The best small family friendly festivals for campervans

It can be tricky finding a family break that all ages will enjoy. Fortunately, over the summer months, the UK abounds with festivals that welcome fun-loving adults and their kids for weekends of music and mayhem, all in a safe and friendly environment.

Campervans make family festivals even more fantastic. They give you somewhere to rest and recuperate, as well as a place to store your possessions while you’re off enjoying the entertainment.

Just make sure you’ve got campervan insurance to protect your vehicle and belongings while you party.

Read on for our guide to our Top 10 small family friendly festivals that you can visit in your campervan. Have fun!

 

1. Larmer Tree, Wiltshire/ Dorset border: 16th-19th July 2020

Set in a woodland wonderland, Larmer Tree is an enchanting festival for parents and kids alike. With a capacity of just 5,000 per day, it’s boutique and beautiful.

Music-wise, expect to hear folk, jazz, pop and indie: last year’s headliners included Tom Odell, Kate Tempest and The Cat Empire. Comedy, workshops, cinema and talks round out the line-up.

Best of all, the ‘family festivalling’ is extensive. Last year, mini-festival goers were treated to Andy and the Odd Socks, the band fronted by the “George Clooney of kids’ TV”, Andy Day. Crafts and games meant there was no excuse for boredom!

There’s a special camping field for vans, so once you and your nearest and dearest have partied the evening away, you’ll be able to curl up for the night in comfort.

And if you think your kids will find a whole weekend of festival fever too much to handle, you can get a day ticket which includes one night’s camping. Sweet dreams!

2. Deer Shed, North Yorkshire: 24th-26th July 2020

Love mystery games? Deer Shed is teasing something quite special for its eleventh outing: a massive multi-player game for your family to puzzle out over the weekend as you enjoy your festival favourites.

Called ‘Incognito’, details of the game are currently scant. But Deer Shed has long prided itself on immersive theatre, interactive art, site-wide participation games and more, so it’s bound to be epic.

Of course, there’s musical fun to be had too. Headliners Stereolab and Baxter Dury have already been unveiled, with plenty more acts to come. Comedy, fringe theatre, talks, sports and more will be on offer too.

All of this is set in the rolling hills of North Yorkshire with a capacity of 15,000 over the weekend. Campervan tickets are available for an extra £60, and you can even get electric hook-up for an additional £70. Luxury indeed!

While Deer Shed is generally a safe and friendly festival, it’s the largest one on our list so theft and damage are more likely. Make sure your campervan insurance meets your needs before you go.

 

3. Just So Festival, Cheshire: 21st-23rd August 2020

Many festivals put their activities for kids in a dedicated area that can be swerved by teenagers and child-free adults.  At Just So, however, kids – and their grown-ups – are placed firmly front and centre.

Billed as “an imaginative outdoor family adventure like no other”, the emphasis at Just So is on “stories and escapades” rather than big-name acts. The weekend includes the Tribal Tournament, where families dress up as different animal clans, such as Bees and Foxes, and compete for golden pebbles.

There’s plenty more, including circus acts, yoga, bush crafts, campfire storytelling and live music. And if a weekend of family adventure sounds a little exhausting for mere adults, you’ll be relieved to hear they do have bars and hot tubs, too.

This intimate festival – its capacity is just 6,000 – welcomes campervans for an extra £53.25.

4. Stendhal , Northern Ireland: 6th-8th August 2020

The previous winner of both the Best Small Festival and Best Family Friendly Festival in Ireland awards, this Northern Irish gem is fast becoming one of the most important annual arts events in the region.

It features music, dance, comedy, arts and family-friendly entertainment, with a focus on Irish acts.

Around a quarter of the 8,000 attendees are kids, who are kept happy with a programme of storytelling, arts and crafts sessions, and acrobatics displays.

And if you all tire of the arts and crafts, you can simple explore the incredible grounds, which include wooded areas and little streams to play in. 

Campervans costs an additional £40 – but if the weather is as wet and muddy in 2020 as it was in 2019, you’ll think that money very well spent.

And the name? It references Stendhal Syndrome, a condition in which people are said to experience dizziness when exposed to great beauty. Make sure you’ve got campervan insurance to protect your vehicle from any dazed festival guests!

 

5. Nozstock , Herefordshire: 23rd-26th July 2020

What better way to kick off the English school holidays than with a trip to this hidden valley, where the music’s fab, the drinks are cheap, and the mood is happy and relaxed?

Founded by a family as a party for their friends and acquaintances, Nozstock has now grown to 6,000 people every year – but still retains that friendly feel.

It prides itself on its musical eclecticism, with last year’s line-up featuring Rudimental, Soul II Soul and the Sleaford Mods.

With 11 stages and a bewildering variety of crafts and activities at last year’s bash, there’s bound to be something for every member of your family.

Like many festivals, Nozstock is aiming to be free of single-use plastic within the next few years.

So bring your campervan and all your utensils – and make sure everything’s covered with campervan insurance in case of any over-enthusiastic partygoers!

A live-in vehicle in the “Van Haven” is allowed for an extra £42.40, and kids aged 12 and under go free.

6. Elderflower Fields, Sussex and Leicestershire: 22nd-25th May and 29th-31st May 2020

How to keep your festival’s intimate family feel without turning people away? Start a second one!

