If music is the strongest form of magic, the UK is one of the most magical places on Earth – especially when it comes to festivals. UK festivals are the best places to listen to your favourite artists, party, and unwind.
These are the 10 best festivals in the UK. From big names like Glastonbury to underground raving festivals like Beatherder, these events will get your groove on.
1. Glastonbury
Location: Pilton, Somerset
Glastonbury is probably the first festival that comes to mind when thinking of the best festivals in the UK. Glastonbury is one of the biggest and greatest, not just in the UK but worldwide as well. The festival first opened in 1970 and has been attracting crowds and artists annually since.
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Glastonbury has seen artists from Burna Boy and Billie Eilish to Dolly Parton. Most festival goers choose to camp for the full five days, soaking up the hippie atmosphere, festival food, and afterparties in between performances.
2. Reading & Leeds Festival
Location: Richfield Avenue, Reading & Bramham Park, Leeds
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Reading & Leeds Festival is two peas in a pod, with identical line-ups and identical dates. There are some key differences, though. Firstly, Reading has a curfew, with music finishing around midnight to avoid noise complaints. Since Leeds Festival is held in an isolated country estate, top DJs blast music until 6 am (sometimes even later). If you camp for the full 3 days at Leeds, be prepared for raving into the early hours.
The festivals have fantastic line-ups. Over the years, artists have included Eminem, Halsey, Dave, and Megan Thee Stallion. Artists like the Arctic Monkeys, Bugzy Malone, and Liam Gallagher are also frequent performers.
3. Beat-Herder
Location: Dockber Farm, near Sawley
Beat-Herder is not the festival for your latest pop songs. The festival primarily attracts drum and bass, techno, jungle, and reggae lovers – you’ll see most people skanking and letting loose in bucket hats.
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The line-up is niche, and 2022 headliners included Nile Rodgers & Chic and The Wailers. Beat-Herder’s stages are also amazing, and you could be dancing the days away in a fortress, perfumed garden tent, or factory warehouse.
4. Creamfields (North)
Location: Daresbury, Cheshire
Creamfields is where EDM lovers go to party. With artists like Example, Camelphat, Fisher, Becky Hill, and Calvin Harris, you’ll love Creamfields. The 4-day festival is where to rave to electronic dance music, and its line-ups leave no wonder why it’s one of the best music festivals in the UK.
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Creamfields was first held in 1998 and has been running annually since. Make sure to bring some spending cash with you if you visit, as there are hundreds of shopping stalls and pop-up hospitality stands. You can even stop by Pamper Street for make-up artists, a new hairstyle, or a tattoo. You’ve got to look your best while raving, right?
5. Wireless
Location: Various Locations in London
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Wireless is the festival for hip hop, rap, grime, and afrobeat fans. This London festival is the most popular within its genre and easily one of the best festivals in the UK. It attracts huge names like Cardi B, The Kid Laroi, B Young, and Chris Brown.
Does camping not really appeal to you? The good news is that while a 3-day festival, Wireless does not offer camping. You can leave after the final act and sleep easily, knowing that you aren’t missing out by returning to a comfy bed.
2022 saw Wireless organise three events across two consecutive weekends, hosting events in Birmingham, Crystal Palace, and its usual Finsbury Park location. Keep your eyes peeled for different festival locations and line-ups in 2023.
6. BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend
Location: N/A
BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend is one of the only touring UK music festivals. Like its famously fantastic line-up, the Big Weekend changes location every year – keeping the experience brand new each time.
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The festival is run by BBC 1, and you’ll find artists from Aitch to Ed Sheeran. The artist diversity makes the Big Weekend great for music lovers of all genres. Plus, the festival hosts some of the biggest names in the game, so get ready to tick off seeing your favourite acts from your bucket list.
7. Parklife
Location: Heaton Park, Manchester
In the UK, visiting Parklife is a rite of passage. The Manchester festival is known for its metropolitan and student-friendly atmosphere and hosts a popular range of artists. Expect hip hop, dance, and indie music. If the artist has made it to the charts, they can make it to Parklife.
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The unofficial Parklife dress code is braided hair, glitter, and colourful shirts. You’ll be dancing to artists like Disclosure, KSI, and AJ Tracey at the two-day festival – heading back to accommodation at night since there are no camping facilities.
8. Boardmasters
Location: Newquay, Cornwall
Boardmasters is a unique festival in the UK. Visitors get to watch artists perform, and there’s also surfing and skateboarding to watch. Nothing says Cornwall like a surfing-meets-music festival.
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The 5-day festival is split across two locations, Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay. Music can be found at Watergate Bay and water activities at Fistral Beach. It’s a perfect balance, especially since it’s held in August, the height of Cornish summer.
Past artists have included George Ezra, Kings of Leon, Two Door Cinema Club, and even Snoop Dogg. Boardmasters is one for your calendar.
9. Green Man
Location: Glanusk Estate, Brecon Beacons
Green Man is alternative, to say the least. You’ll find live music, science experiments, and literature recitals. Oh, and the festival aims to reduce 50% of its environmental impact by 2025. Green Man is one of the most environmentally friendly festivals in the UK.
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Once you’ve visited the science and literature tents, you can head to the main stages to party to artist sets.Green Man always has a niche line-up and has featured artists such as the Japanese folk singer Ichiko Aoba and German electronic artist Kraftwerk.
10. Lost Village
Location: Norton Disney, Lincolnshire
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Lost Village is most known for its stages, not its line-up. The festival theme is ‘a forgotten world in an abandoned forest’. That’s right – you enter a secluded forest full of dilapidated settings. Lost Village has some unusual party spots, from abandoned aircraft to derelict houses.
The festival hosts artists like Tom Misch, Horse Meat Disco, and Jamie XX. Make sure to camp to enjoy the early morning workshops, and midday comedy acts before partying in the evening.
Are UK music festivals magical? We think so. These 10 best music festivals in the UK are the top events for your diary. Maybe you can even combine a festival with a UK city break. Happy partying!
