My first trip to a UK music festival was with my kid in tow. I’d been to plenty of events back in the US with friends or my husband, but wasn’t sure what to expect at a UK festival with my daughter in the mix.
We wound up having a blast, but definitely could have done a few things differently. That’s why I put together this guide to Latitude Festival for families. Whether you need help with your packing list or planning your days, I’ve got you covered!
Know Before You Go: Latitude Festival
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Latitude Festival Overview
Latitude is an annual music and culture festival held at Henham Park in Suffolk. It is one of the larger festivals in the UK, but is still much more manageable than the massive crowds at Glastonbury. It’s also incredibly family friendly, thanks to the wide variety of events included in the festival.
The late July scheduling for Latitude brings about as much hope for warm weather as you’ll ever get in the UK, and the location across fields and forest feel a world away from everything else. It often falls just as UK schools break for summer holidays.
Latitude Festival for Families
One of the hardest parts of picking activities as a family is finding things everyone will like. This is the reason I wanted to try Latitude in the first place.
There are other UK festivals like Camp Bestival that really lean on the family-friendly atmosphere as well. What I like about Latitude is that it doesn’t feel like a children’s fair, but it does have plenty of child-friendly options.
I’d say this one is best if you want to catch some big name performers, as well as a diverse lineup of theatre, dance, comedy, poetry and fun family-friendly activities. No one gets left out here.
Children And Teen Activities
Kids are fully considered participants at Latitude Festival. There are festival areas dedicated to children’s shows and activities, a fun fair, and even a teen zone for the 12+ fans. My daughter especially enjoyed visiting the Enchanted Garden to craft her own claymation character with help from an Aardman animator.
Little kids are often spotted riding around in trolleys (wagons for my Americans) like tiny royalty. These make for handy portable nap stations as well.
Travel Tip: You can find baby feeding, changing and bathing tools in the baby and toddler tent.
Kids area activities run from 10am-6pm and include everything from storytelling to art creation to an earthworm science walk. There is something to inspire every interest here.
The Inbetweeners teen space makes sure older kids have room to explore too. There’s a teen stage featuring young talent, some of which have gone on to become big names after performing here. Digital design and creative art drop-ins give older kids an activity that doesn’t feel like they’re in the kid zone.
Family Camping
Family camping is its own zone, and is only available to book if your party includes kids aged 16 and under. You’ll get a family camping wristband when you first enter, and will need to show it each time you enter the family campground.
Family camping has dedicated toilets and shower facilities in the campground. There are also a handful of food and drink vendors scattered along the main paths. Just outside the family campground is a general vendor area where you can buy some groceries and toiletries.
Travel Tip: The family campground usually has a dedicated festival entrance that leads in near the kid-friendly activity areas. Even if you’re headed to the main stages, you can avoid some queues by entering here.
Latitude was my first festival camping experience, and I definitely learned some things I’d want to change for my experience next time. Check out my tips further down to avoid making the same mistakes I did.
Beautiful Location in Henham Park
England in the summertime can really be gorgeous. Henham Park takes you from wide open fields in the camping areas, through winding trails amongst towering trees, across bits of stream and around a small lake.
The festival mainstage is named the Obelisk for the obelisk stone marker nearby. Many of the small stages are tucked away in the forest, accessed by winding trails.
These sort of details, and the generally beautiful natural setting, make it easy to romanticise your experience if you’re so inclined. The signature pink sheep add to the whimsy as well.
Drawbacks to Latitude Festival for Families
Before you book your tickets to Latitude, keep in mind that not everything at this festival is kid-friendly. The most obvious warning comes from the comedy tent, where you should expect adult-themed jokes. Some of the theatrical performances outside the kids area may also include nudity. Use your common sense to find the entertainment that best fits your comfort zone.
The big mainstage shows will draw large crowds, so keep a close eye on your kids to avoid losing anyone.
Travel Tip: For little kids, write your phone number on a kids wristband to make it easier to find them if you’re separated.
Keep in mind that camping rarely leads to a great night’s sleep for anyone, including kids. Don’t try to cram in so many activities that you all wind up exhausted. Some of our favourite performances were spent sprawled on a blanket near the performance tent when we needed a rest.
Mistakes to Avoid at Latitude Festival
First, let me admit to the mistakes I made during our first trip to Latitude:
- We arrived late in the day on opening day – this meant a good 80% of the family camping fields were already filled in with people who’d arrived earlier
- We tried to see everything on the first full day of the festival – and were shattered by the evening
- I underestimated the noise and overestimated my ability to sleep in an uncomfortable setting
- I didn’t consider my kid’s comfort level in crowded settings and wound up hustling her out of a tent when she got overwhelmed
So, with that in mind, what did we learn? I’d definitely still go back, but here’s what I’d do this time:
- Arrive early. Campgrounds open at 10am and there are no reserved spots in the family camping fields. Getting there early gives you a better chance to find a spot before the fields are overwhelmed. In general, I’d aim for a short walk to toilets and away from the main walking paths.
