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UK Festivals: The Best Festivals In The UK!

Photograph of the blog post author, Annika Hope

Annika Hope

25.2.2022

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Do you also want to know what the best uk festivals are month by month? It’s all here and by the end of this article you’ll be buying tickets for sure! I’m also going to list all those festival essentials to pack. 

Get that tent, those wellies and face glitter ready! If you’re thinking, what’s the best festival in the uk, then keep reading folks. 

You’re probably thinking, all the best festivals in the uk start in June, but that is where you would be wrong and here are a few worthy mentions. 

best uk festivals

May 2022

The Great Escape – Brighton. 11th-14th May

This festival caters to new music, new artists that need that exposure and this year there will be over 450 bands kickstarting the festival season in over 30 venues. The festival began in 2006 and has been a favourite among locals and people come from further afield to enjoy the show. There are even impromptu gigs that spring up all over town, so make sure you keep your eyes open for these too. 

Neighbourhood Weekender – Victoria Park, London. 28th May 

This festival in Victoria Park, London is the live music gig you were looking for. It not only has the biggest acts, but also it champions new brands so the mix is something you don’t want to miss. This year bands like Kasabian, Courteneers and The Fratellis are all on the lineup. And if you are local to London, then what’s your excuse? 

June 2022

Creamfields South – Hylands Park, Chelmsford. 3rd – 4th June

This festival is celebrating its 20th year anniversary, and the award-winning electronic promoter Creamfields is organising a two-day camping festival which will feature some of the biggest names in electronic music and dance music heavyweights. David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Armand Van Helden, Deadmau5 and many more. Do you need more reasons to get your tickets if you haven’t already?

dj at festival

Mighty Hoopla – Brockwell Park, Brixton. 3rd June

This is undoubtedly the Uk’s best pop festival and the one day gig has a great lineup this year, including Steps, Sugarbabes, Cascada & Anastacia. 25,000 people usually turn up on the day and this year, Friday 3rd is a bank holiday, so get in line early and sing your heart out to the early hours of the morning! 

Live at Leeds in The Park – Temple Newsam, Leeds. 4th June

A brand new one-day festival featuring the best pop acts in the stunning surroundings of Temple Newsam. Fingers crossed for good weather. Just a few of the artists expected to perform this year are Arlo Parks, Bombay Bicycle Club and Nothing But Thieves, but check out the website for the full line-up. 

Download Festival – Donington Park, Derby. 10th-12th June

If hard rock and metal are your thing, then you will have already bought your tickets for this legendary event. With bands such as the Motley Crue and Kiss making an appearance in 2015, it will be a blast of a weekend. 

Isle of Wight Festival – Seaclose Park, Isle of Wight. 16th-19th June

With a loyal band of followers each year, the iconic Isle of Wight Festival hosts so many well-known artists across the music industry. It was such a landmark festival in its infancy that it was in the same vein as Glastonbury and Woodstock. Lionel Richie, Lewis Capaldi, Rudimental and Muse are only a few of the artists on the line-up for 2022. These are a few days in your life that you need to be on that island.     

Nocturne Live – Blenheim Park, Oxfordshire. 16th-19th June

This festival has been running at Blenheim park for the past few years and has been a roaring success. Acts such as Simply Red, David Gray and James Morrison will be there this year. The Great Court is transformed into a midsummer grand arena. With Elton John, Gladys Knight and Gregory Porter all having sung there, and the location is stunning, then you can’t afford to miss it. 

festival goers

Unlocked Fest – Winthorpe, Newark. 17th-19th June

Do you want to reminisce about the good ol’ days, and go back to the 80s, 90s and 00s? Well this one’s for you. This is the ultimate weekender and this year legends like Heather Small, The Feeling and Republica are on the lineup. Camp or glamp in this event unlike no other.

The Wild Wood Disco – Horseheath. 17th June

As festival goers, who wouldn’t want to party out in the woods when someone like Jayda G or Dan Shake are playing? Do you see yourself in the secret woodland glade where 4 stages are hidden amongst the trees? This year’s lineup is half female-led and there are art installations, secret areas where you won’t find the VIPs and big bands – not at this festival.

British Summertime – Hyde Park, London. 24th June-10th July

Legendary headliners such as Adele, Elton John, Pearl Jam, Duran Duran are playing this year and this festival has been around since 2013. It is a 10 day event like no other and with those acts performing for you and one that also supports rising stars you can’t go wrong.  And in terms of England musical festivals, this rates pretty highly.  

So make sure those phones are charged because you will not want to miss filming Adele’s show.

July 2022

Love Supreme Jazz Festival – Glynde Place, Sussex. 1st-3rd July

Are you asking what is the best blues festival in the uk, Love Supreme is the one for you if you love that wonderful blues music. It has been in action for over a decade and people flock to this event for all the jazz, soul and funk they demand. 

people at festival

Kew the Music – Royal Botanic Gardens, London. 5th-10th July 

Set in this incredible location, this is the perfect evening out for all of the family and you can bring your picnic along too. Van Morrison, Rebecca Furguson and Cally Rhodes can sing to you until after the sun goes down. 

