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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
8 of the best UK summer festivals for families
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Music festivals are doing more than ever to cater to all interests and ages. Younger audiences are often won over purely by the fact that attendance typically involves camping, glamping or pitching up in a caravan — an opportunity to sleep out in the wild. But the UK's best festivals also provide an endless roster of activities, workshops and experiences to help families bond and create lasting memories. From chilled countryside escapes to adrenaline-sparking coastal adventures. Here are the golden tickets for summer 2025. Best for: big music actsSet in the grounds of Lulworth Castle, Dorset's award-winning festival always has a solid line-up, from Tom Jones to the Sugababes and Mr Tumble. Away from the main stages, there's the world's biggest bouncy castle, mud kitchens and activities such as kids' talent shows, bucket-hat sewing camps and sensory gardens. At the Orchestra of Objects, children can even invent their own musical instruments from junk. 31 July to 3 August. From £733 for a family of four camping. Highlight: Dressing down for the world's largest pyjama party on the Saturday evening. Best for: connecting with natureBackdropped by Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons National Park), the campsite at Green Man opens three days before the action starts, giving families the opportunity to enjoy a week-long break in rural Wales. After evenings spent dancing to the likes of Brit Award winners Wet Leg and dance legends Underworld, welcome each new day with a family sunrise yoga session before wandering over to Einstein's Garden for scientific installations, art and wildlife walks. Older kids can try their hand at film-making, crafting and mastering circus skills in the 'Somewhere' zone. 14 to 17 August. From £650 for a family of four camping. Highlight: The closing fireworks display and ritual burning of the Green Man sculpture to symbolise rebirth in the natural world. Best for: sparking creativitySet within the 5,000-acre Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire, Wilderness Festival has a suitably retro music line-up for parents this year, including Basement Jaxx, Supergrass and Orbital. There's also a dedicated Family Field packed with activities to spark the imagination and inspire creativity. Younger ravers can attend the regular storytelling sessions or 'Treemendously Wild' craft workshop to build masterpieces out of natural materials; for older kids, there are slime-making and circus workshops, comic-drawing sessions and poetry classes, plus woodland theatre. And when parents want to attend a gig solo or visit the Lakeside Spa & Sauna, there's a popular nanny service for the little ones. 31 July-3 August; From £610 for a family of four camping. Highlight: Hands-on radio and podcasting tutorials with experienced producers for budding broadcasters. Best for: bonding adventuresExclusively for families, this Kent favourite prides itself on being more like a summer camp than a festival. Over 100 adventurous activities are on offer throughout the ancient woodland setting. For a quieter moment away from the zorbing, raft-building and beekeeping, grown-ups can take advantage of on-site childcare and nip to the adults-only wellness sanctuary. 15 to 18 August. From £520 for a family of four camping. Highlight: Join a patrol — the Kindling version of a house at school — and work with new friends to compete for the Kindling Cup. Best for: inspiring young mindsSheep are a regular sight on the landscaped fields of Deer Shed — set on part of a working farm close to Ripon in North Yorkshire. There's no designated kids' area — the whole event, dedicated to discovery and expanding younger children's minds, is accessible. Children can see where imagination leads through storytelling workshops and learn about creepy-crawlies through song in The Bug Hotel. Kae Tempest is headlining on Saturday this year; for the smallest ravers, there's the blackout tent hosting a toddler 'nightclub'. 25 to 28 July. From £534 for a family of four camping. Highlight: DJing classes, to help aspiring kids on their journey towards festival headlining. Best for: brave Celtic warriors'Celebrating Scotland' is the theme of this three-day event in the grounds of Perthshire's Tullibole Castle. Aimed primarily at children aged 12 and under, Wildhood plays on local folklore and Scottish traditions with tartan workshops, a woodland haggis hunt, even searching for Nessie in the castle moat. Local bands are complemented by pipers, and street food stalls serve up Caledonian classics. 6 to 8 June. From £509 for a family of four camping. Highlight: Competing in a junior version of the Highland Games. Best for: water babiesMaking the most of its Cornish coastal location, just a rock's throw from Padstow, Rock Oyster offers an armada of water-based activities, from surfing lessons to a pirate school. This year's impressive musical line-up includes Rag'n'Bone Man and UB40. Food plays a major role here, too, with celebrity chef masterclasses and a cookery school for kids. 24-27 July. From £418 for a family of four camping. Highlight: A model-making workshop with Aardman, the creative brains behind Wallace and Gromit Best for: funfair fansTaking its title from the Roman name for nearby Chester, this festival is set in fields overlooked by Cholmondeley Castle. It gives older children a glimpse of life 2,000 years ago with archery, axe-throwing and bushcraft sessions. Younger revellers will enjoy the games and shows led by a team from Chester Zoo, covering topics such as the science behind animal poo. Deva Fest is friendly on the wallet, too, with free fairground rides hoovering up the daylight hours, before Happy Mondays and Gloria Gaynor take to the main stage. 8 to 10 August. From £431 for a family of four camping. Highlight: The Grand Cavalcade troupe of performers leading explosive science experiments, madcap storytelling and interactive workshops. Published in the June 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
