Taking a toddler to a festival used to mean making the best of things – hoping the noise wasn’t too much, that there was something vaguely age-appropriate going on, and that you could find the toilets without a map. Things have changed. A new generation of family festivals has been built from the ground up with small children in mind, and some of them are genuinely brilliant. Here are five of the best this summer.
TOTFest
Yorkshire (17 May) | Surrey (20 June) | Cheshire (5 July) | Berkshire (18 July)
TOTFest does exactly what it says: it’s a festival for tots, full stop. Every activity, ride and show is included in the ticket price, which means no awkward moments at the gate of the bouncy castle and no whittling down a wristband allowance before lunch. The whole day is yours to use however your child wants.
Now in its eighth year, TOTFest is specifically designed for children aged one to five and tours four venues across the country between May and July. The programme runs to over 50 activities – a baby rave, giant art canvases, a tots race track, circus acts, a miniature fairground – and nothing is timed or ticketed, so children can drift in and out as the mood takes them. For parents who’ve spent a festival nervously watching a clock so they don’t miss a booked slot, that freedom alone is worth the price. Child tickets from £12.10, adults from £22.
Gloworm Festival
Thoresby Park, Nottinghamshire | 7–9 August
Gloworm turns ten this summer, and the anniversary feels well-earned. It has built up one of the most loyal followings on the family festival circuit, and it’s not hard to see why: three days at Thoresby Park in Nottinghamshire with a programme that covers everything from newborns to 13-year-olds, all included in one ticket price.
The main stage brings in recognisable children’s characters and performers – past years have featured Bluey, Hey Duggee and Justin Fletcher – alongside a fairground, farm, beach area and circus. For the youngest visitors there’s a dedicated Tiny Tots area, and the site itself is largely flat with hard-standing paths, which makes a real difference if you’re navigating with a buggy. Under-twos go free; day tickets for children aged two and over start from £50.
Camp Bestival Dorset
Lulworth Castle, Dorset | 30 July–2 August
Six-time winner of Best Family Festival, Camp Bestival is the option on this list that feels most like a proper music festival – because it is one. Set against Lulworth Castle on the Dorset coast, it has a full lineup, a real atmosphere, and this year’s theme is At The Seaside, with fancy dress strongly encouraged throughout the weekend.
For toddlers, Little Town is the dedicated under-5s area, the Soft Play Tent offers ball pools and ride-ons, and Wild Tribe is a woodland space where the emphasis is on free, unstructured play. Fatboy Slim headlines on Sunday, which is one of those rare festival moments where parents are just as excited as their children. Kids under five currently go free on weekend camping tickets – worth checking the website regularly as early bird deals move quickly. Adult weekend camping from £210.
Elderflower Fields
Pippingford Park, East Sussex | 22–25 May
Now in its 15th year, Elderflower Fields has stayed deliberately small – capped at around 5,000 people – and that intimacy is a big part of what makes it special. Set in the Ashdown Forest, it’s a festival that puts nature and hands-on activity at the centre, rather than treating them as a side attraction.
Toddlers can try kayaking, pond dipping, treetop climbing and a range of craft workshops, and there’s no pressure to follow any kind of schedule. Under-fours go free. Evening childcare is available on site, which gives parents the option of catching some live music without a small passenger. It’s probably most convenient for families in the south east, but for those within range it’s a genuinely lovely long weekend. Adult weekend camping from around £160.
Just So Festival
Rode Hall Estate, Cheshire | August 2026
Just So is back after a year away, and it occupies a category of its own. It’s less about a lineup and more about atmosphere – immersive performances, theatrical installations, storytelling, fire, music and a campsite that’s as much part of the experience as anything on the programme. The boundary between audience and performance is intentionally blurry, and children tend to take to that in a way adults sometimes have to work up to.
For toddlers who are a bit young for the bigger music festivals but old enough to be caught up in something magical, it’s a great fit. Dates and full pricing are yet to be confirmed – check the website for updates.