Lulworth Castle, Dorset · 25–28 July 2019
Camp Bestival 2019 Review – A First-Timer’s Experience
Four days of music, family fun and unexpected discoveries at Lulworth Castle.
I arrived feeling nervous. I left feeling as though I’d found the perfect first-festival gateway. This Camp Bestival 2019 review looks back at the smooth arrival, family camping, music and discoveries that made the weekend stand out.
The weekend in a nutshell
Camp Bestival 2019 at a glance
- When
- Thursday 25–Sunday 28 July 2019, with Monday departure.
- Where
- Lulworth Castle, Dorset.
- Atmosphere
- Relaxed, friendly and built around families.
- Camping
- Yellow campsite: roomy pitches, substantial family setups and sloping ground.
- Favourite discovery
- The Caravanserai and its little world of surprises.
- Musical memories
- Jess Glynne, The Human League, The Wailers, Vengaboys and Annie Mac.
A look back, rather than today’s site instructions. This restored review describes one visit in 2019. Camping layouts, queues, stages and activities can change. The final section links to current planning guides.
Arriving at Lulworth Castle
Before arriving, I was nervous about what to expect. The welcome was much less intimidating than I’d imagined: relaxed, friendly and easy to understand.
The car park was well managed, and wristband collection was surprisingly quick. There was no endless waiting in my experience. With hot sunshine over the Dorset hills, it was a reassuring start to the weekend.
That first impression mattered. Compared with my expectations of a bigger festival, Camp Bestival felt calm and organised. Getting through the arrival process gave me a chance to settle in.
These are my 2019 arrival impressions; they do not predict queue lengths at future editions.
What camping in the Yellow campsite was really like
In 2019, the Yellow campsite was about a ten-minute walk from the Yellow Car Park. Once there, I found plenty of space for tents, gazebos and chairs.
Some families had brought substantial camp kitchens and enough equipment to make themselves properly comfortable. The mood was more family mini-break than “survive the weekend”. People were settling in for a holiday with music attached.
The main reservation was the slope. It was fine in good weather, but I could see how the ground might become difficult in heavy rain. That was a concern about the terrain, rather than a claim that the campsite flooded during my visit.
Getting my bearings: a festival made for families
I toured the site with a photographer called Jamie, which helped the layout click into place. Getting familiar with the grounds made the festival feel easier to navigate.
Picnic blankets, camping chairs and families pulling trolleys were everywhere. The crowd had a relaxed feel, and the site seemed designed to help families feel comfortable rather than overwhelmed.
That was one of the clearest differences between my expectations and the actual experience. This felt like somewhere to settle into, explore and enjoy at a comfortable pace.
The moments I remember
Music highlights from my first Camp Bestival
The music supplied some big shared moments, but the family atmosphere remained part of the experience.
Jess Glynne, The Human League & The Wailers
The Castle Stage performances brought that big, shared-moment feeling. These were among the musical highlights recorded in my original review.
Vengaboys
Vengaboys brought family-friendly chaos in the best sense, with children on stage. It fitted the silly surprises that were part of the weekend’s appeal.
Annie Mac’s Sunday set
Annie Mac’s DJ set felt like a proper end-of-weekend party for all ages. It remains my memorable Sunday finish.
Room for discoveries
The weekend also rewarded time away from the main attractions. My favourite discovery was an entire festival area rather than an individual set.
These are the original review’s memories. The researched line-up below provides wider context without suggesting I watched every act.
My favourite discovery
The Caravanserai: a little world of its own
The Caravanserai was the best “wander around and discover stuff” part of the festival. Quirky stages, odd little attractions and constant movement made it feel like a mini world within the wider event.
It felt like a mini world of its own.
Of all the areas I explored, this was the one I wanted to single out. My advice at the time was simple: if you only explored one area properly, make it this one.
For a future visit, use the current stages and festival areas guide to see what is listed. This review is not confirmation that the same area or programme will return.
Historical line-up context
Camp Bestival 2019 line-up: pop, disco and unexpected neighbours
Chart pop, disco, dance and heavier music shared the bill. The contrast between Napalm Death and Vengaboys captures the range particularly well: different generations and tastes had reasons to explore.
Friday 26 July
Jess Glynne, The Human League, The Wailers, Elvana and Napalm Death.
