Camp Bestival review: I took two four year olds to a festival and we had the time of our lives

Mother and Baby writer Hannah Carroll visited Camp Bestival in Dorset in July 2024 with her friend Courtney, son Frank (4) and godson Isiah (4). They stayed in the standard camping area from Thursday until Sunday.

In my early twenties, nothing made me happier than pulling on my wellies and heading off to a festival. Fast forward a decade, and as a mum, the idea of taking my kids to Camp Bestival honestly made me pause. Sure, I knew Camp Bestival was one of the most family-friendly festivals in the UK, but the thought of big crowds, loud noise, a disrupted routine, and limited toilets had me second-guessing. After chatting with my best friend, though, we decided to take the plunge and bring our two four-year-olds to the three-day event. What's the worst that could happen? Well, find out how it went— with the tips and tricks we picked up along the way.

What age is Camp Bestival for?

Camp Bestival Dorset was founded in 2008 by DJ Rob da Bank and his wife, Josie. It's marketed as a family-friendly festival suitable for all ages. The festival takes place each summer at Lulworth Castle in Dorset. It's designed specifically with families in mind, offering a blend of music, entertainment, and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Is Camp Bestival family-friendly?

Unlike other festivals that might feel overwhelming for parents, Camp Bestival has an easygoing vibe, ensuring that both adults and kids can have fun. From big-name musical line-ups to storytime sessions and craft circles, there’s always something happening to keep everyone entertained. Whether you want to go for the duration or want a summer day out that your kids will love, Camp Bestival in Dorset is a firm favourite by families in the UK.

When planning my trip to Camp Bestival, I had to consider my children's personalities. My eldest son isn’t a fan of loud, busy places and can get overwhelmed, so I was cautious. I didn’t want to bring him along if he wasn’t going to enjoy the festival environment. I asked him how he felt about going, and he decided he’d rather stay home. As a single parent, the thought of managing both a two-year-old and a three-year-old at the festival felt a bit daunting, so the littlest child also stayed behind, which left my middle child, Frank.

Frank is every bit the stereotypical middle child—fearless, tenacious, and always ready for a good time. It made sense to bring him along, especially since my best friend's child is the same age. With two adventurous kids, I felt confident they would both have a great time. Camp Bestival isn’t exactly cheap, so I wanted to avoid the hassle of setting everything up only to end up with unhappy children. Fortunately, I was hopeful that this duo would love the experience.

Once we arrived at Camp Bestival and got everything set up (more on that later), I was pleasantly surprised by how manageable the noise level was. Of course, being a music festival, you could hear the music, but it wasn’t overwhelmingly loud, and my worries about a chaotic, overcrowded atmosphere quickly faded. While it’s still busy, the festival is surprisingly spacious, making it easy to keep an eye on your children. Naturally, a wave of mum guilt hit me—after experiencing Camp Bestival, I now feel confident I could bring all three of my kids. There truly is something for every child to enjoy.

What is the difference between Bestival and Camp Bestival?

Camp Bestival is often seen as the little sister festival of Bestival. They were both launched by DJ Rob Da Bank (Bestival was launched first in 2004, with Camp Bestival following four years later.) The most significant difference between Bestival and Camp Bestival is the audience. Bestival is aimed at adults and young adults. It has a strong party vibe that you would expect at a traditional music festival, whereas Camp Bestival is aimed at families, and there is much more to enjoy than just the lineup. There are child-friendly performers at Camp Bestival, like Mr Tumble and CBeebies characters, and a wide range of family-friendly activities, from storytelling to science shows, in addition to the musical lineup.

Our review of Camp Bestival Dorset

When it comes to festivals, preparation is key—especially when you're going with kids. I spent hours searching online for tips to make our festival experience as smooth as possible, which resulted in us bringing quite a lot of stuff. What I didn’t fully consider, though, was that I’d be the one lugging it all across three fields from the car park to the standard camping area! True to form, my four-year-old was happily skipping along while I struggled with a festival cart, camping equipment falling off every few minutes.

By the time we reached the edge of the first field, I was thrilled to spot a festival buggy taxi service. Although it cost £35, you truly can’t put a price on sanity! The money raised goes to charity, and the relief of rolling into camp without the struggle made it worth every penny. If you’re bringing a lot of luggage or have young children, I’d definitely recommend budgeting for this—it makes a world of difference.

Camp Bestival's staff is mostly made up of volunteers, but you'd be hard-pressed to find more passionate people. They go above and beyond to make sure everyone has an incredible experience. When we were unloading our luggage, volunteers kept the kids entertained and even helped us set up. This really captures the overall atmosphere of Camp Bestival—people are kind, considerate, and genuinely happy to help each other out. It's a refreshing change from the vibe at some other festivals.

One kind stranger and his son even helped us set up our brand-new tent. Word to the wise: make sure you know how to pitch your tent before arriving at the festival! We were incredibly lucky these friendly strangers took pity on us, or I’m pretty sure we’d still be in a Dorset field, struggling with tent poles.

Once we were all set up, our first mission was finding food. As every parent knows, there can never be enough snacks when kids are involved, and we came well-prepared. But after the hassle of loading and unloading everything, we didn’t have the energy to dive into our campsite pasta. So, we headed into the festival in search of food. I was bracing myself for outrageous prices and mentally preparing for a month of beans on toast to recover from the cost. But to my relief, children’s meals were a very reasonable £6.

Had I been more savvy, I would’ve jumped on the reasonably priced food packages offered by the festival. In the end, we opted for stone-baked pizza, and it was sensational—a perfect start to the festival.

