Just in time for the sunny weekend ahead, we are taking a look at best music, foodie, vintage, arts and surfing festivals around the UK for the coming summer months. Perfect for rounding up your mates for your Hen Party or Stag Party or for a bit of minimoon fun, there are an incredible and varied amount of fab festivals taking place all across the UK So grab your calendar and start marking off dates, as these are the best UK Summer Festivals 2016...
June
Lunar Festival
A two day music festival in the Umberslade Estate in the West Midlands full of great music ranging from funk, soul, and jazz to electronic, indie, pop, and rock as well as super crafty workshops. lunarfestival.co.uk
Where: Butts Lane, Tanworth in Arden, Warwickshire | When: 3rd - 5th June
Isle of Wight Festival
A cracking music line-up (The Who, Queen, Stereophonics, Faithless plus many more) and great glamping options makes for a great summer festival. Isleofwightfestival.com
Where: Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight | When: 9th - 12th June
Field Day
The ultimate hipster music festival set in the East End of London combining great sounds, tasty street food and old field day style lawn games. Headline acts this year include James Blake and PJ Harvey fielddayfestivals.com
Where: Victoria Park, Grove Road, London E3 | When: 11th - 12th June
Wildlife
Disclosure and Rudimental present Wildlife, a two day electronic music festival at Brighton City Airport. wildlifefestival.com
Where: Brighton City Airport, Shoreham | When: 11th - 12th June
Parklife
Wild Life's sister festival, Parklife features a whole host of international electronic and dance artists. www.parklife.uk.com
Where: Heaton Park, Manchester | When: 11th - 12th June
Scampston Hall’s BIG Vintage Festival
Set in the picturesque lakeside gardens of the beautiful Scampston Hall is the Big Vintage Weekend - a jam-packed, retro-filled event with music, afternoon tea and vintage cocktails, catwalk shows, classic cars, glamping, Lindy Hop dance lessons and so much more. www.britaindoesvintage.co.uk
Where: Scampston Hall, North Yorkshire | When: 12th June
The Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival
The perfect foodie festival for vegans with an all vegan outdoor barbecue, live music, cookery demos and vegan make up and clothing exhibitors. www.yorkshireveganfestival.com
Where: Leeds Town Hall | When: 18th June
Glastonbury
The largest greenfield music festival in the world, Glastonbury, returns bigger and better for 2016. www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
Where: Pilton, Somerset | When: 22nd - 26th June
July
Blissfields Houseparty
Blissfields is a music festival based in Hampshire which includes an arts and cultural lineup as well as boutique camping, an outdoor cinema, craft workshops, tasty food & drink vendors and new for 2016 Blissfields will be hosting hosting slumber parties, garage raves, retro living room discos, and so much more alongside the usual music programme, nestled in the main arena in the stunning tree-lined site at Vicarage Farm. www.blissfields.co.uk
Where: Vicarage Farm, Winchester, Hampshire | When: 1st - 2nd July
British Summer Time
British Summer Time at London's Hyde Park presents 10 days of music & entertainment, with legendary headliners & up and coming artists. From comedy and movie screenings to fun events for the kids there is something for everyone. www.bst-hydepark.com
Where: Hyde Park, London | When: 1st July - 10th July
Brownstock
Brownstock is a three-day electronic music festival which takes place at Morris Farm in the Essex countryside. The festival also has a cosy campsite bar with sofas, open mic and late night electro swing and circus shows. www.brownstock.co.uk
Where: Morris Farm, Stow Maries, Chelmsford, Essex | When: 8th - 10th July
T in the Park
The annual T in the Park music festival will take place at Scotland's Strathallan Castle hosting artists ranging from rock'n'roll and alternative to electronic and dance music. www.tinthepark.com
Where: Strathallan Castle, Perthshire, Scotland | When: 8th - 10th July
Vintage on the Dock
Vintage on the Dock will return to Liverpool’s Albert Dock in July 2016 for a celebration of 20th century vintage cool. Celebrating the music, fashion, art, design, film and food from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July will see The Albert Dock transformed into vintage heaven.
Where: Liverpool’s Albert Dock | When: 9th - 10th July
Latitude
The award-winning Latitude festival will host performances of theatre, art, comedy, cabaret, poetry, politics, dance and literature as well as a dedicated 'chill-out area' with therapists, masseurs and hot tubs. www.latitudefestival.com
Where: Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk | When: 14th - 17th July
Lovebox
Two days of electronic music and hip-hop paired with delicious street food, Lovebox festival takes place at the beautiful Victoria Park in the middle of the East End of London. loveboxfestival.com
Where: Victoria Park, London, E3 | When: 15th - 16th July
The Beat-Herder Festival
With a tagline of 'like the birthday party your parents wouldn't let you have' you know this is one festival you don't want to miss! beatherder.co.uk
Where: Ribble Valley, Sawley, Lancashire | When: 15th - 17th July
The Secret Garden Party
One of the most beautiful and magical festivals, The Secret Garden Party is inspired by the ethos of Glastonbury and Burning Man. This hidden gem of a festival features music, art, parades and much more. secretgardenparty.com
Where: Mill Hill Field, Abbots Ripton | When: 21st - 24th July
The Curious Arts Festival
A dreamy mix of music, art and words at the stunning Pylewell Park Estate, a grand manor house in Hampshire dating from the 17th century.
