There’s nothing quite like a great British music festival. Whether you opt for the sophisticated stylings of Glyndebourne or the muddy fields of Glastonbury, there’s a real camaraderie in music lovers coming together to take a chance on the dicey British weather in order to see all their favourite performers in one place.

Glad rags at the ready then, 2024’s lineup of festivals isn’t going to disappoint. Read on for Luxury London’s definitive guide to the best festivals in the UK this year. Just don’t forget your wellies…

May 2024

Highest Point Festival, Lancaster

From chart-topping artists and indie legends to underground house heads, D’n’B superstars and funk groovers, Highest Point – the biggest open-air festival in Lancashire – is not to be missed. Set in the 54-acre grounds of Williamson Park – boasting enchanting woodland and breathtaking views over Morecambe Bay and the Lake District fells – the festival will be headlined by Tom Odell, Busted and Sam Ryder in 2024. Other acts joining the jam-packed weekend lineup include Cat Burns, Gok Wan on the decks and Caity Baser.

Elsewhere, you’ll find another 100 artists across six stages, including a festival pub, comedy, poetry slams and acoustic sets, and a Bushrocker Hi-fi roots reggae takeover – best enjoyed after sampling the regional street food stalls and with a craft beer in hand. 

10-11 May 2024, Williamson Park, Lancaster, visit highestpoint.co.uk

Glyndebourne Festival, East Sussex

Grade II-listed Sussex opera house Glyndebourne returns with another summer of world-class performances. In its most ambitious year yet, the festival’s highlights include live performances of award-winning Broadway director Diane Paulus' Carmen and Mozart’s classic fairytale Die Zauberflöte. Mid-show refreshments can be found at one of Glyndebourne’s three on-site restaurants, including a Galvin Brothers outpost, or pack your picnic hamper to the brim with treats to be enjoyed on the house’s manicured lawns – as long as you don’t mind the risk of a seasonal shower. FYI: Glyndebourne maintains a formal dress code so dig out your tuxedos and floor-length gowns, there’s no room for wellies and cut-off Levis here.

16 May-25 August 2024, Glyndebourne, East Sussex, visit glyndebourne.com

Urban Village Fete, Greenwich

Greenwich Peninsula's seminal festival, Urban Village Fete, has a jam-packed schedule to entice Londoners and out-of-towners this year. With themes and content covering everything from arts and culture to diversity and climate change, the festival has been designed to take advantage of Greenwich Peninsula’s unique location and mix of architectural design, as well as its 48 acres of expansive public green space. The programme ranges from DJ sets by headliner Gilles Peterson to topical conversations hosted by Jamz Supernova, alongside pop-up immersive performers, artisan food stalls, interactive workshops and family-focused arts and crafts. There’s a reason this is one of London’s largest and most-loved free festivals…

19 May 2024, Greenwich Peninsula, London, visit greenwichpeninsula.co.uk

Gala, Peckham

Gala Festival, one of London’s foremost electronic music festivals, is set to return to Peckham Rye Park across the late May bank holiday weekend. Now in its ninth year and further cementing its reputation for curating stellar line-ups, the 2024 event marks a new era for the festival as it unveils collaborations with numerous new stage hosts from the realms of music, fashion and culture.

The all-star Friday lineup – that includes takeovers from global radio station NTS and Jumbi – precedes The Pleasure Dome, welcoming London’s leading queer party Adonis to host on Saturday, whilst Horse Meat Disco returns on Sunday for another legendary takeover. Other highlights include DJ EZ, Joy Orbison, Peach, Octo Octa, Folamour, Hunee, Interplanetary Criminal and Novelist.

24-26 May 2024, Peckham Rye Park, 34 Straker's Road, SE15 3UA, visit thisisgala.co.uk

June 2024

The Last Word, Camden

Now in its 11th year, The Last Word Festival (TLW) is the Roundhouse’s annual spoken-word event and has become one of the UK’s key festivals for championing exceptional voices, presenting topical work, and discovering the most exciting emerging talent. A former railway engine repair shed, the Grade II* listed building was transformed into a performing arts venue 50 years ago and has welcomed legendary artists from all over the world to its unique space. Featuring headliners including award-winning poet and playwright Inua Ellams, writer Jessica Fatoye and podcaster Tolani Shoneye, the programme is shaping up to be the best yet.

6-30 June 2024, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH, visit roundhouse.org.uk

Parklife, Manchester

Manchester’s premier genre-spanning music festival attracts some of the world’s biggest musical acts to the – usually peaceful – grounds of Heaton Park each June. This year is no different with its eight stages playing host to massive names including Doja Cat, Peggy Gou, Rudimental and Disclosure – to name a few. For those seeking some comfort, Parklife has launched a comprehensive VIP package at its Luxury Lounge, featuring private parties, refuelling and recharging stations, international gourmet cuisine and access to the Secret Club (your guess is as good as ours).