National Geographic
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- National Geographic
8 of the best UK summer festivals for families
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Music festivals are doing more than ever to cater to all interests and ages. Younger audiences are often won over purely by the fact that attendance typically involves camping, glamping or pitching up in a caravan — an opportunity to sleep out in the wild. But the UK's best festivals also provide an endless roster of activities, workshops and experiences to help families bond and create lasting memories. From chilled countryside escapes to adrenaline-sparking coastal adventures. Here are the golden tickets for summer 2025. 1. Camp Bestival Best for: big music acts Set in the grounds of Lulworth Castle, Dorset's award-winning festival always has a solid line-up, from Tom Jones to the Sugababes and Mr Tumble. Away from the main stages, there's the world's biggest bouncy castle, mud kitchens and activities such as kids' talent shows, bucket-hat sewing camps and sensory gardens. At the Orchestra of Objects, children can even invent their own musical instruments from junk. 31 July to 3 August. From £733 for a family of four camping. Highlight: Dressing down for the world's largest pyjama party on the Saturday evening. 2. Green Man Best for: connecting with nature Backdropped by Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons National Park), the campsite at Green Man opens three days before the action starts, giving families the opportunity to enjoy a week-long break in rural Wales. After evenings spent dancing to the likes of Brit Award winners Wet Leg and dance legends Underworld, welcome each new day with a family sunrise yoga session before wandering over to Einstein's Garden for scientific installations, art and wildlife walks. Older kids can try their hand at film-making, crafting and mastering circus skills in the 'Somewhere' zone. 14 to 17 August. From £650 for a family of four camping. Highlight: The closing fireworks display and ritual burning of the Green Man sculpture to symbolise rebirth in the natural world. At the Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire, the Family Field is full of games, theatre and workshops for all ages. Photograph by Sarah Louise Bennett 3. Wilderness Festival Best for: sparking creativity Set within the 5,000-acre Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire, Wilderness Festival has a suitably retro music line-up for parents this year, including Basement Jaxx, Supergrass and Orbital. There's also a dedicated Family Field packed with activities to spark the imagination and inspire creativity. Younger ravers can attend the regular storytelling sessions or 'Treemendously Wild' craft workshop to build masterpieces out of natural materials; for older kids, there are slime-making and circus workshops, comic-drawing sessions and poetry classes, plus woodland theatre. And when parents want to attend a gig solo or visit the Lakeside Spa & Sauna, there's a popular nanny service for the little ones. 31 July-3 August; From £610 for a family of four camping. Highlight: Hands-on radio and podcasting tutorials with experienced producers for budding broadcasters. 4. Camp Kindling Best for: bonding adventures Exclusively for families, this Kent favourite prides itself on being more like a summer camp than a festival. Over 100 adventurous activities are on offer throughout the ancient woodland setting. For a quieter moment away from the zorbing, raft-building and beekeeping, grown-ups can take advantage of on-site childcare and nip to the adults-only wellness sanctuary. 15 to 18 August. From £520 for a family of four camping. Highlight: Join a patrol — the Kindling version of a house at school — and work with new friends to compete for the Kindling Cup. At Deer Shed music festival, there's no designated kids' area — the whole event, dedicated to discovery and expanding younger children's minds, is accessible. Photograph by James Drury 5. Deer Shed Best for: inspiring young minds Sheep are a regular sight on the landscaped fields of Deer Shed — set on part of a working farm close to Ripon in North Yorkshire. There's no designated kids' area — the whole event, dedicated to discovery and expanding younger children's minds, is accessible. Children can see where imagination leads through storytelling workshops and learn about creepy-crawlies through song in The Bug Hotel. Kae Tempest is headlining on Saturday this year; for the smallest ravers, there's the blackout tent hosting a toddler 'nightclub'. 25 to 28 July. From £534 for a family of four camping. Highlight: DJing classes, to help aspiring kids on their journey towards festival headlining. 