FAQs

General FAQs

Here are answers to the questions we are asked most often. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for then please do contact us.

What tickets do I need to buy?

You’ll find all the details about which are options will suit you best in our ‘What Tickets do I need to Buy?’ guide.

Are Day Tickets on sale for the festival?

A limited number of Day Tickets will go on sale closer to the festival date.

What is the Payment Plan and how do I use it?

Our monthly payment plan spreads the cost of your tickets across several months. Full information can be found here.

What do I do about ticketing queries?

Please contact your point of purchase with any ticketing queries.

Ticketmaster Enquiry Page

If you have booked with Ticketmaster, your tickets will be available in your Ticketmaster account, which you can access via your laptop or mobile phone app closer to the festival date. Please note: YOU MUST DOWNLOAD ALL TICKETS before leaving for the festival.

Ticketmaster has a Camp Bestival tickets help page here with lots of useful information.

Where’s my ticket/wristband?

Your e-tickets will be available in your Ticketmaster account which you can access via your laptop or mobile phone. Please note YOU MUST DOWLOAD ALL TCIKETS TO YOUR MOBILE before leaving for the festival.

I have tickets for Camp Bestival Dorset, but want to attend Camp Bestival Shropshire instead – can I change my booking?

Tickets for Camp Bestival Dorset are not valid for Camp Bestival Shropshire. Please contact your point of purchase with any ticket enquiries. Ticketmaster – submit a request via your ticket account.

Can I bring my children who are aged 17 or under?

Ticket holders under the age of 18 can only enter the festival with a parent, legal guardian or nominated guardian of a certain specified age. You can find all the details in our full ticket terms and conditions.

Do babies and babes in arms need a ticket?

Babies and babes in arms must have tickets, which are free and can be easily added to your ticket order. They can also be added free of charge to an existing ticket order by contacting Ticketmaster or your point of purchase.

Can I arrive on Thursday with a Weekend Ticket & when do I have to leave?

Yes all Weekend Tickets are valid from Thursday to Monday.

 

Thursday:

Car parks will open from 9am.

Accessible campsite opens at 9am.

Box Offices, Campsites, and Campervans and Caravans/Trailer Tents fields open at 10am.

Fri/Sat/Sun: Car parks and Campsite entrances open at 7am.

Thurs/Fri/Sat/Sun: No entry or re-entry to the festival site after midnight. No entry to the festival site after 8.30pm on Sunday.

Monday: Campsites close at midday. Car parks close at 2pm.

How much is the car park?

Please purchase your car parking tickets in advance (available from your point of purchase priced £24.10), Car Parking is also payable when you arrive at a cost of £29.10 (cashless payments only).

Your Car Parking ticket is valid for the whole weekend, no matter how many times you come and go. Day Car Parking Tickets are available priced £11.50 per day in advance, or payable on arrival at a cost of £16.50 (cashless payments only).

NB: Weekend Ticket holders staying off-site should must retain their ticket for reuse each day.

What’s happening on Thursday?

Thursday is a great day to arrive and set up camp while making friends with your neighbours. It helps to ease the traffic congestion and gives you some time to relax into your surroundings. Entertainment on Thursday includes circus shows, and trapeze acts, DJs in Caravanserai and Rimsky’s Yard, Wild Tribe happenings, plus amazing food and drinks in The Feast Collective, and food stalls and traders across the Magic Meadow, and Upper and Lower Kids’ Gardens.

Where can I get a Site Map?

The 2024 map will be released around 1 week before the festival. You can download the Camp Bestival Dorset 2023 site map here which has a similar overall layout.

When can I get a timetable/running order/programme/site map?

Programmes containing running orders for the stages and site maps are available to buy in advance when purchasing your festival tickets, or at the festival from our roaming merchandise sellers or merchandise stalls. The site map will be published around a week before the festival on this website.

Running orders will also be available on our free Camp Bestival App – just search for ‘Camp Bestival’.

 

Is there a Camp Bestival mobile app?

Yes! Download the official Camp Bestival App here: Apple Store (iOS) / Google Play (Android)

It’s a year-round handy companion to the festival – plan your family adventure, receive updates and offers, and discover a world of music, attractions, theatre, comedy, activities and so much more.

Do I have to book in advance for any of the activities or entertainment?

The majority of activities, entertainment and shows on site are free but some activities must be booked in advance. Please pop by the tents to see workshops and activity organisers to put your name down to attend. Make sure to sign up to our mailing list for news on pre-bookable events.

Do you accept cashless payments?

Yes – Camp Bestival is completely cashless, we only accept cashless payments. You can use debit/credit cards or apps such as Google Pay and Apple Pay. Pre-paid debit cards are a good option for children to purchase food and soft drinks independently.  There are no ATMs at the festival so if you plan to leave the festival site by taxi at the end of the night do bring a small amount of cash with you.

I’m coming to Camp Bestival alone should I be worried?

No. Please don’t worry. Camp Bestival is the friendliest festival around. You can make friends with the Camp Bestival Official Campers Group here.

