Explore the top seven UK music festivals including Cross the Tracks, Lost Village, End of the Road, and more. Find out which festivals are worth your time and money.
I've been to 28 UK festivals - these are the seven best
There is no place I feel more alive than at a music festival – the non-stop dancing, the ethereal feeling of being tipsy in the cold light of day, that sense of joy, freedom and togetherness with your dearest friends. Which is why I’ve been going to roughly five a year for the best part of a decade.
Every summer, I receive a flurry of Instagram DMs asking how I can be posting from yet another random field somewhere in the UK, but I really don’t get why you wouldn’t go to as many festivals as you can fit in your diary (and afford, of course). Sure, now aged 30, I can only manage one camping weekender a year, because it takes a week to recover, but day festivals are the holy grail of summer fun. What’s not to love about dancing all day in the sunshine with your pals and being in bed by 12?
Best UK festivals
Cross the Tracks, London
Festivals can be tempting places to over-indulge in all manner of questionable substances. Fortunately, day festival Cross the Tracks doesn’t even tempt you to take it too far, thanks to its unparalleled chill vibes. With an immaculate selection of soul, hip-hop, funk and jazz, the atmosphere is easygoing and joyous – a palpable positivity fuels the fun instead.
When I went in 2024, rather than sprinting around trying to make different sets, I found myself ambling and discovering new favourite artists like soul singer Sekou and DJ Romare, who performed jazz-infused dance music with live instruments. This year, Brit-winners Ezra Collective and Mercury Prize-winning soul titan Michael Kiwanuka headline in Herne Hill’s Brockwell Park, and there are sets from DJ Gilles Peterson, Free Nationals, soul queen Sinéad Harnett, and many more. Plus, there are panel talks, workshops, and a creative market.
25 May, tickets from £59.50 + fees
Lost Village, Lincolnshire
If you’re forking out for a camping weekender, tapping into a genuine feeling of escapism makes all the money and effort worth it. Lost Village does other-worldly immersion like no other: set in a forest, the surreal set design has you raving everywhere from a junkyard to a crashed airplane.
The intensity of the raving can be, well, intense, but this festival has real heart, too. There was a notably friendly atmosphere in the crowd, and loads of chill-out zones to decompress. There’s a bougie foodie element, too, but it doesn’t overpower the festival experience at all. This year’s lineup includes Barry Can’t Swim, Caribou, Honey Dijon, Maribou State, Sherelle, and Jyoty.
21 – 24 August, tickets from £330 + fees, final release today at 10am
End of the Road, Dorset
If you enjoy the vibe, atmosphere and ethos of Glastonbury, this charming, modest-sized camping festival might just be perfect for you. It’s got an eclectic, slightly folk-leaning line-up and a range of activities. Make sure you visit the Dosa Deli – it was one of the best festival meals I’ve ever had.
8-31 August, tickets from £275 + fees
All Points East, London
Every year, August just isn’t August without an APE blowout at Vicky Park. The lineup covers every mood or music taste. Even though there can be downsides, the lineup is unbeatable in the day fest stakes. This year includes Barry Can’t Swim, Confidence Man, Raye, Doechii, The Maccabees, and Bombay Bicycle Club.
16-24 August, tickets from £69.95 + fees
Maiden Voyage, London
Hosted by four different London collectives, Maiden Voyage captures the real essence of the underground dance scene with high energy and a diverse lineup. There’s always a great atmosphere and the sound system is brilliant. This year's lineup includes Azealia Banks, Amaarae, Bree Runway and more.
9 August, tickets from £50 + fees
Field Maneuvers, Norfolk
This intimate camping weekender might be the UK’s best-kept secret, with a strong community feel and non-stop partying for ravers of all ages. The sound systems are epic and the lineup features takeovers from East London gay club Dalston Superstore and South Asian music collective Dialled In.
15-17 August, tickets from £239 + fees
BST Hyde Park, London
BST Hyde Park offers a unique day festival experience with a relaxed atmosphere. This year's lineup includes Sabrina Carpenter and more.
Published on 28 July 2025 by UKFG