As a reggae lover, there was one act on the lineup I absolutely couldn’t miss: the legendary David Rodigan. Armed with our pre-purchased finger lasers, bells, and whistles, we headed to the tent. The atmosphere was pure joy—parents living their best lives while mini ravers did their best to keep up. I had been a bit nervous about mixing kids with alcohol-fueled adults, thinking it might get a bit chaotic. But, as any festival-goer will tell you, everyone was just there to have a great time. The kids were dancing to the reggae classics I grew up with, attempting some questionable breakdancing moves that could rival Raygun, (the Australian breakdancer at this years Olympics) and the vibe was euphoric all around.

We headed back to camp early, and had a blissful sleep. We were camping right next to the festival but by the late evening, the noise wasn't that noticable for us once we were in our tent. However probably worth noting that I'm not a particularly light sleeper. However one thing which you will notice is the drop of temperature come night time, even in our camping sleeping bags we could still feel the cold. So make sure to layer up.

There's nothing quite like waking up in the great outdoors, and as the sun rose, there was a peacefulness that settled over the camp. We started the day with a warm coffee to shake off the morning chill. However, the port-a-loos had seen a lot of use overnight, and the smell wasn’t something I was willing to deal with so early. Instead, I opted for the paid toilets—well worth the £2, especially since the money goes to charity to help build safe toilets worldwide.

The volunteers were lovely, putting temporary tattoos on the kids and showing them how much money had been raised, while also teaching them about the importance of the charity’s work. It made us feel good about spending a few pounds to start the day comfortably.

We then headed into the festival, and at 9 a.m., it was eerily quiet—perfect for the kids to have as many turns as they wanted on the slides and in the play park. We met the beloved kids character Bluey, played with bubbles, and even took a ride on the Ferris wheel, which was fun but faster (and a bit more rickety) than I expected! Afterward, we went to the wooden workshop, where the kids got to test their building skills using saws and hammers, all under the watchful eyes of the volunteers.

While I could give you a detailed rundown of everything we did, it would probably get a bit repetitive. The key takeaway is this: Camp Bestival offers endless opportunities for creating lifelong memories, with so many moments you’ll cherish long after the festival ends.

Is Camp Bestival worth it?

For me, it’s a resounding yes. I’ve already started planning for next year’s trip, and this time I think I’ll be brave enough to take all the kids. Camp Bestival is a fantastic opportunity to get children outside and away from screens, which can be quite a challenge in today’s world. From the moment we arrived until we departed, we laughed, talked, and enjoyed each other’s company. I forgot the daily stresses of parenthood and really immersed myself in the moment. While they say money can’t buy happiness, it can buy tickets to Camp Bestival—and that feels pretty close!

Where to stay in Camp Bestival?

When attending Camp Bestival, there are several accommodation options to suit different preferences and budgets:

Camping and camping plus: The most popular choices, with several designated camping areas. You can bring your own tent or opt for pre-pitched options. There are family-friendly zones, quieter areas, and with campin plus you already have your pitch marked out.

Boutique Camping: For those looking for a more comfortable experience, this is the option for you. With hot showers, proper flushing loos, a dedicated car park near to the main campsite entrance, complimentary charging, pamper rooms and welcoming staff on hand Boutique Camping is a great way to enjoy the festival with a bit of extra luxury.

Campervans and Caravans: If you have a campervan or caravan (or you can hire one), there are designated areas for this type of accommodation. It provides a convenient base with your own facilities, making it easier to manage family needs. I think this is what I will opt for next year.

Nearby Accommodation: If camping isn’t your style, consider nearby hotels, B&Bs, or holiday parks in the surrounding area. Just be sure to book in advance, as these can fill up quickly during the festival.

VIP and Premium Options: Some packages may offer additional perks, like Hospitality Camping , which offers upgraded facilities, and premium camping experiences. Check the festival’s website for details on these options.

Whichever option you choose, be sure to book early to secure your spot and make the most of your Camp Bestival experience

What to take to Camp Bestival

There are a few things that will make your stay at Camp Bestival a little bit easier. Here's some of the top things we took that we would defintely recommend.

Tips and Tricks for taking kids to Camp Bestival

Pack Smart, Pack Light-ish – Sure, you’ll need snacks, wipes, and endless changes of clothes, but you’ll also need to carry it all. Those fancy pull-along trolleys are festival game-changers, trust me! Bonus tip: throw in some fairy lights for nighttime visibility and instant cool factor.

Ear Defenders Are Your BFF – With booming music and excited crowds, you’ll want to protect those little ears. Plus, they make your kids look like adorable mini DJs.

Bring Your Own Glow – Light-up toys at festivals can cost a small fortune. Pack some pre-bought glow sticks and light-up accessories. The kids will love them, and you’ll feel like a budget-savvy superhero.

Settle In for the Night Chill – It gets surprisingly cold once the sun sets. Bring layers, warm sleeping bags, and maybe an extra blanket or two. No one wants to be shivering in their tent at 2 a.m.

Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks – Festival food is great, but sometimes kids just want a rice cake or a raisins. Stock up on easy-to-grab snacks, and you’ll be their hero when hunger strikes in the middle of a set.

Embrace the Mess – Mud? Yep. Face paint in their hair? Probably. Just roll with it—it’s all part of the festival magic. Wet wipes and hand sanitiser are your new best pals.

Plan, But Not Too Much – Have a rough idea of what you want to see, but don’t overdo it. Sometimes the best moments are the spontaneous ones, like dancing to a random band or discovering an art tent.

Keep the Kiddos Lit – Slap some glow sticks or light-up glasses on your kids once it gets dark. Not only do they love them, but it also helps you spot them in the festival crowd.

Hannah Carroll is our Senior Writer. In her capacity, she curates top-notch listicles, crafts insightful how-to guides, and delivers expert product reviews. As a mother of three, Hannah draws upon her comprehensive understanding of all facets of family life to bring true insight into all the products that make running a home easier.