Since its first year in 2012, Elderflower Fields has already moved to a bigger Sussex location, with a capacity of around 2,000. This year it’s starting an additional site in the Midlands on the subsequent weekend.

It calls itself “the family festival”, and the entertainment does not disappoint. As well as musical acts, there’s crafts, arts, circus, and even a family dance-off on the Sunday. Fancy dress is encouraged, as is letting your hair down and dancing.

While the late May holiday often sees glorious weather, it’s likely to be chilly at night so a campervan is absolutely ideal.

Plus, if you love the first Elderflower Fields weekend, you could always just stay in your van and head up to Leicestershire to do it all over again the following weekend!

If you do a lot of travelling over the coming year, make sure the mileage limit is sufficient on your campervan insurance.

 

7. Kelburn Garden Party, North Ayrshire: 3rd-6th July 2020

Many festivals are situated in lovely surroundings. But Kelburn is magical: it’s the grounds of a 13^th century painted castle, featuring glen walks, hidden grottos, and waterfall plunge pools.

The festival organisers make the most of this, spreading out the entertainment to fill all the hidden nooks and crannies of the site. Kids are encouraged to explore, with the labyrinthine Secret Forest trail full of wonderful surprises.

Acts range from techno to jazz to world music, so there’s bound to be something to get you and your kids dancing. And if you prefer a taste of adventure, you can even try unicycling or driving a bus!

Campervans are £37.80 on top of the ticket price, and you can choose a Quiet camping zone to ensure you’re rested for the following day. With a daily capacity of just 1,300, this festival sells out quick.

Kelburn Castle is less than one hour from Glasgow. What better place to start the Scottish school holidays?

You could use it as the springboard for an incredible road trip up the stupendous west coast of Scotland – just make sure you’ve got campervan insurance before you set off.

8. Valley Fest, North-East Somerset: 31st July-2nd August 2020

Billing itself as the “best-tasting music festival in the South West”, Valley Fest is a relative newbie that has quickly become established on the summer scene.

It’s just up the road from the mighty Glastonbury, and, like its big sibling, it takes place on a farm. That’s reflected in its foodie nature – you won’t be forced to subsist on stale falafels here.

Instead, you’ll find banquet tables in tipis groaning with locally produced culinary delights for you to share with your fellow festival goers.

And the kids? They can run around freely, discovering new delights around every corner. Last year, they could even make models with local company Aardman Animations of Wallace and Gromit fame.

Music-wise, there’s plenty of sounds for you to enjoy. Last year’s headliners included Basement Jaxx and Razorlight, with folk, roots, jazz and indie on the line-up, too.

Valley Fest’s capacity is set to double from 5,000 to 10,000 over the next few years, but hopefully the friendly, laid-back feel will remain. Campervan passes cost £60 on top of your weekend ticket, and the money raised goes to charity.

 

9. The Good Life Experience, Flintshire: 10th-13th September 2020

When a festival lists Cerys Matthews – the singer-songwriter and BBC Radio 6 Music guru – as one of its founders, you know the music line-up is going to be something special.

She promises you a “knock-out music line-up of jazz, blues, classical, world, folk and funk”. Last year, this included Norman Jay, but TGLE is more about exciting discoveries than big names.

It’s also about “craft, outdoor activity, food, music and ideas”, with the concept being that daytimes are for nurturing, learning and fun, with everyone coming together for one big family-friendly party in the evening.

TGLE is another festival that aims to provide activities that appeal to adults and children alike, rather than containing the little ones in a stuffy craft tent.

Your family will find plenty to explore here on the Hawarden Estate, with wild swimming, fairground rides and even axe throwing on offer!

Guest numbers are capped at 3,000, and campervan tickets are limited and highly sought-after, so get yours quick.

Even in a small, safe environment such as TGLE, it’s essential you have insurance that will cover your vehicle for damage or theft.

10. Leopallooza, Cornwall: 24-26 July 2020

It’s got the wildest name on the festival circuit, but is it the wildest festival? In fact, Leopallooza calls itself “the greatest house party… in a field” and has that laid-back atmosphere that makes the West Country the UK’s festival hotspot.

It’s located in a wooden Cornish valley just a few miles from some of the finest surfing beaches in the UK, so it’s ideal for combining with a beach holiday.  

Last year’s music headliners were Friendly Fires, The Vaccines and Feeder, and there’s also a focus on championing upcoming local bands. While music and comedy are the stars here, there’s plenty for little Leopalloozers to do, too.

Leopallooza is admirably green. It was the first festival in the UK to ban single use cups and has a 0% landfill policy: 90% is recycled, while 10% is turned into fuel pellets.

In 2020, it’s hoping to replace most of its diesel generators with renewable energy and ditch the chemical toilets in favour of a sustainable alternative.

This festival is especially campervan friendly: there are three areas where you can park, including one for families; and two different sizes of pitch. Campervan passes cost £33 or £55 on top of your festival ticket.

 

Get a quote for campervan insurance today

Your campervan can be the safe base for some incredible family adventures in 2020, so make sure you’ve got it covered.

With insurance from Motorhome Protect, you can use your campervan 365 days a year, which can include foreign use.

Up to £3,500 of camping personal effects is available, so you can protect your equipment too.

Get a quote from Motorhome Protect today.