When it comes to music festivals, the UK doesn’t just show up, it goes all in. Each summer, we are spoiled for choice, with unbelievable lineups while the nation transforms into an open-air stage. And while the headliners are always impressive, it’s the variety that truly makes the UK festival scene sing.
Where else can you follow a surf comp with a sunset DJ set on a Cornish cliff, or swap your wellies for glitter and sequins at a countryside rave? From the bucket list biggies like Glastonbury to the more cultish meetups you hear of through a friend of a friend, if there’s a festival you can think of, the UK has it.
The festival scene is part of British culture – there seems to be a common acceptance that a weekend of dancing is nourishing for the soul. The hard part is deciding which one to go to (so why not hit as many as you can).
Here’s our pick of the best music festivals in the UK to help you get the party started…
Isle of Wight
Where: Seaclose Park, Isle of Wight
When: 18th - 21st June 2025
Often dubbed the UK’s answer to Woodstock, the Isle of Wight Festival was born from the sixties counterculture and has since hosted some of the biggest names in music. Voted “Best Major Festival” and “Best Family Festival”, it welcomes all ages with family zones and music that spans generations.
With a warm microclimate and an atmosphere that takes over the Island, stepping off the ferry feels like entering a bubble of festival bliss. A perfect place to ditch everyday life and dive into a weekend of Isle of Wight escapism.
This year’s lineup includes Sting, Stereophonics, Justin Timberlake, Olly Murs and Clean Bandit. Beyond the main stage, discover the Kashmir Café for local talent and food, the Hipshaker Lounge for retro 60s and 70s beats, and Down by the River for a relaxed garden escape.
Glastonbury
Where: Worthy Farm, Somerset
When: 25th - 29th June 2025
Leading the charge of the UK’s best music festivals is none other than Glastonbury. Born out of the free-spirited swirl of 1960s counterculture and hippie ethos, today it still pulses with a strong sense of community, creativity and freedom.
Just a stone’s throw from Somerset’s mythical Glastonbury Tor, everything about the festival is legendary – the sheer scale, the mind-blowing line-ups, and let’s be honest… the mud.
But above all, it's the good vibes that seem to sweep everything up into a weekend of magic. It’s an opportunity to hit pause and become part of something huge, fun, and connected.
Plus, there’s no better place on Earth to see all of your favourite artists in one place. This year’s headliners include The 1975, Neil Young, Olivia Rodrigo, Doechii, Rod Stewart, Loyle Carner, The Prodigy and Wolf Alice.
Kew the Music
Where: Kew Gardens, Richmond
When: 8th - 13th July 2025
For London-based festival-goers, Kew the Music sees the UK’s most famous botanical gardens transformed into a picnic arena. Set amidst the Victorian glass houses, acres of woodland, and endless botanicals of this World Heritage Site, it makes for a stunning festival venue.
This year, UB40, Craig David, and Alison Moyet come to the stage to deliver your favourite tunes.
Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drink or to feast on tantalising treats from the street food stalls and bars around the perimeter. There’s also the option to pre-order a picnic hamper from London Pique, who use sustainable and seasonal produce from carefully selected suppliers.
Latitude
Where: Henham Park, Suffolk
When: 24th - 27th July 2025
A firm family favourite since its conception, Latitude promises a fun-packed weekend in Suffolk that stretches far beyond the traditional festival experience. Incorporating theatre, comedy, poetry, and art installations alongside its musical lineup, there’s also a strong focus on family activities and wellness.
That being said, the lineup still packs a punch, with big names including Fatboy Slim, Snow Patrol, Sting, Kaiser Chiefs, Air, Elbow, Sigrid, and Clean Bandit.
The vibe is welcoming and friendly, unsurprising considering Latitude is the winner of the Best Family Festival Award, and there are plenty of areas to relax, including a beautiful lake where you can enjoy wild swimming, paddleboarding, and paddleboard yoga.
Kendal Calling
Where: Lowther Deer Park
When: 31st July - 3rd August 2025
Any excuse to escape to the ribboned lakes and crinkled mountains of the Lake District is a good one – and Kendal Calling is one of the best. Since its beginnings in 2006, the festival has steadily grown, welcoming some of the biggest names in alternative and rock to the Cumbrian stage.
