebies time back in the day. She is a very succesful children's author and her Unicorn books have gained a brand new fan in Erin! There is even a well stocked book shop at Camp Bestival (run by some very friendly volunteers) so we were able to pick up one of Cerrie's books which Erin had signed. 

Our tummies were rumbling at this point so we followed our noses back to the Feast Collective where I had a really good buttermilk fried chicken burger and fries and the kids opted for hotdogs again. There are so many food options at Feast Collective - I wanted to try everything! There are plenty of seating areas near the food vendors and whilst we ate our dinner we chatted to some other families sat nearby and it was a great way to spend a bit of chill time. We have found that everyone is so friendly at CB and there is never any shortage of people to chat to - Erin even managed to bag herself a new penpal!

After a quick boogie to The Darkness on the Castle Stage we decided to call it a day with two very tired, sweaty children. The walk back up the carpark was less than appealing so we decided to treat ourselves to a ride up the hill in the Charity Concierge's Festival Taxis. Suggested donation was £7 per person (kids go free) and this was money well spent as we whizzed up the hill! All the money goes to charity and the taxis run throughout the weekend. Look out for the big "Taxi stop" signs - we hopped on one by the main entrance. 

After spending two days at Camp Bestival, these are my top tips to help you have the best time:

•  Take snacks! If your kids are anything like mine, then they'll have a bottomless stomach in the school holidays and it can work out very expensive if you have buy food everytime they say they're hungry. I packed a zip lock bag for each child with lots of snacks in for the day - once this was gone, that was it.
• Frozen capri suns make great icepacks
• Ensure kids are aware of welfare tents and what to do if lost. We had no signal all weekend so found it hard to stay in touch with my eldest when he explored by himself - we gave him specific instructions regarding meeting places. You could also make sure you take a photo of your child in the morning so you know exactly what they are wearing incase they get lost
• Go with the flow! The list of activities can be overwhelming but you can easily still have a fantastic festival experience without prebooking anything
• There are free water stations dotted around the festival site so bring your refillable bottle
• The festival loos weren't too bad but we found it helped bringing our own wetwipes and anti-bac gel for after
• Wear comfy shoes - you'll certainly rack up the steps walking around the festival, even more if you're parked in the yellow carpark!
• Less is definitely not more at Camp Bestival - wear the glitter, bring your sparkles, be bright! We did pack some festival glitter but definitely felt positively underdressed - I've never seen so many sparkly outfits in one day

Above all, have fun! Camp Bestival is an amazing experience for all ages and I'd definitely recommend getting a ticket. Tier 1 tickets are now onsale for 2025!

*Disclaimer - AD | We were offered free weekend tickets in exchange for an honest review 

The Best Family-Friendly Festivals in the UK featuring Carfest and More! (UPDATED FOR 2025)

 One of our favourite things to do in the Summer as a family is to visit a festival. You can't beat sitting in a field watching the sun go down, listening to some cracking live music and taking in the atmosphere.  Most festivals have a dedicated kids area and here you can find all sorts of activities to keep them busy.  As the kids get older, we have started to try a few different ones and we have certainly found our favourites!

 Here’s a guide to some of the best family-friendly festivals in the UK.

1. Camp Bestival

Location: Lulworth Castle, Dorset
When: 31st July - 3rd Aug

Camp Bestival is the ultimate family festival, combining music, arts, and family fun. Held in the picturesque grounds of Lulworth Castle, it features a stellar lineup of music acts such as Sugababes and Tom Jones, alongside comedy shows, theatre performances, and workshops. Kids can enjoy the enormous Kids’ Garden with circus skills, face painting, and a dedicated toddler area. The festival also includes a wellness area for parents to unwind, making it a hit with families of all ages. Don't miss the fireworks on the Sunday evening! 

Elliot in the Lower Kids Garden, Camp Bestival

2. The Big Feastival

Location: The Cotswalds
When: 22-24 August

The Big Feastival, founded by Jamie Oliver and Alex James, is a celebration of food and music set on Alex James’ farm in the Cotswolds. It features live cooking demonstrations from top chefs, a fantastic music lineup including Faithless and Nelly Furtado, and plenty of activities for kids. The Big Top offers theatre shows, Cbeebies stars and much more, while older children can enjoy workshops and outdoor sports. The festival’s focus on good food and fun makes it a deliciously delightful experience for families. Top tip, look out for Barrioke in The Outpost - highly recommend!

