Summer is nearly here! And for music fans that means the sensation of plastic cups being crushed underfoot, the sound of revellers in neighbouring tents talking all night about their “so random” uni experiences, and checking your weather app every five seconds trying to will away the black cloud with the lightning bolt.
Punctuating the sleepless nights, burger breath and sunstroked bros reeling face-first into bushes will be some music. And luckily, the festivals in the coming months have ludicrously good line-ups to cater for every taste. Even if you are tasteless, there are options for you.
So here is our pick of the festivals this year, grouped into broad categories to help you identify where you are most likely to have a good time — or rather ‘these days’, come away with the a solid IG carousel. Obviously, these are all within relative spitting distance of London, if not actually within London, because, well, we’re Londoners and hate everywhere else.
See also: Your 2025 Festival Fashion Guide — What to wear to Glastonbury, Primavera and more
Oh, and as for the fuddy-duddy hoo-hah about parks being destroyed, well we all need to respect the green spaces and clean up after ourselves, but let’s live a little, eh?
The Big Classics
Glastonbury
June 25-29, Worthy Farm, Somerset
In brief: The earth mother of all festivals, a huge sprawling, giddy jamboree across Worthy Farm that remains quite unlike anything else. There’s a reason why it sells out before the line-up is announced: it’s literally the only place left where you can be the big daft wally you really are.
Who goes: Eighty per cent of London. Witches. That one naked guy. Hollywood A-Listers. Someone from school who you never wanted to see again. Influencers who dress in “festival chic” and last about a day before they realise what the loo situation is and go check in to Soho Farmhouse instead.
Who’s playing: The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo are headlining, but the “Glastonbury moments” are likely to come from Charli xcx, Wet Leg, The Prodigy, Wolf Alice, Kneecap.
What to take: Wellies, body paint, earplugs.
What to say/what not to say: “Leave me here, I’m fine for a bit.”/“Can’t they just pave these walkways?”
https://glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/
Isle of Wight
June 19-22, Seaclose Park, Isle of Wight
In brief: Classic festival on the lovely isle, where the vibe is more Pimm’s and picnics than ket and coke. Very appealing, all things considered. And the weight of music history — The Doors! Bowie! — brings a hefty buzz.
Who goes: Gen X, teens at their first festival, Sting.
Who’s playing: Sting, Stereophonics, Justin Timberlake, English Teacher, Supergrass.
What to take: Duvet, classic rock T-shirt, Crocs.
What to say/what not to say: “He was a tantric sex pioneer.”/“Who, Justin Timberlake?”
https://isleofwightfestival.com/
Reading & Leeds Festival
August 21-24, Richfield Avenue, Reading & Bramham Park, Leeds
In brief: The post-exams favourite for every teenager in Britain. Once renowned for its unforgiving serious rock credentials, now pop acts are unlikely to be bottled off. Hence, Chappell Roan this year.
Who goes: Your little brother, the richly tattooed, those who don’t shower anyway.
Who’s playing: Roan is the big win, but there’s also trad Reading/Leeds fare like Bring Me the Horizon, Limp Bizkit and Travis Scott.
What to take: Cider. Lots of cider.
What to say/what not to say: “Another cider?”/ “Surely, there’s someone we can bottle?”
https://www.readingfestival.com/
The Pop One
Mighty Hoopla
May 31 & June 1, Brockwell Park, SE24
In brief: Brockwell Park’s latest neighbour-annoying festival is one that will have the tut-tutters steaming up their windows in rage: a pop-tastic, funtime, dress-up glee-fest.
Who goes: Teens, tweens, queens — and some random bloke who fell asleep at Cross the Tracks and has just woken up thinking it’s the same festival only, somehow, different.
Who’s playing: Kesha, Jade, Ciara, er, Daphne and Celeste.
What to take: Glitter, cowboy hats, blow-up animals.
What to say/what not to say: “I picked up my litter — go me!”/“Do you like Neil Young?”
The Nature Ones
Green Man
August 14-17, Brecon Beacons, Wales
In brief: A mini version of Glastonbury in Wales, this has morphed through the years from a crusty maypole festival where Pentangle would play for three days into an ultra-cool Pitchfork nod-along.
Who goes: Art students, poets, multi-millionaire tech bros in search of credibility.
