Last Updated on 30 August 2026 by Colette
One of the best ways to get a feel for festival life without diving head first into the full festival camping experience is to look at booking day tickets or, if you’re feeling fancy going for the glamping option.
The first time we took our kids to a festival (when your youngest wasn’t quite three) we did Just So Festival for a day and absolutely loved it – so much so that we went back the following year and camped for the weekend. Over the years we’ve done a mixture of day festivals and full on festival weekend experiences.
Festival Fun Without the Camping Fuss
Booking a day festival or taking the glamping route definitely takes out some of the stress of camping – especially if you don’t already have all the kit or aren’t experienced campers. Camping at a festival can be a bit of a ball ache when it comes to setting up camp and dragging your stuff across fields so turning up to a pre-pitched tent with a nearby car park is an absolute joy. We made sure that the kids had done a few traditional camping weekends first before we levelled up to full festival weekends and now we tend to do a mix of full weekends and day events.
Why Skip the Camping?
Ben would tell you it’s not a proper festival experience if you don’t camp, and whilst I do get where he’s coming from, I also don’t mind going home and having a hot shower and sleeping in my own bed at the end of a long day! Not everyone loves sleeping in a tent or battling dodgy weather – so knowing you’re going home to a hot shower, proper toilets and your own bed (or perhaps a hotel / airbnb) makes a wet festival much easier to stomach. (And to be honest, a really hot festival can also be hard work – sweaty, dusty and sleeping in a tent is a challenge too!)
Being able to charge your phone, get access to Wi-Fi and not spend a fortune on hot food is also a bonus to staying off site or just heading to a festival for the day.
Less Stress, More Energy
A decent night’s sleep and a slow start to the morning definitely makes life easier – festival campsites can be noisy and the queue for showers (if there are any) grows quickly – waking up at home and taking your time to get ready in peace means less stress and more energy saved for an afternoon / night of fun!
More Cost Effective
Going to festivals is not a cheap do by any stretch – booking day festivals is a great way to get a taste of festival life without sinking the cost of a family holiday in France on tickets or two week’s grocery money on festival food (I’m not even exaggerating).
(Read about ways to save money at a festival here)
I’ve pulled together a list of some of the best UK day festivals for families in 2026:
Neighbourhood Weekender, Victoria Park, Warrington – Saturday 23rd / Sunday 24th May 2026
After taking a year off in 2024, Neighbourhood Weekender returns for 2025 with an absolutely stonking line up and they’re keeping it going into 2026.
Neighbourhood Weekender has been on my festival wish list for a while now – the line up always seems to hit the mark for us as a family. 2026 sees headline acts Richard Ashcroft and Blossoms supported by The Kaiser Chiefs and Jamie Webster to name but a few!
Unfortunately it’s a bit of an expensive one to take the kids to as there are no children’s tickets – just a flat fee. This is a two day festival with no camping available.
Book Individual day tickets for Neighbourhood Weekender.
Roundhay Festival, Roundhay Park, Leeds – Friday 3rd / Saturday 4th July 2026
Brand new for 2026 and taking place on the iconic Roundhay Park in Leeds is Roundhay Festival featuring headline performances from Pitbull and Lewis Capaldi.
This is a day festival with no camping so if you’re not local you might want to look at alternative accommodation.
Book tickets for Roundhay Festival.
Tramlines, Hillsborough Park, Sheffield – Friday 24th / Saturday 25th / Sunday 26th July 2026 | Limited tickets remain
Tramlines is Sheffield’s biggest city-based music festival bringing headlines acts Fat Boy Slim, Courteeners and Wolf Alice to Sheffield for 2026. There is no camping or parking onsite at Tramlines but you can prebook approved parking via the website.
Book day tickets for Tramlines 2026 – Tramlines usually sells out quite early so if you do plan on going, I’d recommend booking your tickets sooner rather than later.
Camp Bestival, Lulworth Castle, Dorset – Thursday 30th July / Friday 31st July / Saturday 1st / Sunday 2nd August 2026
Typically sitting on the last weekend in July but sneaking into August for 2026, Camp Bestival has long been on my list of family friendly festivals to visit. I love the idea of the annual camp theme, carnival rides and so much live music to introduce the children to. It always looks to be so full of fun and a really giddy atmosphere!
Book day tickets for Camp Bestival 2026 (these are not currently on sale but will be closer to the time!)
