Kendal Calling is fast becoming one of the brightest, biggest and best festivals in the country. With more than half of tickets already sold out for next year just days after this year's ended, the festival shows no sign of slowing down.
Started more than two decades ago just outside the town it's named after, Kendal Calling has grown into a four-day party attracting 40,000 people to the fields of Lowther Park. Headline acts this year included The Kooks, Two Door Cinema Club, Biffy Clyro and Wolf Alice, with many hailing Biffy Clyro as the festival's best ever headliners. Heavyweights such as The Libertines, Ash, The Coral, Scissor Sisters and Primal Scream also performed.
The Glamping Experience
One of the things that left me stunned this year was the huge food offering, with almost every cuisine imaginable. However, as someone no longer in their 20s, the thought of camping at Lowther Park always filled me with a little dread. Yes, it's fun, and tents have moved on since the 1990s, but you don't get a lot of sleep, and finding a pitch next to your pals is always a battle.
This year, I was lucky enough to get a spot in Deer Lodge, the glamping side of Kendal Calling. We stayed in a The Who tent, which comes with two twin beds, chairs, a cosy mat, a light, a duvet and pillows.
Perks Beyond the Tent
Upgrading to luxury camping offers far more than a very comfortable tent. There are toilets that flush and stay clean all weekend, plus hot showers. Top tip: go early in the morning, later in the afternoon, or late at night to avoid queues.
There's also a dedicated coffee tent, stalls selling breakfast buns, and several pizza stalls that are delicious and cheaper than in the arena. The campsite has plenty of space, with tents already erected in neat lines, picnic benches, its own bar, and even a music tent for emerging acts.
Yes, it's pricier than general camping, but my only regret is not booking into Deer Lodge on previous visits to Kendal Calling.
