The brainchild of the festival folk behind Secret Garden Party and Lovebox, the Wilderness Festival is boho chic – a bit like Latitude in miniature, offering chillaxation with luxurious frills, set in the ancient parkland of the Cornbury Estate in the Cotswolds. 

A relatively recent addition to the independent festival’s calendar (est. 2011), Wilderness, according to some, competes with Cornbury for the title of Poshstock.

There’s Shakespeare, Burt Bacharach, The Huffington Post and a Louisiana barrel house on the calendar, not to mention hot tubs overlooking the lake, dinner hosted by some of London’s leading chefs and masked balls

This festival is also known for being “a celebration of the arts and outdoors in the wilds of England” (yes, the – extremely elegant – wilds of England do still exist!). There is also a very set number of child, adult and camping tickets sold to this event to ensure a careful balance of guests.

Musical Maestros Highlights include Burt Bacharach, London Grammar, Metronomy, Joan as Police Woman, Jessie Ware, Slow Club, Connan Mockasin plus many many more

Featured Fun Angel Gardens is a magical arena for the whole family; it will be running night-time campfire stories, a fire show, plus craft workshops where you can make fabulous things like fizzing bath bombs and how to have fun recycling junk. Young and old can also keep their wits sharp at the debating halls and literary arts tented theatre, or cultivate your culinary skills at the Wilderness Cookery School, where you can make tapas with Moro, try a masterclass with Simon Rogan or learn to butcher a pig, nose to tail, with River Cottage.

The Zones  The Wilderness Stage; The Pandaemonium Stage (for DJ sets); The Styx Stage (with brass bands, samba beats and Balkan bands); The Secret Forum and Intelligence Squared (for debates and forums); The Huffington Post UK (conversation starters); The Theatre Space; Wilderness Screen; Wilderness Orchestra; The Lakeside Spa; The Sanctuary; Hunter Gather Cook; The House of Fairytales; Storystock; The Discover Children’s StoryCentre; The Village Hall amongst others.

Kid Stuff

  • Billed as “a four-day fiefdom of fairytales and fables”, settle down for some spinning of yarns, from Storystock, who bring their travelling circus of tales, to the Discover Children’s Story Centre, where you can hang out with Herman the Monster, or learn about the weird and wonderful world of wordsmith empresario Roald Dahl
  • There are also daily doses of Dickensian charms (presumably without the Victorian workhouses) from the Charles Dickens Museum plusfeel-good fun and frolics from the Flying Seagulls, a family of circus performers whose mantra is “Non-profit, pro fun”
  • Take time out for a spot of Ping Pong and get happy with Anorak, the “magazine for happy kids.”
  • There’s also boutique babysitting, courtesy of Mortimer Nannies, providing Mary Poppins’ childcare

Chill Out Time Pampering is available at the Lakeside Spa, with a wide range of luxurious treatments, energising classes and inspirational workshops featuring some of Britain’s top health experts. Try a delicious Rose Radiance REN facial or a signature massage by Mamamio and Mio. And if relaxing yoga is not your thing, try a spot of Ariel Yoga – on the trapeze!

Dining Tables This is seriously classy stuff with a bevy of London’s finest chefs offering dining options for all the family. Sample long-table banqueting by Simon Rogan (fresh from the opening of his new eaterie Fera at Claridge’s), Angela Hartnett, Russell Norman & POLPO, Moro Souk Tent, Hix, St John Dining Room, and J Sheekey Fish n’ Chips. 

Happy Campers There is Family and Quiet camping, as well as Boutique Camping, which offers a selection of tipis, tents, touaregs, lodges, as well as a series of sold-out-for-2014 options including huts, yurts, Blue Bells, Squrts and, erm, a luxury bus called Beryl as well as separate access to the festival site, luxury toilets and showers and a chill-out area. Boutique camping visitors are also greeted by the boutique barrow boys, who are on hand to take their luggage. Prices for the full weekend with family-sized accommodation for four starts from £900 for a field tent, £1.025 for a yurt; £1,100 for a tipi; and a lodge from £11,575. 

THE PRICE TAG
Full Weekend Adult (18+), £152 | 11–17 year-olds, £79 | Under-11s, £5

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