A Family Adventure at Camp Bestival
As I surveyed our living room, I couldn’t help but think this wasn’t going to work. There was one inflatable tent that was bigger than our coffee table, two sleeping bags, a double duvet, air beds for four, two rucksacks, three backpacks, a weekend bag, a cool bag, and a bag of food. It was an overwhelming amount of gear, especially with two under-10s in the back of the car. But somehow, we managed to get everything packed and set off down the A3 toward Dorset for a four-night stay.
This wasn’t our first time at Camp Bestival, the award-winning family festival that marks the start of summer holidays at Lulworth Castle by the Jurassic coast. In previous years, we had used the festival as a launching point for our summer breaks, staying in neighboring counties. This time, we wanted to make the most of our time on site while improving our camping skills.
Previously, we had arrived with little more than clothes and food, enjoying the luxury of pre-pitched glamping options like bell tents, yurts, and trailers. However, with a growing group of friends attending the festival, we decided to create our own little camping community, which led to a military-grade packing list.
After a last-minute trip to Decathlon, we had what we hoped would be a comfortable setup: an inflatable tent, self-inflating mattress, compact chairs and table, solar fairy lights, and a decent cool bag. Unfortunately, the reality didn’t match our expectations. We forgot to bring a pump for the tent, and even after borrowing one, we struggled to get it to stand. Maybe poles are easier after all.
With some friendly help from our neighbors, we eventually got everything set up. Cold drinks were in hand, and the children ran wild with their friends. Other families had even more gear than we did. Alice and Mark from south London were at the festival for the first time with their two kids, aged four and seven. They were drawn by the free tickets for under-fives and planned to travel to the Isle of Wight for a summer break at a caravan park with extended family.
“We had to ask my mum to take some of our stuff for us,” Alice explained. “There was no way we were getting two weeks of clothes in the car.” They’re not alone. Recent research by Ticketmaster shows that festivals are becoming a popular alternative for family holidays, with over two in five parents seeing them as a replacement for traditional summer breaks.
The proximity of ferries to the Isle of Wight was a key factor for Alice and Mark’s extended holiday. Meanwhile, almost three quarters of parents believe festivals offer a better way to introduce their children to new cultures and create lasting memories.
A Week of Activities and Relaxation
Our group of five clans made the most of what was on offer. School holiday childcare typically costs £10 per hour, plus packed lunch costs, and might include sports, games, or arts and crafts. Camp Bestival tickets cost £210 per adult, £108 per primary-school aged child, covering three days of live music, performances, and a busy program of activities.
Over the weekend, our six and eight-year-olds packed in an hour of football coaching, three hours of pottery and woodland wand making, an hour of potion making, three hours of circus skills, a Horrible Histories: Gorgeous Georgians live show, two circus shows, performances by Taylor Swift tribute act Miss Americana, and hours of street theatre. At less than £40 per day, ticket-wise, that’s a great deal compared to recent European campsites.
We also took advantage of Camp Kids Extra Passes (£49 per child), which included cotton bags with refillable water bottles, daily fresh packed lunches with fruit, and evening ice cream and dinners from selected food trucks. With plenty of snacks from our tent, I didn’t hear “I’m hungry” all weekend.
Keeping the children happy and entertained was the main goal, but their familiarity with the site allowed them some freedom to explore the Dingly Dell woodland and adjoining Little Town area with its sand pits and hula hoops while we watched from the campsite. A collection of male peacocks proved endlessly fascinating.
I took advantage of the extensive free yoga programming, enjoying an early morning 45-minute session that eased my midlife camping aches, while my husband enjoyed the campsite sauna and cold shower. Friends took off for Lulworth Cove, just a short walk away, for a refreshing morning swim.
Wellness and More at Camp Bestival
Now in its 18th year, Camp Bestival has matured, evolving its wellness offering into a festival-within-a-festival. Founders Rob and Josie Da Bank are developing their Slomo Wellness concept, with a growing collection of saunas and retreats on the Isle of Wight and nearby Dorset coast. This summer, the Slomo Wellness field was set up at Lulworth Castle.
“Even from the first festival, we had [a wellness offering] there – it was probably called the yoga tent,” Rob said. “It’s an important part of what we do.”
This year’s offering was a sun-drenched haven of tepees and tents offering sound baths, yoga, meditation, reiki, shamanic healing, tarot readings, hot tubs, ice baths, and sauna sessions. “It just made sense to make a bit more of a song and dance about it,” added Rob. “This year I think we had one of the best festival wellbeing offerings out there.”
Highlights included an ayurveda workshop with the David Lynch Foundation and a sound bath hosted by Jasmine Hemsley. Most impressive was that most of it was free, including yoga sessions for families, women, teens, and mental health, as well as family tai chi and meditation. “That’s really important to us. You don’t have to pay to learn to meditate or try a gong bath,” Rob explained.
“There was also some really fun stuff for beginners and family, like a morning shake-out just to get people going,” added Josie. “We wanted to make Slomo more accessible.”
When it came to packing up our tent at the end of the festival (infinitely easier than putting it up), we managed to get everything back in the car. But we had to make space for pottery creations and woodland magic wands, and layers of new memories that are still being talked about.
DIY Glamping Essentials
For those looking to replicate our setup, here are the key items we used:
- Quechua Air Seconds inflatable tent (£600): Two black-out bedrooms at one end, with the option to add a third at the other end. Ideal for sleeping up to six people.
- Quechua Ultim Comfort self-inflating double mattress (£150): Lightweight and easy to transport, it provided warmth and comfort.
- Quechua compact low camping chairs (£35): Folded into small, lightweight bags, perfect for the kids to carry.
- Quechua low compact camping table (£45): Useful for meals, drinks, and coloring-in sessions.
- Vango kettle (£14) and Campingaz Bistro one-burner stove (£24): Essential for cooking.
- Quechua 35l inflatable fresh camping cooler (£50): Kept food and drinks cold for 24 hours.
- Solar-powered camping fairy lights: Added a touch of glamping fun for around £11.
Going back to school holiday camps was going to have a lot to live up to. Early bird tickets for Camp Bestival 2026 (30 July to 2 August) are on sale for a limited time, with prices starting at £210 for adults, £152 for teens, £125 for 10-12 year olds, and £105 for five to nine year-olds, with under-fives going free. A 12-month payment plan is available.
0 Comments