3. CarFest

Location: Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire
When: 22-24 August

CarFest, created by radio DJ Chris Evans, is a fantastic blend of cars, music, and family entertainment. Families can enjoy a vibrant mix of car shows, live music (looking forward to Busted and Sam Ryder this year!), great food and a host of activities for children. The festival includes a dedicated Kids’ Kingdom with crafts, circus skills, and sports activities. The track show, featuring classic and modern cars, is a highlight for all ages, and the proceeds support UK children’s charities, making it a feel-good event for the whole family.

Carfest Car Paddock

We visited Carfest for the first time last year and it was fantastic - easily one of the best family friendly festivals we've been to. We are looking forward to heading back this year!

4. Green Man Festival

Location: Brecon Beacons, Wales
When: 14th-17th August 2025

While Green Man is renowned for its impressive lineup of indie and alternative music (CMAT and Wet Leg are appearing this year), it’s also incredibly family-friendly. The festival’s Little Folk area provides a haven for kids, with workshops, storytelling, and musical performances tailored for younger audiences. The festival’s stunning location in the Brecon Beacons offers plenty of opportunities for families to explore the natural beauty of the area.

5. Gloworm Festival

Location: Thoresby Park, Nottinghamshire
When: 8th-10th August 2025

Gloworm Festival is designed specifically for families with young children. It offers a magical and immersive experience with a focus on fun and creativity. The festival features live performances from popular children’s TV stars such as Justin Fletcher and Andy and The Odd Socks, interactive theatre shows, craft workshops, and outdoor adventures. The Gloworm Woods are perfect for exploring, and the festival’s relaxed atmosphere ensures a stress-free experience for parents and kids alike.

Pic Credit - Sue Davis and girls at Gloworm Festival

6. Camp Kindling

Location: Sevenoaks, Kent
When: 15th-18th August

Camp Kindling is the ultimate summer camp-style festival for families who love a bit of adventure mixed with festival fun. Set in the beautiful Heritage Pine Forest in Kent, this unique event offers everything from archery battles and treasure hunts to woodland crafts and paddleboarding. It’s all about getting stuck into activities by day and enjoying live music, comedy, and campfires by night. With its token-based system, you can pick and choose your favourite experiences, making it perfect for families who like flexibility — and marshmallows by the fire!

7. Gone Wild Festival

Location: Powderham Castle, Devon
When: 21st-24th August

Gone Wild Festival is a unique family festival that combines outdoor adventure with music and entertainment. Co-founded by Bear Grylls, it offers a wide range of activities, from bushcraft and survival skills to climbing, kayaking, and obstacle courses. The festival also features live music, storytelling, and workshops, making it a perfect blend of education and fun. Set in the stunning grounds of Powderham Castle, it’s an excellent choice for families who love the great outdoors.

Gone Wild Festival 

8. Victorious Festival

Location: Southsea Seafront, Portsmouth
When: 22nd-24th August

Victorious Festival is a vibrant family-friendly event set against the beautiful backdrop of Southsea Seafront. It boasts an impressive lineup of music acts (including Kings of Leon and Madness) across multiple stages, along with a dedicated Kids Arena featuring character meet-and-greets, live performances, and interactive activities. Families can enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, and a variety of sports and games. With its seaside location, it also offers the opportunity to relax on the beach and enjoy the coastal atmosphere.

Kids Arena at Victorious Festival

9. Latitude Festival

Location: Henham Park, Suffolk
When: 24th-27th July 2025

Latitude Festival, held at Henham Park in Suffolk is an all‑round family festival treasure that blends big-name music acts like Sting, Fatboy Slim, and Snow Patrol with a full-on kids’ extravaganza. Spread across three dedicated zones—the creative Kids Area, the calm Enchanted Garden, and nature-packed Camp Greenpeace—you’ll find everything from theater workshops, bug safaris, and pond dipping to tree-climbing, bushcraft, yoga, storytelling, puppetry, and science shows—all free to join, with only the funfair rides costing extra

Tips for Enjoying Festivals with Kids

• Plan Ahead: Check festival websites for family-friendly amenities and activities.
• Pack Essentials: Bring weather-appropriate clothing, snacks, and comfort items for the kids. 
• Stay Safe: Keep a close eye on your children and use wristbands with contact information.
• Take Breaks: Allow for downtime to avoid overstimulation and keep everyone happy.

These family-friendly festivals offer a perfect mix of entertainment, creativity, and outdoor fun, ensuring that both kids and parents have a fantastic time. So pack your bags, gather your family, and get ready to create some unforgettable memories at these wonderful UK festivals!

Exploring Carfest 

UK's Top 5 Family-Friendly Festivals: Unforgettable Fun at CarFest, Camp Bestival, Gone Wild, Gloworm and More!