Who’s playing: Wet Leg, Wunderhorse, Kneecap, CMAT, TV on the Radio, Perfume Genius.
What to take: Your coolest friends, your chin to stroke.
What to say/what not to say: “Shall we check out Greentea Peng?”/“No thanks, I’ll have a flat white.”
Latitude
July 24-27, Henham Park, Suffolk
In brief: So middle-class it makes Glastonbury look like a pub car park fight, Latitude is the kind of festival where all the men walk around clutching paperbacks and all the women dress in gowns trying to look like Florence Welch.
Who goes: Teachers, creative writing students, weekend socialists.
Who’s playing: Sting (again?), Fatboy Slim, Snow Patrol, Basement Jaxx, Kaiser Chiefs.
What to take: Your dissertation on post-structuralism, vegan sausage rolls.
What to say/what not to say: “Ugh, can you imagine being at Oasis?”/“Jane Austen? Is she in The Last Dinner Party?”
https://www.latitudefestival.com/
Wilderness
July 31 to August 3, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
In brief: An idyllic Oxfordshire festival combining music, quality dining and wellness which seems to also involve a fair amount of old school festival nudity — or at least plenty of liberated frolicking in the woods. Despite worries things might go a bit Midsommer, this has a whimsical magic.
Who goes: Gurus, burlesque performers, chefs.
Who’s playing: Basement Jaxx, Air, Orbital, Wet Leg, Supergrass.
What to take: Yoga mats, flowing robes, ankle bells.
What to say/what not to say: “Don’t apologise for your own sensuality.”/“Put some clothes on mate, I’m trying to eat.”
https://www.wildernessfestival.com/
We Out Here
In brief: Set in the rolling hills of Dorset, We Out Here bills itself as a weekend of culture and creativity. That means talks with special guests, a family friendly atmosphere and a commitment to providing a platform for new and emerging artists. The festival’s roots lie in funk, jazz and soul music, but there’s increasingly been an electronic presence too. All in all, a perfect place for BBC 6 Music fans to congregate.
Who goes: Cultured souls.
Who’s playing: The line up is still being announced, but currently includes Michael Kiwanuka, Pa Salieu, Kokoroko, Nala Sinephro and Joe Bataan, among others.
What to take: A book, to read in your downtime.
What to say/ What not to say: “I adore BBC 6 Music!”/ “Where’s the rave?”
https://weoutherefestival.com/
Isle of Wight
In brief: One of the last in the festival calendar, End of the Road is still worth making the trek down to the Dorset/ Wiltshire border for. There’s a nice blend of family friendly and hardcore rock acts here; seeing kids in the crowd with ear defenders on is a common sight, and there are playgrounds and kid-friendly activities scattered around the grounds too. And for the die-hard rock enthusiasts, the eardrum-shattering Big Top delivers some of the best musical lineups anywhere in the UK.
Who goes: Families; dads looking to relive their youth.
Who’s playing: Sting, Stereophonics, Justin Timberlake, Faithless, The Corrs, The Script
What to say/ What not to say: “I love Justin Timberlake!”/“Wow, you’re old.”
https://isleofwightfestival.com/
The Urbanite Ones
Meltdown
June 12-22, Southbank Centre, SE1
In brief: The Southbank’s lauded annual brainy music fest, this year curated by London hero Little Simz.
Who goes: Londoners who don’t own wellies and who prefer brutalism over bushes.
Who’s playing: Little Simz & Chineke! Orchestra, The Streets, Jon Baptiste, Mahalia, Lola Young, Miraa May
What to take: Your really cool cousin, the one with the nose ring, who will make friends with all the arty crowd you’re usually too afraid to talk to.
What to say/what not to say: “Rain is forecast at Glastonbury!”/“No I will not put my clothes back on, this is a festival.”
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/events/meltdown/
SXSW
June 2-7, across Shoreditch
In brief: The ultra-cool Austin, Texas festival comes to London for the first time, with an emphasis on cross-industry mash-ups. Think talks (Idris Elba, Katherine Ryan), thought-leadership and networking as well as films and of course plenty of new music gig action.
Who goes: Tech entrepreneurs, AI experts, young people who are already making a lot more money than you are.
Who’s playing: Mabel, NAO, Erykah Badu, Miraa May.
What to take: Notepad, contact list, gilet.
