Kendal Calling Festival 2027 – Lowther, United Kingdom

Overview

Kendal Calling Festival is a music and arts festival held annually at Lowther Deer Park in the Lake District, Cumbria, in the North West of England. It has grown from a two-day, 900 capacity event in 2006 to a 40,000 capacity four-day music festival in the present day, making it one of the UK’s most beloved independent festivals.

Set within 300 acres of stunning deer park, the festival is renowned for more than just music, with visitors enjoying four days of arts installations, comedy, cabaret, cinema, magic, kids entertainment, gourmet food and real ale, all within what is described as the most beautiful festival site in the UK. The program spans indie, rock, pop, dance, electronic, hip hop, funk, soul, reggae, ska and jazz.

The festival is weekend-only and does not sell day tickets, encouraging a full immersive experience. Having become known as one of the best all-rounders on the circuit, it welcomes families and groups alike, with a whole array of kids entertainment, secret sets and impromptu performances. The official site is kendalcalling.co.uk and the event is operated as an independent festival now owned by Superstruct Entertainment.

What Makes This Event Special

Independent Origins with Major Scale: Founded by townsfolk Ben Robinson and Andy Smith as a small gathering beside the River Kent, Kendal Calling has retained its fan-orientated, friendly ethos while growing to 12 stages and more, winning Best Small UK Festival at the UK Festival Awards in 2010 and Best Small Festival at the LIVE UK Awards in 2011, and later Best Medium Festival UK after 2013.

Lake District Setting: Lowther Deer Park near Penrith provides a natural amphitheatre with the main stage set on a natural bank. The site is split between campsites and arena, with woodland areas, deer park views and hard standing paths that make navigation easier than typical field festivals.

True Multi-Arts Program: Beyond headline music, the wider programme includes DJ sets, indie disco, comedy at The Soapbox, cabaret, drag bingo, late-night sets, woodland activity in Lost Eden, and family programming at Kids Calling. This creates a mini-Glastonbury of the borderlands feel.

Family Friendly Without Compromise: Children and teens aged 16 and under must be accompanied by a ticket-holding parent or guardian aged 21 or above, with dedicated family camping at Saddleback View, quiet camping, and Kids Calling workshops including yoga, theatre, inflatables, circus workshops and face painting. Each adult can accompany up to two children.

Secret Sets and Community Traditions: The festival is famous for impromptu performances, Tim Peaks Diner created by The Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess, Chai Wallahs, Desert Island Disco and Soap Opera pamper areas. Unofficial fan groups raise funds for local charities such as Fletcher’s Fund, Brathay Trust and Eden Valley Hospice.

Lineup / Featured Artists

The 2027 line-up has not yet been announced on the official site at time of writing, with artists to be announced in waves. The festival typically announces first wave in February.

Based on previous editions, expect a broad cross-genre bill. Past headliners and notable performers have included Blondie, Pendulum, The Prodigy, Dizzee Rascal, James, Mumford and Sons, Calvin Harris, Fatboy Slim, Stereophonics, Bastille, Kasabian, Royal Blood, Blossoms, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Courteeners, Doves, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Keane, The Streets, Sugababes, Paolo Nutini, The Reytons, Foals, Supergrass and Primal Scream.

Stage structure for 2027 includes confirmed names:

• Main Stage: Large-scale headliners with natural bank viewing.
• Calling Out: Second stage for indie and alternative anthems.
• Parklands: Dance and electronic focus.
• Woodlands: Curated takeovers such as Xtra Mile Recordings takeover curated by Frank Turner, featuring acts like Skinny Lister and Sonic Boom Six.
• Tim Peaks Diner: American style diner created by Tim Burgess, hosting intimate sets, DJ sets and curated nights including Tim Peaks FM with Chris Hawkins.
• Lost Eden: Woodland activity area with late-night and wellness programming.
• The Soapbox: Comedy, cabaret and spoken word.
• Desert Island Disco: Late-night disco and DJ sets.
• Chai Wallahs: Eclectic and world music.

