Leap Year Facts, Traditions and Myths
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It’s that time of the year again! That’s right, festival season is back… and this year, many events are bouncing back after years of uncertainty better than ever before.
However, with so many festivals taking place across the UK this year, it can be difficult to decide exactly which one to attend, but don’t panic – You’ve come to the right place.
So, grab your tents, wellies and festival gear and delve into this comprehensive guide, covering all the biggest and best UK festivals for 2024!
Keep scrolling to find out more about the best festivals in the UK for 2024…
With a capacity of around 200,000 guests, Glastonbury is the biggest festival in the UK as of 2024. It is also one of the most popular with festivalgoers getting tickets before the lineup is even announced! Learn more about Glastonbury in our guide to the best UK festivals below.
Deciding which festival in the UK depends on what you’re looking to get from your festival experience. In my opinion, Leeds Festival is the greatest, as a Northerner it’s one of the biggest festivals near me and always hosts a great array of artists. Camping from the Wednesday to the Sunday in 2016 was an unforgettable experience. You’ll find more information on the biggest UK festivals in our guide so that you can make the best choice for you!
After the success of festivals in America, the first festival in the UK was the Isle of Wight Festival. Held in 1968, this UK festival garnered an audience of around 10,000 and the lineup included Tyrannosaurus Rex, Jefferson Airplane and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. The festival was revived in 2002 and is one of the biggest festivals in the UK as of 2024.
Kicking off our guide to the best UK festivals for 2024 is All Points East. Hosted in East London’s Victoria Park near Hackney and Bow, All Points East is one of London’s most popular festivals.
Not only does it host six days of live music spread out over two weekends, but it’s also known for its positive local impact, hosting community-driven events tailored towards those living in the borough.
Hosting a variety of big names this year including Nas, André 3000, Pixies and Arlo Parks, there’s something for everyone at All Points East that makes it one of the best UK festivals to consider going to this year.
Website: www.allpointseastfestival.com
Date: Friday 16th August 2024 – Sunday 25th August 2024
Address: All Points East, Victoria Park, London, E3 5TB
Price: Day tickets from £75.95 (plus booking fee)
As festivals in the UK are concerned, Boardmasters is an incredibly unique experience in Cornwall! This event is a must for beach lovers and watersports enthusiasts looking to explore the swells of the south coast, as it is home to some of the best beaches in Cornwall.
Competitions in skateboarding, BMXing, and surfing are held throughout the day on the beautiful Cornish coast, with live music on the main stages to accompany the action.
Over the years, Boardmasters has built a solid reputation and is now a destination for some of the biggest acts on the international music scene. In comparison to all other major British festivals, it is distinguished by its beach setting and skater-themed atmosphere.
Website: https://boardmasters.com/
Date: Wednesday 7th August 2024 – Sunday 11th August 2024
Address: Trebelsue Farm, Watergate Bay, TR8 4AN
Price: Day tickets from £85 (plus booking fee)
Arguably one of the biggest alternative UK festivals, Boomtown is a massively popular event that’s taken place at the Matterley Estate outside Winchester since 2011, although the festival itself held its first event back in 2009.
Since then, it has grown into a fantastic family-friendly festival, drawing in over 60,000 partygoers each year. Nestled within the beautiful South Downs National Park, the site is divided into ‘districts’, with each boasting its own unique theme and offering plenty for all ages and tastes.
No matter what your favourite genre is, you’re bound to have a fantastic time at Boomtown. Whether it’s funk and soul, trance, reggae, hip-hop or heavy metal, one of this UK festival’s 16 stages will be sure to tick all your boxes!
Website: www.boomtownfair.co.uk
Date: Wednesday 7th August 2024 – Sunday 11th August 2024
Address: Matterley Estate, Ovington Down, Hampshire, SO24 OHY
Price: Weekend tickets start at £325
One of the most popular and longest-running pride events held anywhere in the UK, Brighton & Hove Pride has been hosted in the city since 1972, and will this year celebrate its 52nd anniversary over the first weekend in August.
With around half a million attendees, this UK festival hosts a city centre parade as well as a music festival based at Preston Park, both of which are well worth attending if you’re looking for a UK festival that guarantees good vibes by the seaside!
Alongside the parade and music festival, there’s also a host of other events hosted in the city during Brighton & Hove Pride; With an arts and film event held during the weekend, as well as a dog show and a number of festival club nights hosted around the city’s Pleasure Gardens, there’s no limit to what you can get up to at this UK festival.
Whether you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or an ally, discover fun facts about Pride Month before attending this UK festival in 2024.
