The best family-friendly festivals in the UK for 2025

The hugely popular Raver Tots festivals are back for 2025 – offering families the chance to dance to their favourite club tunes without having to leave the kids at home. This festival was specifically developed for dance music fans who are also parents, and celebrates all aspects of dance music and rave culture: featuring a mix of house, garage, drum and bass and old school classics, with acts such as Artful Dodger and General Levy. While the music is the main event, there are plenty of other things to do including giant inflatables, face painting and a huge street food selection for when you’re feeling peckish. You can find events happening all over the country – from Liverpool to Brighton – happening across the whole summer, though look out for their ‘outdoor festivals’ for the full experience. 

When is it? Various dates, from May to November 2025.

Where is it? Various locations, including Richmond, Norwich, Liverpool, Lancaster and more.

Price: From £12 kids, £14 adults. 

Set against the stunning backdrop of Ally Pally, Kaleidoscope is a one-day festival bringing together a mix of big names, emerging talent and art installations. This year’s stellar line-up includes Faithless, Goldie (live), Sara Cox and DJ Spoony – and children are just as well catered for with a special family area that’s almost like a mini-festival in itself. There are arts and crafts, a bubble show and circus skills workshops, as well as the hugely popular Engsonglopedia. While you’re there, make sure you also take advantage of the rare opportunity to sneak a peek at the Victorian basements underneath the Palace, where you can uncover a hidden speakeasy: the space is transformed for the event into an immersive theatre experience cabaret, cocktails and entertainment. Keep an eye out for incredible chalk creations, too, as live chalk artists turn the sidewalks into masterpieces.

When is it? July 12, 2025.

Where is it? Alexandra Palace Park, London.

Price: From £62 adult, £13.33 child.

Set among the trees in a fairytale-like pine forest in Kent, this three-night event is billed as a summer camp for the whole family and features a jam-packed programme of events. There is so much to choose from here – with live music, adventure pursuits, crafts, campfires and comedians (Rich Wilson, Jake Lambert and Chantel Nash appeared previously). Camp Kindling tickets an allocation of credits which are redeemable against a staggering amount of bookable activities – from archery battles to zorbing and a whole lot in between, including tie-dye, screen printing, mountain boarding, cheerleading and quad biking. There are also upgrade options with more credits if you want to book extra activities and glamping-style accommodation. Music wise, last year’s event featured Dick and Dom, DJ Luck and MC Neat and Voodoo Brass band. 

When is it? August 15-18, 2025.

Where is it? Sevenoaks, Kent.

Price: From £249 adult, £99 child.

If you’re a foodie, this is the summer festival for you – combining big music artists with Michelin-starred chefs and award-winning street food. Set in Britpop icon Alex James’ Cotswolds farm, near Kingham in Oxfordshire, the Big Feastival has a strong family focus and includes live food demonstrations in The Big Kitchen with well-known chefs like Raymond Blanc, Si King and Simon Rimmer, as well as an open-flame BBQ stage with street food specialists showing off their skills and hands-on culinary masterclass workshops. They haven’t skimped on the music either: main-stage headline performances include Nelly Furtado, Faithless, Travis, Mabel and Alex James himself. Family attractions include a vintage funfair, performances from the Farm Yard Circus and an enchanting woodland play area. Little ones can also visit The Big Top, the kids’ activity hub with dancing, singing, and comedy. Choose from weekend camping or day tickets.

When is it? August 21-24, 2025.

Where is it? The Cotswolds.

Price: From £93.50 adult, children under five free.

This legendary literary festival features more than 700 speakers from the world of books and beyond. Set on the outskirts of the picturesque town of Hay-on-Wye, there is a vast programme of events for young people and families, including pizza making, music workshops and a forest craft workshop. The festival site is free to enter, but each event is ticketed and priced individually. Some of the most popular ones – like Gavin & Stacey duo James Corden and Ruth Jones, rapper and children’s author MC Grammar, and comedians Katherine Ryan and Miranda Hart – sell out months in advance, so if you plan on attending, get in quick. Michael Rosen, author of the gorgeous family-favourite ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, is among the children’s authors hosting talks during the festival.

When is it? May 22-June 1, 2025.

Where is it? Hay-on-Wye, Wales.

Price: Varies. 

This series of events offers the unique opportunity to ‘camp out’ at the Science Museum to experience the famous galleries up close after hours at a one-of-a-kind family sleepover, open to families with children aged seven to 11. Discover exclusive space-inspired workshops and activities before setting up camp for the night – but be aware you’re all camped in together, so it can be noisy. Inflatable mattresses aren’t allowed, but camping mats and a travel pillow are provided to make the floor comfier, and if you can’t go without home comforts, VIP tickets are available and include an airbed for every camper. The experience is finished off with a delicious continental breakfast bright and early the following morning.

When is it? May 16, June 20, July 11, 2025.

Where is it? Knightsbridge, London.

Price: £80 standard.

No family festival top ten would be complete without a mention of Camp Bestival. Possibly one of the first mainstream festivals to introduce a family-oriented programme, Camp Bestival goes from strength to strength year after year. The star-studded music line-up for 2025 features Sugababes, Basement Jaxx and the legendary Tom Jones – but there’s also a lot for kids to do, with soft play, sandpits, circus performances and theatre shows. Family-friendly highlights include Dick and Dom and ‘Horrible Histories Live’, and each child is also given a beautifully illustrated ‘explorer’s passport’ on arrival with information, maps and space to add stamps, stickers and memories.

When is it? July 31 to August 3, 2025.

Where is it? Lulworth Castle, Dorset. 

Price: From £254 adult camping, under fives free. 

This gorgeous independent festival has been designed specifically with families in mind. Set in the Sussex countryside, Elderflower Fields features a mix of music, sport, arts, nature and food. Don’t miss the Big Family Dance Off – where everyone is encouraged to dress up and bust some moves, battling it out to be crowned champions for 2025 – as well as Tiger Moth performing original songs packed with scientific and historical facts, and Carnival Collective, Brighton’s infamous big sounds orchestra. If you need to burn off some energy, try your hand at the Olympic Silly Games or head to the huge adventure play area with ropes, nets, hammocks and a zip wire. 

When is it? May 23-26, 2025.

Where is it? Ashdown Forest, Sussex. 

Price: From £181 adult weekend, £16 children.

With more than 40 music acts and 100 activities, you’re not going to get bored at CarFest, which raises funds for UK children’s charities including Children in Need and Teenage Cancer Trust. Expect live performances from the likes of Travis, Madness and Rita Ora, food demonstrations, appearances from a host of TV, Theatre and music legends – as well as, of course, some incredible cars. There’s also KidFest, an action-packed area especially for young festival-goers with giant inflatables, obstacle courses and a BMX racing track.

When is it? August 22-24, 2025.

Where is it? Laverstoke Park Farm, Basingstoke.

Price: From £234 general camping adult.

This fun one-day festival is perfect for families who want to try out a music event but don’t want to go straight into camping for a whole weekend. Uptown Festival takes place on Blackheath Common, so it is nice and easy to get to from central London, with Blackheath and Lewisham train stations both a 10-minute walk away. Expect legendary acts performing timeless classics – Boy George and Culture Club are already announced – as well as ‘Little Town’, a kids zone with child-friendly stage takeovers, rides and activities to keep little ones entertained. You won’t go hungry either, with lots of delicious local food and drinks on offer. 

When is it? July 27, 2025.

Where is it? Blackheath, London.

Price: From £52.50.