Where: East End, Lymington, Hampshire | When: 22nd - 24th July
Rewind the 80s
Rewind the 80s Festival takes place across three cities in the UK bringing nostalgic 1980's acts to each festival. The first festival of the summer is at Scone Palace in Scotland. www.rewindfestival.com
Where: Scone Palace, Perth, Scotland | When: 22nd - 24th July
WOMAD
WOMAD is known as the world's festival. In addition to super live musical acts, WOMAD has an arts program, talks and debates, a World of Wellbeing sanctuary as well as vintage rides at with an original steam fair and a Taste the World cookery stage. womad.co.uk
Where: Charlton Park, Malmesbury, Wiltshire | When: 28th - 31st July
Camp Bestival
Camp Bestival, the Isle of Wight Festival's family-friendly little sister, is a vibrant mash of music, literature, comedy and fun additions such as hot tubs and train trips! www.campbestival.net
Where: Lulworth Castle, Dorset | When: 28th - 31st July
Port Eliot Festival
Imagine incredible music, phenomenal food whipped up by top chefs, a grown up dress-up area curated by Britain’s foremost designers, a beautiful Flower Show, wellness workshops and oodles of art and craft demos and you've got the perfect summer festival. www.porteliotfestival.com
Where: St. Germans, Cornwall | When: 28th - 31st July
Farm Festival
An Independant music festival set in the beautiful Somerset countryside featuring a mix of up-and-coming talents, local gems and cult heroes as well as lots of festival fun and arty activities. www.farmfestival.co.uk
Where: Gilcombe Farm, Bruton, Somerset | When: 29th - 30th July
Y Not Festival
Stunning panoramic views of the Peak District countryside, a mouth-watering selection of food and craft beers and a diverse mix of live music from punk to rap. www.ynotfestivals.co.uk
Where: Derbyshire | When:
Standon Calling
Set in an idyllic landscape just 40 minutes from London, Standon Calling hosts music, theatre, visual arts, poets and comics as well as being the only festival with an outdoor pool! www.standon-calling.com
Where: Standon, Hertfordshire | When: 29th - 31st July
Glemham Hall’s BIG Vintage Festival
Set in beautiful Suffolk, the Glemham Hall Big Vintage Festival will feature quintessential summer picnics, live music, vintage stalls, history lessons, fab vintage foods and drinks stations. www.britaindoesvintage.co.uk
Where: Little Glemham, Suffolk | When: 30th July
August
Wilderness Festival
An award winning festival of music, food, arts and crafts, literature, rejuvenation and boutique camping set amongst the pretty parkland of Oxfordshire’s Cornbury Park Estate. www.wildernessfestival.com
Where: Cornbury Park Estate, Oxfordshire | When: 4th - 7th August
Rewind the 80s
Rewind the 80s Festival takes place across three cities in the UK bringing nostalgic 1980's acts to each festival. The second festival of the summer takes place at Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire. www.rewindfestival.com
Where: Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire | When: 5th - 7th August
Boardmasters
Boardmasters is a weekend surf festival offering a variety of incredible music along with great beach living and activities situated across two locations along the beautiful Cornish coastline. www.boardmasters.co.uk
Where: Watergate Bay & Fistral Beach, Newquay | When: 10th - 14th August
BoomTown Fair
BoomTown has become one of the UK’s wildest and most inspiring independent festivals. From a humble village fair it is now grown to a sprawling creative pop-up city filled with labyrinthine streets and plazas where music, arts and theatre await. www.boomtownfair.co.uk
Where: Matterley Estate, Hampshire | When: 11th - 14th August
Shrewsbury Flower Show
Recognised as one of Britain's best loved summer shows, the Shrewsbury Flower Show features a diverse range of entertainment, great food and beautiful blooms. shrewsburyflowershow.org.uk/
Where: The Quarry, Shrewsbury, Shropshire | When: 12th - 13th August
London Craft Beer Festival
The London Craft Beer Festival brings together over 30 breweries and 250 beers from the finest start-up and independant breweries from London and beyond combined with awesome food and music. londoncraftbeerfestival.co.uk
Where: Oval Space, London | When: 12th – 14th August
Bakewell Baking Festival
The world's first baking festival choc full of cooking fun with demos from star bakers, delicious vendors, cupcake and gingerbread decorating, pie fights, vintage games, caberet, comedy and onsite weekend camping all with a vintage feel set in the beautiful Peak District National Park. www.bakewellbakingfestival.co.uk
Where: Bakewell Showground, Bakewell, Derbyshire | When: 13th - 14th August
