They say good things come in small packages

and this couldn’t be more true regarding festivals. Because let’s face it, not being able to move in a crowd and queuing over an hour for a burger can sometimes strip away the magic. With smaller-scale festivals, you get everything a festival should be and more. They’re built with a sense of passion, love and community in mind.

Whether you’re searching for a festival that’s all about the music, delicious food, family-friendly activities, campervans or all of the above (*a shameless plug for Camp Quirky here!*), there really is a festival for everyone! So shake off those festival glad rags and deep dive into this list of small, independent and wonderfully quirky UK festivals happening in 2023.

Elderflower Fields

Elderflower Fields is intentionally kept small. It’s an award-winning festival, designed especially for families with young children, to open minds to new opportunities in sports, music, the arts, the environment and food.

When: 26th to 29th May

Where: Pippingford Park, East Sussex

Who’s playing: Tankus the Henge, The Beatles Dub Club, Stables

Ticket price: £159.83 (adult/weekend) | £80.51 (child 6-16/weekend) | Campervan pass: £85.80

Perfect Campervan Match: Walter

Camp Quirky

Yup, that’s us! Camp Quirky started out as simply an opportunity for Quirky Campers’ vans and owners to come together. But has since grown to become so much more. From world-famous musicians, immersive workshops, unforgettable food and buckets of VANspiration, Camp Quirky is the place to be this spring.

When: 28th April-1st May

Where? Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire

Who’s playing: Line up to be announced (trust us when we say you don’t want to miss it!). See the previous lineup here.

Ticket price: £87 (adult/weekend) | £20 (child 5-17/weekend) Campervan pass: £25

Perfect Campervan Match: Check out all festival-friendly campervans, ideal for the Camp Quirky weekend, here.

The Green Gathering

The Green Gathering claims to be a festival that goes beyond a big party, to have a “lasting impact”. It runs on a non-profit basis and all electricity on-site is solar or wind powered – from the lights to the stages to the production cabins. Ideal!

When: 3rd-6th August

Where? Piercefield Park, Chepstow

Who’s playing: Line up to be announced.

Ticket price: £120 (adult/weekend) | £20 (child 6-10/weekend) | £55 (youth 11-15/weekend) | Campervan pass: £65

Perfect Campervan Match: Ohmer

Purbeck Valley Folk Festival

Located on the Jurassic Coast, the range of music at this festival is extraordinary and ranges from small acoustic performances to rollicking klezmer bands. There are also lots of activities on offer such as poetry slams, children’s crafts and comedy sets. There’s even a beard off competition!

When: 17th-20th August

Where? Wareham, Dorset

Who’s playing: Newton Faulkner, Lady Nade, Seth Lakeman

Ticket price: £135 (adult/weekend) | £30 (child 4-12/weekend) | £70 (youth 13-17/weekend) | Campervan pass: £40

Perfect Campervan Match: Aloha

Shambala

Shambala is a space to play, reinvent, revitalise, and return to the world fuelled up on the beauty of being alive. It’s a playground for both children and adults, a realm for wild experimentation and alternative education, where unforgettable life skills are shared, learned and put to use.

When: 24th-27th August

Where? Secret Country Escape, Northamptonshire

Who’s playing: Line up to be announced. See the previous lineup here.

Ticket price: £246.95 (adult/weekend) | £57 (teen 5-14/weekend) | £114 (teen 15-17/weekend) | Campervan pass: £73.50-£104

Perfect Campervan Match: Francois

Glastonbudget

Is your favourite band no longer? Or perhaps you’re still gutted to have missed out on tickets to see your favourite band? Glastonbudget has your back! Located not in Glastonbury but in Wymeswold, Leicestershire, Glastonbudget is Europe’s largest tribute festival. It’s also a mecca for all those who love fancy dress!

When: 26th-28th May

Where: Wymeswold, Leicestershire 

Who’s playing: Antarctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran Experience, The Fillers

Ticket prices: £120 (adult/weekend) | £50 (child 6-15/weekend) | Campervan pass: £75

Perfect Campervan Match: Dixie

Starry Skies

Where the kids roam free… Starry Skies is the ultimate family festival. Forest school, drama, dance, fancy dress and Family Sports Day are just a few of the activities that the awesome people at Starry Skies have in mind for the little ones.

When: 27th-30th July

Where? Kentchurch Estate, Herefordshire

What’s on: Stargazing, den building, forest school, giant sandpit, fancy dress disco

Ticket price: £202.95 (adult/weekend) | £60 (teen 6-17/weekend) | Campervan pass: £66

Perfect Campervan Match: Dolomiti

Bearded Theory

Nestled amid the counties of West Midlands, South Derbyshire and Staffordshire Bearded Theory is a multi-award-winning creative and performing arts festival set on the beautiful grounds of Catton Hall.

When: 25th-28th May

Where? Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire

Who’s playing: Interpol, Primal Scream, Flogging Molly

Ticket price: £187.25 (adult/weekend) | £42.80 (child 8-11/weekend) | £69.55 (youth 12-16/weekend) | Campervan pass: £74.90

Perfect Campervan Match: Eddie

Outcider Festival

In the words of Outcider Festival themselves ‘No tribute bands. No X-Factor. No Carling lager. No hipsters. No t*ssers.’ There’s just eclectic music and local cider, ale and food. Noones an outsider at Outcider, they pride themselves on being a friendly, welcoming and inclusive atmosphere and host 35+ acts over two stages.

When: 3rd-6th August

Where? Mendip Hills, Bristol

Who’s playing: Dub Pistols, The Barstool Preachers, The Scribes

Ticket price: £89 (adult/weekend – arrival from Thursday an extra £50) | Campervan pass: £35

Perfect Campervan Match: Rhapsody

Tropical Pressure Festival

Celebrating the rich cultures of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean on the cliffs of Cornwall! Vegetarians you’re in for a treat as the festival is 100% veggie!

When: 14th-17th July

Where? Porthtowan, Cornwall

Who’s playing: Line up to be announced. See the previous line-up here.

Ticket price: £125 (adult/weekend) | £40 (child 5-15/weekend) | £69.55 (young adult 16-18/weekend) | Campervan pass: £65

Perfect Campervan Match: Karven

Solfest

Art and décor replace advertising at this wonderfully diverse independent festival in the Lake District in Cumbria. Known for its anti-corporate roots you can meditate, do some Yoga or participate in a shamanic ritual at Solfest!

When: 24th to 27th August

Where? Tarns, Cumbria

Who’s playing: Line up to be announced. See the previous line-up here.

Ticket price: £125 (adult/weekend) | £40 (child 5-15/weekend) | £69.55 (young adult 16-18/weekend) | Campervan pass: £65

Perfect Campervan Match: Bub the Dub

After a day of activities and an evening of dancing, you’re going to want somewhere comfortable to lay your head. Check out our range of beautiful festival-friendly campervans here.