The UK’s music festival scene is unmatched, with an eclectic mix of events meaning there’s something for everyone. We have big names and boutiques, party-focused and family-friendly, town and countryside, long-standing and new. Whether you’re into pop, jazz, house or a bit of everything, our music line-ups span all genres – with a whole host of other activities on offer too, from food to comedy and wellness. Struggling to find your perfect match? Here’s our pick of the very best..
UK’s Best Music Festivals To Book For 2024
Glastonbury
One of the world’s most famous festivals, Glastonbury is notoriously hard to secure tickets for. It’s returning to Somerset’s Worthy Farm this June, and line-up is still TBC though last year’s was certainly worth waiting for, with Elton John, Arctic Monkeys and Guns N’ Roses all taking to the Pyramid Stage, with Lizzo, Lana Del Rey and Queens of the Stoneage making a splash elsewhere. But it’s not only about the music: Glastonbury is often described as lots of festivals rolled into one, with countless stages and venues offering everything from art to comedy. We couldn’t begin to reel off everything that’s on offer, but here’s a snapshot: a mini-film festival, a healing field hosting yoga classes, a theatre, a Latin American dance tent and endless food and drink spots.
Glastonbury 2024: Everything You Need To Know
Details: Glastonbury 2024 will run from 26 June–30 June 2024 at Worthy Farm, Somerset. glastonburyfestivals.co.uk
Love Supreme Jazz Festival
Last year, Love Supreme was the UK’s only major music festival for 2023 with an all-women headliner bill – and we’re expecting great things from the 2024 festival, too. Set in East Sussex’s beautiful Glynde Place in the height of British summer, early acts on the bill include Mahalia, Kool & The Gang and Chaka Khan. Expect also a wellness and yoga area, organised hill walks across the South Downs, talks and panels, film screenings, and DJs late into the night.
Details: Love Supreme Jazz Festival will run from 5–7July 2024 at Glynde Place, East Sussex. lovesupremefestival.com
Henley Festival
We’re always first in line for tickets to the country’s only black-tie music festival. The music line-up is always stellar, but if it’s festival food that gets you excited, you won’t find a better culinary line-up than this one on the banks of the river Thames. Stay tuned for all the 2024 details, but last year was headlined by Rag’n’Bone Man, Westlife and Nile Rogers & CHIC.
Details: Henley Festival will take place from 10–14 July 2024 in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. henley-festival.co.uk
Photo: Sarah Koury
Latitude Festival
The award-winning family-friendly Latitude festival has activities for kids, teens and families spread across three areas. Think pond dipping, star gazing, pizza making, a dedicated In Betweeners area for teens and a magical Enchanted Garden with a family-friendly programme for under-13s. The line-up is looking stellar, too, with Duran Duran leading the pack, with Kasabian, Keane, London Grammar and Rick Astley also on the bill.
Details: Latitude Festival will take place from 25–28 July 2024 at Henham Park, Suffolk. latitudefestival.com
Wilderness
Expect big names in music and culture plus great food served banquet-style to accommodate chats with like-minded festival-goers; this Oxfordshire (relative) stalwart is always a favourite. With wellbeing workshops and boutique camping, there’s no need to feel wild as you reacquaint yourself with nature at Wilderness. This year’s line-up is still TBD, but 2023 saw The Chemical Brothers, Christine And The Queens, Fatboy Slim and Sugarbabes all perform on the music side, plus chefs including Adam Handling and Anthony Demetre. Elsewhere, you’ll find a lake for wild swimming, supper clubs, live theatre shows, foraging works and much more.
Details: Wilderness will take place from 1–4 August 2024 at Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire. wildernessfestival.com
Boomtown Fair 2018, photo by Lucas Sinclair
Boomtown
As boutique festivals go, Boomtown is certainly one most highly anticipated. This multifaceted music and theatrical event is hosted at the Matterley Estate, Winchester, and last year saw Mura Masa, Confidence Man and Loyle Carner all take to the stage (among many others). Boomtown puts equal importance on stage design and theatrical storylines, with the ‘city’ split into nine unique districts.
Details: Boomtown will take place from 7–11 August 2024 at the Matterley Estate, Hampshire. boomtownfair.co.uk
Boardmasters Festival 2016
Boardmasters
The UK can do beach festivals too, as proven by Boardmasters: a five-day surfing and music extravaganza held on the west coast of Cornwall. Live music takes place on both Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay, alongside a range of outdoor activities – from surfing lessons to kayaking. There are ten music stages, with confirmed headliners for 2024 including Stormzy, Chase & Status and Becky Hill, alongside local acoustic artists and visual performers. It’s a family-friendly option too, with plenty of creative activities on offer for little ones such as acrobatics and craft workshops.
Details: Boardmasters will take place from 7–11 August 2024 in Newquay, Cornwall. boardmasters.com
We Out Here
Having moved from Cambridge to Dorset in 2023, We Out Here is a jazz festival ‘for everyone’, the brainchild of British DJ Giles Peterson. The inaugural 2019 festival was an instant success, with a stellar line-up spanning not just jazz but house, disco, soul, drum ‘n’ bass and more. In 2024, Floating Points, Mount Kimbie and Ebo Taylor & the Family Band are leading the line-up, with the likes of Ezra Collective, Knucks, Nia Archives and Róisín Murphy all performing in 2023. Elsewhere you’ll find ‘The Escape’, which hosts mindfulness workshops, yoga and art therapy, a wild swimming lake, plenty of cultural offerings and excellent food.
Details: We Out Here will take place from 15–18 August 2024 at Wimborne St Giles, Dorset. weoutherefestival.com
Tom Hancock
All Points East
If you’re after the festival experience but don’t fancy the tent life, London hosts a number of non-camping day options. One of the best is All Points East, which takes place in Victoria Park across two weekends in August. Music traditionally leans towards the alternative genre, though there’s a bit of everything. Confirmed for 2024 are Loyle Carner, Ezra Collective, LCD Soundsystem and Death Cab For Cutie, with plenty more to be announced.
Details: All Points East will return to Victoria Park, London over two weekends in August: 16–18 & 23–25. allpointseastfestival.com