The UK, renowned for its vibrant festival scene, offers a multitude of family-friendly events throughout the year. These festivals are perfect for making memories, with an array of children's activities, gourmet food, and exciting musical performances. Let's explore five top-notch festivals in the UK: CarFest, Camp Bestival, Gone Wild, Gloworm, and The Big Feastival.

CarFest - Hampshire

A Family Festival Celebrating Cars and Music

Brought to life by the popular radio presenter Chris Evans, CarFest is a must-visit for car enthusiasts. Hosted annually at Laverstock Park Farm, Carfest successfully blends motor shows with live music and entertainment for the whole family. With popular acts such as Andy and The Odd Socks (our fave!), Rick Astley, Craig David and many more, there is something for everyone. Plus, with a dedicated food fair, your culinary cravings are well covered. Not only that, each year it raises millions of pounds for children's charities! 

Photo Credit - CarFest

Camp Bestival - Dorset

A Medley of Music, Art, and Adventure

Held at the enchanting Lulworth Castle in Dorset, Camp Bestival is more than just a music festival. Amidst a variety of live performances, theatre, comedy, and literature, kids can engage in numerous creative workshops and exciting outdoor adventures. Adults can relax at the wellness retreat or dance to the beats of some of the UK's top artists. With the beautifully lit castle serving as a backdrop, you'll feel as though you've stepped into a magical realm. 

Elliot and Erin at Camp Bestival 

Gone Wild Festival - Devon

Adventure in the Heart of Nature

The Gone Wild Festival, backed by Bear Grylls and his team, is an exhilarating outdoor adventure suitable for all ages. Situated amidst the stunning scenery of the Devon countryside, this festival gives you the chance to learn survival skills, participate in archery, build rafts, and even try rock climbing. Evenings are spent enjoying delicious food, live music, and campfire stories in the gorgeous surroundings of Powderham Castle.

Gone Wild Festival - Powderham Castle Devon

Gloworm Festival - Nottingham

A World of Joy and Imagination for Children

The Gloworm Festival, set in Thoresby Park in Nottinghamshire, is a child-centric event encouraging creativity and play. It features popular TV and film characters, a variety of interactive workshops, games, and performances. Parents also have their share of entertainment, alongside an array of mouth-watering food and drink options. 

The Davies family having lots of fun at Gloworm (Photo Credit: Sue Davies)

The Big Feastival - The Cotswolds

Where Culinary Delights Meet Live Music

Completing our list, The Big Feastival at Alex James' Farm in the Cotswolds is a unique fusion of top-class food, live music, and an assortment of children's attractions. With demonstrations from Michelin star chefs and a diverse line-up of musicians, the festival offers an unforgettable experience. For the little ones, cooking classes, circus workshops, and meet-and-greets with children's TV characters are all part of the fun.

Photo Credit - The Big Feastival

Embarking on a family adventure at any of these festivals is sure to create lasting memories. Secure your tickets, pack your tents, and prepare for an unforgettable journey at the UK's top family-friendly festivals. Don't forget your wellies! 

Elliot at a VERY muddy Camp Bestival :)

5 of the Best Family Friendly Festivals in the South - Summer 2019

Since becoming parents we have been to a few festivals with the children and every year I am blown away by how geared up they up for kids! Whether you want a quiet, village green type event or a kid friendly music festival with lots of big names there is one to suit every family.

Here's 5 of the best festivals happening over the South this Summer:

Camp Bestival - Lulworth Castle, Dorset
25th-28th July 2019

I'll start with one of the best family-friendly festivals and one of our favourites! Camp Bestival is held in the stunning grounds of Lulworth Castle and is the perfect festival for children of all ages. You can catch Mr Tumble, Mister Maker, Jess Glynne, Nile Rodgers & Chic, Lewis Capaldi and many many more. Kids can go on the world's biggest bouncy castle, get creative in the MAKE SPACE area, meet their favourite characters and even learn some jaw-dropping circus tricks. 

Read our review of last year's festival: http://www.entertainingelliot.com/2018/09/camp-bestival-2018-one-day-visit-our.html

Boomtown Fair - Matterley Estate, Hampshire
7th-11th Aug 2019

Boomtown is a fully immersive festival, sprawling across many different "districts" across a ficticious city. Featuring a diverse musical line up and hundreds of actors bringing the sets to life, this is a festival like no other. 