Website: www.brighton-pride.org
Date: Saturday 3rd August 2024 – Sunday 4th August 2024
Address: Preston Park, Brighton BN1 6SD
Price: Day tickets start at £59.50 – Weekend tickets from £44.75
Held in the heart of one of London’s most popular Royal Parks, the British Summertime Hyde Park Festival (or BST for short) takes place over three separate weekends, starting on the 29th of June and finishing up on the 14th of July.
This UK festival in 2024 has a varied line-up consisting of huge names in music including Robbie Williams, Shania Twain, Kings of Leon and Kylie, BST Hyde Park will be celebrating its eleventh year running in 2024, with around 65,000 partygoers expected to attend.
During the festival, the organisers also run a free event called Open House, a host family-friendly activities that everyone can enjoy; This includes a street food market, pop-up bars, workshops for kids and even live screenings of Wimbledon matches.
Website: www.bst-hydepark.com
Date: Saturday 29th June – Sunday 14th July 2024
Address: Hyde Park, London
Price: Day tickets starting at £111.85
The best UK festival for lovers of EDM, Creamfields is the biggest UK festival of its kind, drawing in over a quarter of a million partygoers each year.
Founded by the famous club promotion company Cream, it was first held in Winchester in 1998 before moving up north, first to Liverpool then to Daresbury in 2005 where it’s been held ever since.
Held annually on the August Bank Holiday weekend, this year’s edition of the festival will see big-name DJs take to the stage, which will include the likes of Calvin Harris, Camelphat, Armin Van Buuren, MK and Tiesto along with many more.
Website: www.creamfields.com
Date: Thursday 22nd August – Sunday 25th August 2024
Address: Creamfields, Daresbury Estate, Cheshire WA4 4AG
Price: £75-£430 (plus booking fee)
Known for being the biggest rock music festival in the UK, Download Festival was first hosted in 2003 as a continuation of the famous Monsters of Rock festivals previously held at Donnington. Its name derives from the culture of listening to music at a time when illegal downloads were the norm and ‘rebellious’ rock music was making a comeback.
Today, this UK festival still draws in thousands of rock fans each year, with the capacity to host up to 75,000 attendees. Hosting some of the biggest bands and artists from the genre including Metallica, Slipknot, Kiss and Iron Maiden, this UK festival is a must-do for all the metalheads out there!
Although the 2024 edition of the festival has already been and gone, tickets are now on sale for 2025, perfect for the early birds planning to attend this festival next summer.
Website: www.downloadfestival.co.uk/
Date: Friday 13th June – Sunday 15th June 2025
Address: Donington Park, Leicestershire
Price: Weekend tickets start at £255
A popular and independent UK festival hosted in the throes of the stunning Brecon Beacons, Green Man Festival takes place over an entire week and draws in over 20,000 festivalgoers every year.
Geared towards nature lovers and indie music fans, this UK festival hosts several smaller artists throughout the week as well as some bigger names like Ezra Collective and Malice K (to name just a few).
Hosting a range of events throughout the week alongside the music, focused on areas such as stand-up comedy, literature, film, visual arts, performing arts and even science. So, if you’re looking for a festival in the UK where you can get back in tune with nature, then Green Man is a must-do.
Website: https://www.greenman.net/
Date: Thursday 15th July – Sunday 18th August 2024
Address: Near Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons NP8 1LP
Price: Weekend tickets start at £260
Probably the most famous of all UK festivals and arguably one of the most popular festivals in the world alongside Coachella, Glastonbury is a legendary event that’s taken place at Worthy Farm since its inception back in 1970.
Celebrating its 54th edition in 2024, this UK festival is notoriously hard to get tickets for… but if you manage to succeed, you’re in for a real once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Hosting some of the biggest names in international music since it was founded, the iconic Pyramid Stage will host the likes of Dua Lipa, Coldplay, SZA and Janelle Monae this year, along with plenty of other acts on its other stages like Fontaines D.C., Jessie Ware and more.
Website: www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/
Date: Wednesday 26th June – Sunday 30th June 2024
Address: Glastonbury, Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset
Price: £355 (plus booking fee)
Hosted on the beautiful Isle of Anglesey, Gottwood is a fantastic EDM festival that’s hosted on the Carreglwyd Estate, just a stone’s throw away from the island’s western coastline. Nestled within the gorgeous countryside, this ‘boutique’ festival puts a focus on hosting a high-end experience for its attendees.
Due to its small size and secluded location, this UK festival is more geared towards those that enjoy a smaller festival experience, operating at a much smaller capacity than many other popular EDM festivals across the country.
With great links to the rest of the island and easily reachable by road or rail, Gottwood Festival is a fantastic event to consider attending if you’re looking for a totally unique experience in an award-winning location!
