Festivals and tent size

[BramblyHedge]

I have decided that this year we shall be festival virgins no longer but I need a bit of advice. We have a 5m bell tent and I am wondering if anyone can recommend a festival which has ample camping where large tents are allowed (have images of the Glasto domes on top of each other at the moment). My boys will be almost 2 and 4. Would prefer something folky/ not too loud and ravy with lots for the kids to do. So far I have looked at Latitude, Cornbury, Cropedy, Beautiful Days, Larmer Tree. I know there is another thread about festivals but the tent angle is important so thought I'd start my own thread .

Thanks

Trowbridge Festival may be worth a look at, there were lots of large tents there.

Wychwood is on Cheltenham racecourse and the camping areas are huge,lots of big family tents. I have a smaller tent for festivals though as we don't spend much time in it.

Wychwood is also the most family friendly of festivals

Thanks both of you. I looked into both the suggestions and have decided I might have to do a festival every year to do all the ones that look good. Went for Larmer Tree in the end but it was close between that and Wychwood.

Camp Bestival looks amazing for kids that age, i'm afraid i can't help on tent size as this year will be our first year (boys the same age) but i do know there is a forum on their website so you might get better info there! I think Latitude has a forum as well!

i would certainly give Glastonbury a miss with any tent that has guide lines otherwise they will get pulled out by people tripping over them every 5 minutes, they really are packed in like sardines and unless you got there a day earlier there would be little room for a large tent

Greenbelt is also at Cheltenham racecourse and has no restrictions on tent size. Although it's best to arrive early to get a decent pitch in the family camping area

Bestival, Larmer Tree, Greenbelt and Wychwood are all great for families. I can only afford one this year though, so what d'ya reckon? I'm thinking Wychwood at the moment because of the number of workshops.

We are taking our new 5m bell tent to Latitude this year - we are in the Family camping area and intend to arrive early - last year we didn't set off til Friday morning (DH's great idea) and ended up squeezed into a teeny space with our old tent, which was a lot smaller. The Family area got very full, people were actually pitching their tents in a fire lane, which worried me.

We also saw several people arriving Friday afternoon being turned away from the family camping area despite having family camping tickets, because it was full. Otoh, next door to us was a mahoosive 12 man tent with a gazebo, day tent and loo tent arranged in a circle for a family of 6, so I think some people may take up more than their fair share of the allocated space, iyswim...

This year we are leaving Thursday morning!

I know this thread is a year old, but in case anyone picks up on it now and needs some advice for this year...
Check with the festival about how much space there is because if there isn't tons of room then other campers will not appreciate you taking up a massive area. If you go somewhere like www.Acoustic Festival.co.uk, www.Nibleyfestival.co.uk, www.Wychwoodfestival.com, www.farmfestival.co.uk and lots of other small-mid size ones then you won't have a problem.

In Camp Bestival you can actually book big plots called 'camping plus', specifically designed for the larger 'family' tents. But they do sell out very quick.

Tents are generally bigger these days, and I think it is expected in family areas that you are not going to be using a poxy 2-man dome, so as long as you aren't taking the P* then you should be fine at most festivals...

Like Lovecat said - you'd be ok at Latitude if you (a) arrive early on the Friday or (b) don't mind being at the back of family camping.

Those that arrive with huge tents on a Friday afternoon and want to pitch close to the Family Camping/Arena entrance are mad - plus they are pitched right by the loos which are pretty grim by Sunday night ;)