First time at a festival?…
Elderflower Fields is the perfect first family festival, but planning can be a little overwhelming this beginner’s guide should help.
Before You Leave
1. Book activities. Many of the activities at Elderflower Fields are drop-in and free, just turn up, and take part. There’s everything from silly sports and science experiments to fire-starting and dance classes. Check the programme page here. Some activities can be booked in advance to help you plan a little. Please see the activities that carry a fee as optional extras – there’s heaps to keep the kids busy all weekend without them. Pre-bookable activities here.
2. Accommodation. If you bring your own tent and pitch in one of the two family campsites consider how you’ll carry your camping kit across the festival. More on campsites here.
Camping upgrades are available if you prefer a little more comfort or are struggling with the idea of transporting everything from car to camp. Pre-pitched tents in the glamping village and pre-allocated live-in vehicle pitches so you can bring your campervan, motorhome, caravan, trailer tent or park your car and camp in a tent beside it available here.
3. The last thing you can book in advance is a treatment in our fabulous Woodland Spa. A great way to unwind while the kids enjoy the activities. Woodland Spa treatments and/or Wild Spa hot tub and sauna bookings here.
4. ‘Stay Up Late’ with Mortimer Nannies sessions here.
What to Pack
Tickets? Check! Children? Check! It’s tempting to bring everything just in case, but remember, unless you’re in the live-in vehicle field, you’ll need to transport everything. We can’t emphasize enough how much easier your experience will be if you pack light and bring a sturdy buggy or trolly to move things.
What to bring
1. Tent. Unless you have booked one of our pre-erected glamping options. Remember you’ve got to get it from your car to the campsite and back again. We do not have a trolly hire service. A mallet is also useful.
2. Mattresses and bedding. Sleeping bags, blankets, pillows and roll mats. It can be surprisingly cold in the middle of the night. It’s a good idea to keep spare blankets and dry clothes in the car, just in case.
3. Torches/lights. The main roads and paths around the festival site are quite well-lit, but we intentionally keep the campsites dark to enjoy the stars. Solar fairy lights help spot your tent and a torch is essential.
4. Clothes. Pack clothes for all eventualities, even if the forecast is great! It is possible to have an amazing festival in the wet provided you’re properly equipped. Wellies and raincoats and flip-flops, hats and sun cream. Leave what you don’t need in the car.
4. Fancy dress. Strongly encouraged, especially on Sunday for our big family dance-off.
5. Food. Our vendors offer quality meals for everyone. Pack some snacks and drinks to keep the kids happy back at camp, but you don’t need to bring food for the whole weekend. If you plan to cook, leave excess packaging at home, and please, no glass whatsoever. In exceptionally dry weather, a fire ban may be imposed. The final newsletter to ticket holders is a vital read, so please look out for it the week before arrival. Food and drink on offer this year.
6. Drink (alcohol policy). Those over 18 may bring alcohol for personal consumption in the campsites/live-in vehicle field only. Own alcohol is not be permitted in the festival arenas, where fully licensed bars are available. Re-stocking from off-site is not permitted, and there is a site wide glass ban. We reserve the right to confiscate alcohol in breach of these terms.
7. Cups, mugs and water bottles. BRING BACK YOUR CUPS! Every year we hire hundreds of reusable cups for the bars. Reuse your cups if you already have them to save waste and money on your first drink or the cup levy on hot drinks.
8. Water bottle. Fill up with water from the taps around the site which is safe to drink. No single-use plastic bottles are sold on-site.
9. Wash kit. Free hot showers are available, but they get super busy in the mornings. Go mid-afternoon or very early to avoid queuing. Consider no-rinse body wash and dry shampoo. Or, dare we suggest it, not wash for a day or two…
10. Medication and first aid. Pack any medicines you may need, sun cream and ear defenders for any kids not keen on loud music. Nappies or a potty if you have small children. Toilets and hand wash stations are located across the site.
11. Buggy or Trolly. There is no trolly hire on site. A sturdy all-terrain buggy or a good quality trolly is useful for transportation of camping kit and tired kids.
What not to bring
The following items will be confiscated and you may be asked to leave the festival so don’t get caught out!
– Glass – decant before you leave home. Glass is so dangerous to barefooted children, animals and a fire risk in dry weather.
– Gazebos or other big shelters. The campsites are spacious, but please be considerate to fellow campers.
– Chinese lanterns – nature hates them!
– Glow sticks and single-use tat – please support our future.
– Excessive amounts of alcohol.
– Pets or animals.
– Sound systems.
A full list of what is and isn’t allowed in the festival terms & conditions.
When You Arrive
If you’ve got kids, camping gear and supplies for the weekend, you are likely to be arriving by car (though that is not the only way to get to Elderflower Fields). Plan your route using the festival postcode: TN22 3HW. Look for the yellow AA signs as you approach the site
The site opens at 12 noon on Friday 23rd May. Please don’t arrive earlier – you won’t be allowed in. Peak times are Friday between 12 and 2pm and again between 4 and 7pm. We aim to get everyone on site as quickly and safely as possible. Gates & wristband exchange close at 9pm. Please arrive in time to park and camp (you don’t want to be putting up your tent in the dark!).
Once on the festival site, show your car park pass and tell the car parking stewards if you have booked a live-in vehicle pitch, glamping, or have accessibility requirements. Park then walk to the ticketing tent with your camping kit (the furthest this would be is about 500m). Exchange your tickets for wristbands and then it’s onwards to the campsites!
The furthest you could conceivably camp from the car parks is just over 1km. The nearest is about 50m. It’s downhill from the car park, but remember, this means it’s uphill when it’s time to pack up and go home. A trolley or sturdy buggy is useful if you have room to bring one. No trolly hire service on site.
Choose a campsite and spot to pitch up, then find a visual marker your kids can use to find your camp. Use flags, trees or other structures to help. Please be considerate towards fellow campers – do not reserve large areas and please, no gazebos.
Other useful stuff
Lost & Found. If you lose a child, parent or possession, go to the Info Tent. The fantastic team will help reunite you. Explain to your kids if they get lost that stewards in hi-vis vests will help them find the Info Tent.
Phone charging. Phone charging is available at the Info Tent at £3 per hour charge.
Babies & Toddlers. The site is hilly and in places rough and wild. Walking around all day can be tiring for little legs. Bring a sturdy all-terrain buggy or trolley. Small wheels are useless to get around the bumpy site. A feeding and nappy change tipi is located next to the info tent where you can relax in relative peace. All main toilet blocks have one large disabled toilet with a fold-down baby change table.
Money & Security. No cash points on site. Food and drink vendors accept card payments. Bring a card for contactless payment and a little cash. £20 refundable cash deposit (per headphone set) is needed for the silent disco. Please do not bring valuables or leave them unattended in cars or tents.
What3Words. A useful tool that can help you find your way around the site, locate your tent or car and get help in an emergency. Downloaded the free App.
Monday Luggage Drop. A tractor and trailer luggage drop service is offered on Monday to help get your camping gear back up the hill to the car park. This operates every 45 minutes starting at 8 am, from the top of the main family camping field, Luggage is dropped at a central location in the car park. £2 per item (please do not bundle multiple bags or items together) – pre-book at any point over the weekend via the Info Tent. This is for luggage only, not people.
That’s pretty much it. From there on, it’s up to you to explore and find your wild adventure! You’ll get a printed festival guide when you arrive. It’s a full listing of what’s on when and where and a digital version is available from April here.
Relax… let the kids lead the way and enjoy Elderflower Fields 🙂