Camp Bestival review: Our verdict on this popular, family-friendly festival

Our verdict

Camp Bestival was much better than we'd expected. We'd never been to a festival before and weren't quite sure how we'd manage a full day with a five-year-old, particularly while managing my chronic health condition. By the end, we were wondering why we hadn't tried it sooner.

The big surprise was just how much there was for children to do. There were live shows, character appearances, crafts, discos, face painting and interactive activities, so our daughter was never bored. Seeing her favourite characters appear on stage was a real highlight.

Although tickets are expensive, the experience offered excellent value. So much is included in the ticket price that you do not feel under pressure to spend constantly once inside, and visitors can bring some of their own food and drink. Even attending for one day makes for an exceptional family day out.

It wasn't perfect. Information about accessibility services could have been much clearer, and the queues for some of the most popular character meet-and-greets were too long. Both were frustrating, but neither spoiled the day for us.

I'd say Camp Bestival works particularly well for families with primary-school-aged children and younger teenagers. There's plenty for toddlers too, while older children and adults have the evening music line-up. For festival first-timers like us, it felt relaxed, welcoming and genuinely geared towards families.

We'd definitely go back. More than anything, seeing how much our daughter loved it made the day for us.

What is the campsite like?

Although we were only there for the day rather than camping, we walked through the campsite between the Yellow Car Park and the main festival, so we still got a good look at the set-up.

There was a nice atmosphere, with families settling in for the weekend and children heading towards the festival in their costumes. It felt very much part of Camp Bestival rather than just somewhere to pitch a tent.

The standard pitches looked fairly close together, especially with the festival so busy, so you won't get masses of personal space. There were toilets, showers, drinking-water points and places to dispose of rubbish. At around 9.30am there was a sizeable queue for the showers, so that's worth bearing in mind if you're camping.

From what we saw, the campsite was clean, busy and sociable, with plenty of families around. We can't vouch for what it's like to actually camp there overnight, but the atmosphere certainly made us understand why so many families choose to stay for the whole weekend.

What other accommodation options are there?

Alongside the standard campsite, Camp Bestival had pre-pitched bell tents, which looked a bit roomier and save you having to bring all your own camping gear. If you fancy camping but aren't quite ready to embrace putting up a tent with the children in tow, they're worth considering.

You don't have to camp, either. The festival is close to Lulworth Cove, with hotels, holiday cottages and B&Bs within driving distance. We live around 30 minutes away, so going for the day worked well for us, although after walking through the campsite, I could definitely see the appeal of staying for the night.

What are the parking facilities like?

We parked in the Yellow Car Park and found getting in straightforward. We arrived early, which helped enormously, and there was plenty of room when we got there. Getting out again at the end of our day was similarly painless.

The walk was a different story. It took us about 15 minutes to get from the car park towards the festival along an uneven track across a field. That doesn't sound horrendous on paper, but after spending the rest of the day on your feet it feels considerably farther on the return journey. I found it tiring because of my health condition, and our five-year-old had understandably run out of enthusiasm for walking by then too.

We'd brought her buggy despite the fact she wouldn't normally use one at her age, and I was extremely glad we had. Next time I'd seriously consider a pull-along trolley for the combination of child, bags and all the other paraphernalia you somehow accumulate during a family day out.

Camp Bestival does have formal accessibility arrangements. Day ticket holders can apply for accessible parking, and the festival also lists bookable facilities including viewing-platform wristbands and accessible arena toilets. Sensory Calm Spaces don't require a pass or wristband. These arrangements need to be checked and, where necessary, applied for ahead of your visit rather than assuming they'll be available when you arrive.

As somebody managing a chronic condition, I would have liked to understand those arrangements better before our visit. That's partly a lesson for me as a first-time festival-goer, but clearer signposting towards the relevant information would have made planning feel less daunting.

Physical signage was probably our biggest gripe once there too. We had the festival map and still managed to head the wrong way at one point. On a site this big, a few more prominent directional signs would have saved tired legs.

What are the different stages like?

We visited four main venues, each with its own atmosphere. The outdoor Main Stage hosted family favourites including Blippi, while the CBeebies Bedtime Story Tent was where we saw Justin Fletcher, known as Mr Tumble, read a bedtime story and where Duggee also appeared. We joined a K-pop disco in the large circus-style Big Top and watched a magician in the Bollywood Tent.