8-9 June 2024, Heaton Park, Manchester, visit parklife.uk.com

Isle of Wight Festival, Newport

Having begun as Europe's answer to Woodstock in 1970, the Isle of Wight Festival is one of Britain’s longest-running festivals, attracting 60,000 revellers to the island every summer for a weekend of live music courtesy of some of the world’s biggest acts. The 2024 programme boasts an eclectic lineup of headliners, including The Prodigy, Pet Shop Boys, Green Day and The Streets, alongside an impressive bill of support acts featuring Keane, Blossoms, McFly and Jessie J. Needless to say, whatever your musical tastes, you’re sure to find something to inspire a singalong.

20-23 June 2024, Seaclose Park, Isle of Wight, visit isleofwightfestival.com

First Light Festival, Suffolk

After a triumphant weekend in 2023, with over 35,000 attendees, Lowestoft’s free summer solstice celebration is gearing up to return for 2024. Inspired by Lowestoft’s location as the most easterly point in the UK, and therefore the first to receive sunlight, the festival programme has been curated to celebrate the cycles of the sun, with events taking place from sunrise to sundown.

As First Light Festival is the UK’s only free beach festival, you can expect a weekend of yoga, fresh food, spoken word performances and, of course, music. Showcasing local and emerging talent, and a diverse lineup of East Anglia’s foremost DJs, expect performances from award-winning DJ Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy while over at the comedy and spoken word stages, tune in to comedian Shaparak Khorsandi and spoken word artist Hollie McNish.

22-23 June 2024, South Beach Lowestoft, Suffolk, visit firstlightlowestoft.com

Glastonbury, Somerset

Image: Shutterstock

Image: Marietta Peros/Shutterstock

The biggest name on the British festival circuit, Glastonbury headliners for 2024 include Coldplay, Dua Lipa, SZA, Little Simz and Shania Twain. Transforming Worthy Farm into a music fan’s Mecca, Glasto will also see the likes of Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Two Door Cinema Club across its 100-plus stages. Though you’ll be hard-pressed to find tickets for this year’s event – they sold out within mere minutes – most of the festival will be broadcast on the BBC, and it’s never too early to register for next year’s lottery.

26-30 June 2024, Worthy Farm, Somerset, visit glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

BST Hyde Park, London

BST Hyde Park returns for its 10th edition this year with a lineup featuring some of the world’s biggest musical acts including Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams and Stevie Nicks. Taking place over three weekends – the festival’s longest stint yet – with a midweek Open House programme, BST is the perfect opportunity to get your live music fix without having to leave London.

29 June-14 July 2024, Hyde Park, London, visit bst-hydepark.com

July 2024

Henley Festival, Henley-on-Thames

One of UK’s only black-tie music and arts festivals, Henley Festival invites culture vultures to enjoy a weekend of world-class music ranging from pop to classical and folk to jazz, alongside comedy shows, art galleries and sculpture installations. Headliners include Nicole Scherzinger, Gladys Knight, Dave Stewart’s Eurythmics Songbook and Ministry of Sound Ibiza Anthems with Ellie Sax. The festival is family-friendly too, so if you have little ones in tow, look no further than the packed Family PlayDate Sunday that promises to entertain little ones of every age and stage.

Founded as a charity more than 40 years ago, Henley Festival’s mission is to support the next generation of talent via its Rise programme, giving new artists the opportunity to perform at its annual event. For 2024, this has been awarded to singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Katya, known for her soulful vocals, electronic beats and jazz overtones, who will be headlining the Rise stage on Saturday.

10-14 July 2024, Henley Bridge, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2LY, visit henley-festival.co.uk

TRNSMT, Glasgow

Now in its fifth year, TRNSMT is Scotland’s preeminent rock and pop festival. Held on Glasgow Green, its city setting means there’s no camping, but the three-day event holds up as a classic music festival in every other way. Dedicated entirely to music, there are no comedy, theatre or wellness tents here, and under-12s are strictly prohibited. 2024 will see headliners such as Liam Gallagher, Gerry Cinnamon and Calvin Harris take to TRNSMT’s three stages.

12-14 July 2023, Glasgow Green, Scotland, visit trnsmtfest.com

The Good Life Society Summer Camp, Hawarden, Wales

Based on the fabled summer camps of American coming-of-age movies, The Good Life Society’s Summer Camp presents a series of micro-festivals across four long weekends in July. Rather than the typical bill of indie bands and rising pop stars, Summer Camp attendees can expect a fully packed programme of expeditions, workshops and talks from a line-up of creatives and nature experts. Set within the private Hawarden Estate in North Wales, Summer Camp offers a chance to escape and reconnect with the great outdoors. Expect paddleboarding, wild swimming, wellness and fine dining feasts from some of the UK’s best chefs.