6. Wildhood Festival Best for: brave Celtic warriors 'Celebrating Scotland' is the theme of this three-day event in the grounds of Perthshire's Tullibole Castle. Aimed primarily at children aged 12 and under, Wildhood plays on local folklore and Scottish traditions with tartan workshops, a woodland haggis hunt, even searching for Nessie in the castle moat. Local bands are complemented by pipers, and street food stalls serve up Caledonian classics. 6 to 8 June. From £509 for a family of four camping. Highlight: Competing in a junior version of the Highland Games. Food is the main attraction at Cornwall's Rock Oyster Festival. Photograph by the Rock Oyster Festival, Caitlin Mogridge 7. Rock Oyster Festival Best for: water babies Making the most of its Cornish coastal location, just a rock's throw from Padstow, Rock Oyster offers an armada of water-based activities, from surfing lessons to a pirate school. This year's impressive musical line-up includes Rag'n'Bone Man and UB40. Food plays a major role here, too, with celebrity chef masterclasses and a cookery school for kids. 24-27 July. From £418 for a family of four camping. Highlight: A model-making workshop with Aardman, the creative brains behind Wallace and Gromit 8. Deva Fest Best for: funfair fans Taking its title from the Roman name for nearby Chester, this festival is set in fields overlooked by Cholmondeley Castle. It gives older children a glimpse of life 2,000 years ago with archery, axe-throwing and bushcraft sessions. Younger revellers will enjoy the games and shows led by a team from Chester Zoo, covering topics such as the science behind animal poo. Deva Fest is friendly on the wallet, too, with free fairground rides hoovering up the daylight hours, before Happy Mondays and Gloria Gaynor take to the main stage. 8 to 10 August. From £431 for a family of four camping. Highlight: The Grand Cavalcade troupe of performers leading explosive science experiments, madcap storytelling and interactive workshops. Published in the June 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The £1 passes that make a family trip to Butlin's cheaper than a swim at my local leisure centre
My family loves a Butlin's trip and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the latest day pass deal of just £1 for children. That actually makes it cheaper for me to take my three boys for a swim at Butlin's than at my local leisure centre, where I have to pay more than a fiver per person. 6 6 Instead of spending £20 for an hour in the pool, I could spend £15 for an adult day pass and then £3 for the boys and enjoy a full day out at the seaside resort, with swimming, funfair rides and shows in the Skyline Pavilion all included. With the incredible Skyparks at Skegness and Minehead and the brand-new soft play at Bognor, now's a good time to head to your nearest site for a day to try out the latest family-friendly facilities, particularly if you have a school inset day in May, like we do. This deal is only available term-time midweek until May halfterm, so you need to be quick if you're going to take advantage. Prices for day passes in halfterm rise to as much as £33 for adults and £23 for children depending on the resort, so it could be a huge saving to go midweek in May. Plus it'll be much quieter when everyone else is at school, so you can make the most of your family fun without battling crowds of holidaymakers. If you've always wondered whether a Butlin's break is for you, this could be the perfect way to give it a go with minimal investment in time or money, before you decide whether you'd like to book a longer stay. And it's a great deal if you've got little ones who aren't school age yet, as they will love all the shows in the Skyline such as Peppa Pig or the Skyline Gang, which tend to be geared towards their age group. In fact, for some of the day pass dates, you'll need to have a tot in tow as you can't get onto site during the weeks aimed at young families without someone aged 14 or under in your party. As always, you need to factor in the age of those you're taking to work out if you might actually be better off going on a May weekend, when day passes are £15 for adults and £5 for children. For example, if you have grandparents in your party, they only cost £5 at weekends, but £11 during the week. 6 6 Day visitors won't be able to see the shows in venues like Studio 36, Reds or Centre Stage, so if you're hoping to catch a headline act like Justin Fletcher aka Mr Tumble during a Showtime Tots week, that won't be possible. And your ticket doesn't include parking, so you need to factor that in to your budget for the day as well. The best value is at Skegness, where parking is available on resort, with a charge of £1 per day to be donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital. Parking for Bognor Regis day visitors is at the council pay and display car park opposite the day visit entrance on Gloucester Road and costs £13.90 for more than six hours. At Minehead, day visitors can use Warren Road Upper car park, which costs £7.30 for the day. While on site, you'll be able to take advantage of the 'kids eat for a quid' deal, that runs at the resort restaurants from midday to 3pm. 6 6 For each adult meal purchased at Papa John's, Firehouse Grill, the Diner or the Beachcomber Inn, you can add a £1 child's meal. Day visitors at Bognor can book Playxperience activities if there is availability, but they do need an existing day visit booking to do so in advance.
