Last weekend we were lucky enough to be invited along Camp Bestival Shropshire, and what a weekend it was! Festivals have been a big part of my adult life pre kids – I’ve even been to the original Bestival in the Isle of White a few times (yes I’m that old). I use to see couples there with young kids and think what are they doing? When I have kids there is no way I’d take them to a festival – it would be so much hard work, and no where near as much fun. Fast forward ten plus years, and I’m more than happy to say I was so wrong!
Camp Bestival Shropshire 2023 has been the highlight of our summer, in-fact it’s been one of the best things we’ve ever done as a family and one of my favourite festivals EVER! It combines everything I love – spending time with my family, music, outdoors, laughter, good food, camping plus we had the weather gods on our side (for most of the weekend).
Firstly, the organisation of this event is world class. From the moment you arrive everything is thought about – and most importantly everything is safe – something you think about a lot more with little ones around. All children are given wrist bands with your mobile number on and you and your children are told where to go and what to do if you get lost – this is also put up on the screens across the festival throughout the weekend. I had mobile service to make calls the entire time I was there – sometimes not internet connection – but you can always make a receive calls!
There is plenty of shade, water is handed out to kids at the main stage through out the acts when its particularly hot and there’s a huge welfare tent too. Toilets are fine – remember you’re at a festival, so its porta-loo city – but I found they were always well stocked and clean – and you never had to wait too long.
The worst thing about a festival is always the walk from your car to the camp site with all your stuff – but they’ve even thought of how to make that easier! A taxi service, with the money going to charity! It’s a little golf buggy – £7 for a seat or £35 for the whole buggy.
The camping is fab – with loads of glamping options if camping isn’t your thing. We love camping – and our 6 year old sleeps better in a tent than she does at home – we actually get a lie in!
Now to the festival itself – WOW there is so much to do – and most of this is included in your ticket cost. Obviously all the live music and camping but we LOVED the circus tents where the kids can have a go with any of the equipment, the crazy bike stand, rock school, decorating hats, roller disco, wall of death, skate park and swimming to name just a few of the things that we’re also all included in your ticket cost. Of course, there are things you have to pay for additionally, but nothing seemed ridiculously expensive and there is so much to do that is free – if you didn’t want to do the paid for activities you didn’t have to – there is enough to distract the little ones.
The music line up was incredible – really is something for everyone. Highlights for us were Junior Jungle – this was SOOOO good, I can’t tell you how happy I felt raving around with my daughter to absolutely banging tunes! Also The Smythes, Badly Drawn Boy, Confidence Man, Utah Saints, Groove Armada, T’pau and Primal Scream were some of our highlights. Just going to see one band live these days is about £50 per ticket – so the fact you’re getting all of these top live performances for the price of your weekend ticket is actually great value for money.
We also watched circus acts, performers, Horrible Histories enjoyed yoga classes, went to a wedding, did a work out with Mr Motivator and got read a bedtime story by no other than Kate Winslet!
The food is incredible – it does add up though if you’re buying all your meals for the whole family in the festival – you can take BBQ and cooking stoves to the campsite so make sure you make use of those – nothing beats a hot dog when camping! The food onsite was amazing – we ate everything from steak and prawns, to buddha bowls too pizzas and burgers! All amazing – as was the coffee! Most places did kids portions too which were quite reasonable.
We packed so much in, but also didn’t even touch the sides – I didn’t even get to part of the festival until the last day, and totally missed the tree climbing.
In short, this is such a good family friendly festival – it’s beaten any holiday we’ve been on, and is jam packed full of things to do to keep the whole family with big smiles on their faces. Yes there are tantrums, but we dealt with these in the most sensible way we knew how – Haribo and screen time!
Musts for a festival are: pillows, a wagon, glow sticks, glitter, sweets, sun tan lotion and rain gear!
Early bird tickets for 2024 (15th -18th August 2024) go on sale on 29th Sept 2023, I promise you you won’t regret buying them!
Buy your tickets and go to this festival – its quite simply amazing! Thank you Camp Bestival Shropshire. WHAT A WEEKEND! #wearefamily
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Reviewed August 2023
Disclaimer- We were gifted our family ticket to Camp Bestival Shropshire.