What to say/what not to say: “Would you like to be my new mentor.”/“I think I just spilt my pint on your laptop.”
BST Hyde Park
June 27 to July 13, Hyde Park, W2
In brief: Running through June and July, this is the festival where top acts descend into the best Royal Park for one night only, and Londoners tear each other to pieces trying to grab tickets.
Who goes: Mums and dads, all your neighbours, everyone you’ve ever met.
Who’s playing: Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder.
What to take: A beard for Neil Young and lingerie for Sabrina Carpenter. Don’t mix up the two.
What to say/what not to say: “You don’t see the King complaining about using his park.”/“Is Neil just playing the same song over and over again?”
Wireless
July 11-13, Finsbury Park, N4
In brief: Urban music festival in Finsbury Park which this year has Drake taking it over for three nights, with some special guests to be announced.
Who goes: Hip-hop kids, grime kids and, well, Drake fans.
Who’s playing: Drake, Drake, Drake. And Burna Boy.
What to take: All of your old schoolmates, who you will never see again.
What to say/what not so say: “Drake has so many songs he could do seven nights.”/“I don’t much care for Drake actually.”
https://wirelessfestival.co.uk/
For cool kids
Lido Festival
June 6-15, Victoria Park, E9
In brief: A new festival in Victoria Park with a big-hitting line-up. It’s split over two weekends with each of the days curated by the headliner.
Who goes: Expect hipsters, posers, socialites, preening partyers — all your friends, basically.
Who’s playing: London Grammar, Massive Attack, Jamie xx and Charli xcx are the headliners, the latter doing a Partygirl night.
What to take: Cigarettes, headband, a kind of semi-smug look.
What to say/what not to say: “You are so brat right now.”/“Who are Massive Attack?”
https://www.lidofestival.co.uk/
All Points East
July 16 & August 22-24, Victoria Park, E9
In brief: More Victoria Park bespoiling, this time with an electro/dance/indie series of nights over a couple of weeks.
Who goes: Everyone on London’s dating scene.
Who’s playing: Chase and Status, Barry Can’t Swim, Raye, Tyla, The Maccabees
What to take: Your most nonchalant attitude, rollies, a lack of interest in food.
What to say/what not to say: “This is a bit of a sell-out set.”/“I’m quite looking forward to Robbie Williams’s new album, Britpop.”
https://www.allpointseastfestival.com/
Houghton
August 7-10, Houghton Hall, King’s Lynn, Norfolk
In brief: In the backwoods of Houghton Hall in the backwards King’s Lynn, this electronic music festival is a dream for those who like to dance all night and well into the morning too — ie, it is not for anyone under 25.
Who goes: Utter maniacs.
Who’s playing: Shanti Celeste, Joy Orbison, Doc Martin.
What to take: Dancing shoes, compass (no wi-fi), reliable friends (no wi-fi), wi-fi booster.
What to say/what not to say: “There’s a secret stage this way.”/“Doesn’t the music ever stop?”
https://www.houghtonfestival.co.uk/
Lost Village
In brief: This fun boutique glamping festival has made a name for itself thanks to its excellent electronic line up. Located in a forested glade in the middle of Lincoln (the nearest train station is Newark Northgate), the festival combines concept stages – aircraft hangars, lost cabins in the woods and scrapyards – with truly excellent eating, comedy tents and a substantial wellness offering.
Who goes: The entire population of Hackney.
Who’s playing: This year’s line up includes Four Tet, HAAi, Caribou, Glastonbury darling Barry Can’t Swim and Joy Orbison.
What to take: The latest fashion.
What do say/ what not to say: “Let’s go party in a junkyard.”/ “Go back to London!”
https://lostvillagefestival.com/
Wilderness
In brief: This one is super high end. Set in Cornbury Park, in the heart of Oxfordshire, it bills itself as a “weekend of escapism, high jinks and wholesome hedonism”. Alongside the line-up, it’s all about wellness here: the food is excellent, there’s the option to stay in teepees, there are sound baths and saunas available. Lie back and relax.
Who goes: People in search of both parties and pampering.
Who’s playing: It hasn’t been released yet, but last year’s headliners included Bicep, Faithless and Michael Kiwanuka.
What to take: a yoga mat
What to say/ What not to say: “Shall we book a massage while we’re here?”/ “No woo-woo for me thanks.”