The 2026 edition included Two Door Cinema Club, Scissor Sisters, The Vaccines, Biffy Clyro, The Libertines, Wolf Alice, Primal Scream and The Lathums, indicating the scale expected for 2027.

Event Experience

Kendal Calling offers four days of music and arts with general camping included with weekend tickets. Official general campsites include Great Holmes/24 Hour Party People, The Shire, Haye Parks, Saddleback View for families and Quiet Camping. Upgraded options include Emperors Fields, Great Plains, Deer Lodge and boutique provider Tangerine Fields.

Facilities: Portaloos and compost toilets, water points, food and drink traders, Village Green welfare and information point, Co-op store, cashless payments, CCTV, phone charging, accessible toilets and wheelchair-accessible shower. Soap Opera provides hot showers, flushing toilets and a pamper or makeover area.

Food and Drink: Gourmet food traders, real ales, cocktail bars, and specialty coffee. The festival emphasizes local Cumbrian produce alongside global street food.

Kids Calling: Dedicated area for children with workshops, theatre, yoga, inflatables, circus skills and face painting, making it a true family festival.

Late Night: After main stage headliners, entertainment continues in Woodlands, Desert Island Disco, Chai Wallahs and Tim Peaks Diner until late.

Art and Installations: Arts installations across the parklands, cinema, magic shows and secret pathways create discovery at every turn.

Date & Schedule

Event Dates: 29th July – 1st August 2027. The festival runs from Thursday to Sunday, four days, with weekend-only tickets.

Schedule Overview:

• Thursday: Site opens early afternoon for campers. Evening programming includes welcome acts, DJs and comedy. Headline preview acts and Hacienda Classical style shows have opened previous Thursdays.
• Friday: Full arena opens late morning. Main Stage, Calling Out, Woodlands, Parklands and Tim Peaks Diner operate from midday to late night. Food traders and Co-op open.
• Saturday: Peak day with full lineup across all 12 stages, Kids Calling activities during day, and late-night disco and cabaret.
• Sunday: Closing day with family-friendly early finishes on some stages and major headliners on Main Stage to close.

Music typically runs from midday until around 11pm on Main Stage, with late-night stages continuing until 2am. Family programming runs daytime hours.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Location & Venue

Kendal Calling Festival is held at Lowther Deer Park, Hackthorpe near Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2HH, in the Lake District, Cumbria, England. The site became the festival’s home in 2009 after moving from Abbot Hall Park in Kendal town centre and Grate Farm on the outskirts of Kendal.

The venue is a 300-acre deer park with rolling Cumbrian terrain. The main arena entrance opens onto the top of the Main Stage field. A hard standing path leads across grass to other stages, and another hard standing path leads through the center of the arena for Calling Out, The Soapbox, Tim Peaks Diner and Parklands. The road becomes steeper as it follows Cumbrian terrain and rises up to the back of the arena for the last 100 meters.

Campsites are located outside the arena with general camping adjacent to general parking, with separate car parks for Deer Lodge, Emperors Fields and Great Plains. Quiet camping and family camping are set slightly apart for lower noise.

Event History

Kendal Calling began as a two-day, 900 capacity event in 2006 held in Abbot Hall Park overlooked by Kendal Castle, with a circus big top housing majority of performances. Saturday was headlined by Pendulum and Sunday by British Sea Power.

In 2007 it relocated to Grate Farm on the A591 with capacity increased to 2000, adding more stages. In 2008 capacity grew to 4000 extending to three days, with acts such as Dizzee Rascal, British Sea Power, Super Furry Animals and Glasvegas. It was nominated for Best Small Festival at the UK Festival Awards.

The move to Lowther Deer Park in 2009 raised capacity to 6000 and introduced an outdoor main stage for the first time with headliners The Streets, The Zutons and Ash, plus over 100 artists including Mumford and Sons. In 2010 audience rose to 8000 with 9 stages and early bird tickets selling out in one minute, winning Best Small UK Festival.