The mix of outdoor and indoor venues means there are sheltered options if the weather changes. Popular performances can become very busy, though. We arrived slightly late for the bedtime story and had to stand outside the tent, although we found seating for most other shows.

Getting around the site with a child was manageable. There was plenty of open field space to push a buggy, let children run around and sit down when everyone needed a rest. The crowds were busy but friendly, and the seaside fancy-dress theme created a joyful, community atmosphere.

There was seating around the festival, especially in Paradise Garden, but many families brought their own camping chairs. In hindsight, we would definitely have packed fold-up chairs, as having a guaranteed place to rest would have made a significant difference during a long day.

The line-up balanced children’s entertainment with music for adults exceptionally well. Our daughter adored Blippi and sang along to every song, repeatedly asking, “Mummy, is that the real Blippi?” Meeting Bluey was another standout moment, and seeing Mr Tumble and Duggee felt almost magical to her. The K-pop disco was also a huge hit.

Later in the day, acts including Example and Bastille gave parents and older children plenty to enjoy. There was never a point when we struggled to find something to do.

Children could generally see the performances well from Paradise Garden, especially with the large video screens. For a direct view close to the Main Stage, it is best to arrive early because the area fills quickly and trolleys can take up a lot of space. There was still room farther back near the castle, and our daughter could see from our shoulders.

One useful addition would be optional wristbands for children with a parent’s phone number. The site can become extremely busy, and this would offer extra reassurance if a child became separated from their family.

What food and drink options are there?

We were genuinely impressed by the food at Camp Bestival. There was a wide choice of vendors, and the quality was much higher than we expected for a festival.

We had fish and chips with battered sausages, mac and cheese and steak bites, all of which were freshly prepared and delicious. One highlight was a Bristol-based company selling Mexican-style ice lollies in flavours including blackberry, lime and coconut. There were also plenty of ice cream vans around the site.

The biggest surprise was the value for money. Festival food is never cheap, but the portions were generous, the quality was consistently high and we never felt ripped off. Our daughter was equally happy with the range of choices.

The bars were more expensive, although there were several across the site and the Paradise Garden had its own bar. We also saw families carrying their own food and drinks, particularly those camping, which offers a useful way to manage costs.

Food is often one of the biggest expenses at festivals, but Camp Bestival got the balance right. We left feeling we had eaten really well without constantly worrying about the cost, which made the whole experience feel even better value for money.

Top tips for families visiting Camp Bestival

For a first visit, arrive as early as possible. Queues were much shorter in the morning, making it easier to enjoy popular activities before the site became busier.

We wish we had brought fold-up camping chairs and a beach trolley. Chairs would have given us a guaranteed place to rest, while a trolley would have been useful for carrying bags and helping our daughter when she became tired. Trolleys were available to hire from the car park.

The Slowmo wellness area was one of our favourite discoveries. It offered a calm, relaxing break from the excitement of the festival, and families were welcome provided children remained quiet. Setting aside some time there made the day feel much more manageable.

A day visit worked brilliantly for us, but camping appeared to offer a special communal atmosphere and would make the experience more immersive. Overall, the festival is best suited to primary-school-aged children and younger teenagers, although toddlers and adults also have plenty to enjoy.

About the author

Rebecca Warbis is a UX Designer at Mumsnet, where she works closely with the Product and Technology teams to make the site easier and more enjoyable for parents to use.

She is mum to a five-year-old daughter and enjoys discovering family-friendly holidays, days out and attractions. Rebecca is also the author of The Date Night Cookbook, which has been published in Europe, the US and South Korea.

About the editor

Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, where she writes, edits and optimises family-focused content designed to make everyday parenting that bit easier.

As a mum of three, Jenny brings first-hand parenting experience to everything she writes, with plenty of trial-and-error along the way. Her family travels have ranged from UK camping trips to more adventurous long-haul breaks, giving her a clear understanding of what really matters when travelling with children - from location and layout to those small but crucial details that can turn an average family trip into the best holiday ever.

She regularly researches and reviews family travel options, combining expert insight with real parent feedback from the Mumsnet community to help other families plan holidays with confidence.

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