Website: www.gottwood.co.uk
Date: Thursday 13th June – Sunday 16th June 2024
Address: Carreglwyd, Llanfaethlu, Holyhead
Price: Between £80-£200
First hosted way back in 1968 as a counterculture event, the first edition of the Isle of Wight Festival famously hosted the likes of Bob Dylan, who chose to play here instead of the Woodstock, which just so happened to be taking place on the very same weekend!
After being cancelled and marred by restrictions, the Isle of Wight Festival was revived in 2002 and since then has evolved into one of the most popular and biggest UK festivals.
Today, this UK festival draws in over 50,000 attendees each year and has hosted some massive names in British music, with some of the best-known being the likes of George Ezra, Fatboy Slim, the Gallagher brothers, Rod Stewart and many more.
Website: https://isleofwightfestival.com/
Date: Thursday 20th June – Sunday 23rd June 2024
Address: Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight
Price: Between £120-£269.95
Arguably one of the most popular UK festivals for drum and bass, house and techno fans, MiNT is hosted at Newsam Green Farm just a stone’s throw outside Leeds city centre and takes place annually on the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Drawing in almost 10,000 per day, this UK festival also hosts after-parties at MiNT Warehouse, perfect for those of you who plan on partying all night long! Tickets to these events are sold separately, but well worth adding to your booking.
If you’re travelling from out of London to attend this UK festival, why not combine it with a city break experience and enjoy all the excitement that the capital has to offer?
Website: www.mintfestival.co.uk
Date: Saturday 4th May – Sunday 5th May 2024
Address: Newsam Green Farm, Leeds
Price: £70-£100 (plus booking fee)
Hosted as two separate events, “In the Park” and “In the City”, Live at Leeds first began back in 2007 as a way to mark the city’s 800th birthday celebrations.
Hosted by both Futuresound and Leeds City Council, this brilliant UK festival puts a major focus on showcasing some of the best up-and-coming bands from in and around the city… as well as a host of big-name artists too!
With the “Park” event taking place during the May Bank Holiday, the “City” event is hosted towards the end of the year, offering partygoers a chance to catch the artists they may have missed at the previous event.
Website: https://www.liveatleeds.com/
Date: Saturday 25th May 2024 (Park); Saturday 16th November 2024 (City)
Address: Newsam Green Farm, Leeds (Park); Various city centre venues (City)
Price: £38.50, plus booking fee
Hosted at the iconic Heaton Park in Manchester, Parklife is easily one of the best-known UK festivals, despite the fact that it’s only in its 14th year!
Mainly geared towards the EDM genre, Parklife also hosts artists from other popular genres such as pop and hip-hop. With over 80,000 annual attendees, it’s one of the biggest inner-city festivals anywhere in the UK, drawing in partygoers from all over the country and further afield.
Hosting massive artists and DJs including the likes of MNEK, Disclosure, Becky Hill and Doja Cat, it makes for a brilliant UK festival to attend if you’re looking to combine a festival experience with a city break!
Website: https://parklife.uk.com/
Date: Saturday 8th June – Sunday 9th June 2024
Address: Heaton Park, Middleton Rd, Manchester M25 2SW
Price: £38.50 (plus booking fee)
A UK festival which first began as a jazz event back in 1955, Reading Festival took on its current form when it was re-founded in the early 70s, with the Leeds edition of the festival beginning in 1999.
Today, both festivals draw in a huge number of partygoers over the August Bank Holiday weekend, with around 100,000 attendees covering both sites. With a particular focus on rap and rock music, this UK festival has hosted many big names in music including the likes of Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blur, Eminem, 50 Cent and more.
Without a doubt, if you’re after a classic UK festival experience, then Reading and Leeds should be on the agenda this summer!
Website: https://www.readingandleedsfestival.com/
Date: Wednesday 21st August – Sunday 25th August 2024
Address: Little John’s Farm, Reading RG1 8FM; Bramham Park, Wetherby LS23 6ND
Price: £38.50 (plus booking fee)
Hosted during the last weekend of August into the first weekend of September, Sundown is a well-renowned UK festival that hosts some of the biggest names in dance music. This year, the festival’s five stages will be graced by the likes of Sammy Virji, Wilkinson, Hedex and Kenya Grace, to name just a handful.
Taking place at the Norfolk Showground, this UK festival is one of the biggest and best-known of its kind in the region, starting back in 2011 and growing in popularity ever since. What’s best is that the festival sits just on the outskirts of Norwich, making it a great event to consider attending if you’re hoping to explore this wonderful city during your time here.
Alternatively, if you’re hoping to attend a festival abroad, then Sundown Malta is also a great idea to consider!
