Home » Best Small Festivals in the UK
Best Small Festivals in the UK
Make your summer 2025 unforgettable with Quirky Campers’ guide to the best small festivals in the UK! Festivals are the ultimate way to enjoy the season of sunshine, music and community, and we believe that experiencing a festival in a campervan is the perfect cherry on the cake. We’ve scoured the UK music scene to bring you a handpicked selection of the top small festivals happening this summer. Get ready for all the details you need to make this the best music-filled summer of your life!
Why Choose a UK Festival this Summer?
The UK festival scene is constantly changing and expanding, bringing together the very best of the UK music scene, embracing the sometimes questionable summer weather, and celebrating amazing communities from across the world. This summer there are more festivals on offer than ever, with a festival for every vibe, from family-friendly festivities to old-school classics for the festival aficionados. To make things interesting this year, why not avoid the big names and find something totally unique and a little bit quirky?
At Quirky Campers – Quirky is our speciality, so we’re here to give you the low-down on the very best small, independent festivals in the UK Spring and Summer 2025.
Experience everything a festival should be and more. Small festivals are the passion projects of small teams who just want you to have the most magical experience of your life. The best thing about this list, is all these festivals are campervan friendly, no more damp morning tents, queuing for toilets, or smelling like one. Once you’ve chosen your festival why not check out our festival-friendly line-up of campervans for absolute comfort and style?
Why Take A Campervan to A Festival?
It’s time to leave the wet wipes at home. From the safety and security of a campervan, you can have all your little luxuries while still enjoying the festival vibes to the full. Come back after a full day and night of dancing, singing and general festival shenanigans to a warm, plush bed, a solid roof over your head, running water, solar panels for your gadgets, a full kitchen for a hangover-curing morning fry-up, and even a shower if you choose from our luxury range with showers included. If this isn’t the best way to do a festival, we don’t know what is!
Why Choose a Quirky Campervan?
Quirky Campers has the best selection of hand-made campervans in the UK. Our platform brings together the ultimate van lifers and allows them to share their beloved homes on wheels with you! Choose from a wide selection of over 250 uniquely crafted campervan conversions. Each with its own individual personality – just like you!
Festivals with Campervan Fields
All the festivals below have been chosen, not only for their amazing small-festival vibes but because they cater to campervans. They all have optional additional tickets, or external camping sites for those wishing to bring campervans or other live-in vehicles so you can spend your festival weekend in comfort.
Elderflower Fields Festival
Date – 23rd-26th May, 2025
Location – Ashdown Forest, Sussex, UK
Capacity – 5,000 people
Tags – Family-Friendly Festival, Back-to-Nature Festival
Embrace the wilder side of life with your whole family at this East Sussex-based family-friendly festival. With bands to get you dancing all weekend long, arts and crafts for rejuvenating the creative juices and plenty of tasty food stalls on offer it’s an immersive weekend of fun for all ages.
Tickets on Sale – Now!
Purbeck Valley Folk Festival
Date – 14-17th August 2025
Location – Dorset
Capacity – 3000 People
Tags – Family- Friendly Festival, Music Festival, Folk Festival
Purbeck Valley Folk Festival is a fun-filled, family-friendly festival set on a charming farm on the Jurassic Coastline. Expect three days of folk, roots, and world music across five stages, exciting music workshops a poetry slam, and a children’s area packed with crafts, games, and even circus skills. Enjoy the cosy, laid-back vibe as you wander through music and connect with this welcoming community.
Tickets on Sale – Now!
Knockengorroch Festival
Date – 22-25th May, 2025
Location – Galloway, SW Scotland
Capacity – 2,700 People
Tags – Music Festival, Celtic Festival, Family-Friendly Festival
The self-proclaimed big festival in a small pot, Knockengorroch is a self-contained festival in the deep Scottish countryside. Celebrating the best of Celtic music from trad to modern takes. There’s amazing community vibes, and vibrant live music all weekend long all beneath the gaze of the snow-tipped Scottish mountain peaks.
Tickets on Sale – Now!
