The UK's best summer music festivals

Festival season is coming! To get you in the mood, check out our list of the best summer festivals in the UK and let’s start planning a killer year of tunes, sun, and laughs.

Skiddle Staff

Last updated: 22nd Jul 2024

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’d know that the sun has come just that little bit early in the UK, blasting out some serious heat. Which can only mean one thing, festival season is right around the corner. As the summer approaches, festival season is a time when everyone bounds together to celebrate music and get the chance to see some of their faves live on stage.

Here at Skiddle, we agree that there is no better feeling than knowing your calendar is booked and busy with plans; especially when they feature some of the best summer festivals to grace this beautiful earth.

So, to help you with your summer plans, we’ve created a list full of all the best Summer Festivals in 2024. From Parklife to Latitude, and so many more have a gander and get the party started!

Solfest

When: Thursday 22nd - Sunday 25th August 2024

Where: North Lakes Country Park in Silloth, Cumbria

2024 lineup: De La Soul, Peter Hook & The Light, The Wailers, Hybrid Minds + Tempza, Alabama 3, N-Trance, Hazard, Dillinja, The Amy Winehouse Band, and more

Solfest is a much-loved multi-genre music festival. Bringing 10,000 music fans together, the independent festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2024 with DnB, indie and rock, folk, reggae, world music, dance, and more.

Ran by volunteers, the fest goes down in between The Lake District and Southern Scotland's mountains, overlooking the sea to create an atmosphere built for escapism. There are no advertisements at Solfest, only art and décor, and there are loads of activities to get stuck into, like workshops and crafts.

For more information on Solfest, click - HERE

Parklife

Photo: PARKLIFE FESTIVAL / Facebook.com

When: Saturday 8th - Sunday 9th June 2024

Where: Heaton Park in Manchester, England

2024 lineup: Doja Cat, Disclosure (UK festival exclusive), J Hus, Becky Hill, Sugarbabes, Kaytranada, Camelphat, Nia Archives, Hybrid Minds, Sammy Virji and loads more

Starting off the list with a strong one, we have no other than the festival that brings all the best vibes to Manchester every June; Parklife. What has become a beast of a festival, Parklife is one of Manchester's pride and joy. Returning to their home of Heaton Park, Parklife is truly a marvel if you want ti experience an unreal crowd filled with a mass range of genres. From indie, house, rnb, pop, dance, and everything in between, what more could you ask for from a two day festival?

This year, Parklife pushed the boat out with their unreal lineup filled with the most prominent and influential talent in the music game today! With names like Doja Cat, Disclosure (UK festival exclusive), J Hus, Becky Hill, Sugarbabes, Kaytranada, Camelphat, Nia Archives, Hybrid Minds, Sammy Virji and so many more, it’s going to be a blast.

So if Parklife is a bit of you, get ready to attend one of the best summer festivals of 2024.

For more information on Parklife Festival, click - HERE

Glastonbury

Photo: Glastonbury Festivals / Facebook.com

When: Wednesday 26th - Sunday 30th June 2024

Where: Worthy Farm in Somerset, England

2024 lineup: SZA, BURNA BOY, Janelle Monáe , Shania Twain, Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Little Simz and many more

Imagine a festival so good that every year without fail they have people fighting for their lives just to get a ticket.

Welcome to Glastonbury, a festival filled with everything you could ever ask for and more. Over a course of five days, Glastonbury brings some of the best musical acts both homegrown and globally which makes it one of the best summer festivals in the UK. Each year the anticipation is heightened as they come back bigger and better, and this year is no different.

As always their lineup is filled with musical masterminds, from SZA, BURNA BOY, Janelle Monáe , Shania Twain, Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Little Simz, and loads more. So if you want some serious bragging rights and submerge yourself into the true essence of Glasto, rather than on the tv, this is the place to be!

For more information on Glastonbury, click - HERE

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival

Photo: Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival / Facebook.com

When: Thursday 25th - Saturday 27th July 2024

Where: Belladrum Estate in Inverness, Scotland

2024 lineup: Bill Bailey, Deacon Blue, James Arthur, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sugababes, Lucy Spraggan and many more

Situated amidst the stunning highland backdrop is one of the most popular annual music gatherings in Scotland, the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival.

Belladrum is renowned amongst the Scots for its welcoming family atmosphere and regular stellar lineups. Frequently attracting some of the most respected musical names on the planet, having hosted Elbow, Paloma Faith and Lewis Capaldi, the event continues to sell out year after year.

This year Belladrum Tartan Heart is going the extra mile for your entertainment, as they feature their first-ever comedian experience with Bill Bailey, the Belldadrum Tartan Heart Festival is keeping up with the times by creating a festival to remember. Being a firm favourite in the books, each year Belladrum comes back bigger and better than ever, with their expertise in pop, pop-rock and indie pop.