19 July-5 August 2024, The Walled Garden of Hawarden Castle, Wales, visit goodlifesociety.co.uk

Latitude Festival, Suffolk

Set in the picturesque grounds of Henham Park in Suffolk, Latitude is one of Britain’s favourite festivals boasting the very best in music, dance, comedy, poetry, theatre, literature, podcasts, family activities and wellness. Now in its 18th year, the packed 2024 line-up features some of British music’s biggest names, including Kasabian, Duran Duran and London Grammar, with more to be announced. And when you fancy a break from the dancing floor, partake in a few laps of wild swimming or a paddle boarding session on the beautiful Latitude lake.

25-28 July 2024, Henham Park, Southwold, visit latitudefestival.com

Camp Bestival, Dorset

Set to descend upon Lulworth Castle in July – with an inaugural sister event taking place at Shropshire’s Weston Park in August – Camp Bestival is the ultimate family-friendly jamboree. The star-studded 2024 line-up features names such as Pete Tong, McFly and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, with hundreds of events and activities for the whole family to enjoy together including immersive theatre, family discos, African arts and crafts, and the annual Pimp My Trolley competition. Elsewhere, children can marvel at Mr Tumble and Dick and Dom before enjoying the festival foodie heaven at the Feast Collective, curated by Fred Sirieix. Fancy dress Saturday is optional but enthusiastically encouraged.

25-28 July 2024, Lulworth Castle, Dorset; 15-18 August 2024, Weston Park, Shropshire, visit campbestival.net

August 2024

Kendal Calling, Lowther, Lake District

Each summer, the Lake District’s Lowther Deer Park plays host to some of the biggest names in British music as Kendal Calling descends on its idyllic grounds. While the full line-up for this year’s festival is yet to be announced, headliners will include The Streets, Paolo Nutini and Decland McKenna. Elsewhere on the programme you’ll find the best in indie, acoustic, drum and bass, folk, new music and so much more on the festival’s many smaller stages. With immersive light installations, pop-up cinema, performance art, wellness and a dedicated children’s zone – Kids Calling – on offer should you need a break from the music, there’s plenty to keep the whole family happy all weekend. Those looking for a little extra comfort can also check into the Deer Lodge, Kendal Calling’s boutique glamping village.

1-4 August 2024, Lowther Deer Park, Cumbria, visit kendalcalling.co.uk

Wilderness Festival, Oxfordshire

A four-day boutique festival in the grounds of Oxfordshire’s Cornbury Park, Wilderness is a family-friendly celebration of music, the arts, food, and wellbeing. Kids will be kept occupied with horse riding, cosmic crafting, archery, pottery masterclasses and much more, while Woodfired Canteen and Friends is on hand to keep you well fed all weekend. With musical headliners including Michael Kiwanuka, Jessie Ware and Craig Charles, as well as performances from The Wilderness Orchestra and talks with Bill Bailey and Claudia Winkleman, you’re sure to find something to satiate all cultural cravings.

1-4 August 2024, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire, visit wildernessfestival.com

Big Feastival, Cotswolds

Foodie fest the Big Feastival returns to the Cotswolds farm of founder Alex James – Blur bassist and former Britpop bad boy – for a weekend of live music, fantastic food and entertainment for all the family. Musical headliners include Becky Hill, Snow Patrol, Cat Burns and Ella Henderson. Double decker disco dairy, the Alex James Cheese Hub, also returns for another year, while cooking demonstrations, tastings and Q&As abound, courtesy of the UK’s most innovative gastronomical minds including Raymond Blanc, Poppy O'Toole and Sophie Wyburd. Little ones will be kept entertained with a line-up including Paw Patrol and YolanDa’s Band Jam, with street food stalls, supper clubs and farm-grown feasts to keep the clan well fed throughout.

23-25 August 2024, Alex James’ Farm, Oxfordshire, visit thebigfeastival.com

Rally, Southwark

After sell-out success in 2023, community-driven arts and music festival Rally returns to Southwark Park on the August bank holiday weekend for an event combining visual art with experimental sounds. Having partnered with the Tate and Southbank Centre, this year’s festival will see an array of head-turning acts play the festival’s three core stages. The music programme features compelling live artists such as Nilüfer Yanya, Armand Hammer, Alabaster DePlume, and Actress, plus DJ sets from Marcelle, Lena Willikens, Moopie and more. Don't miss UK electronic band Mount Kimbie who will be marking their first London festival show in seven years with fresh performances off the back of their long-anticipated album, The Sunset Violent.

24 August 2024, Southwark Park, Gomm Road, SE16 2TX, visit rallyrallyrally.co.uk

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