Two lineups, two locations – one of the biggest family festivals in the UK! Camp Bestival mixes all the best bits about family trips and festivals to create this unforgettable event that’s packed with performances and fun activities for all ages. Whether you’re seeing Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Lulworth Castle, Faithless at Weston Park or headliners like Paloma Faith at both festivals, book comfy rooms at our hotels in Dorset or our hotels in Shropshire to enjoy super-comfy beds, a power shower and free Wi-Fi just a short drive from the venues. Best of all, you’ll find plenty of places to visit in Shropshire and things to do in Dorset when the events are over, so you can transform a festival into a family break this summer!
Camp Bestival 2025
When you’re looking for great hotels near Camp Bestival in July or places to stay near Camp Bestival in August, take your pick from our great-value hotels this summer! Our Weymouth Seafront hotel, our Weymouth hotel and our Dorchester hotel are all around a 30-minute drive from Lulworth Castle in Dorset, while our Telford Central hotel, our Telford North hotel and our Newport/Telford hotel are all just a short drive from Weston Park.
We’ve got you covered at mealtimes too thanks to our family friendly restaurants! As well as our on-site Thyme restaurants in Dorset, there’s also our Lodmoor Brewers Fayre, our Weymouth Beefeater and Holes Bay Table Table over in Poole. Or if you’re staying with us in August, take the kids to one of our Shropshire restaurants including our Euston Way Beefeater, our Clock Tower Brewers Fayre and The Three Fish Beefeater for mouth-watering meals. Plus, our Premier Inn Breakfast is the best way to start the day before watching your favourite headliners perform!
History of Camp Bestival
This event has really transformed since it started on the Isle of Wight back in 2004! Originally, Bestival was a four-day summer festival which quickly became a fan favourite thanks to its laid-back feel, fancy dress events and popular headliners including Fatboy Slim, Sean Paul and Major Lazer. Camp Bestival was launched in 2008 to offer a more family friendly version of the event, and ended up outliving the original Bestival, which ended in 2018. Camp Bestival is now one of the most popular music festivals in the UK and has hosted famous artists including Florence and the Machine, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, Ed Sheeran and the Kaiser Chiefs. In addition to the musical acts, Camp Bestival also hosts comedians, circus acts and entertainers for the kids!
Four things to know about Camp Bestival
Dates & lineup
Dates: There are two Camp Bestival dates – the Dorset festival takes place from Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th July 2025, and the Shropshire festival usually takes place in August.
Camp Bestival lineup: Top artists like Paloma Faith, McFly and The Darkness performed at both Bestival events in 2024, with Pete Tong and Sophie Ellis-Bextor taking to the stage in Dorset while Faithless and Rick Astley were just some of the Shropshire headliners. Keep your eyes peeled for the 2025 lineup!
Getting to Camp Bestival
Wareham and Wool are the nearest train stations if you’re thinking of getting to Lulworth Castle by train this July. Like many UK festivals, Camp Bestival 2024 has teamed up with Big Green Coach to offer a more sustainable way of getting to and from the Dorset event. Plus, if you’re looking for ways of getting to Weston Park in August, Telford and Stafford are the nearest train stations.
Duration of Camp Bestival
Whether you’re going to Camp Bestival in Dorset or Camp Bestival in Shropshire, the good news is that you can look forward to four days’ worth of performances at either event, as both run from Thursday to Sunday!
Size of Camp Bestival
Camp Bestival welcomes around 10,000 music lovers every year, and it’s one of the UK’s most popular family festivals thanks to its kid-friendly activities and performances. This summer event also works with multiple charities – including the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust – and is conscious about sustainability too, with recycling points and WaterAid’s environmentally friendly Good Loos.
Camp Bestival festival FAQs
How much will it cost to go to Camp Bestival?
Thinking of going to Bestival music festival 2025? Weekend tickets to Camp Bestival cost around £230, with backstage and hospitality packages costing more. Don’t forget to factor in additional costs like parking charges and travel expenses! If camping isn’t your thing, why not stay in style at a Premier Inn in Dorset or a Premier Inn in Telford for a faff-free festival weekend with the family?
Does Camp Bestival sell day tickets?
Yes! Bestival day tickets will cost around £80 for adults and £18 for kids on Friday and Sunday, and £91 for adults and £16 for kids on Saturday. You can even buy family bundle tickets!
Best places to stay for Camp Bestival?
Where to stay for Camp Bestival all depends on which festival you’re going to! If you’re going to the Lulworth Castle festival in Dorset, then book our Weymouth Seafront hotel, our Weymouth hotel or our Dorchester hotel this July. If you’ve got Camp Bestival tickets for August, then you can choose from our great-value Telford Central hotel, our Telford North hotel or our Newport/Telford hotel to stay near Weston Park.
Is Camp Bestival good for kids?
Absolutely! Camp Bestival is one of the UK’s best family festivals because the event is about so much more than just the music. There’s wellness classes for all ages, entertaining live shows, the world’s biggest bouncy castle and so much more. Add funfair rides, soft play and live acts into the mix and Camp Bestival ticks all the boxes when you’re looking for fun things to do with the kids this summer.