- Bring or rent a trolley. It’s a long walk from the car park, past the campervan fields, before finally arriving in the very large family camping fields. We rented a trolley last time, which worked pretty well, but they are pricy and I’m not sure how available they are at peak arrival times if you haven’t pre-booked. I’d probably bring my own next time to avoid the risk of all the rentals being out.
- Bring earplugs. I was really surprised none of the vendor shops sold earplugs. With a mini Co-op on site and loads of tired people, this seems like an easy item to sell. I did bring some cheap foam earplugs, which helped but tended to fall out in the night. I’ve since fallen in love with my Loop Quiet earplugs for sleeping and Loop Experience earplugs for taking the edge off loud concerts.
- Bring snacks. Food at the festival is pretty good and the queues are reasonable. If I had little kids with me, though, I’d want to be armed with some easily dispensable snacks and fruit.
- Be patient. It’s so easy to get swept up in the excitement of all there is to see and do. Try to slow down in the early days so you don’t run out of steam!
- Know your kid. Whether it’s crowds or noise or just overstimulation in general, there’s a decent chance something will challenge your child’s equilibrium at the festival. Check in with them regularly and don’t try to force experiences.
- Be ready for the weather. It was dry and hot when we went. My husband brought his desert scarf, and I absolutely made fun of him because it’s not like we were at Coachella. Then the wind picked up one day and I was literally breathing dirt. Whether it’s a pair of wellies in case of rain, or a sun hat, or a bandana to block the dust, it’s best to be prepared.
Alternatives To Family Camping at Latitude
Not everyone can tolerate camping, and not everyone wants to haul camping gear – especially if you’re travelling far to attend the festival. Here are a few alternatives that provide families with a bit more ease and comfort:
- Glamping – In addition to standard campsites, you’ll also find luxury camping at Latitude Festival. These sites come with ready to go tents and niceties like foam mattresses. The area also has its own toilet and shower facilities, as well as extra perks like a pamper parlour.
- The Stables at Henham Park – Incredibly close location to the festival with lovely boutique rooms that can accommodate up to four. Book early to secure your space!
- The Plough – This country inn in nearby Wangford is a short drive from Henham Park and has family rooms sleeping up to four.
Travel Tip: Hotels book fast once Latitude announces dates each year. Find the best availability near the festival grounds by searching with this map view in Booking.com. Look to stay near Henham Park.
Family Packing List for Latitude Festival
Ready to go? Here’s everything you need for a fantastic family experience at Latitude:
Tickets
You can show tickets on your phone, but make sure you know how to pull them up. If you’re coming from overseas you’ll have the option to pick up your tickets at the box office or have them mailed to your home in advance. Don’t leave them behind!
ID and Bank Card
Identification may be requested to verify your tickets, and might be necessary to verify your child’s age. My daughter has always been tall and we were asked to show proof that she was 12 or under to match her child ticket.
Travel Tip: Don’t bring a pile of cash! Vendors in the festival all had card readers at the ready, so you don’t have to pull out cash in advance unless you prefer it.
Trolley or Wagon
Are you hauling camping gear from the car or ferrying children all over? A high-capacity folding wagon that also has the weight capacity to manage tired kids can save a lot of stress when you’re juggling stuff.
If you need to save space in your car, you can pre-book a trolley rental through the festival website. Some trolleys are available on the day, but you do risk them running out. A cash deposit is required for trolley rental.
Bungee Cords
These are small to pack, but go a long way to keeping your stuff in the trolley when you’re doing your big haul in and out.
Tent
Don’t just pick a cheap tiny tent when you’re travelling with family. Space will help keep you organised, provide a small bit of privacy, and make it easier to secure your stuff while you’re away from camp.
This is the exact tent we took to Latitude, and would recommend for families with up to four people.
It has a sewn-in groundsheet, light dimming enclosure with optional separate “rooms”, and enough living space at the front to store all of our stuff and stash our camp chairs when we go out.
Bigger groups can opt for something larger, or consider grouping tents together to carve out a mini-community.
Spare Tarp
A plastic sheet helps keep your stuff dry if you arrive in a rainshower, and can serve as a backup picnic blanket or quick cover in a pinch.
Sleeping Bag
Opt for something cosy that won’t lead to overheating in mild temperatures. This sleeping bag from Amazon is reasonably priced and adaptable to the weather.
