Things have been tough in Great Britain so far this year. There’s been some terrible weather and it’s hard to find an apartment, not to mention not having enough cucumbers! But, the good news is that summer is coming and with it lots of music, shows, large tents, and carnival rides at festivals across the country.
Got your tickets to big festivals like Glastonbury? Great! But don’t worry if you didn’t manage to get them, there are still lots of fun events for the summer.
The UK has loads of great festivals for everyone! From camping, dancing and partying – you can find something that fits your budget. Here are some of the best ones to check out.
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Celebrate 20 Years of Rock and Metal at Download Festival!
On the 8th to 11th of June 2023, Donington Park in Leicestershire will hold an event – and you can get your tickets at downloadfestival.co.uk!
Download Festival is one of the biggest rock and metal festivals in the world, and it’s celebrating its 20th anniversary next year with some special treats. The two main headliners are Slipknot from Iowa and Metallica who, for the first ever time at Download, will play two different sets on Thursday and Saturday night, so you won’t see any repeat songs. Other artists performing include Evanescence, Parkway Drive, Disturbed, Pendulum and The Distillers. Loads of people have been to Download’s grounds in Donington over the past 20 years – even more than 2 million! Big Green Coaches also run buses to get there from 62 locations in a way that helps reduce global warming.
Going to a music festival? Here’s what you need!
Everyone was super happy when Grace Jones played at the first-ever KITE festival. It was awesome!
Experience the Calm at Kirtlington Park’s Kite Festival
From June 9 to June 11, 2023, Kirtlington Park in Oxfordshire will be hosting a Kite Festival! If you want to get tickets for the festival, just go to kitefestival.co.uk.
In 2022, KITE was introduced to the festival world with a combination of debates and shows from stars like Grace Jones and Self Esteem. This event is calmer than other festivals because only around 10,000 people attend it in the gorgeous Kirtlington Park in Oxfordshire. For 2023, Pretenders, Hot Chip, Suede, Ezra Collective, Django Django, Baxter Dury, and Candi Staton will be performing at this festival.
There are exciting people talking in tents at this place: Dame Joan Collins, Adam Kay (author of the famous book “This Is Going To Hurt”), Susanna Hoffs (singer of The Bangles) and Munroe Bergdorf (famous trans activist and writer). If you’re older than 13, you can stay at hotels or B&Bs nearby. You can also take Big Green Coach buses to go to London for a day or two.
“Childerley Orchard Comes Alive
We’ve got an exciting event coming up at Childerley Orchard in Cambridge from June 9-11, 2023! You can buy your tickets on thecambridgeclub.co. Don’t miss out!
The Cambridge Club is back in a nearby apple orchard and it’s going to be an awesome weekend of music! Big stars like Grace Jones, Billy Ocean, Alexander O’Neal, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Lionel Richie and Kool & The Gang will be playing. DJs Fat Tony will play sweet tunes too! There’s an area for kids with lots of cool games and things to do like theater shows, crafting, storytelling, and singing along. Dick & Dom from CBBC are even there for you to hang out with so don’t miss out!
The Isle of Wight Festival is such a fun and amazing event that lots of people love to attend!
Get Your Tickets Now for the Isle of Wight Festival and Experience a Woodstock-like Atmosphere!
The Isle of Wight Festival will be held in Seaclose Park, Newport from June 15-18, 2023. You can get your tickets at isleofwightfestival.com!
The Isle of Wight Festival in 2023 is like Europe’s version of Woodstock, with different artists playing music from the last 40 years. Pulp, a popular Britpop group, will play there for the first time in 12 years and be the stars of Friday night! George Ezra, Robbie Williams, Blondie, The Chemical Brothers, Human League and Echo & The Bunnymen are some of the other exciting acts performing on the island this summer.
The Kids’ Zone has lots of things for the whole family to do. At the “Respect” camping area, you can camp for free if you agree to take all tents and belongings with you when you leave. To keep the environment safe and clean, festival workers are harvesting a grass field used for camping before and after each event which creates biofuel that helps protect the planet all year round!
If you didn’t get tickets to the Glastonbury music festival this year, don’t worry! You can still see all of your favorite bands on the main stage by tuning in to the BBC.
Win Glastonbury 2023 Tickets with Oxfam’s Raffle – Help Support DEC Earthquake Appeal!
From June 21st to 25th 2023, there will be an event held at Worthy Farm in Somerset. To attend the event, you can enter Oxfam’s raffle and stand a chance to win a ticket! But more importantly, by purchasing the tickets, you will be helping raise money for the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake appeal.
Getting to go to Glastonbury is like winning a big prize – it’s that awesome. Glastonbury is one of the biggest outdoor performing arts festivals in the world, held on a 900 acre farm in Somerset every year. It’s shown all over the world through broadcasts and online videos. This year Guns n’ Roses and Arctic Monkeys are playing as headliners alongside Sir Elton John who was announced first, but there have been complaints about having no diversity since they are all white men. Performers such as Lana Del Ray, Lizzo, Blondie, The Chicks and Flo will also be attending.
