Camp Bestival

[ConDemNation]

Have seen that Billy Bragg is playing there this year, he only seems to do festivals...and have seen it mentioned a bit on MN, so hoping for a bit of info on whether it is good for children, etc.

We are camping virgins, really, never done it as a family.

Any thoughts appreciated! Went to a supposedly child friendly festival near here the other year and it was atrocious - the music was far too loud, hardly anything for the kids to do, expensive 'exotic' food (when all they wanted was sausages and mash!) and loads of drunk, druggy adults off their heads everywhere.

So desperately hoping it isn't like that?!

hi we are trying this one out this year
but we are festival veterans with child,campB is, by all account very child friendly, we shall see
hope you get more posts

dd went last year with her friends and amily - i got the picture that whilst one could get drunk if one wanted to - it was seriously family orientated and rather arty mc

dd says " its got lots to do with kids, there is millions of little kids there. there is a dedicated part for little kids with loads of things to do, and then - they do - proper english food like bacon sarnies and curly fries ( go there if you like fit men!!) the music was like - loud - but if you go where the family camping is you cant hear it so you can sleep properly.

i didn't see that many drunk people."

hope this helps

they have mrTunble and The Gruffalo production
that should keep the nippers happy

alwasy find having realistc expectation as to what you can watch helps - not much in way of moshing

also bedtimes get all over the place for us but dd copes well even had a nap last year, unheard of in normal life since she was 2

Tumble that was apologies for spelling and general lack of grammar

we went last year with our 2.5yo and 6mth old and got there 1 and 1/2 hour before the gates opened on saturday morning. Queing was managable but horrendous later on in the morning as you had a huge q to get hire trolleys then q to get in, then q to get wristbands for the kids! Big tip, the kids wristbands are just your mobile ph no and the kids name (for just in case they get lost) so make it yourself before you get there as they are not compulsary.
saturday is also the best day to look around and check out the site as sunday and monday is manic busy. there was a river cottage food stall that was so quite on saturday afternoon - come sunday there were massive que's ALL DAY.
if you can, pitch your tent close to a flag/banner so you and your kids can easily find you way back, and don't pitch too far in from the paths as it gets so congested that it's hard to find your tent and hard to get a pushchair in. Goes without saying that you want to avoid the power generator's that are dotted around the tent sites. after all that speal, we did really enjoy the festival with our lo's. the night is really peaceful as it seemed to be quiet by 10.30ish - maybe we were lucky. the stars shone so brightly in the countryside and we had a lovely view looking down to the festival lights!!

piglips thanks for info
Latitude's kids wrist bands used to be liked that until they sorted themselves out

same with food stall good to know where the good stuff is in advance and get in there quick, queues and children not a great mix

We are going too this year! Have not been to a festival for 5 years and we will be going with DS (3.5) and I will be 27 weeks pg (have just posted another thread!).

Great tip about wristband piglips. We are planning to go v early on the Friday morning (we live not far away) to get a good spot, and we have a camper so hopefully this avoids any trolley queues.

OP, I think if you are looking for a family-friendly one, then Camp Bestival is one of the best you can choose (that is why we are going anyway). There will be drunk and stoned people, but it won't be really full on as SO many families go. I wouldn't go otherwise (although ask me afterwards!).