Brits love a good party, so you can imagine how excited we get when festivals season finally arrives. Whether you’ve woken up at some ungodly hour to get tickets or coordinated ticket purchasing with your group down to the millisecond, you’ll know that the festival itself is worth the effort.
But with so many to choose from and so many brilliant artists attending each one, how does one know where to start with choosing a festival in the first place? Put simply, it’s incredible how much musical variety this relatively small country can pack in! What’s more, most of them are an easy train ride away!
So, pack your wellies (you’ll most likely need them) and take a look at the best festivals to hit the UK this year.
Festivals to look out for this year
- Reading and Leeds
A favorite with British teenagers hoping to let off some steam after getting their GCSE results, Reading and Leeds are identical festivals that swap their main acts over the course of the August bank holiday weekend. This year, megastars like Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi will be taking to the stage, as well as other chart-topping artists.
- Creamfields North
The UK’s biggest electronic music festival is still to pull its northern stint in Cheshire over the August bank holiday weekend. Big names like Fatboy Slim, Chase & Status, Diplo, Calvin Harris and Camelphat will be taking to the stage for some mind-blowing DJ sets guaranteed to keep you dancing until the very early hours.
- Camp Bestival
Camp Bestival’s Shropshire dates are still to come in the middle of August and they’re expecting major headliners like Sophie Ellis Bextor, Rudimental, Primal Scream and Sam Ryder. A geat festival for families and young children too, Horrible Histories and Mr Tumble will be making an appearance too!
- All Points East
A relatively young festival, All Points East has become a big player on the festival circuit since its inception in 2018. It’s beloved for its varied selection of music and has confirmed Stormzy and The Strokes as two of its headliners this year. Previous headliners include The Chemical Brothers, Foals and Nick Cave, making it a favorite with British and worldwide music legends.
Festivals to look forward to in 2024
- Glastonbury
No UK festival lineup is complete without Glastonbury. Also known as the happiest place on Earth, thousands of festival goers from all backgrounds come together on Worthy Farm for a musical spectacle from start to finish. There’s a reason it’s the biggest festival on the island.
- Download
Attracting rock and punk enthusiasts from all over, Download is one place you can guarantee you’ll be in a friendly mosh pit. It’s loud, it’s energetic and you’ll be dancing from noon till night with some of the biggest rock bands in the UK and beyond.