Deva Fest, Cholmondeley Castle Gardens, Cheshire – Thursday 6th / Friday 7th / Saturday 8th / Sunday 9th August 2026
Deva Fest is a great value family-friendly four-day extravaganza of music, comedy, camping, family entertainment, including the popular free-to-ride fairground, and fabulous handpicked food and drink stalls from local suppliers.
Book tickets for Deva Fest – Single night camping tickets, as well as day, weekend, and a range of camping options, are available and an instalment plan is available.
The Big Feastival, Alex James’ Farm, Kingham, the Cotswolds – Friday 28th / Saturday 29th / Sunday 30th August 2026
The Big Feastival takes place on Alex James’ farm in the Cotswolds each August bank holiday and offers a full family programme mixed in with plenty of food, boutique bars and music.
The Big Feastival is really popular as a day festival.
Book day tickets for The Big Feastival. This event usually sells out so do plan ahead.
CarFest, Silverstone – Friday 28th / Saturday 29th / Sunday 30th August 2026
The brainchild of radio presenter Chris Evans, the UK’s largest family fundraising festival, CarFest moves to its new home of Silverstone this August bank holiday weekend. The weekend will be packed with family-focused activities, exciting headline music acts and cars aplenty – all while raising money for UK children’s charities.
The 2026 line up includes Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Tom Jones and Jessie J.
Victorious Festival, Southsea Seafront, Portsmouth – Friday 28th / Saturday 29th / Sunday 30th August 2026
Victorious Festival 2026 sees performances from Richard Ashcroft, Scissor Sisters, The Black Keys, Bastille, Kasabian and The Streets to name but a few!
Book day tickets for the 2026 festival
Made in Manchester, Waterside Farm, Romiley, Stockport – Saturday 29th / Sunday 30th August 2026
Established in 2018 Made In Manchester Festival is now a firm favourite on the small festival circuit at one point hosting three separate events through the festival season. This year the festival is under new ownership and hits the August bank holiday weekend with a two day event in Stockport.
Celebrating the fantastic Manchester music scene, Made in Manchester bring you some of the best tributes to the iconic music of Manchester, plus some of the best local homegrown talent Greater Manchester has to offer and special guests including Judge Jules (which frankly I’m expecting to be something of a highlight for our family!)
Tickets for Made in Manchester festival 2026 are on sale now.
You can read more about Made in Manchester Festival here:
Made in Manchester Festival – Review
Day festivals that won’t be taking place in 2026:
Live at Leeds in the Park, Temple Newsam, Leeds | No event for 2026
There will be no Live at Leeds in the Park for 2026 after it was announced they would be taking the year off to ensure “best possible version of the festival for the future”
Live at Leeds in the Park is a relative newcomer to the festival scene launching in 2022 – this new one day festival from the team behind Live at Leeds In The City brings Bloc Party, Yard Act, Jamie Webster and Sigrid to Temple Newsam for 2025 and you’d best believe I booked tickets the day they went on sale!
Tickets for Live at Leeds in the Park 2025 are available now. Live at Leeds events are open to all ages but under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
Gone Wild Festival, Powderham Castle, Devon | No event for 2026
Gone Wild Festival have announced they will be “taking a break” for 2026 – the information below relates to last year’s event.
2025 sees Gone Wild Festival celebrate its 5th birthday.
Gone Wild Festival is a family festival offering a whole array of outdoor fun including science workshops, circus shows, silent disco, an adventure obstacle course, knife and axe throwing, tree climbing and raft building as well as exciting main stage performers!
Book day tickets for Gone Wild Festival 2025
Hardwick Festival, Hardwick Hall, Co. Durham | No event for 2026
Hardwick Festival have announced they are pressing pause and as such there will be no event in 2026 – the information below relates to a previous event.
Hardwick Festival returns to Hardwick Hall this August celebrating their 11th anniversary! Last year’s event was a highlight of the summer for us and we’re hoping to return this year.
Book day tickets for Hardwick Festival priced from £39.
You Can Do Festivals Your Way
Just because you don’t fancy camping, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the festival atmosphere – whether you’re pitching up for the weekend or heading home to your own bed, there’s a family festival experience out there that fits! If you know of a great day festival that I’ve missed, let me know in the comments so I can add them in!
If you’re looking for more festival listings, reviews or tips for making the most of your festival experience this year, have a read of our Ultimate Guide to Festivals next!
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