The Big Retreat Festival
Date – 23-26th May, 2025
Location – Pembrokeshire, UK
Tags – Wellness Festival, Family-Friendly Festival
Capacity – 2,000 People
The Big Retreat is all about returning to wellness, embracing nature and becoming your best self. Take part in yoga, wild swimming, cold plunge pools, great food and nourishing music for the body and soul all with the backdrop of the wild Welsh Pembrokeshire National Park.
Tickets on Sale – Now!
Houghton Festival
Date – 7-10th August, 2025
Location – Norfolk
Tags – Music Festival, Arts Festival
Capacity – 10,000 People
Nestled among sycamore trees, a serene lake, and a world-class sculpture park, Houghton Festival is a four-day playground of live and electronic beats. Curated by artist and DJ Craig Richards, it’s a dreamy escape on the stunning grounds of Houghton Hall.
Tickets on Sale – Now!
Deer Shed Festival
Date – 25th – 28th July 2025
Location – Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, N Yorks
Capacity – 10,000
Tags – Music Festival, Family-Friendly Festival
At Deer Shed Festival, everyone—kids and adults alike—has an amazing time together! There are no separate kids’ areas; the whole site is open and welcoming, treating visitors like house guests. Alongside the fun, you can enjoy fresh cultural experiences, some of which may be pleasantly challenging. The music line-up is always varied and always thrilling, and families can enjoy it all while feeling perfectly safe. And for those without kids, it’s still an incredible experience!
Tickets on Sale – Now!
The Green Gathering
Date – 31st July -3rd August, 2025
Location – Piercefield Park, near Chepstow NP16 6EH.
Capacity – 5,000 People
Tags – Family-Friendly Festival, Sustainable Festival, Movement for Change Festival, Wellness Festival
The original off-grid grassroots festival movement, Green Gathering prides itself on being the sustainable festival option. Live music runs across the weekend with everything from swing, dance, and ska, to reggae, rap and cabaret. There are workshops and speakers, arts and crafts, a campaign field and so much more. Get stuck into this remarkable and one-of-a-kind community and discover something bigger than yourself.
Tickets on Sale – Now!
Solfest
Location – Cumbria
Date – 21-24th August, 2025
Capacity – 10,000
Tags – Family-friendly Festival, Culture Festival, Music Festival, Art Festival
Solfest is a wild, quirky, and family-friendly festival set in the beautiful Cumbrian countryside, the weekend shares an eclectic mix of music, arts, and unforgettable fun. Known for its laid-back vibe and welcoming atmosphere, this independent festival is all about creativity, with vibrant costumes, interactive art installations, and a lineup that spans everything from indie and reggae to electronic beats.
Tickets on Sale – Now!
Tropical Pressure Festival
Date – 12-14th July
Location – Porthowan, Cornwall
Capacity – 3000
Tags – Music Festival, Family-Friendly Festival, Beach Festival, Food Festival, Culture Festival
Tropical Pressure is a hip celebration of tropical music, culture, and good vibes, with the stunning Cornish coastline as its backdrop. This family-friendly festival brings together the irresistible rhythms of Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean, filling the air with infectious beats, exotic food, and colourful crafts. With beachside camping, sustainable living, and plenty of workshops, from dance to drumming.
Tickets on Sale – Now!
Shambala
Location – Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire
Capacity – 15,000
Date – August 21-24, 2025
Tags – Music Festival, Wellness Festival, Family Friendly Festival
Shambala is a vibrant, eco-conscious festival celebrating creativity, community, and sustainability. Shambala offers an eclectic mix of music, arts, and workshops, blending global sounds with emerging talent. Its zero-waste initiatives and a focus on ethical living make it an eco-festive powerhouse. Expect a fun and lively experience filled with colourful parades, thought-provoking talks, and immersive installations.
Tickets on Sale – Now!