Noisily Festival of Music and Arts – Coney Woods, Leicestershire. 7th July

If your thing is bass, trance, dance, and house music then please, please, please head to Coney Woods on the 7th of July for an all-encompassing wild party in the woods. Face paint and flower headbands at the ready! It has been away for 3 years but it is back with a bang. Allaby and Bedders, Altered State and Floresence will blow you away and if you haven’t heard of them, then where have you been? 

Latitude Festival – Henham Park, Suffolk. 22nd-24th July 

Latitude in Suffolk is an example of one of the best festivals in the uk and in addition, one of the big festivals in the uk. It started in 2006, and there is music, theatre, art, comedy and cabaret and more to feed our soul. You will feel like you are in a bubble for those few days – like at other festivals, and will not want to leave this magical place. Remember to bring your swimmers as the lake is a firm favourite for the festival goers. It is also family friendly so that’s a plus. 

Gateways Festival – Aireville Park, Skipton, Yorkshire Dales. 23rd-24th July

Start booking tickets for this festival back on the Yorkshire Dales, where Jake Bugg, The Charlatans, Cast and Ash are known as part of the main acts this year. 

Deer Shed Festival – Baldersby Park, North Yorkshire. 29th July – 31st July 

Why not head up to North Yorkshire and see for yourself the wonders of music, comedy. Theatre, science and sport all rolled into one? Family friendly, and there being plenty of thighs to keep you entertained you will leave feeling like a completely different person, and having created some unique memories. 

August 2022

Wilderness Festival – Cornbury Park Estate, Oxfordshire. 4th Aug-7th August

Another festival known for its boutiquey feel, similar to Latitude, you will find music, food, arts, food and wellbeing at the forefront. It has garnered huge success over the years and people want to be pampered and feel that they see the best of the best. A vibrant joining of people, culture, minds and ideas. Go to the wilderness to find your best self. And the best camping on offer too. 

London Craft Beer Festival – Tobacco Dock, London. 12th-13th August

If you like your beer and are searching for one of the best beer festivals in the uk, head on down to Tobacco Dock this August. Join in the fun and drink plenty of pitchers of beers for their 10th anniversary of the event. 

Boomtown Fair – Matterley Estate, Hampshire. 10th-14th August. 

This unique 5-day theatrical affair has been a hit ever since it was founded in 2009. Actors will take you on a journey, and explore the city for a fully immersive experience. There are new chapters and a new world will emerge. Your curiosity and playfulness are at the heart of this festival, it truly is a delight for the senses. It will be a mass of creative energy come to life.

All Points East – Victoria Park, London. 19th-28th August

Names such as The National, Gorillaz, The Chemical Brothers, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are all part of the lineup for this year at the gig in Victoria Park. You could say that the varied line up of rock, indie and alternative music is a reason why it is one of London’s biggest festivals in town. 

uk festivals

Shambala – secret Northamptonshire location. 25th-28th August

This gig is set to be one of the most secretive of the year as we don’t even know when the location will be disclosed. But we know for sure that like in other years, it will be lively and full of chart-topping artists. It is a family-friendly festival, quite a lot are now and if you like world music and incredible food, then this is one for you. One thing we do know is the name of the festival, ‘20 years of Adventures in Utopia’.  

Reading Festival – Little John’s Farm. 26th-28th August

This festival has it all, from punk, metal, indie, rock, alternative and with the biggest names and exclusive shows. It’s the biggest rave in town, so you need to buy your tickets now if you haven’t already. 

Leeds Festival – Bramham Park. 26th-28th August 

The headliners have been dubbed as a huge rock music festival and the line up this year includes Race against the Machine, Artic Monkeys, Halsey and many more. You should go this one if chrome, house, base and techno are your thing. However, in the past years, it has seen an increase of film screenings and comedy on its side programme.

The ultimate festivals uk packing list 

So I would say that all of the festivals above are part of the big festivals in the uk, but critical to the festival itself, what is the ultimate packing list? What do you need to make sure you bring that every moment is the best you have ever lived? 

  • Your ticket
  • Money and bank card
  • Phone & charger
  • Sunglasses
  • Boots
  • Waterproof 
  • Driving licence
  • Medication
  • Sleeping bag
  • Lilo or blow up bed
  • Pillow
  • Camping chair
  • Bunting
  • Enamel mugs
  • Boxes or bags of wine
  • Wet wipes
  • Reusable water bottle 
  • Snacks
  • Glitter and face paint
  • Clothes for both a sunny and rainy day
  • Fancy dress costumes
  • Socks
  • Hat

And there you have it, festival season is not too far away and you know where you should be this summer. So don’t forget that ticket and see you at the main stage!

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