Green Man Festival
Music, food and fun in The Brecon Beacons, a beautiful mountain range in South Wales hosting a brilliant line up of performers. www.greenman.net
Where: Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales | When: 18th - 21st August
Rewind the 80s
Rewind the 80s Festival takes place across three cities in the UK bringing nostalgic 1980's acts to each festival. The final festival of the summer takes place at Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-Thames. www.rewindfestival.com
Where: Temple Island Meadows, Henley-on-Thames | When: 19th - 21st August
V Festival
The ever popular V Festival is a music weekend in August at two UK parks simultaneously which share the same line-up. www.vfestival.com
Where: Hylands Park, Chelmsford & Weston Park, Staffordshire | When: 20th - 21st August
Shambala Festival
Shambala is a small diverse, award winning green event which features a wide variety of music, indie films, workshops, circus and acrobats, talks, debates, poetry, a speakers corner, site art plus much more. www.shambalafestival.org
Where: Market Harborough, Northampton, Northamptonshire | When: 25th -28th August
Congleton Jazz and Blues Festival
Congleton Jazz and Blues Festival is a fantastic free, three-day jazz and blues festival in Cheshire. www.congletonjazzandblues.co.uk
Where: Crewe, Cheshire | When: 26th - 28th August
Leeds and Reading Festivals
Similar to V Festival, Leeds and Reading music festivals take place at two UK destinations simultaneously which share the same line-up. www.leedsfestival.comand www.readingfestival.com
Where: Leeds, West Yorkshire and Reading, Berkshire | When: 26th - 28th August
The Big Feastival
Chef Jamie Oliver and Blur bassist Alex James present The Big Feastival, a fab, feel good, foodie festival with a super live music lineup. www.jamieoliver.com/thebigfeastival
Where: Alex James' farm, Kingham, The Cotswolds, Oxfordshire | When: 26th - 28th August
Notting Hill Carnival
Every August Bank Holiday, the streets of West London come alive with a Caribbean theme for Europe's biggest street festival, the Notting Hill Carnival. thenottinghillcarnival.com
Where: West London | When: 28th - 29th August
September
The award-winning Festival No.6 is set in and around the stunning, picturesque holiday village of Portmeirion. Festival No.6 spreads across the village with a diverse variety of UK and international artists as well as an incredible arts and cultural lineup, local food and drink vendors. www.festivalnumber6.com
Where: Portmeirion, Wales | When: 1st - 4th September
Vintage By The Sea
This year’s award-winning Vintage By The Sea event will see the return of the Vintage Nightclubs, Dance Lessons, a Vintage Market Place and the Vintage Bike Ride along the Sea along as well as some fabulous retro beach attractions. www.vintagefestival.co.uk
Where: Morecambe, Lancashire | When: 3rd - 4th September
Bestival
An award-winning boutique music festival offering world class acts across 25 stages in eight fields at Robin Hill in the Isle of Wight. www.bestival.net
Where: Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight | When: 8th -11th September
On Blackheath
On Blackheath is a celebration of live music, food, arts, and plays set on one of London’s most beautiful open grass lands. www.onblackheath.com
Where: Dartmouth Field, Blackheath, London | When: 10th - 11th September
The Summer House Weekend
The Summer House Weekend will celebrate its fifth birthday this August. The Summer House Weekend is a grownup house party like no other. Wake up to an early-morning rave, then relax with mindfulness and meditation workshops, incredible food, lake swimming and wood-fired hot tubs. thesummerhouseweekend.com
Where: A top secret English countryside location | When: 18th - 22nd August
The Great Cornish Food Festival
The Great Cornish Food Festival is the largest foodie event dedicated to food and drink that’s been produced or grown in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly. From gin-tasting and Danish pastry-making to cookery demos's from top chefs, this is one tasty festival! www.greatcornishfood.co.uk/festival
Where: Lemon Quay, Truro, Cornwall | When: 23rd - 25th
Bugged Out in Dreamland at Dreamland Margate
Dreamland, The Great British seaside vintage pleasure park hosts a one-dayer 'Bugged Out in Dreamland' festival taking place on Margate's glorious seafront! 3 rave rooms on a seaside amusement arcade with tickets including unlimited fairground rides. www.dreamland.co.uk
Where: 50 Marine Terrace, Margate, Kent | When: 24th September
Looking for festivals in Ireland? Check out our favourite summer festivals around our Emerald Isle.