Pillow
Your kids may be fine sleeping on a rolled up towel, but bring yourself a real pillow to help you sleep.
Sleeping Pad / Air Mattress
I brought sleeping pads we’d used for camping in Yosemite, where they’d been totally fine. However, when you’re already in a noisy campground, a little extra comfort goes a long way. Next time I’m bringing single air mattresses for everyone.
Don’t forget a rechargeable pump to inflate your air mattress.
Ear Plugs
Bringing ear plugs will help with sleep and with protecting your and your child’s hearing. Keep in mind that you only have a thin sheet of fabric between you and other campers each night. Meanwhile, kids are more likely to enjoy concerts when they don’t feel like their ear drums are under attack.
Camping Chairs
It’s so nice to have a comfy place to sit while enjoying a coffee in the morning, or just gathering to chat. We brought rocking chairs that were such a relief at the end of a long day.
Camp Lighting
You can really do any combo of things here. I brought some mini lights that took advantage of our tent’s internal clips. We also had a lantern and a torch in case of nighttime bathroom runs.
Camping Table
This is another thing we didn’t bring that I wished we had. Whether you want to make your own coffee, have a quick meal in camp, or spread out your festival makeup and mirror, a folding camp table makes everything a bit more convenient.
Travel Mirror
No one wants to fix their hair and makeup in the public toilets. This travel mirror is under £20 and comes with a built-in rechargeable light for touch ups any time.
Sunscreen
Don’t spend your evenings moaning over a sunburn. The July sun will make you regret not slathering this on each day.
Fun Makeup and Glitter
This is the best time to experiment with fun colours and glitter. Check out this glitter selection from Amazon.
Micellar Water
Make it easy on yourself to remove the makeup, glitter and dirt at your campsite. Don’t forget the cotton wool for easy application.
Sunglasses
You may not need them all the time (this is still England), but it’s a good bet you’ll want to have some sunnies stashed in your bag.
Picnic Blanket
Bring this with you for when you need a quick break or the tables by food vendors all fill up. Any blanket will do, but a picnic blanket with a plastic backing will make sure damp ground doesn’t seep through.
We took a blanket break under this tree for a lovely afternoon hour.
Reusable Water Bottle
Water points are available all over the festival, so bring a reusable bottle to make staying hydrated easy! Note that you can’t bring in liquids, so will need to have it empty when going through the festival gates.
Camping Mug
A sturdy enamel mug is handy for your morning coffee or grabbing water for teeth brushing. Plus, they’re cheap, lightweight, and small. This cute set of four mugs will have your whole family covered.
Clothing
Hope for summer sunny weather, but have some warmer layers and rain gear on standby. At the very least, bring an emergency poncho and stash a wooly jumper and wellies in your tent.
Swimsuits are great if your children are over eight. Take a dip in the lake at Henham Park, or try your hand at paddleboarding.
I really enjoyed having my wellies to slip on for the morning trek to the toilets and coffee pick up. Just as quick as flip flops without adding another layer of dust to your feet. These ones from Joules are a good price and come in lots of different colours and patterns.
Wet Wipes and Tissues
Keep some wet wipes on hand for the many and varied ways kids end up in a mess. Biodegradable is the way to go. Tissues are also a good idea just in case of a toilet emergency. I never encountered an understocked toilet at Latitude, but no one wants to be in a port-a-loo and discover there’s no toilet roll.
Hand Sanitizer
Clean your hands quickly and avoid coming home sick. This is an easy add to your day bag that you’ll definitely use.
Paracetamol (American: acetaminophen/Tylenol)
Even if your family camping adventure doesn’t involve as much drinking as younger you might have enjoyed, there are still plenty of ways to get a headache. Stay hydrated (with water) and bring this along just in case. I’d recommend bringing the dissolvable or chewy tabs for kids if your child would rather die than swallow a pill.
Portable Phone Charger
Camping means you can’t just plug your devices in at the wall each night. Keep your phone going with a portable charger that’s compatible with most phone brands.
My Top Family Tips for Latitude Festival
- Kids 12 and under enter with a much cheaper Child ticket – bring age proof if your child looks older
- The comedy tent is routinely adult-themed – so decide in advance whether you’re comfortable with what your kid may hear there
- Arrive early for the best selection of camping spots in the family camping fields
- Let yourselves wander – there’s no need to overschedule yourself or your kids
- Talk to your kids about what to do if they get lost, and make sure younger children have your phone number on them somewhere
Most importantly – have fun! This is different from many other family events and is a great way to learn more about your kids while having fun at the same time.
