Standon Lordship · Ware · Hertfordshire SG11 · July · Four days
Standon Calling: a pool, a dog show, and 90 minutes away
Standon Calling has a swimming pool in the middle of the site and an annual dog show, which tells you most of what you need to know about the tone. It also sits in Hertfordshire, which makes it the closest proper camping festival to Kent by a comfortable margin.
From north Kent, over the crossing and up into Hertfordshire. Of every multi-day camping festival on this site, this is the shortest journey, which makes it the easiest one to try if your group has never done a weekend under canvas.
What is actually on site
The details that make it a different proposition from the bigger camping weekends.
In the middle of the site
Which is exactly as good as it sounds on a hot July weekend.
An annual fixture
Genuinely a highlight, and a good indication of the general tone.
Most years
Announced in advance, and taken seriously by a large part of the crowd.
Of the camping festivals
Around ninety minutes from the north of the county.
Kent to Hertfordshire
Over the crossing, round the M25 and up. One of our shortest festival runs.
| Pick-up area | Distance | Each way |
|---|---|---|
| Dartford & Bluewater | 46 miles | 1h 20m – 1h 50m |
| Bexleyheath & Welling | 48 miles | 1h 25m – 1h 55m |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 50 miles | 1h 25m – 1h 55m |
| Bromley & Orpington | 52 miles | 1h 30m – 2h |
| Rochester & Chatham | 56 miles | 1h 35m – 2h 5m |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 59 miles | 1h 40m – 2h 10m |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 64 miles | 1h 45m – 2h 20m |
| Canterbury & Ashford | 80 miles | 2h 5m – 2h 45m |
Extra things to pack
Beyond the standard camping load, this festival has a few of its own.
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Swimming things and a towel | There is a pool, and people forget |
| The costume, if there is a theme | Announced ahead. It takes vehicle space, so tell us |
| Sun cream, properly | An exposed Hertfordshire field in July |
| Wellingtons regardless | Because it is still a British festival |
| Bags for wet and muddy kit | Swimming things and mud both come home damp |
A Standon weekend
The one to try first, if you are near enough
Ninety minutes from north Kent is a completely different proposition from four and a half hours to Leeds or five to Kendal. If a camping festival is something your group has talked about but never done, the short journey removes most of the reasons it does not happen. And if it goes badly, you are ninety minutes from home rather than stranded.
It is properly family-shaped
A pool, a dog show and a costume theme are not the furniture of a festival trying to be edgy. Families make up a large share of the crowd, children are everywhere, and the whole weekend runs at a gentler pace than the big rock festivals. That suits a considerable number of the groups we take.
Costume themes need vehicle space
Most years there is an announced theme and a good part of the crowd commits to it. As at the Goodwood Revival and Mighty Hoopla, outfits take room that ordinary clothes do not, and six people plus six costumes plus four days of camping kit is a different vehicle from six people with rucksacks. Tell us and we size for it.
Swimming things and mud both come home wet
Two separate reasons to have bags in the hold on the Monday. A vehicle that needs deep cleaning afterwards carries a charge, as it does after any muddy festival, and a couple of bin bags in the boot on the Thursday almost always prevents it.
Standon Calling questions
The closest camping festival to Kent.
How far is Standon Calling from Kent?
Around forty-five to eighty miles, roughly ninety minutes to two and three quarter hours. It is the closest proper camping festival to our patch.
Is there really a swimming pool?
Yes, in the middle of the site, and it is exactly as good as it sounds on a hot July weekend. Bring swimming things and a towel.
Is there really a dog show?
Yes, an annual fixture and genuinely a highlight. It is also a fair indication of the general tone of the weekend.
Is it good for families?
Very. Families make up a large share of the crowd, children are everywhere and the pace is gentler than the big rock festivals.
What about the costume theme?
Most years there is an announced theme that a good part of the crowd commits to. Costumes take vehicle space, so tell us at booking and we will size for it.
Is it a good first camping festival?
One of the best, largely because of the short journey. If it goes badly you are ninety minutes from home rather than stranded.
What should we pack besides camping kit?
Swimming things, sun cream, the costume if there is a theme, wellingtons regardless, and bags for wet and muddy kit on the way home.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed at booking as one arrangement covering the drop and the collection.
Family festivals and the home counties
The gentler camping weekends.