If you really wanted to attend the festival but weren’t able to get tickets in November, don’t worry! In February and March people advertise jobs at the festival, like catering positions. There are also companies that offer volunteers or people who will get paid to go with them to Glastonbury or other festivals in Europe. I have some tips on surviving Glastonbury 2023 if you still choose to go!
Ready, Set, Go
Mark your calendar! The Secret Garden Party, a music festival, is taking place from July 20 to July 23 in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. Hurry and get tickets fast at secretgardenparty.com.
After a five-year break, the Secret Garden Party is back in 2022 with an intergalactic theme called “Episode XVII: A New Hope”. British indie band The Libertines and Fat Freddy’s Drop from New Zealand are some of the stars of this year’s event. Other performers include Róisín Murphy, 2MANYDJS, Leftfield, De La Soul, Peaches and Grandmaster Flash. This musical festival has a special dress code for visitors too–it encourages everyone to express their creativity through clothes and costumes! The organizers encourage visitors to “dive right in” and explore their own ideas at the Secret Garden Party.
Going to Latitude provides more than just the opportunity to see bands! There are plenty of other great activities available there.
2023 Latitude Festival
The Latitude Festival is coming to Henham Park in Suffolk from July 20th until the 23rd, 2023. You can find out more and get tickets at latitudefestival.com!
The 2023 Latitude Festival has some amazing headliners, like Pulp, Paolo Nutini, and George Ezra. Mimi Webb, who is up for Best New Artist at the 2023 Brits will also be performing. As well as other popular UK acts like Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Kiefer Sutherland will be singing songs from his number 1 Americana album on the BBC Sounds stage too! There is also a great comedy lineup including Ed Gamble, Bridget Christie, Sara Pascoe and Romesh Ranganathan. The festival takes place in 4200 acres of beautiful countryside in England with activities like poetry reading, podcasts and swimming spots! If you’re stuck for money or don’t have anyone to come with you — don’t worry. Hot Box Events are offering volunteer positions so that you can still participate!
Last year, Fatoumata was really popular and made a lot of people come to see her show at Womad’s 40th birthday celebration.
Let the Music Play
In July 2023, there’s going to be an event at Malmesbury in Wiltshire. If you want to attend the event, you can buy tickets on womad.co.uk.
The first WOMAD music festival was created by Peter Gabriel and held in 1982 in England. Every year, it is celebrated in lots of places like Australia and Chile! This year, Femi Kuti, Horace Andy, Massive Attack, Bombay Bicycle Club, Kate Rusby and Marisa dos Reis will be performing at the UK edition. You can also join the World of Wellbeing for yoga classes, yummy food from all around the world and drinks that don’t contain alcohol.
Green Gathering festival, located in Wales, is hosting musical performances from many different genres such as folk and punk.
“Make Wonderful Memories at Camp Bestival
Green Gathering is a special festival taking place from August 3 to 6, 2023 in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales. It is powered by renewable energy and powered by people’s passion for positive change. At Piercefield Park, there will be about one hundred local musicians playing all different kinds of music such as folk tunes, swing, ska, reggae and more. Tickets are available online at greengathering.org.uk
The best reason to go to this winning festival is you get to learn many cool things like solar set-ups, traditional Greek windmills and even permaculture! Throughout the festival there will be music, fun activities for kids such as face painting, hula-hooping and crazy golf. Also, teens don’t have to worry as there are workshops designed specifically for 11-17 year olds plus different activities such as music-making, trapeze and juggling.
Camp Bestival is an awesome festival that’s super fun for families in the United Kingdom. It’s a place where everyone can have a great time and make wonderful memories!
Join the Ultimate ‘Festi-Holiday’ Experience at Camp Bestival!
Camp Bestival will be taking place this summer from July 27th-30th at Lulworth Castle in Dorset and again from August 17th-20th at Weston Park in Shropshire. You can get tickets for both events online at campbestival.net!
Camp Bestival is a super family-friendly event that has won plenty of awards and it is held in two amazing locations: Dorset close to the beach, and Shropshire out in the countryside! During Camp Bestival, you can enjoy so many amazing activities like bell tents, fancy dress parades, Cosmic Kids yoga and even a dip in an ice bath. You’ll also get to listen to some awesome performers like Grace Jones, The Kooks or Craig David! There’s tons of comedy, theater shows and talks too plus lots of fun entertainment for kids including the World’s Biggest Bouncy Castle, a pirate sandpit, junkyard robot making and an incredible fireworks display! Curated by UK DJ Rob da Bank, Camp Bestival may just be the ultimate ‘festi-holiday’ experience for the whole family.
