12 Top Tips if you’re heading to Camp Bestival in 2023

Top Tips if you're heading to Camp Bestival in 2019
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In 2018 we spent our first weekend at Camp Bestival and we have never looked back. We had an amazing weekend with some great friends and have plans to return this year.  I’ll share with you throughout this post things we loved but I’ll focus on some tips to help you get the most out of the weekend if you’re planning on heading to Camp Bestival in 2023.

 

Top Tips if you’re heading to Camp Bestival in 2023

1. Book early for Camp Bestival

If you are wondering about going to Camp Bestival 2023 then I highly recommend you do! We have made so many wonderful family memories at this family friendly festival. Tickets go up in price as the year goes on. Early bird tickets for Camp Bestival 2023 are available via www.campbestival.net

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This glorious summer camp music festival is packed with everything you can imagine to make it the great event, with activities such as….

  • Animation workshops and master class activities
  • Magic
  • Theatre and circus workshops
  • Bushcraft
  • Dingy Dell nature playground
  • Giant inflatables
  • Science tent
  • Craft village
  • A Live Concert, with live music over several music stages 
  • Dj’s and Dance Floor 
  • A Campsite, plus caravan and camper van parking
  • Food stalls and shopping.

When Is Camp Bestival In 2023?

  • Camp Bestival Dorset 27-80th July
  • Camp Bestival, Shropshire, 17-20th August
Top Tips if you're heading to Camp Bestival in 2019

How much are Camp Bestival Tickets for 2023?

This is just a guide of 2023 prices, Early Bird Tickets Are Still Available so they WILL go up, Prices Are Not Inclusive Of The Booking Fee as and of April.

TicketsShropshire Dorset
Weekend Camping Tickets
For Adults And Kids 
Adult Weekend£220.00£180
Age 13 to 17 Weekend £147.50 £137.50
Age 10 to 12 Weekend£122.50£112.50
Age 5 to 9 Weekend£102.50£92.50 
Age 2 to 4 & Weekend£82.50£72.50
Babes In Arms (1 & Under) FREE (ticket required)
Saturday Day Tickets
For Adults And Kids (Early Bird prices): 
Family Bundle (2 adults / 2 Kids) £200 £170
Adult Day£80£80
Age 13 to 17 Day£45£45
Age 10 to 12 Day£35£35
Age 5 to 9 Day£27.50£22.50
Age 2 to 4 Day £17.50£12.50
Babes In Arms (1 & Under) Free (but ticket required)
Friday / Sunday Day Tickets
For Adults And Kids (Early Bird Prices):
Family Bundle (2 adults / 2 Kids) £180.00£160
Adult Day£70.00£70
Age 13 to 17 Day £40.00£40
Age 10 to 12 Day£30.00£30
Age 5 to 9 Day £25.00£25.00
Age 2 to 4 Day£15.00£15.00
Babes In Arms (1 & Under) Free (but ticket required)
There are upgrades and others costs so check the website for more info!

Friday / Sunday Day Tickets (Early Bird Prices):

2. What age kids is Camp Bestival best for?

Genuinely every age! We saw babes in arms, teenagers, pensioners and every age in-between all having an amazing time at the festival site! Fans of this wonderful family festival will tell you campers and all festival goers in attendance are such a diverse range of festival and music lovers. 

3. Plan to go for the full 4 days to Camp Bestival

Plan to go for the full 4 days. Camp Bestival 2023 runs from Thursday 10 am to Monday late afternoon. Thus Treat Camp Bestival as a mini holiday it will help you justify the ticket price. Gates open at 10am on Thursday, although the acts don’t start properly until Friday, but treat Thursday as an ordinary camping day, you can take your time then and relax.

Why not check out our video if you’re thinking of booking for Camp Bestival

4. Go with Friends

Going with friends to a family friendly festival gives you all flexibility. Flexibility to head off to other tents or see different bands without leaving one person on their own with all the kids or feeling like you’re seeing the festival alone as you watch the kids!  It’s also a lot of fun. Persuade all your friends to book for Camp Bestival and make it into a brilliant weekend.

