Our summer festival wish list

I love nothing more than a good festival

Wow where has this year gone? I cannot believe we are already into April and springtime, which only means one thing - camping and festival planning. We love nothing more than spending sometime under canvas as a family - the little man loves to camp, he has been asking all winter when we are going to go next and hopefully it won't be too long to wait. As long as you pick your festivals wisely taking children is not an issue at all and something we very much encourage. We have put together a few of our favourite family friendly festivals you should check out

1. Wychwood Festival 30th May - 1st June

This festival is a great place to start the season and we thoroughly enjoyed it last year and are planning to go back for more this May. It's great for those with little experience of festivals as it's very civilised - with very clean toilets, warm showers, close parking, easy access, flat pitching for tents and an array of places to eat and drink. It may not have the depth of some of the larger festivals but it's perfect for kids and very family friendly with a lovely children's meadow where Mr A made some clay snails last year and listened to some lovely story telling sessions. It has an eclectic mix for the line up which some impressive bands this year including Reef, The Boomtown Rats and the Stranglers. Tickets are a very reasonable £125 with under 5's free and under 15 half price.

John and Mr A enjoying Wychwood last year

2. Beyond the Border 4th-6th July

A festival with a difference - Beyond the Border is the Wales International Story Telling Festival based in the beautiful costal town of Llantwit Major in the grounds of St Donats Castle. This festival is one with families in mind and combines literature, spoken word, music and art to together to create a hotpot of creativity with three days immersed in tales, wonder and folk law, plus real ales, a lantern walk and world food there is something for everyone. Tickets are £110 with under 16's half price and under 5's free

Larmer Tree Festival 16th-20th July

This has been on our a list for a few years now and this year we are going to try and make it a reality as it seems like such a wonderful festival - especially with it's slogan - "the happiest, friendliest, quirkiest festival in the land" - that's sold me. It's set in beautiful grounds, with excellent facilities and a top notch line up including the legend that is Tom Jones as well as Squeeze, Frank Turner and Tom Odell to name a few. Tickets start at £160

Camp Bestival July 31 - 3rd August 

Camp Bestival is really like the Mecca for child-friendly festival fun. It manages to combined all the elements for every member of the family to find something to enjoy and be entertained for the whole weekend. They have a stellar line-up this year with De La Soul, Sinead O'Connor and DJ Yoda for the adults through to Mr Tumble and Ben and Holly for the kids as well as tons of workshops and creative areas. Last year we loved the evening walks through the lit-up forest as well as all the wholefood eateries. You really won't be disappointed if you go to Camp Bestival,  although because of it's hilly location I do recommend arriving earlier to get a good camping pitch or booking a flat pitch in advance as well as purchasing a small wagon if you have any children under 5 in tow.

BlogStock 8th-9th August

Now this really is something new - if your into blogging but also festivals and camping why not combined them all into a weekend of workshops, music and food and of course seminars on blogging related topics taking place in a teepee or on a walk through the woods. Based at Aldenham country park just outside London it's an easy location to get too and also a very idyllic one. The lineup is still in the works but with earlybird tickets priced at only £69 it would be wrong not to check it out

The little man and I enjoying Camp Bestival last year

Shambala festival 21-24th August

Is a popular small family festival with a diverse line up of music across 12 live stages, indy films, workshops, fresh organic market and speakers corner to name a few. They really cram a lot in one weekend and have an amazing kids section including a day creche so you can have a few hours of adult time if you wish. Shamabala always has a real buzz about it and every year people keep coming back for more. There is an enchanted wood, healing meadow and craft area as well as loads more. Tickets start at £99

Of course there a lots of festivals I have not mentioned that are also amazing such as Beautiful Days, Green man, Isle of Wight, Cornbury, Lollibop and the list could go on and on, we may also visit a smaller festival such as the Welsh Workhouse festival - a festival I worked at a few years back and really enjoyed the smaller intimate venue, either way we cannot wait for summer and camping fun.