Can I leave the festival site and then come back in?

Yes. You will be allowed to re-enter the festival site as long as you have a valid wristband. Please note there is no re-entry after midnight on any night (and no re-entry after 8.30pm on Sunday) so please make sure you have everything you need from your cars in the evening.

What are the dates for Camp Bestival Dorset 2024?

Dates for Camp Bestival Dorset 2024 are Thurs 25th July – Sun 28th July 2024.

Camp Bestival 2025 dates are still to be confirmed.

Are there water points on site?

Yes. there are lots of free water points located throughout the main arenas/fields and campsites. Please bring a reusable, non-glass bottle/container to fill up.

Will I need ID to buy alcohol? (Challenge 25)

We enforce a strict Challenge 25 policy at Camp Bestival. If you can’t provide valid identification when asked by bar staff, we cannot serve you. If you are lucky enough to look 25 or younger, please make sure that you bring an acceptable form of identification.

Valid forms of ID include:

– An in-date photographic driving license or provisional licence.

– A valid passport (not a photocopy). Out of date passports are NOT accepted.

– A Proof of Age Standards Scheme Card (showing the PASS hologram).

What are the loos like?

About 70% of the toilets at Camp Bestival will be Compoost Solutions Compost Loos. Revoluntionary in the world of festival loos, they’re clean, don’t smell (at all), require no water and are 100% environmentally friendly. What’s more, your ‘deposits’ get recycled into compost.  Just don’t forget to sawdust! Find out more here

Can I bring my dog/cat/rabbit/gruffalo?

No pets or animals are allowed on site with the exception of assistance dogs and ESA’s . Please complete an Accessible Facilities Application if you plan to bring a service or support animal to Camp Bestival.

If you would like to leave your dog in a ‘home from home’ boarding service, then please try www.happy-hounds-dorset.co.uk, a local service in Lulworth. If you have a Gruffalo then we advise leaving him at home.

Camping FAQs

Where should I camp? What are the differences between the campsites?

Please read our Accommodation page and take a read through ‘A Guide to your Camping Options‘ to discover the different ways you can enjoy the camping experience at Camp Bestival.

 

 

Are Chinese lanterns, flares, fireworks or campfires allowed?

No. We have a no naked flame policy in the festival arena, and any fires, flares, fireworks, etc., in the campsites will be extinguished by our festival fire service.

HOWEVER, in the campsite, you can use small BBQs and  small camping stoves outside your tent. (Please dispose of BBQs in the BBQ bins once completely extinguished and follow our camping safety tips)

Please do not bring Chinese Lanterns to Camp Bestival. The devastation they can cause is something we all want to avoid, especially in a campsite environment. Thank you.

Are there any lockers and can I charge my phone at the festival?

Yes. We have lockers with mobile charging facilities at the festival – please see the site map for location and remember to bring cables/plugs for your mobiles.

Are there showers on site in the general camping fields?

Yes! There are individual gas-powered shower cubicles, each with washbasins and changing areas. You can find these located across our campsites for use by Weekend Campers

Are there water points on site?

Yes. there are lots of free water points located throughout the main arenas/fields and campsites. Please bring a reusable, non-glass bottle/container to fill up.

Can I bring my own alcohol?

Weekend Campers can bring a reasonable amount of alcohol per person into the festival for personal consumption. Once you have entered the event you cannot re-enter with more alcohol supplies. You’ll be asked to leave any excess alcohol outside the event.

Day Ticket holders cannot bring alcohol into the event.

Important Notice: glass is not allowed anywhere at Camp Bestival so please make sure to decant anything you are planning to bring into plastic containers before you arrive.

Can I reserve a specific space in general camping or the campervan fields?

No. You can reserve a space in Camping Plus where a pitch/or pitches for your own tent can be pre-booked, or in Boutique Camping where you can book a pre-pitched structure.

The majority of families stay in the main campsite areas, which have plenty of space to pitch your tent and are close to amenities.

Campervans (and caravans/trailer tents) are positioned by staff in order of arrival (the first closest to the entrance to the festival arena). There is no pre-allocation of spaces in this area.

I have a campervan, can I stay next to my friend who has a caravan?

Yes. If you purchase a caravan ticket for the campervan and arrive together, you can both park up next to each other in the Caravan Field.

Members of our family have a pitch in the General Campervan field – can we camp with them?

Each campervan is allocated 9 x 6 metre pitch, usually enough for an awning and/or a small tent. As long as you remain within the allocated pitch you can camp with them. Please Note: There is a maximum of 3 adults and 4 children per pitch in Front Row and Kids’ Garden Campervan/Caravan fields.

Our friends are staying in Boutique Camping – can we camp with them?

You cannot camp in the Boutique Camping fields, you must book a structure to stay in this Campsite. You can visit friends in Boutique if they add Boutique Camping Guest Passes to their order.

Can I camp or access the campsites with a Day Ticket?

No – Day Tickets provide access to the main arenas but not to any campsites. If you’d like to camp, please purchase a Weekend Camping Ticket.