A Family Weekend at Elderflower Fields!

Written by Alana

There’s something quite special about heading off for a weekend where the agenda is less about ticking boxes and more about letting the kids lead the way. That’s exactly why Elderflower Fields has become a bit of a tradition for our family, just an hour from Kingston, but a complete change of pace.

Held every year on the second May bank holiday weekend in the Sussex countryside, it’s a festival made with families in mind. We’ve now been three years in a row, and each time we return home with muddy boots, tired legs, and stories we’ll be telling for weeks.

Arriving and Setting Up

We always arrive Friday afternoon, aiming to get settled before the festival really kicks off. There are plenty of camping options - from glamping to BYO tent to campervans (we’re firmly in the campervan camp). The vibe is relaxed and friendly, with a sense that everyone’s in it together, whether you’ve come with a group or it’s your first time.

The site isn’t enormous, which makes it manageable with little ones, but it still offers more than enough to fill a weekend.

Mornings at a Slower Pace

Our mornings usually begin with family yoga. Nothing fancy, just a stretch in the grass, surrounded by other bleary-eyed parents and bendy children. And thankfully, there’s a good coffee van never too far away.

From there, the day starts to pick up. But unlike other festivals, you don’t feel pressure to race around. There’s plenty to do, but no wrong way to do it.

Building, Crafting, and Getting Stuck In

One of the highlights for us this year was the Woodland Tribe Big Build. It’s a bookable, hour-long slot where kids (with adult supervision) can design and build their own playground using scrap wood, hammers, and a whole lot of imagination. Serge and our four-year-old did it together this year and loved it. A proper hands-on experience where children get to take the lead and see what they can create.

Elsewhere, we found ourselves in the Leapfrog Lawns, a gentler space for younger kids to potter about. There’s an art tent where ours happily got stuck into painting and glueing, plus story time and a magician in the Wow Pow tent that held everyone’s attention (even ours, if I’m honest).

In the woods, we spent a good hour whittling sticks and hanging botanical prints, and later, the boys scooped around in the pond with nets, thrilled to find newts and tadpoles.

Music and Food Without the Fuss

There are three stages dotted around the site, but we tend to gravitate towards the Main Stage. This year we caught some brilliant brass bands and a performance from the West End Kids, which went down a treat.

You’ll find a good mix of food stalls, with plenty of local options. There’s something quite nice about eating dinner while sitting on a picnic blanket, listening to live music, and watching the kids dance or dig in the dirt.

Something for Everyone

What Elderflower does well is cater to the full range of family life. There are baby tents with play areas and feeding spaces. Craft tents, climbing trees, woodland trails. And for the older ones (or the young-at-heart), silent discos that run into the evening.

Even after three years, we leave feeling like we’ve only scratched the surface. There’s just so much going on. But that’s part of the charm - you don’t need to see it all. You just settle into your rhythm and let the weekend happen around you.

Worth the Trip

Elderflower Fields isn’t in Kingston, but it’s close enough to make it feel accessible, and just far enough to feel like an escape. If you’re after something low-pressure but full of opportunity for your kids to explore, try new things, and roam a bit more freely than they might back home, it’s well worth the trip.

We’ll be going again next year (already got the early bird tickets!). And if you’re thinking about trying your first family festival, this is a very good place to start.