The best festivals to add to your summer plans this year
Seeing as it feels like winter has dragged on (and on and on...), what better way to cure the blues than look forward to the best time of all: festival season? Whether you're up for five days in a tent, wading through knee high mud, or love a glitter-soaked day out, these are the best UK festivals to add to your 2024 bucket list.
April and May
Terminal V
When: 13th and 14th April
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland
Line up: Dax J, Ellen Allien, Blawan and more
Techno music takes centre stage at Terminal V, taking place at Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh. That's one way to get festival season going!
Sound City
When: 4th and 5th May
Where: Liverpool
Line up: The Snuts, Caity Baser, Balancing Act
The UK's leading independent music festival is guaranteed to open your ears to a whole host of new artists, while also celebrating its 15th birthday. The perfect place for discovering your favourite acts before everybody else.
In It Together
When: 24th - 26th May
Where: Margam, Wales
Line up: Sugababes, Cat Burns, Craig David, Eats Everything and more
Following In It Together's debut in 2021, the family-friendly festival welcomes a stellar line-up of acts to the Welsh Valleys, while also boasting 80 free activities over the weekend. We're talking superhero academy, outdoor cinemas and the world's biggest bouncy castle. And did we mention Gok Wan is DJing?
The Great Estate
When: 31st May to the 2nd June
Where: Scorrier, Redruth Cornwall
Line up: The Darkness, The Stranglers and Soul II Soul
Pushing the boundaries of what you'd expect from a 'traditional' festival, this is about so much more than just the music. Except a new surprise everywhere you, with a three day weekend packed full of immersive and exciting experiences.
Capital’s Summertime Ball with Barclaycard
When: TBC
Where: Wembley Stadium, London
Line up: Line up is TBC, but last year was filled with performances from Niall Horan, Calvin Harris, The Jonas Brothers, Anne-Marie and more
Capital's Summertime Ball with Barclaycard is back for a hugggeee day/night of music, with around 80,000 people set to fill up London's Wembley Stadium. The line up is always (obviously) massive, and we're set to see some of our fave artists of the moment all sharing one stage. Epic!
City Splash Festival
When: 27th May
Where: Brockwell Park, London
Line up: Capleton, Busy Signal, Beenie Man, Shenseea
If you're into Reggae, Dancehall and Afrobeats, head to Brockwell Park for the ultimate day out, taking place across seven stages with a wealth of black-owned food, drinks and creative markets.
GALA
When: 24th to 26th May
Where: Peckham Rye, South London
Line up: DJ EZ, Joy Orbison, Bradley Zero, Moxie, Job Jobse, Folamour, CC: Disco, Hannah Holland
The jewel in South London's summer crown, GALA is an independent non-camping festival that champions new music and songs to get you dancing all night day long.
Love Saves the Day
When: 25th and 26th May
Where: Ashton Court Estate, Bristol
Line up: Camelphat, Rudim3ntal, Sub Focus, The Streets, Eats Everything, Gorgon City, Eliza Rose
Taking place over May's bank holiday, Love Saves The Day settles into its new home in Ashton Court for two days of techno, drum and bass and, basically, just a lot of dancing. Nice.
We Are Fstvl
When: 25th and 26th May
Where: Central Park Dagenham, London
Line up: Jamie Jones, Marco Carola, LF System, Low Steppa, Dennis Ferrer, Groove Armada (DJ Set) and Hannah Wants
After celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023, We Are Fstvl is promising to be back with a bang over bank holiday weekend. With huge names across dance music performing - and back at its original venue in Dagenham - this is not one to miss.
Live At Leeds In The Park
When: 27th May
Where: Temple Newsam, Leeds
Line up: The Kooks, Declan McKenna, The Cribs, Circa Waves, Melanie C, White Lies, Mystery Jets
Live at Leeds in the Park is one day festival which launched in 2022, held at Temple Newsam, Leeds. Organised by the same team who have created and brought you Live at Leeds in the City for the last 15 years.
Cross The Tracks
When: 26th May
Where: Brockwell Park, London
Line up: Erykah Badhu, BADBADNOTGOOD, En Vouge, Eve, Madlib (DJ), The Cavemen
With over 40 food traders, a creatives market, craft beer *and* a stellar line up, there's nothing better to be doing with your Sunday.
Wychwood Festival
When: 31st May - 2nd June
Where: Cheltenham Racecourse
Line up: Texas, Ocean Colour Scene, Sister Sledge, Lightning Seeds, Peter Hook & The Light, The Coral, The Feeling and more
Sorry but is that a stellar line up or what? Set in the racecourse in Gloucestershire, this family friendly festival is set across three days, and offers both camping and day ticket options. Alongside music, there's comedy, literature and workshops, plus kids under 10 go for free.