Saturday 27 July
Nile Rodgers & Chic, Lewis Capaldi, Big Shaq, Vengaboys, Sara Cox and David Rodigan.
Sunday 28 July
Bombay Bicycle Club, Annie Mac, Sister Sledge, East 17 and Grandmaster Flash.
Selected acts and days checked against eFestivals’ historical listing. This is not a complete timetable or a list of performances personally attended.
More than music: children’s entertainment and things to do
The original review noted theatre, workshops, craft activities and dressing-up tents, alongside circus, cabaret, science shows, swing boats and face painting. That breadth helped give the weekend its holiday feel: skipping an act did not mean running out of things to do.
Historical programme context: contemporary coverage also listed Wallace & Gromit and The Gruffalo appearances, plus CBeebies Story Time and Moominvalley theatre. These are examples of the advertised 2019 programme, not claims that I personally tried every activity.
Source: The Standard’s preview, published 24 July 2019.
For the next trip, the fancy dress guide offers another way to get involved beyond the music.
What was the weather like?
My arrival was hot and sunny. The recovered review’s later-weekend notes recorded temperatures around 23°C, sunny spells with isolated showers on Saturday, and brighter spells with scattered showers on Sunday. Monday departure brought windier conditions and some rain.
These are notes preserved from the original article, not independently verified weather-station records. The approximate temperature should not be read as the maximum across the entire four-day event.
The practical lesson is straightforward: pack for sunshine, rain and cooler periods. The family clothing and footwear guide covers that mix.
What I loved — and what could have been better
What worked
- A friendly, reassuring welcome.
- Quick wristbands and straightforward parking.
- Room to settle into family camping.
- Entertainment beyond the main stages.
- Memorable music and the Caravanserai.
- Smooth departure in my experience.
The main reservation
The sloping camping ground was the drawback. In good weather it was manageable, but heavy rain could have made it much less comfortable.
The generous space I found and smooth queues were personal experiences from 2019, rather than guarantees for another weekend.
Was Camp Bestival good for first-timers?
For me, yes. Organisation, atmosphere and comfort all helped make the weekend feel welcoming. The experience was relaxed without feeling difficult to understand.
I turned up nervous, and left feeling like I’d found the perfect “first festival” gateway.
That is the lasting verdict from my first Camp Bestival: a friendly festival holiday, with room for music, family life and unexpected discoveries.
A separate perspective for today
Planning your first Camp Bestival in 2027?
The useful lessons from 2019 are about preparation and pace. Allow time to explore, balance music with children’s interests, wear comfortable footwear and resist planning every minute.
Choose camping equipment you can transport comfortably, prepare for changeable Dorset weather and check the latest official information before travelling. Campsites, stages, activities and entry procedures may differ from those described above.
Start with the ticket guide.Travel to Lulworth Castle
Plan the journey and final transfer.Hotels & places to stay
Explore an alternative to camping.Stages & festival areas
Get familiar with the festival layout.
Continue with the Camp Bestival homepage or explore 50 facts about Camp Bestival. Confirm arrangements on the official festival website.
Camp Bestival 2019 review: your questions
When was Camp Bestival 2019?
Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 July 2019. This review also describes departure on Monday.
Where was Camp Bestival 2019 held?
In the grounds of Lulworth Castle in Dorset.
Who headlined Camp Bestival 2019?
Headline names included Jess Glynne, The Human League, Nile Rodgers & Chic and Annie Mac. Bombay Bicycle Club also appeared as special guests. Lewis Capaldi was another prominent act on the bill.
What was camping like in 2019?
I stayed in Yellow campsite, roughly ten minutes’ walk from Yellow Car Park. There was room for substantial family setups, although the sloping ground was a concern for wet weather.
Was it suitable for first-time festivalgoers?
I found it welcoming, organised and relaxed. That describes this first visit in 2019; experiences can vary between visitors and editions.
What was the Caravanserai?
A distinctive entertainment area with quirky stages and attractions. It was my favourite place to wander and discover things during the weekend.
What could children do?
The 2019 programme included theatre, character appearances, workshops and other family activities. Wallace & Gromit and The Gruffalo were among the advertised attractions.
Is Camp Bestival still held at Lulworth Castle?
Lulworth Castle remains the Dorset festival’s advertised setting. For future editions, check the organiser’s latest event information rather than relying on this historical review.