Is it suitable for families though? Local blogger Bella and her family visited last year and had lots to say about Kidztown - https://dearmummyblog.com/2018/08/16/kidztown-review-becoming-a-boomtown-citizen/

Larmer Tree Festival - Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset
18th-21st July 2019

The Larmer Tree festival has been entertaining revellers for the past 29 years and is now widely thought of as one of the best family festivals around. Although smaller and more intimate than some of it's neighbouring festivals, there is plenty on the line up to entertain the whole family. 

This will be our first year at Larmer Tree Festival and I am really looking forward to seeing Jack Savoretti and KT Tunstall. The children are also really excited because our favourite family band Andy & The Odd Socks will be performing! 

Victorious Festival - Southsea Common, Portsmouth
23rd-25th August 2019

Now in it's 8th year, Victorious Festival is definitely one of the biggest festivals on the South Coast. They have a huge lineup this year including New Order, Clean Bandit and Lewis Capaldi but what makes this festival so suitable for families is it's absolutely fantastic Kids Arena. 

We went along last year and spent most of our day in the Kids Arena, it is like a festival of it's own accord! There are tons of activities for kids including inflatables, arts and crafts, circus skills, live music and shows, face painting, character meet and greets and so much more. The fantastic thing is, it is all free! 

Port Eliot Festival - St.Germans, Cornwall
25th-28th July 2019

According to their website, Port Eliot is a festival unlike any other. Celebrating words, music, imagination, ideas, nature, food, fashion, flowers, laughter, exploration, fun and all that is good in the world! 

Image: Louise Roberts

Do you enjoy going to festivals as a family or do you leave the kids with Grandparents and head off to relive your pre-kid days?!

Camp Bestival 2018 - A One Day Visit, Our Review

Last year, Camp Bestival was one of the highlights of our Summer and I knew that we would end up going again this year. As luck would have it, we were only able to go on the Friday (which is the first proper day) and this coincided with the Andy & The Odd Sock show AND the nice weather!

Unlike last year when I packed wellies, raincoats and black binliners, this time round it was sunglasses, sun lotion and plenty of water! We decided to leave nice and early again incase of festival traffic but we needn't have worried, we arrived on site around 830am and got parked straight away. The carpark was massive and we had a good 10/15 minute walk to the entrance but I'm just glad the ground was dry with no chance of my buggy slipping out of my grasp down the hill like last year!

Our first stop was the Dorset Farmers Market for breakfast because surprise surprise, the kids were hungry already! Randomly, on Elliot's summer holiday bucket list he wanted to have a croissant so he managed to tick this one off, it was a chocolate one too. I've no idea where his need for a croissant came from, we have had them before!

After brekkie we headed up to the Magic Meadow to get our bearings and start exploring. I have to say, it was so nice to be able to wander round freely and not be dragging the buggy through thick mud like last year! We didn't really have a strict itinerary - I know some people do at festivals, and you could go through the timings with a fine tooth comb and plan your whole day around who you wanted to see but ours was very much a laid back plan.

The Magic Meadow has a whole host of things to see such as the Bollywood tent, Caravanserai, The Wall of Death, climbing walls, the Love-Bot robot, the Big Top, trapeze and circus school, HMS Bestival (a life sized ship filled with entertainment), an inflatable church, a giant disco ball and the World's Biggest Bouncy Castle. And trust me, it's massive! Elliot missed out on this last year as the queues were too long so we decided to do this first - and luckily because it was still quite early in the day, he was straight on. He loved it!

World's Biggest Bouncy Castle 

We spent the next hour or so wandering through the Castle Field where we discovered the charity area tucked away in a quiet spot. Lots of great charities with stalls and most of them had something for the children to either win or do which is always a bonus! Elliot managed to win himself a big cup of fruit which was swiftly claimed by Erin! The kids spent ages at the Litter Free Coast stall where they got busy making medals and trying on different accessories for a photo. Elliot looked quite fetching in a blue wig!!

Next up was the area Elliot was most excited for - the lower kids garden. Here you will find the Science tent which plays host to lots of live experiments on stage, the CBeebies tent, facepaint, softplay, funfair rides, Insect Circus and Museum, LOL surprise fun, Family Traveller, lots of tempting food and drink vendors and Make Space - which is every arts&crafters dream! There is literally so much to see here that you could spent your entire day in the Lower Kids Garden and not be bored.

Number one on our list was a Duggee hug in the CBeebies tent. My children are obsessed with Hey Duggee and I've heard the Stick song more times than I care to mention! We queued up and as predicted, Erin freaked out at the sight of Duggee. She's not really a fan of a)things bigger than her and b)people in costumes! Elliot got his Duggee hug though and they both had a bounce to the stick song that Elliot sung....those poor people working in the tent, wonder how many times they heard "Stick!" over the weekend?!!