June
Forbidden Forest
When: 30th May - 2nd June
Where: Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire
Line up: Andy C, Franky Wah, Gorgon City, Jamie Jones, Patrick Topping, Shy FX, Sub Focus
Described as "a forest rave like no other", Forbidden Forest promises the "most outstanding global acts in electronic music today" and a whole weekend of fun, laughter and dancing. Sign us up!
The Mighty Hoopla
When: 1st and 2nd June
Where: Brockwell Park, London
Line up: Nelly Furtado, Kim Petras, Jessie Ware, Rita Ora, Bananarama, Cat Burns, Eats Everything
If you've ever found yourself at a Sink The Pink, Guilty Pleasures or Ultimate Power club night, you'll know that, despite all different and unique in their own ways, they all share one thing: they all possess the power to cover you in glitter, spin you around, and send you off into the abyss of one helluva party. This line up is immense, and we just KNOW the good vibes are going to be flying.
Gottwood
When: 13th - 16th June
Where: Carreglwyd Estate, Anglesey, Wales
Line up: Crazy P Soundsystem, Andy Luff, Flo Massé, Willow
Gottwood festival has spent a decade creating an intimate and independent vibe, and their lineup combines some of the biggest techno and house DJs with some up and coming new names, who are definitely worth trecking to Anglesey for.
On the Mount at Wasing
When: Various dates between 17th to the 29th June.
Where: Wasing Estate, Reading
Line up: Jungle, Paolo Nutini, Sophie Ellis-Bextor
For the second year, On the Mount is back with a series of gigs in their gorgeous woodland amphitheatre, while also offering a special event Solstice At The Mount on 20th June, a celebration of culture with a headline performance from Nick Mulvey.
Download
When: 14th - 16th June
Where: Donington Park, Donington
Line up: Queens Of The Stone Age, Fall Out Boy, Royal Blood, Enter Shikari, Busted, Bowling For Soup
For those of you who get your kicks from headbanging and donning KISS make-up, Download is the festival for you. There are plenty of different levels of rock and metal to enjoy – so whether you're into old-school bands or emo's finest, there'll be a patch of grass with your name on it.
Parklife
When: 8th and 9th June
Where: Heaton Park, Manchester
Line up: Doja Cat, Disclosure, Becky Hill, Peggy Gou, Four Tet, Sugababes, J Hus, Patrick Topping, Folamour
Daaaaamn Parklife, back at it again with the awesome festival. Since these guys never quit with the extensive and impressive line up, you're in for an absolute treat.
Hampton Court Palace Festival
When: Various dates between 11th and 22nd June
Where: Hampton Court Palace, London
Line up: Tom Jones, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Sam Ryder, Sheryl Crow, Jessie J, Paloma Faith
In the intimate Tudor courtyard against Hampton Court Palace's iconic backdrop sees a series of gigs, spread across two weeks. The only question is: how do you choose who to see?!
Black Deer Festival
When: 14th to the 16th June
Where: Eridge Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells
Line up: Sheryl Crow, Seasick Steve, The Shires, Dylan Gossett, Villagers, The Staves, Twinnies
If country music and BBQ food is your thing (seriously, whose isn't?), head to this festival of Americana, which promises to be bigger and better than ever for 2024.
Glastonbury
When: 26th to the 30th June
Where: Worthy Farm, Somerset
Line up: Most of the line-up is TBC, but Liam Gallagher has confirmed he and John Stires will be there!
What do you think of when you hear the word 'festival'? I mean, it's obviously Glastonbury, isn't it, so what would a festival round up be without them? Get your wellies on and get stuck in!
July
Big Smoke Festival
When: 6th July
Where: Crystal Palace Park, London
Line up: Skepta, The Streets, Mahalia, JME
Curated by Skepta, Big Smoke Festival takes over Crystal Palace park for one day only. Offering two stages full of multi-genre artists, including Skepta himself, in his only headline performance of 2024.
BST Hyde Park
When: Various dates between 30th June - 14th July
Where: Hyde Park, London
Line up: Robbie Williams, Kings of Leon, Shania Twain, Kylie Minogue, Stray Kids
If you're not in the mood for spending a whole weekend in a tent (and who can blame you with the type of weather us Brits experience in the summer), maybe one-off gigs are a better option? Try BST in Hyde Park for a whole host of brilliant shows.
El Dorado
When: 11th - 14th July
Where: Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Hertfordshire
Line up: Boney M, Joney Dijon, Horse Meat Disco, Shy FX, Sub Focus, Eliza Rose
El Dorado festival is all about the fun, promising a top tier line up and everything from ball pits to hanging out in hammocks and general good vibes. Whether you're after a singalong or some heavy duty dancing, you can do it all here, as they celebrate another year at Eastnor Castle.
