The Best UK Summer Festivals To Attend in 2023
Welcome to the ultimate guide for an unforgettable summer adventure!
Picture this: golden rays kissing your skin, vibrant melodies filling the air, and a contagious energy flowing through the crowd. From the hidden gems nestled in rolling green hills to the iconic giants that rule the festival scene, we’ve scoured the land to bring you the crème de la crème of summer music festivals.
The best all-rounders
This section was tricky, mainly because there are so many to choose from, but we’ve pulled together a list of music festivals you can enjoy, whether you’re 6 or 96! From spectacular lineups to mouth-watering street food and more, these need to be on your list.
- Tramlines (Fri 21–23 July): Hillsborough Park, Sheffield
- Kendal Calling (Fri 27 — Sun 30 July): Lowther Deer Park, Lake District
- Truck Festival (Fri — 23 July): Hill Farm, Oxfordshire
- Lytham Festival (Wed 28 June — Sun 2 July): Lytham Green, Lytham St. Annes
- Mighty Hoopla (Sat 3— Sun 4 Jun): Brockwell Park, London
Perfect festival for families to enjoy
Are you still a festival lover but have little ones to look after now? No worries, these music festivals have plenty for you and your kids to enjoy!
- The Cambridge Club Festival 2023 (Fri 9 — Sun 11 June): Childerley Orchard, Cambridge
- KITE Festival 2023 (Thu 6 — Sun 9 July): Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire
- Wychwood Festival (Fri 2 — Sun 4 June): Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham
- Bluedot Festival (Thu 20–23 Sun July): Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire
The ‘only at this festival’ festivals
Don’t be fooled by the slightly pretentious title; these festivals are well-known and many people attend them yearly! They’ve made this list as they have exclusive performers booked, are celebrating an exciting anniversary, or are simply unique. For example, what other UK festival can you watch Wu Tang Clan and then head to a BMX park tent after? We only know of NASS Festival.
- All Points East 2023 (Fri 18 — Mon 28 August): Victoria Park, London
- BST Hyde Park (Sat 28 June — Sat 8 July): Hyde Park, London
- Download Festival’s 20th Anniversary (Thu 8 — Sun 11 June): Donington Park, Leicestershire
- NASS Festival (Thu 6 — Sun 9 July): Shepton Mallet, Nr. Bristol
Festivals for dance music lovers
Look no further if you want to get your groove on to the best techno, electronic, house and hip-hop music this summer. Although you’ll not be surprised by the festivals in this section, it was impossible not to pick them based on the lineups alone!
- El Dorado Festival (Thu 6 — Sun 9 July): Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire
- Parklife (Sat 10 — Sun 11 June): Heaton Park, Manchester
- Secret Garden Party (Thu 20 — Sun 23 July): Abbots Ripton, Huntingdon
A final note…
As the sun sets on our festival extravaganza, we hope we’ve ignited your anticipation. Get ready to gather your mates, embrace the rhythm, and make your way to these unforgettable festivals. See you on the dancefloor!
P.S. If you work for the NHS or a charity, you can sign up to our website, where you might find free or discounted tickets for a few of the festivals above and more. So sign up or log in today!