Bearded Theory
Date – 21st-25th May 2025
Location – Catton Park, Derbyshire
Capacity – 10,000
Tags – Family-friendly Festival, Music Festival
Bearded Theory brings together music lovers, free spirits, and festival veterans for a weekend of pure fun in the heart of the Derbyshire countryside. Known for its diverse lineup spanning rock, indie, punk, and more, this family-friendly festival also features wild fancy dress, hilarious antics, and an inclusive, feel-good atmosphere.
Tickets on Sale – Now!
Wildwood Festival
Date – 20-23 June 2025
Location – The Woodland Glade, Horseheath Racecourse, Linton, Cambridgeshire
Capacity – 2000
Tags – One Day Festival, Music Festival, Family-Friendly Festival
Wildwood Festival is a music and arts extravaganza hidden away in a scenic forest, blending live music, community activities, and outdoor adventures. There’s a fun family-friendly atmosphere, an eclectic crowd and an emphasis on sustainability and eco-consciousness, encouraging festival-goers to reduce waste and embrace a nature-friendly lifestyle.
Tickets on Sale – Now!
Festival Friendly Vans
Chosen your festival vibes? Now you’re ready to choose your campervan companion. We’ve selected the funkiest and of course the quirkiest of our festival-friendly campervans that will send your festival experience to the next level!
Ike – Available to Hire from Bristol
Ike is a fantastic, freshly converted camper for hire in Bristol. He has been amazingly handcrafted to provide a self-contained 3-berth campervan that is ready to hit the open road on a totally awesome family campervan holiday! Ike manages to fit in everything you could possibly need on a campervan adventure; the spacious sofa seating means you can chill out with a view over your park up, and it turns into a big double bed at night. Solar power, a huge water tank and hot water for the inside shower mean that Ike is fully set up for off-grid wild camping.
bike rack | ceiling fan | dining table | extra storage | festival friendly | Heater | inside shower | Inverter | kitchen sink | Oven | Radio | Refrigerator | Solar | Stove | Toilet | |6ft+ Bed | Parking Space | Woodburner | Reverse Camera | CD Player | Waste Tank:50litres | EU Travel Allowed
Gigi – Available to Hire from Longhope
Get ready to be blown away by Gigi, the lightest and brightest van for all the family. Fitted with a remarkable 6 belted seats and enough space for 2 adults and 4 children, what more could you possibly need for your best holiday yet? Waking up every morning to Gigi’s spacious and airy interior will have everyone starting their day with a skip in their step. Crack some coffee on the hob, get the kids around the table for a fully cooked breakfast and prepare for a day of new discoveries.
Audio inputs | dining table | festival friendly | Heater | kitchen sink | leveling jacks | Radio | Refrigerator | Solar | Stove | Fixed Bed | Parking Space | Sat Nav | Reverse Sensors | Reverse Camera
Bridgit – Available to Hire from Reading
Brigit is the cosy Celtic Queen of Campervans, ready for you to take on your next great adventure. Learn to love the wild roads of the UK Isles with Brigit as your freedom companion. Brigit’s beautiful wood-panelled interior will be there to welcome you home after long days travelling, with a hot water outdoor shower to wash away the day, a heater to keep you warm, and a full kitchen to whip up a full meal and a hot drink.
ceiling fan | dining table | extra storage | festival friendly | Heater | Inverter | kitchen sink | outside shower | Oven | pet friendly | Refrigerator | Solar | Stove | Toilet | Fixed Bed | Parking Space | Reverse Sensors | EU Travel Allowed
Elsie – Available to Hire from Bristol
Elegant Elsie is the ultimate luxury camper, oozing quirky style and charm. She has been lovingly handcrafted to provide a self-contained 4-berth haven that is ready to hit the open road for the family holiday of your dreams. Elsie manages to fit in everything you could possibly need for an active adventure including a bike rack and extra storage to tidy away boots, toys and extra coats.
audio inputs | bike rack | ceiling fan | dining table | extra storage | festival friendly | Heater | inside shower | Inverter | kitchen sink | outside shower | Radio | Refrigerator | Solar | Stove | Toilet | tv dvd | 6ft+ Bed | Reverse Sensors | Reverse Camera | CD Player | EU Travel Allowed