The best family festivals
Off to a music festival? Don't forget the kids! Here are the UK's best family-friendly festivals this summer
Children and music festivals don't always mix, but some UK music festivals are perfect for a family weekend away. Many events these days offer special family camping zones and reduced entry for little ’uns. Here's our pick of the best family-friendly events this season, with a laid-back atmosphere, and activities for kids of all ages taking place alongside the music.
RECOMMENDED: Your guide to this year's best music festivals
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Isle of Wight
Huge headliners at one of the UK’s biggest rock festivals
Now in its 52nd year, the modern-day Isle of Wight festival is a far cry from the hippy love-in that landed back in 1968. Nowadays, big-name headliners and commercial rock and pop favourites are the order of the day, with a hefty dose of nostalgia thrown in for good measure. They may not be trying to push the envelope, but after five decades in the game, the IOW fest knows how to please a crowd.
Line-up includes Lionel Ritchie, Lewis Capaldi, Duran Duran, The Chemical Brothers Happy Mondays, Snow Patrol, Stone Roses, Dido, Kaiser Chiefs, Pete Tong, Becky Hill, Example, Maisie Peters.
Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight. Jun 12-14. £185 (adult three-day weekend). £70 (adult day ticket).
Latitude
Big hitters and rising stars combine at this family-friendly Suffolk shindig
Check your Insta feeds over Latitude weekend and you’ll see one overriding star of the show: a troupe of pastel-coloured sheep. The bleating residents of Henham Park will be returning for another year of laid-back, family-friendly fun, with children’s theatre, stand-up comedy, woodland activities and lake swimming intermingling among the musical treats. With Liam Gallagher, Lana Dey and The Chemical Brothers, headlining, and Charli XCX, Girl Ray and Joy Crookes on the bill too, Latitude has pulled off another winning mix of cool and crowd-pleasing music.
Line-up includes Liam Gallagher, Haim, The Chemical Brothers, Charli XCX, Joy Crookes, Girl Ray, Ibibio Sound Machine, Kawala, Marika Hackman.
Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk. Jul 16-19. £210 (weekend).
Wilderness
Escapist hedonism for grown-ups – kids also welcome
It would be easy to write off Wilderness as a posh playground, but the reality is much more magical. The thoughtfully programmed roster of acts from around the world has grown in calibre and breadth year-on-year, with Robyn, Bombay Bicycle Club and Groove Armada headlining in 2019. But it’s the awe-inspiring performance art, debates and mouthwatering feasts that have firmly positioned Wilderness as a carnival for the senses, and much more than just a music festival. Just be aware that few of the luxurious activities are included in the basic ticket price, and add-ons can quickly mount up.
Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire. Jul 30-Aug 2.
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