Erin is not impressed!!

We could have spent longer in the Lower kids garden but our tummies were rumbling so we headed up to the Upper Kids Garden which is where the Feast Collective is located. The Feast Collective is a celebration of exceptional, artisan food producers from across the UK and there is something to tempt every taste!

It does get very busy in the tent and I really struggled to get the buggy round due to the crowds, and it was SO hot. Paul got himself some kind of fish dish but I couldn't decide, too much choice! Me and Elliot decided just to get an ice cream - the heat does funny things to your appetite doesn't it. We also spotted Mary Berry at Zoe's Ghana Kitchen and she was filming - I have to say she looked a lot less sweaty and hot than us!

After a quick play in the circus area and a promise to come back later we headed for Dingly Dell. This is an area that I have heard so much about from fellow bloggers but we totally missed it last year! It feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of the festival but there were so many things for children to do - plus being a woodland, it was very shady which was VERY needed on a hot day like it was.

Elliot was immediately drawn to the Kew Gardens area where he found a totally amazing interactive installation of a giant fungi. It was fascinating! It was musical, it lit up - I can only imagine that it looked even more impressive at night time.

Heading deeper in Dingly Dell we found Lizzie's Way which Camp Bestival describes as a woodland wonderland. Here we found a mud cafe, potions, woodland snaps, puppet show - so many things to fuel little imaginations.

There was even a wooden band area so of course Elliot had to pretend he was in the Odd Socks!

We could have spent longer in Dingly Dell but we had to get to the Big Top for the highlight of the day - Andy and the Odd Socks!

The Big Top was even bigger this year - and probably just as well because Andy drew a massive crowd. We were right down the front (as usual!) and it was a bit mad down there - I took barely any photos as I was holding Erin up on the barrier! It was a great show and the atmosphere was brilliant in the Big Top. We love the Dinosaur Football Legend Megamatch song and it's always entertaining watching the giant footballs bouncing around the crowd, not to mention the T-Rex on stage!

We were really lucky to meet Andy after the show, we were walking past the barrier and Elliot spotted him. There were quite a crowd wanting to say hello but Elliot was so chuffed that Andy came straight to him for a high five :)

After stopping at Shaken Udder for a delicious milkshake, we headed for HMS Bestival. Erin had a nap while I sat and enjoyed the entertainment on stage. The boys decided to try out the games in the Actual Reality Arcade. Think of your favourite childhood arcade games....but life sized! They were in their element and spent a good half an hour battling laser beams and space invaders.

Bollywood....Camp Bestival Style

After a quick mini rave in the Bollywood tent we decided to head back to the Upper Kids Garden to grab something to eat and it was nearly impossible to decide again! Everything smelt and looked so good but in the end I decided on a tandoori chicken wrap with chips, whilst Paul and Elliot got burgers. Obviously the food and drink prices are a bit higher than average but you do kind of expect that when you go to a festival. Most stalls were offering child portions though which was good to see.

It was lovely to have a sit down and watch the world go by for a bit. We actually bumped into some friends so it was nice to sit and have a chat whilst Elliot and his friend Willow showed off their flossing skills!

One of Elliot's favourite bits of last year's Camp Bestival was the circus area so we made a beeline for this after our food. Elliot literally could have spent all day there! He had so much fun walking the tightrope, attempting to ride a unicycle, balancing and bouncing on the giant balls.

After deciding not to run away with the circus, we headed for the Greatest Tent on Earth in the Lower Kid Garden where we caught the tale end of the ZSL Gruesome Nature Live show. Elliot got a bit upset when he realised he'd missed most of it so we hope we get another chance to see this at some point!

The crowds had thinned quite a lot by this point so we were able to take a look at the stalls - Erin was fascinated by the bubbles by Elliot predictably wanted to look at the toy stall! The staff were really helpful and helped him pick out a diabalo which was the right size for his height. He was a bit of a natural with it and had it spinning like he was a pro!

Our time at Camp Bestival was almost over for another year but on the way back to the carpark we stumbled across one of the parades. This is the first time we have caught one of these and what a treat it was. There was a nautical theme and the parade included a giant mermaid, pirate drummers, jellyfish, lobsters - even a shark! It really was a treat for the eyes and a fantastic way to round off our day at Camp Bestival.

It was a slow walk back to the car - the hill seemed a hundred times steeper going up! We had a fab day and I've no doubt we will be back again next year :)