There are a number of winning combinations out there. Strawberries and cream. Bacon and eggs. Cheese and wine. Music and food, obviously. And, however obvious the latter may seem, it wasn’t until a couple of decades ago that the two were combined to bring food festivals to the UK. Featuring Michelin-starred chefs, cooking demonstrations, and street food stalls, alongside feel-good musical acts (hello McFly and The Human League), food festivals may just be the most winning combination of them all. Read on for the best UK events to book this summer.  

The Big Feastival, Cotswolds

Images: James Bridle

Let’s start with a heavy hitter. With a line-up to rival Glastonbury (in a culinary sense), The Big Feastival is the brainchild of Alex James – best known both as Blur’s bassist and for his killer cheese-making skills – who invites thousands of spectators, chefs and musicians to his Cotswold farm every August bank holiday for a right ol’ knees up. Alongside world-class acts – think Snow Patrol, Ministry of Sound and Becky Hill – the real star of the show is, as the name suggests, the food. 

Redefining the festival food experience (you won’t find any lukewarm stodgy noodles here), the chef line-up will see Michelin-starred maestro Raymond Blanc, British restaurateur Simon Rogan and seafood connoisseur Jack Stein host live cookery demos and plate-ups, while over at the street food corner discover James’ own cheese stall, London favourites Blackbear Burger and Nanny Bills, and many more. Wash it all down with ice-cold serves courtesy of Cotswold Distillery, Sharps Brewery and Kent Cider Company. Cheers! 

From 23-25 August 2024, visit thebigfeastival.com

Meatopia, London

Now in its eleventh year in the capital, Meatopia will return to East London’s Tobacco Dock in August with an all-star cast of chefs. Born in New York in 2010, the festival was transplanted to London by self-professed carnivore and butcher Richard Turner, who explains: “It started off as an excuse to have a good time, eat meat and get smokey and it’s become this [event] where we fly people in from all over the world and have 12,000 visitors. It’s become one of the best barbecue festivals in the world.” You heard it here first. 

While this isn’t the most vegetarian-friendly food festival in the UK (the name should give that away), meatatarians can delight in a range of live-fire cooking demonstrations and crisp, barbecued morsels from more than 70 chefs. Confirmed for 2024 are Keon Cilly of Rack City Ribs, who specialises in Caribbean-style barbecue, New Zealander Melanie Brown of Brixton’s favourite neighbourhood restaurant, The Laundry, and head chef of Farringdon’s Quality Chop House, Nathan Chapman. Pair that with an array of unique pints from craft brewers in the TAPtopia hall and live roaming musicians to keep you dancing in the street, and you’ll never want to leave. 

From 29 August – 1 September 2024, visit meatopia.co.uk

Edinburgh Food Festival, Scotland

Precluding the world-renowned Fringe arts festival, which is set to take over the city in August, Edinburgh is gearing itself up for a summer of fun with its very own food festival this July. Now in its tenth year, the event, hosted at George Square Gardens, aims to showcase the best Scottish cuisine alongside international flavours at the Global Kitchen tent. Think authentic Lebanese falafel courtesy of The Falafel, churros from North America via The Funnel Cake Co and original Spanish sangria and Agua de Valencia from Bacchus Sangria Bar. While the line up for 2024 is yet to be announced, if the past year or two are anything to go by, this free festival is not one to miss. 

From 19-28 July 2024, visit edfoodfest.com

Pub in the Park, Hertfordshire

A roaming food festival which has planned pit stops on London’s borders this summer, Pub in the Park was founded by Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge. Having already hosted gastronomic weekends in Chiswick, Marlow and Reigate, the next stop on the tour is St Albans in Hertfordshire at the beginning of September, where guests will be invited to celebrate the glorious British pub while dining on delicious food, meeting award-winning chefs and enjoying live music. Calling on his friends in the business, including critic Jay Rayner and Michelin-starred protégé Jack Blumenthal, Kerridge’s weekend in St Albans promises delectable cuisine via his hand-picked pubs, while serious tunes will be served by Mcfly, Craig David, Sugababes, Bananarama and UB40. 

From 6-8 September 2024, visit pubintheparkuk.com

The Great British Food Festival, across the UK

Spanning the depth and breadth of the UK, The Great British Food Festival is another touring fiesta featuring demonstrations, live music, masterclasses, foraging walks and markets. The dog and child-friendly event is due to stop off at Knebworth House in Hertfordshire from 20-21 July, alongside dates in Wiltshire’s Lydiard Park and Yorkshire’s Wentworth House in August. There are too many chefs and stalls to list, but those with a sweet tooth will be pleased to hear about the desert stage and Cake Off, where 800 cakes await to be tried and tested. Happy feasting!

Visit greatbritishfoodfestival.com

Rock Oyster, Cornwall

Oysters, anyone? While festival goers can enjoy local Porthilly rock oysters in abundance at Rock Oyster festival, this is no one trick pony. Featuring a roster of Michelin-starred chefs, al fresco dining, and cooking demonstrations all weekend from 25-28 July, food will be served in the Chef Tipis, while over at the Masterclass Tipi you’ll find specialists in coffee, mixology, fish preparation and cakes on hand to teach you the best tips in the business. All this sits alongside a market of the best local produce and a selection of street food traders, as well as live music acts including The Human League, Sugababes and Bombay Bicycle Club. 

From 25-28 July 2024, visit rockoysterfestival.co.uk

Read more: The best bottomless brunches in London