Top Tips if you're heading to Camp Bestival in 2019

5. Think about if you want to stay on site or off site

Staying off site whilst visiting Camp Bestival allows you to dip your toes in to the whole festival experience rather than going all in. It is definitely an option so don’t let the prospect of having to festival camp for 4 nights put you off. You can read our full post here on whether you should stay on site or off site at Camp Bestiva.

Top Tips if you're heading to Camp Bestival in 2019

6. Consider your camping options at Camp Bestival

There is such a choice for camping at Camp Bestival from basic ‘put your tent wherever you can’, bringing your campervan to the Camping Plus reserved camping plot, to VIP/boutique camping, yurts and tipis.

Eating At Camp Bestival

You can take food into the camping area and a cooking stove or BBQ. Ground fires or BBQs are not permitted. However you can-not take food or drink into the festival. Although there are lots of food stalls, bars and snacks on-site at Camp Bestival with lots of choice so you won’t go hungry.

7. If you stay on site at Camp Bestival pack light.

It’s a long walk from the car park to the camp site at Camp Bestival (it can actually be over 30 minutes up and down hill and then up and down again) and even with a trolley it can be hard work. Pack very light and put things in bags that the kids can carry, that’s all part of family camping right?  Work out what you can do without and do without it. A few essentials are…..

  • Suncream
  • Hand sanitiser 
  • Raincoat
  • Blanket
  • Water bottles
  • Baby wipes
  • Loo roll ( festival toilets seldom have a supply)

8. Choose the area you pitch your tent wisely.

Do you want to be in the middle of all the action or close to the toilets? Do you want to be in a quieter spot with more room around you? Chat to the site volunteers when you arrive they were really helpful and able to point us in the right direction. Choose according to your personal preferences.

Top Tips if you're heading to Deer Shed Festival 2019

9. Take a potty!

Mine are a good 5 years past using a potty so this was a camping purchase. There wasn’t enough toilets at Camp Bestival 2019 so it’s worth taking one even if you aren’t travelling with small children. Speaking of toilets it’s worth keeping a roll of toilet paper and some hand gel in your bag for later on in the day.

10. Invest in a landyard and a programme

Invest in a lanyard and a programme when you get to Camp Bestival 2023 as it will have the four days mapped out. You can then see easily what’s on at any particular time. We have used it in recent years to have a rough idea of what we wanted to watch.

Which leads me onto only use the programme, to have an idea of what you want to do when to get an idea of what’s available but don’t be a slave to a programme: some of the most fun things we did we stumbled upon, like the little shows in Dingley Dell.

I also overheard lots of adults complaining that events had been moved around or were full and they had promised their kids they could do something. I’d never promise the kids they could do anything as things do change and they might be full. Always say you will try!

11. Throw yourself in

Give everything a go, even if you think you might not like it. I LOVED pom pom making and even made myself a headband. Who knew I could craft!

Listen to things you never knew you’d love and smile.

Top Tips if you're heading to Camp Bestival in 2019

12. Get dressed up and use all the glitter!

Oh and get dressed up – you can’t go too crazy and you can’t wear too much glitter!

Top Tips if you're heading to Camp Bestival in 2019

Acts not to be missed for 2023:

  • The Family Silent Disco
  • Primal Scream (Shropshire)
  • Grace Jones (Dorset)
  • Cosmic Kids Yoga
  • Mr Maker
  • Mr Tumble
  • Farmyard Circus
  • Horrible Histories
  • Sam Ryder

If you’d like to read some more posts about Camp Bestival why not take a look at these:

Where else you can visit in Dorset near Camp Bestival by Are We Nearly There Yet

 

Why not PIN this post about 12 Top Tips if you’re heading to Camp Bestival in 2023

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Karen Beddow founded Mini Travellers in 2014 while doing what she loves most...going on holiday!

Mini Travellers is for parents looking for holiday ideas, destination reviews, days out and things to do with the kids. We also have family travel tips, activity ideas and all other things family holiday related. Take a look at some of our latest reviews for holidays and day trips in the UK.

3 thoughts on “12 Top Tips if you’re heading to Camp Bestival in 2023”

  1. Glitter is a must isn’t it – we found it free in the LOL rent this year so it’s always worth doing a scout on the first day to see what is available for free (and lots is)

    Reply

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