by Alice Scarsi
Glastonbury, Reading, Donington and many other festivals will be providing enough space for you and your leisure vehicle in 2015. The question is, which festival will your choose?
Summer is finally approaching, and with summer comes the festival season, filled with weekends of music, fun, wellington boots and, inevitably, muddy and plenty of it. Rock or pop, funk or indie, whatever your favourite music genre is, it won’t be hard to find the right festival that tickles your pickle.
Not all of us, though, are cut out to live for three days with public toilets and soggy sleeping bags under a tent, irrespective of how appealing it sounds after a glass of wine. And even the most pumped festival goer could be turned off by the ever-present high possibility of rain. Yes, there are certainly more luxurious options available such as the glamping to enable you to avoid the discomforts of slumming it in a canvas carbuncle, but now that almost all of the festivals are “caravan-friendly”, there really is no reason for you to leave at home your home from home on wheels.
Free from the fear of a shared shower, whether you decide to hire a leisure vehicle or travel in your own, there are some great opportunities to jump on board and enjoy some of the best festivities the Uk has to offer for 2015. So read on to check out CaravanTimes‘ definitive guide to leisure vehicle-friendly festivals for 2015.
Kendal Calling
Kendal Calling or – as it has been called – Glastonbury at its best has received countless amount of praise and accolades since its inception in 2006. In 2010 Kendal was bestowed the honour of being named Best Small Festival and, in 2013, scooped the prize for Best Medium festival at the UK Festival Awards. Characterised by its eclectic line-ups, this year’s edition will host Snoop Dogg, The Vaccines and Kodaline amongst other important names on the alternative scene. Not only this, but there will also be designated areas for the disco lovers, Jazz enthusiasts and loads more.
Caravans and motorhomes are welcome to Kendal, and they have a whole area reserved, with 7×7 metres pitches, compost toilets, water and chemical disposal points as well as food shops if you get the munchies. Tents are allowed, as long as they stay within the space provided for each leisure vehicle.
Date: 30 July to 2 August 2015
Tickets prices: from £119, with the opportunity to pay in monthly instalments.
More information here
Y Not? Festival
If you want to see the best of the worldwide alternative scene all in one place, you have to head to Pikehall in Derbyshire from 31 July to 2 August for Y Not?. Snoop Dogg seems to be keeping himself rather busy on the second mention in our feature already. He’ll be joined by the likes of Primal Scream and Basement Jaxx who will be joining the Dogg Father to headline the three-day feast of indie, rap and electro music, that this year sees Y Not? celebrate its tenth birthday. In order to start the festivities early, why not check out the festival organisers’ playlist) on Spotify here.
The Y Not? Festival also has a designated family area which should provide for a more,serene experience, allowing you to join in with the fun as and when nappy-changing duties will alow and ensure the little ones get a good night’s rest.
Date: 31 July to 2 August 2015
Tickets prices: from £85, pitch fees £40.
More information here
Secret Garden Party
The festival to attend for those wanting to discover the latest indie artists, the Secret Garden Party offers a setting that is arguably the most beautiful you’ll ever see and is widely considered one of the biggest and coolest party of the UK. Launched in 2004, each year receives more than 26,000 people ready to listen to musicians such as The Cat Empire, Caravan Palace or Kate Tempest, to take part to the paint fight and to be amused by poets, artists and comedians. Don’t miss the party, head to Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire on 23 to 26 July.
Alongside with the main entrance ticket, which costs £185, you have to purchase the Live-in Vehicle pass if you want to enjoy the party in your leisure vehicle. If you prefer camping in a tent and you are coming with your family, you can buy the family camping pass, which entitles you to some privileges such as priority parking. For those restless who want to bring the party in the party, instead, there is also the option of hiring a gazebo where up to 24 people can spend their days of the festival sleeping and hanging out between one break and the other. Check out all the options available to you here.
Date: 23 to 26 July 2015
Tickets prices: from £185, £60 per leisure vehicle
More information here
Wychwood Festival
The Wychwood Festival is an annual event taking place in Cheltenham, Glouchestershire on 29 to 31 May. Beginning in 2005, Wychwood features mostly indie, folk and world music, but it also includes workshops, comedy, family-friendly activities and a silent disco. 2015’s festival will also feature a roller disco for both adults and children. The Undertones, Fickle Friends, Dreadzone and Folk On are just few of the bands that will step on the stage of this year’s festival.
The campsite is situated between the beautiful Prestbury Hills, and there will be four different areas with different pitching options available, including Pillow Camping or Tipis and Yurts – and one for caravans and campervans, where each caravanner will be provided with 9×6 metres of space for a vehicle and tent. The main campsites are located a short walk from the main area and will provide numerous facilities, including hot showers, a campsite shop, a café and lockers.
Date: 29 to 31 May 2015
Tickets prices: from £129, £72 per leisure vehicle
More information here
Camp Bestival
Camp Bestival is the British festival for those who have small children but don’t want to renounce to the vibes of a summer festival. Annually held at Lulworth Castle in Dorset, this year from 30 July to 2 August, it doesn’t focus merely on music, but it also offers a rich line up of theatre shows and activities for children (including a surprise appearance by the Gruffalo). This year’s live music stage will see no less than Bob Geldof, amongst other artists including Underworld, Clean Bandit, the Kaiser Chiefs and George the Poet.