While it’s famously muddy, the Lake District setting more than makes up for it, with a spectacular backdrop and a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere. There’s also a strong creative thread running through the weekend, with a firm connection to the arts.
Don’t miss the Soapbox Stage for belly-laugh-worthy comedy, Lost Eden for immersive installations and art in the woods, or the vibrant Saturday Parade, where costumed performers fill the fields with a colourful procession of bass, drums, and dance.
This year’s headliners include Courteeners, Fatboy Slim, The Prodigy, Scouting for Girls and Daniel Bedingfield.
Boardmasters
Where: Watergate Bay, Cornwall
When: 6th - 10th August 2025
Dance your socks off overlooking the Cornish cliffs with this unique fusion of popular music and world-class surfing. By day, Boardmasters brings epic surf competitions and sea swimming; by night, sing your heart out to headliners like RAYE, Nelly Furtado, London Grammar, Maribou State and Wet Leg.
Alongside the main stage action, don’t miss The Point for late-night dancing with sunset views, the chilled-out energy of Zennor Haven for wellness and crafting workshops, or the Net Loft for intimate acoustic sets with a view.
There’s also a strong focus on sustainability and wellbeing, with beach cleans, sunrise yoga sessions, and options for vegans and veggies at all traders.
Admittedly, Boardmasters draws a younger crowd – for many teens, it’s their first festival. But there’s always the option to drop the kids off, kick back with a weekend in Cornwall, and pick them up once the festival is over.
Green Man
Where: Glanusk Estate, Brecon Beacons
When: 14th - 17th August 2025
Originally a folk festival, today Green Man includes music to meet all tastes. It’s a family-friendly week-long event that has grown to host up to 25,000 visitors.
Set within Wales’ Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, Green Man promises stunning Welsh mountain scenery and hundreds of trees you can seek shade under. It’s an intimate setting, where you can reach everything within 15 minutes of walking.
Despite its growth, Green Man is still an independent festival that sees the value of fledgling musicians as much as headlining talent. It has ten venues with several stages dedicated to world music and smaller artists.
There are multiple family-friendly zones catering for children of all ages. And, when it comes to food and drink, there’s a huge selection, including plenty for veggies and vegans. And don’t forget to try a pint of Growler – the festival’s very own beer.
Shambala
Where: Northamptonshire
When: 21st - 25th August 2025
If you’re less interested in headliners and more into whimsical festival revelry, Shambala could be just the ticket. Fiercely independent, it does things its own way – with a diverse lineup of smaller artists, legendary fancy dress, and even its own ‘Shambolympics’. That said, the music doesn’t disappoint, with this year’s known names including Asian Dub Foundation, Hak Baker, Thumpasaurus, and Mungo’s Hi Fi ft. Eva Lazarus.
The crowd has a reputation for being one of the friendliest around, with everyone encouraged to perform a random act of kindness over the weekend. The grounds are stunning (and flat!), with woodland to explore and a lake for water-based activities.
Shambala’s good vibes extend to its family-friendly ethos, fully veggie and vegan food stalls, and a huge array of extras – from journaling and jewellery making workshops to cheerleading and sea shanty singing.
WOMAD
Where: Wiltshire
When: Dates TBC
A global fiesta of music, culture, and colour, WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) has played an important role in shaping the UK festival scene. Co-founded by Peter Gabriel, it opened up festivals from heavy rock events into something far more open, welcoming, and joyful.
Unique in its incredible diversity, each year WOMAD showcases a lineup of global artists you’ve probably never seen before – from Mongolian throat singers, to South African gumboot dancers to Colombian jazz musicians and beyond.
Based in the lush parklands of Wiltshire, it’s famously family-friendly – kids under 13 go free. There’s a dedicated kids’ area packed with day-long activities, plus plenty of workshops where you can learn dance styles to all kinds of rhythms and beats.
The wellbeing zone offers both traditional and alternative treatments. And let’s not forget the food – fragrant, fiery, finger-licking dishes from all over the world.
WOMAD is taking a break this year, but will return in 2026 with a new venue and promises to be bigger and better than ever.
For the ultimate weekend, tie your visit in with a stay in one of our beautiful holiday cottages – so you can get some well-deserved R&R in between the festival antics.