Website: https://www.sundownfestival.co.uk/
Date: Friday 30th August – Sunday 1st September 2024
Address: Norfolk Showground, Dereham Rd, Norwich NR5 0TT
Price: Day tickets start from £63 (plus booking fee)
Taking place on Glasgow Green in the heart of this bustling Scottish city, TRNSMT is one of the most well-loved UK festivals hosted in Scotland, drawing in some fantastic artists such as The Courteeners, Example, Liam Gallagher and Gerry Cinnamon, all of which will be playing in 2024.
Despite being one of the few non-camping UK festivals in this guide, it’s still a brilliant event to consider attending, especially if you’re a big fan of indie music. Taking place over three days covering four stages, it’s easily one of the best city-based festivals anywhere in Scotland… and the rest of the UK for that matter!
Website: https://trnsmtfest.com/
Date: Friday 12th July – Sunday 14th July 2024
Address: Glasgow Green, Glasgow
Price: Day tickets start from £105 (plus booking fee)
Hosted at the famous Finsbury Park in North London, Wireless Festival is often seen as being amongst the best-known UK festivals since it was first hosted in 2005.
Taking place over three days in the middle of July, this year’s edition will see the likes of Future, 21 Savage, J Hus and Nicki Minaj take to the stage, as well as a host of other big-name acts from across the globe.
With a particular focus on rap, hip-hop and RnB, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to hear that this UK festival brings in around 50,000 attendees each year! Booking this UK festival also lets you explore one of the best city destinations in the UK.
Website: https://wirelessfestival.co.uk/
Date: Friday 12th July – Sunday 14th July 2024
Address: Finsbury Park, London N4 1EE
Price: Day tickets start from £94.60 (plus booking fee)
A brilliant UK festival for indie fans, Y NOT? Festival is hosted in the beautiful Derbyshire Dales nestled right in the heart of England.
Hosting artists such as Jamie T, Snow Patrol, The Kooks and Scouting for Girls this year, this UK festival is the most popular of its kind in the region and has been going strong since it was founded back in 2005.
Taking place during the first week of August, attending this UK festival is a great idea if you’re hoping to enjoy a host of fantastic bands and artists whilst being surrounded by gorgeous countryside!
Website: https://ynotfestival.com/
Date: Friday 2nd August – Sunday 4th August 2024
Address: Pikehall, Derbyshire DE4 2PJ
Price: Weekend tickets start from £159.50 (plus booking fee)
Hosted in the heart of the gorgeous Lake District National Park, Kendal Calling was first hosted back in 2005 and has grown exponentially over time.
This year, artists such as Paolo Nutini, The Streets and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will take to the stage, as well as a variety of other big-name UK artists from past and present.
Aside from the music, this UK festival also hosts a range of experiences during its 4-day run, including a parade, a cinema and even an Oktoberfest area… a small slice of Munich in the middle of Northern England!
Website: https://www.kendalcalling.co.uk/
Date: Thursday 1st August – Sunday 4th August 2024
Address: Lowther Deer Park, Penrith (CA10 2HX)
Price: Day tickets start from £49 (plus booking fee)
Taking the final spot on our guide to the best festivals in the UK is Meltdown Festival. Hosted at the Southbank Centre in London along the banks of the River Thames, Meltdown Festival takes place at a variety of venues that make up the complex.
Unlike many other UK festivals, Meltdown is unique in the fact that each year, the line-up is decided by the director, a well-established artist who is chosen initially by the festival organisers. Since starting out in 1993, directors have included the likes of David Bowie, Morrisey, Nick Cave and John Peel.
With Chaka Khan due to curate this year’s line-up, artists announced so far include WAR, and Emeli Sandé, with more due to be announced closer to the event.
Website: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/festivals-series/meltdown
Date: Thursday 1st August – Sunday 4th August 2024
Address: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1
Price: £10-£120 (plus booking fee)
If a UK festival is on your bucket list this year, check out our UK attractions and bucket list ideas before booking a Sykes Holiday Cottage today! You can also browse our UK Travel Guide for plenty of holiday inspiration too!
Image Credits: Raph_PH – (CC-BY-2.0); Moogiewonderland – (CC-BY 4.0); Sam Warrenger TheFestivals – (CC-BY 4.0); Andy Li – (CC0 1.0); Lackerj – (CC-BY SA 4.0); Gerardo Lazzari – (CC-BY 2.0); Andy Harbach – (CC-BY 2.0); Stewpots90 – (CC-BY SA 4.0); JTs – (CC-BY 2.0); Liz Murray – (CC-BY 4.0); Nicky Rowbottom – (CC-BY 2.0); Matthewc95 – (CC-BY SA 4.0); Billy Hicks – (CC-BY SA 3.0); Laura Malarkey – (CC-BY SA 2.0); Paul Hudson – (CC-BY 2.0)
I'm Rob and I joined the Sykes team in February 2024. I am a passionate writer and have always enjoyed holidays in the UK, especia...
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