As the name would suggest, Camp Bestival welcomes guests who wish to pitch up with either their tents or leisure vehicles and there will be both campervan caravan and trailer tent areas. Wat makes this festival pretty good is that when you book, unlike with other festivals, you have the opportunity to choose a specific pitch, overcoming the stressful first come first served rule. Glamping is another option available, and you can choose between a whole range of different, fancy accommodations.
Date: 30 July to 2 August 2015
Tickets prices: from £195, £72 per leisure vehicle
More information here
Download Festival
The 2015 edition of the biggest rock festival in Britain will take place on 12 to 14 June at Donington Castle (or, as described by the organisers, the spiritual home of rock), in Derby. Originally set up as a follow-up to the Monsters of Rock festival, 2015’s line-up will include artists that have certainly contributed to the history of hard rock and metal and include Kiss, Muse, Slash, Billy Idol, Slipknot, Marilyn Manson and Motley Crue to name a few.
Each leisure vehicle ticket holder will be assigned a 9×7 metres pitch, and will have access to portable toilets and showers, fresh water and waste disposal points, but, alas, no electric and water hook-up. You can purchase tickets for a single day, for three days or for five days of camping, or you can head to the RIP Campsite at Park Farm for a more luxurious experience.
Date: 12 to 14 June 2015
Tickets prices: from £190, £109 per leisure vehicle
More information here
Isle of Wight Festival
The Prodigy, Pharrell Williams, Paolo Nutini and Billy Idol are only a handful of the names that, from 11 to 14 June, will hit the three stages at this year’s Isle of Wight festival. Set on the beautiful island just off mainland UK, this event has a long history, enriched by the big names that have taken part in the past, including Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker and The Who. Originally started as a counterculture event, in 1970 it became the festival par excellence. Revived in 2002 after a long break, it has proven a roaring success ever since.
By purchasing an Isle of Wight Festival camping ticket you’ll be able to camp all weekend in the 180-acre campsite that runs alongside the River Medina. Sadly, caravans aren’t allowed to the festival, so if you are a proud caravan or leisure vehicle owner that wants to participate to this festival, why not consider alternative accommodation here. The event allows the use of an additional tent or awning, as long as it fits within the 7×7 metres plot allocated for each camper.
Date: 11 to 14 June 2015
Tickets prices: from £145. Campervan ticket are currently sold out, but keep an eye on the website for any last minute offers
More information here
Reading and Leeds Festival
This festival is slightly different than the others mentioned as it will be taking place simultaneously in two different cities, for those who enjoy indie, rock and alternative music fans. The Leeds concertis held in Bramham Park, near Wetherby, on the ground of an historic house, while the Reading event – the original and senior of the two as well as the oldest music festival still in existence of the world – is held at Little John’s Farm on Richfield Avenue. This year’s visitors will enjoy big names of the alternative scene as Metallica, Bastille, Mumford & Sons and The Libertines. The event will take place on 28-30 August.
There are two campervan areas in each site, where both motorhomes and caravans are allowed. One is for the general public, whilst the other has been specifically thought for disabled festival goers and is situated next to the disabled campsite. You must display the Campervan Ticket inside your vehicle during the whole weekend (which costs £75 plus £213 of the weekend ticket) and you can’t use tents inside the parking. Look at the tickets options here (identical for both venues) or consider the colourful luxury camping options if you prefer having your accommodation ready and waiting for you at your arrival.
Date: 10 to 12 July 2015
Tickets prices: from £213, £75 per leisure vehicle
T in the Park
The most important music festival in Scotland can pride itself not only with a long history that goes all the way back to 1994, but also record figures of visitors: last year the event attracted 85,000 people each day, including 70,000 campers. This year’s T in the Park will take place in Strathallan Castle, Perthshire, from 10 to 12 July. Headliners for 2015’s include, amongst others, Kasabian, David Guetta, Avicii, Stereophonics and Noel Gallagher’s the High Flying Birds.
Due to lack of space at the festival, only campervans are accommodated, There is also a strict ‘no tent’ policy, that allows only the use of awnings as an extension of the campervans and forbids the use of any tents. The option of glamping is also available however, providing a more luxurious alternatives to your bog-standard tent.
Date: 10 to 12 July 2015
Tickets prices: from £194, £150 per leisure vehicle
More information here
Glastonbury
Of course Glasto, being the largest greenfield festival in the world, had to be the the one we saved until last. Set in one of the most beautiful valleys in England, the legendary Avalon in Somerset, this year the event will take place from 24 to 28 June. The full line-up has yet to be unveiled, but the few artists revealed – Foo Fighters, Kanye West and Lionel Richie – already promise to set the stage in fire.
There are some strict rules to follow if you want to live the Glastonbury experience with your caravan. Only leisure vehicles with fitted sleeping and washing or cooking facilities are allowed into the leisure vehicle field, and only professionally manufacturered annex or inner tents are acceptable to sleep in. There is no electricity, and generators can’t be brought on site so prepare to rough it all the same. Also, since it isn’t possible to book a specific position of the pitch, a first come first served rule reigns.
Date: 24 to 28 June 2015
Tickets prices: from £220, £150 per leisure vehicle
More information here
Will you be attending one of the festivals listed above? Let us know which one and maybe we’ll see you there.