Boomtown Fair is a festival full of all kinds of fun and colorful activities that are broken up into sections.
“Dive into the Fantastical ‘Twin Trail’ of Boomtown Fair!”
The Boomtown Fair is happening from August 9th to 13th in 2023! It’s being held at the Matterley Estate in Hampshire, England. If you want to go, check out boomtownfair.co.uk for tickets.
Boomtown started as an idea from a group of friends who wanted to throw an awesome festival for people passionate about underground music, art, and theater. For 2023, the theme is “Chapter II: the Twin Trail” which continues a larger involving story with tons of characters moving around on a journey to discover hidden surprises. What makes Boomtown special is that you won’t find out who’s playing until right before the five-day highlight takes off. The festival also includes street performers like contortionists and mimes along with party spaces filled with music styles such as reggae, ska, metal, punk, gabber and more!
Boomtown is dedicated to sustainability and offers discounted tickets for people who use public transport. They are also aiming to become “circular” by 2025, meaning that no waste will be created and anything they can reuse will be reused year after year- including stages! Dan Graham, Creative Design Manager for Boomtown, said: “We’re hoping to build a solar farm around the festival so we can power it using only the sun- meaning less reliance on diesel energy.”
Going to London in the summer can be even more exciting with All Points East’s Field Day at Victoria Park! You’ll want to definitely check it out!
“Stormzy, The Strokes, and HAIM Headline All Points East Festival in London!”
On August 18, 19, 25 and 26 in 2023, a big event is happening at Victoria Park in London! If you want to go and join the fun, tickets are available online at allpointseastfestival.com.
All Points East is a really cool music festival held in London every summer. It has been going on for 4 years and the lineup always consists of lots of big name artists as well as up-and-coming stars. This year, All Points East will be taking place over two weekends in August! You don’t need to bring any camping gear with you because there isn’t any sleeping on-site – you just get to go home at night (either by walking, cycling or public transport).
On August 18 and 19, there are going to be some exciting events happening in Victoria Park. On Friday the 18th, Stormzy will be headlining a show featuring other major artists called “This Is What We Mean”. Then on Saturday the 19th, Field Day will be bringing together popular electronic music performers such as Aphex Twin, Bonobo and Fever Ray. The week after that (Friday 25th) The Strokes will be headlining a show full of famous New Yorkers like Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Amyl & The Sniffers. Finally on Bank Holiday Monday (August 26), HAIM will take over with Confidence Man and Girl in Red joining them too!
Summer Fun 2023
British Summer Time in London’s Hyde Park is happening this June and July of 2023. The concerts will include some big names like Guns N’ Roses, Pink, and Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band as the headliners!
This June, Black Deer Festival will bring an amazing lineup of music stars to Eridge Park in Kent. Some of the biggest names include Pretenders, Bonnie Raitt and Nathaniel Rateliff. Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams and Calexico will all be joining them too! It’s not just all about the music though—there’ll also be camping, cooking over a smokehouse grill, vintage motorcycles to check out, and even fun activities for kids your age! Get ready for a unique festival experience like no other!
The Love Supreme Jazz Festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2023. This three-day festival will be held from June 30th to July 2nd at Glynde Place, East Sussex and it has an amazing lineup that includes Little Simz who won a Brit Award along with Grace Jones plus other renowned R&B, soul, and jazz artists.
From July 20th to 23rd, the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire is being taken over for a weekend full of science, music and interesting ideas. Exciting artists like Grace Jones, Roisin Murphy, Leftfield and Young Fathers are all performing exclusive shows!
The Wilderness at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire is a fun place to spend your upcoming weekend – from August 3rd to 6th, 2023! You’ll be able to see great performances from famous artists like The Chemical Brothers, Christine & The Queens, Sugababes, and Fatboy Slim as well as new up-and-coming artists such as Arlo Parks and Confidence Man.
Connect Festival is back this year and it’s bigger and better than before! It takes place on August 25th to 27th, 2019 at Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Showgrounds in Scotland. There will be tons of amazing music performances such as Primal Scream presenting their hit album “Screamadelica”, boygenius, Young Fathers, Franz Ferdinand, Public Service Broadcasting and an Aussie band called Confidence Man. Plus, there are special discounted tickets for kids so the festival can be a fun experience for the whole family. More camping options are available too!
The Larmer Tree Gardens near Blandford, Dorset is hosting a concert from August 31 – September 3 with four awesome bands! King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Future Islands, Wilco and Angel Olsen will be playing. Get your tickets now because they won’t last long!
Strawberries and Creem is taking a break this year and will return in 2024! They’ll be playing songs from all kinds of genres such as hip-hop, grime, R&B, soul, reggae, house, drum & bass, dancehall and soca. If you want to know the lineup and buy tickets for the events soon, make sure to sign up for updates online.