By 2012 further stages were added including first appearance of Tim Peaks Diner and Woodlands, with artists including James, Maximo Park and Feeder. The festival was streamed live for first time in 2013 with Basement Jaxx, Primal Scream and The Charlatans, winning Best Medium Festival UK.

Growth continued to 25,000 capacity after pandemic pause, returning in 2022 after cancellation in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 and lack of insurance scheme. Recent editions have recorded 19th consecutive sellout, reflecting enduring popularity.

Getting to the Event

By Rail: Penrith, also listed as Penrith North Lakes, is the nearest railway station, with an official shuttle bus to the festival site. The station is about a 15-minute taxi journey from Lowther Deer Park. Shuttle buses run regularly during arrival and departure days.

By Road: Access routes include M6 Junction 39 to the A6, the A6 following Silver Gate, Red Gate or Purple Gate signage, and the A66 via Kempley roundabout to the A6. Drivers turn left north of Hackthorpe for the Lowther side of event. Road distances: Manchester and Newcastle both about 1 hour 30 minutes, Leeds and Liverpool about 2 hours, Lancaster about 50 minutes, Edinburgh about 2 hours 25 minutes by road or about 1 hour 21 minutes by train.

By Coach: Official National Express coaches and Kendal-ino Express offer direct non-stop service from Manchester Piccadilly and other cities, with return fares starting from $33 USD. The Kendal-ino includes onboard entertainment and live performances.

Parking: General parking is adjacent to general campsites, with separate car parks for upgraded camping. Latest official information lists general parking at $31 USD in advance or $51 USD on the day. Parking passes are required and camping or sleeping in car parks is not allowed.

Accessibility: Hard standing paths assist navigation across grass, accessible toilets and viewing platforms available. Contact access team for accessible camping and shuttle.

Where to Stay Nearby

On-Site Camping Included: General camping included with weekend ticket in fields such as Great Holmes, The Shire, Haye Parks, Saddleback View for families.

Upgraded Camping:

• Emperors Fields and Great Plains: Upgraded general camping with closer parking and facilities, from $60 USD per person upgrade.
• Deer Lodge: Boutique camping with pre-pitched options.
• Tangerine Fields: Official boutique provider offering six-person bell tent for $1,008 USD and luxury bedouin tent for $2,340 USD including furnishings.

Off-Site:

• Penrith Hotels: North Lakes Hotel and Spa, Roundthorn Country House, Askham Hall, and B&Bs in Hackthorpe and Lowther villages from $110 USD to $220 USD per night.
• Kendal Town: 30 minutes away with hotels like Castle Green Hotel and Riverside Hotel.
• Lake District Cottages: Self-catering cottages in Pooley Bridge and Ullswater for groups.

Camping remains the most popular option as festival is weekend-only and late-night entertainment runs past public transport.

Things to Do Before or After the Event

Lake District Exploration: Lowther Castle and Gardens is adjacent to site with castle ruins, gardens and adventure playground. Ullswater, the second largest lake, offers boat trips, kayaking and walks.

Outdoor Activities: Hiking in the Eastern Fells, Aira Force waterfall, and Dalemain Mansion and Historic Gardens. Cycling routes around Lowther Estate.

Cultural Stops: Penrith Castle, Rheged Centre for art and exhibitions, and Kendal town centre with galleries and museums including Abbot Hall where festival began.

Wellness: Post-festival recovery at Askham Hall spa, wild swimming spots in Ullswater, and yoga in the parklands.

Restaurants & Dining Nearby

On-Site: Gourmet food traders with global street food, vegan and vegetarian options, wood-fired pizza, bao, loaded fries, Cumbrian sausages, real ale bars, cocktail bars and Co-op store for essentials.