Latitude
When: 25th to the 28th July
Where: Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk
Line up: Duran Duran, Kasabian, London Grammar, Keane, The Vaccines, Nile Rodgers and Chic and more
Latitude gets the balance between relaxed and masses of fun just right. There's loads to do in the day, huge names to dance to at night - plus all the sheep are dyed funky colours, and what festival goer wouldn't be interested in that?
Truck Festival
When: 26th to the 28th July
Where: Hill Farm, Oxford, UK
Line up: Jamie T, Wet Leg, The Streets, Idles, Holly Humberstone, Declan McKenna, The Kooks and more
Can you believe Truck Festival has been going on since 1998? Celebrate their 25th anniversary with a stellar indie line up while also retaining the intimate festival atmosphere.
Junction 2
When: 26th to the 28th July
Where: Boston Manor Park, London`
Line up: Barry Can't Swim, Haii, Camelphat, Honey Dijon, Dee Diggs, Craig Richards
After a couple of years of cancellations, Junction 2 festival returned in 2022 in a new location, and delivered on its promise of going "above and beyond anything that has come before." With this line-up, this year also promises to be entirely unmissable - and it's worth it just to see Barry Can't Swim tbh.
Cambridge Folk Festival
When: 25th to the 28th July
Where: Cherry Hinton Hall, Cambridge
Line up: Robert Plant, Transatlantic Sessions, Dani Larkin
Cambridge Folk Festival is one of the longest running folk festivals in the world. So, basically, these guys know what they're doing as far as nailing that whole folk thing goes. It's renowned for its unique atmosphere and its eclectic mix of music, the best traditional folk artists from the UK and Ireland, cutting edge contemporary acts, the finest American country, blues and roots artists, acclaimed singer songwriters, famous names and world music stars.
Camp Bestival
When:
Camp Bestival Dorset: 25th to the 28th July
Camp Bestival Shropshire: 15th to the 18th August
Where: The Lulworth Estate, Dorset or Weston Park in Shropshire
Line up: Paloma Faith, McFly, James Arthur, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Orbital, Pete Tong's Ibiza classics
If Camp Bestival’s historically fun atmosphere and fancy dress theme isn’t enough to sway you to get a ticket, then maybe the stellar line up will be. This family friendly festival isn't just for kids, though - there are DJs and dancing to boot.
August
Y Not
When: 2nd to the 4th August
Where: Pikehall, Derbyshire
Line up: Snow Patrol, Jamie T, Kaiser Chiefs, Scouting For Girls, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Despite having a continually great line up every year, Y Not Festival is not just about the music. From comedy, paint fights and carnivals to an in-house cinema plus a top secret venue thrown in for good measure, there's so much to do. And all with the beautiful Peak District as a backdrop.
Field Day
When: 24th August
Where: Victoria Park, London
Line up: Justice, PinkPantheress, George Riley, Romy, Mura Masa
Field Day is back at Victoria Park, and has a line up filled with goodness. And with the festival in its 17th year overall, we're expecting big things. Bring it on.
All Points East
When: Various dates between 16th and 25th August
Where: Victoria Park, London
Line up: LCD Soundsystem, Floating Points, Victoria Monét, Loyle Carner, NAS, Justice
All Points East is a musical bonanza, which takes place in East London's Victoria Park. Spread across four days (so two weekends), there are also free events in The Neighbourhood throughout the festival, making it worth a visit for more reasons than one.
Wilderness
When: 1st to the 4th August
Where: Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
Line up: Barry Can't Swim (live and DJ set), Michael Kiwanuka, Faithless (live), Bicep presents Chroma, Jessie Ware plus live talks from Claudia Winkleman, Jeremy Deller, Rosie Jones and more
If it’s an idyllic woodland with a lake that takes your fancy, look no further than Wilderness and its day-through-to-night schedule of cocktails, dancing and arts ‘n’ crafts. There's wild swimming, an incredible line up of dining opportunities, and also family-friendly activities in the day, so why wouldn't you? Plus, it's worth it just for Barry Can't Swim and Bicep presents Chroma!
Boardmasters
When: 7th to the 11th August
Where: Newquay, Cornwall
Line up: Chase & Status, Courteeners, Bicep, Sam Fender, Stormzy, Bakar, Nia Archives, Becky Hill
Everybody knows that taking a dip in the British sea is the best way to get over a hangover, which is what makes Boardmasters and its location so unique.
Houghton
When: 8th to the 11th August
Where: King's Lynn, Norfolk
Line up: Aba Shanti-I, Ben UFO, Hannah Holland, Moxie, Shanti Celeste
Houghton is an arts and music festival curated by Craig Richards and produced by Gottwood. It's got a 24 hour license so promises non-stop fun, energy and music with a truly impressive lineup. We're expecting big things for 2024.
