The 10 Best Family-friendly Festivals in the UK and Europe

Once you’ve had kids, it may feel like your days of all-night raving are over, but although major music events like the Isle of Wight (June) and Reading (August) festivals cater for an older crowd, you can easily get your fun fix at family-friendly festivals in the UK and Europe.

Preparation is key at August’s Edinburgh Fringe, with around 250 venues spread across this walkable city and a schedule including hundreds of interactive and entertaining workshops, musicals or comedies for kids. Decide on your daily itinerary, and factor in extra time to get to your chosen venues as the streets are thronged with a dazzling array of cabaret, theatre and acrobatics – there’s always free afternoon entertainment from bagpipers and buskers plugging their shows outside the Fringe Office on the Royal Mile. If little legs need some downtime, have a picnic in Princess Street Gardens. 

Top tip: Novotel Edinburgh Centre is within walking distance of this family-friendly festival’s city-centre venues.

The 5-day mother of all festivals with an annual line up of the world’s biggest music stars, Glastonbury kicks off in June and spreads across a 485-hectare site at Worthy Farm in Somerset. It’s so big that it could be a logistical nightmare, but actually it’s a fantastic experience for families. Facilities for kids are superb: face painting, magic shows and storytelling in the Green Kids Area, plus jugglers, acrobats, and make-up rooms for teenage princesses…  The Kidzfield is right next to the Pyramid Stage, so you can listen to your favourite band while the kids make music, whizz down helter-skelters, or learn stilt-walking in the Big Top.
 

Top tip: Children aged 12 or under get into this family-friendly festival for free. 

Taking place in mid September, East London’s answer to Notting Hill Carnival is every bit as colourful as its better-known big sister, but has remained a joyous, family-friendly celebration of Caribbean culture, with sound systems lining the streets and food trucks all down Ridley Road. Central to the day is the vibrant dazzling costumed parade on wildly decorated floats. Spectators are encouraged to join in the fun, and as the festival is on a much smaller scale than Notting Hill, it has a laid-back vibe better suited to families with young kids. Travel to Hackney Central, Hackney Downs or London Fields overground stations.
 

Top tip: The family-friendly Novotel London Tower Bridge is a 20-minute drive away.

The Hay Festival of Literature & Arts – described by Bill Clinton as “the Woodstock of the mind” – is often regarded as a bastion of serious-minded adults. In fact, it is a fun-filled and wonderfully family-friendly festival with a roster of creative and inspiring activities for kids, taking place in late spring each year to coincide with school holidays. Youngsters can get messy at crafting or cooking sessions, while older members of your tribe listen to talks from popular children’s authors or hear glamorous celebs read extracts from their autobiographies.
 

Top tip: If your kids need to top up their reading matter, head for The Children’s Bookshop, 15 minutes’ walk from the centre of Hay-on-Wye.

One week in February sees York overrun with fierce warriors as Jorvik Viking Festival roars in to celebrate its rich Norse heritage. This is a wonderfully entertaining and educational event for all ages, with free opportunities for kids to learn more about our Viking conquerors at best-beard competitions, shield-making or pottery workshops, and Norse saga-themed storytelling sessions. The highlight of the week sees families dress up as bloodthirsty Viking fighters and march under rainbow-coloured banners through the city’s medieval streets.

Top tip: If you can’t make it to York for the festival, Novotel York Centre puts you 5 minutes’ walk from the award-winning JORVIK Viking Centre. 

This family-friendly festival is all about soaking up the glories of outdoor life, and with its spectacular location on the shores of Derwentwater, that’s very easy to do. Held over 3 days in May, Keswick Mountain Festival combines fell running, triathlons and swimming (there are competitions for kids too) with motivational speakers and indie concerts. An artisan market celebrates Cumbrian produce and crafts, and visitors can do their bit for the environment by donating to conservation work on Catbells, one of the busiest fells in the Lake District National Park.

Top tip: You can get to the festival by public transport from a number of British cities. 

Older kids into sport love watching fast-paced Calcio Storico – a game with Roman origins that combines elements of wrestling, rugby and football. With teams coming from Florence’s historic neighbourhoods, the competition is fiercely fought and the final match is always held on June 24 in Piazza Santa Croce. There’s something incongruous about the tough action on the playing field set against the sheer beauty of the medieval piazza and the traditional pageantry of the occasion, but the atmosphere among the cheering spectators is good humoured – if a little raucous.

Top tip: Book a family-friendly Tuscan Novotel and you’re also around an hour’s drive from the Palio horse race in Siena.

If you’re visiting The Netherlands in spring, Keukenhof Gardens near Lisse are a haven for families – even teenagers are blown by the sight! The gardens open from mid-March to mid-May, and every year 7 million bulbs are planted to produce a psychedelic carpet of colour using hundreds of varieties of tulip, daffodil and hyacinth. Toddlers can run about smelling the flowers, and if they get bored, family-friendly activities include open-topped boat rides, a playground and a petting farm. Buy skip-the-line tickets to avoid queuing for admission.

Top tip: The gardens are under an hour from Amsterdam and there is a direct bus from Schiphol Airport Plaza. 

The culmination of a week-long fiesta of dancing, fireworks and paella-cooking competitions in Buñol, La Tomatina on the last Wednesday in August is one morning of madness that sees up to 20,000 people pelt each other with tomatoes. Proceedings start as a water-canon fires and the world’s biggest food fight commences… and soon the streets run red with tomato pulp and juice. An hour later another cannon fires, hostilities cease and the clean-up begins. Older teenagers will adore the food fight, while everyone can join the family-friendly after-party with music and dancing.

Top tip: The family-friendly Novotel Valencia Lavant has a swimming pool and is 45 minutes’ drive away.

Held in September, Berlin’s festival showcasing legendary international acts has musical offerings for all ages, from the likes of Sam Smith and Billie Eilish for mum and dad, to house music for teens. It even has its very own kids’ corner: the Kidzapalooza zone with child-friendly activities, games and magic tricks as well as live music on the dedicated stage. Add into the mix acrobats, jugglers and a fun fair, and you have two days of superb and safe family fun. There’s a definite green vibe at Lollapalooza too; older kids can learn about sustainability issues at the Grüne Kiez hub.

Top tip: Combine your festival visit with a family-friendly hotel stay and explore the myriad attractions of Berlin.

• Pull-along trolley for your gear.
• Day bag for essentials and snacks.
• Baby carrier/pram if applicable.
• Blankets to keep everyone warm and to sit on.
• Towels for drying off.
• Anti-bacterial hand gels.
• Biodegradable wet wipes.
• Waterproofs in case of rain.
• Hats and suncream in sunny weather.
• Torch/head torch for moving around after dark.

• Arrive by kid-friendly public transport if possible.
• Have a designated meeting spot in case you get separated.
• If there is reception, make sure you all have mobile phones to stay in touch.
• Wear colourful clothing so you’re all easy to spot in the crowds.
• Hydration is key – take and drink lots of water in recyclable bottles.
• Pack snacks so no-one goes hungry.
• Give younger kids regular quiet time so they don’t get over-stimulated.
• Give all the kids the choice to see something they enjoy.
• Protect their ears with defenders at music festivals.
• Check out baby feeding and changing facilities.
  
  

You thought your festival-going days were over? Think again and get ready to create lifelong family memories – happy festival time!