Near Lowther:

• Askham Hall Restaurant: Fine dining with garden produce, Michelin-listed, 5 minutes drive.
• The Queen’s Head, Askham and The General Burgoyne, Great Asby: Traditional Cumbrian pubs with local ales and seasonal menus from $18 USD to $35 USD per main.
• Penrith Dining: Four and Twenty, Eden Street Eats and bistros in town centre offering British and international cuisine from $15 USD.

Lake District Specialties: Try Cumberland sausage, Herdwick lamb, sticky toffee pudding and local real ales from Tirril Brewery.

Ticket Information

Tickets to Kendal Calling Festival can be purchased from the festival’s official Tickets Page via SeeTickets. The official site is weekend-only and does not sell day tickets. All prices converted to USD.

Ticket Types Based on Recent Editions:

• Weekend Ticket Range: Stated ticket price range $14 to $311 USD based on £11 to £245 range from 2026 listings.
• Adult Weekend Camping: Around $235 USD based on £185 to £192.45 recent resale face value for 2025 and 2026.
• Teen Ticket 11 to 15 years: Around $90 USD to $120 USD.
• Child Ticket 6 to 10 years: Around $44 USD based on £34.65.
• Under 5s: Free entry but ticket still required.
• Thursday Add-on: Small add-on fee for early entry, under 5s no charge.
• Car Park: General Admission Parking Pass $31 USD in advance, $51 USD on day, must be purchased in advance.
• Bell Tent 6 Person: $1,008 USD based on £795.
• Luxury Bedouin Tent: $2,340 USD based on £1,845.
• Kendal-ino Package: Includes seat on Kendal-ino Express and Thursday and Weekend Adult ticket for $287 USD, seat only from $63 USD in Standard Class.

Tickets typically sell out in advance, with early birds selling out in record time, 4 days after lineup announced in some years. Payment plans available.

Tips Before You Go

Prepare for Terrain and Weather: The road becomes steeper near arena and Cumbrian terrain can be muddy. Bring wellies, waterproofs and layers. Hard standing paths help but grass fields can become heavy after rain, as seen in 2014 mud bath year.

Arrive Early for Camping Spot: Official general campsites fill quickly. Arriving Thursday helps secure preferred spot near facilities, especially for family camping and quiet camping.

Cashless and Connectivity: Festival uses cashless payments, phone charging points available and CCTV in operation. Download offline map as signal limited in deer park.

Family Planning: Each adult can accompany up to two children aged 16 and under. Bring ear defenders for kids, and use Kids Calling for daytime entertainment and quiet time.

Pack Smart: No sleeping in car parks, bring trolley for gear from car park to campsite, bring reusable bottle for water points and hot shower tokens for Soap Opera if you prefer flushing toilets.

Official Event Information

Official Website: https://kendalcalling.co.uk/
Location: Lowther Deer Park, Hackthorpe near Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2HH.
Contact: Via official website for tickets, access and trader enquiries.
Genre: Rock, indie, dance, folk, comedy and electro.
Capacity: 40,000 capacity four-day festival, 12 stages and more.
Age Policy: Children and teens 16 and under must be accompanied by parent or guardian 21+, anyone 16+ can attend without adult, under 5s free.
Ticketing: Weekend-only, no day tickets, general parking requires pass.

Attendee Experiences

Attendees describe Kendal Calling as a huggy kind of festival with huge communal moments, from Scissor Sisters covering main stage in disco glitter to intimate Woodlands sets and Tim Peaks Diner curiosities. Reviewers note the festival’s heart is found in spaces between biggest stages, with thousands passionately celebrating shared moments like chippy tea and late-night discos.

Families highlight Kids Calling and dedicated family camping as making the weekend manageable with children, while party-goers appreciate 24 Hour Party People camping and Desert Island Disco. Sound quality is praised across main and second stages, and the natural bank of Main Stage provides excellent sightlines.

The setting in Lowther Deer Park is consistently cited as most beautiful festival site in UK, with deer park, castle views and Lake District air adding magic beyond lineup.