Hospitality in the Woods
When: 17th August
Where: Beckenham Place Park, London
Line up: Pendulum (DJ Set), LTJ Bukem, Spectrasoul, Kings Of The Rollers, Flava D, High Contrast, Break
This promises to be the biggest, broadest and best UK drum and bass festival, inviting D&B fans from across the country to come together for one day only. Each stage promises a unique, immersive experience, while the venue combines a tranquil lake with beautiful wooded areas and more.
Green Man
When: 15th to 18th August
Where: Brecon Beacons, Wales
Line up: Sampha, Arlo Parks, Big Thief, Jon Hopkins, Ezra Collective and more
Green Man is set in just about the most beautiful surroundings we've ever experienced at a festival. The Black Mountains aren't usually open to the public, but for one weekend only, they become an amazing backdrop for a bunch of great bands and merrymakers.
Shambala
When: 22nd to the 25th August
Where: Secret Country Estate, Northamptonshire
Line up: Unconfirmed! But in the past, they've had Claptone, BTSM and Bob Moses
Shambala is not only a glitter-covered party for colourful people who like to have a great time, it's also all about giving something back. The festival sees itself as the perfect vehicle to test large-scale innovation and experiments in how we could and should be doing things differently, and it produces seriously powerful results.
The Big Feastival
When: 23rd to the 25th August`
Where: Alex James' farm, The Cotswolds
Line up: Becky Hill, Snow Patrol, Cat Burns, Joel Corry, Jax Jones, Scouting For Girls
You know that guy from Blur who now lives on a farm making cheese? Well, lucky for you, he's opening his home up for you to go along and stuff your face with delicious treats. As well as getting a right good feed from a whole host of celebrity chefs, you can also listen to some great bands. Thanks Alex James.
The Long Road
When: 23rd to the 25th August
Where: Stanford Hall, Leicestershire
Line up: TBC but last year's line up included Jon Pardi, Blackberry Smoke, Breland and more
Country fans, this one is for you. Get a slide of stateside culture with some of the biggest acts all in one place (with street food and craft beer to boot).
RALLY
When: 24th August
Where: Southwark Park, London
Line up: TBC
A festival with an ethos around connection, collaboration, and pushing the boundaries for new and emerging artists, RALLY is all about supportive London's up and coming sounds.
Victorious
When: 23rd to the 25th August
Where: Southsea Seafront, Portsmouth
Line up: Fatboy Slim, Snow Patrol, Idles, Louis Tomlinson, Jess Glynne, The Snuts
Tickets to Victorious are always great value for money, thanks to the great line up and family-friendly vibe. Plus it's by the sea. Lovely stuff.
Lost Village
When: 22nd to the 25th August
Where: Lincolnshire
Line up: The Blessed Madonna, Dan Shake, Folamour, Midland, Ross From Friends, DJ Seinfeld, Floating Points
If you're in desperate need of escaping to a forest with nothing more than some sequins, a tent and a pair of wellies to keep you company, then you're in luck because Lost Village is all about that. So get ready to pull your best shapes, get lots amongst the trees and shimmy your way through the night.
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CarFest
When: 23rd to the 25th August
Where: Laverstoke Park, Hampshire
Line up: Sam Ryder, Olly Murs and Scouting For Girls
An event like no other, CarFest offers the opportunity to bop along to music, admire fast cars, and raise money for worthy causes and charities in the process. What's not to love?
Reading and Leeds
When: 21st to the 25th August
Where: Richfield Avenue, Reading and Bramham Park, Leeds
Line up: Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Reneé Rapp, Fred Again..., Lana Del Rey, Raye, Digga D
Reading and Leeds always nails it with the line-up. We mean, come on, would you look at this line up? Get us there, please.
September
FORWARDS
When: 31st August and 1st September
Where: Clifton Downs, Bristol
Line up: TBC, but previously line ups have had Jamie XX, The Chemical Brothers, Caribou, AND Floating Points
Only two years old, FORWARDS festival aims to kickstart a new breed of city festivals, committing to positive change through social initiatives and forward-thinking discussions. Big yes from us.
Lindisfarne festival
When: 29th August to the 1st September
Where: Beal Farm, Northumberland
Line up: The Vaccines, Tom Walker, Orbital, Everything Everything, Kula Shaker
Said to be held in the UK's best-kept-secret festival location, overlooking Holy Island (and easily reached from Edinburgh or Newcastle) with eight stages containing a mish-mash of acts, it's a magical, escapist weekend to round-off your festival season in true hedonistic style.
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Bring on festival season!
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