For more information on Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, click - HERE

Creamfields

Photo: Creamfields / Facebook.com

When: Thursday 22nd - Sunday 25th August 2024

Where: Daresbury in Cheshire, England

2024 lineup: Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, Sub Focus, Martin Garrix, Patrick Topping, Armin Van Buuren and loads more!

The biggest date in any ravers calendar is the monster electronic fest Creamfields, and it's back for another edition in 2024. The multi-award-winning event, which attracts a whopping crowd of 70,000 electronic music-loving ravers, draws the biggest names in the game every single year. And this year will be no different.

This year Creamfields decided to take a different spin on their festival combining their North and South edition; making room for one big bang for the August Bank Holiday.

Combine the no-doubt hugely impressive lineup with ground-breaking production and a notoriously up-for-it crowd, and you've got one of the most impressive, important musical gatherings in the world. Are you down?

For more information on Creamfield, click - HERE

Highest Point

Photo: Highest Point/ Facebook.com

When: Friday 10th - Saturday 11th May 2024

Where: Williamson Park in Lancaster

2024 lineup: Busted, Tom Odell, Caity Baiser, Cat Burns, Gok Wan, Sam Ryder, Charlie Tee, Issey Cross and more!

You're in for a surprise here, as not only is this one of the best summer music festivals but it's also happening this weekend! Yes, you heard us, Highest Point is live and direct this weekend, with some stunning scenes to really kickstart summer into action.

The family-friendly festival returns with some real status as they elevate their game with another stronger lineup to get you on your feet. Proving some nostalgic throwbacks with Busted, to some newer talent like Caity Baiser, Cat Burns; Highest Point never disappoints! Tickets are still on sale too, so if you want to have some cracking fun in Lancaster this weekend this is the spot!

For more information on Highest Point, click - HERE

Wireless Festival

Photo: Wireless Festival / Facebook.com

When: Friday 12th - Sunday 14th July 2024

Where: Finsbury Park in London, England

2024 lineup: Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, 21 Savage, Digga D, Future, GUNNA, J Hus and loads more

Don’t get it twisted when it comes to Wireless Festival, especially when it comes to being one of the best summer music festivals in the UK. The pioneering festival is situated in 4 different locations in London may sound like a bit of a nightmare, but in reality, it’s every RNB fanatic's dream.

Wireless has been on top form each and every year with nothing getting in their way, no matter what, and they’re picking up from the success of last year. Especially with their lineup, with headliners Nicki Minaj on Friday; 21 Savage on Saturday, and Doja Cat on Sunday. Expect some real mad scenes to take place this summer.

For more information on Wireless, click - HERE

Reading and Leeds Festival

Photo: Leeds Festival / Facebook.com

When: Wednesday 21st - Sunday 25th August 2024

Where: Reading - Little John's Farm in Reading, England / Leeds - Bramham Park in Leeds, England

2024 lineup: Blink 182, Fred Again..., Lana Del Rey, Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bootlemen, Gerry Cinnamon; special guest 21 Savage and loads more

Some double trouble here for you now, as Reading and Leeds make their way into our list. The conjoined festival emotes the same feelings and vibes even though they are in two separate locations. They are the twins that can never be duped and have been bringing smiles to faces, and raising arms since the day of time.

Two festivals happening simultaneously over the same bank holiday weekend in August, R&L hosts some of the biggest and most celebrated names in world music from a diverse spectrum of genres every year.

It’s not unusual to find rock, alternative, indie, pop, dance and electronic acts on the lineup, giving their eclectic following something to suit everyone. Attendees this year can expect to see world-class performances from Blink 182, Fred Again..., Lana Del Rey, Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bootlemen, Gerry Cinnamon. And those are just the headliners!

With six huge headliners and no clashes, R&L, as always, is likely to be incredibly popular this year.

For more information on Readng and Leeds Festival

Boomtown Fair

Photo: Boomtown Fair / Facebook.com

When: Wednesday 7th - Sunday 11th August 2024

Where: Matterley Estate near Winchester, Hampshire, England

2024 lineup: TBA

Another bucket list festival, Boomtown is easily one of the UK's biggest and best-loved. Like Glastonbury, thousands are desperate to attend, not only for the killer music lineup but for the production and other entertainment on site.

It’s common to wander the grounds, discovering crazy little tents, weird worlds, and all sorts of other madness that simply cannot be replicated at another festival. Truly unique and special, Boomtown has a home in the hearts of thousands.

We haven’t had any lineup announcements for 2024 yet. But last year they didn’t announce any names at all. So we’ll have to see if keeping the lineup under wraps is something they continue.

For more information on Boomtown, click - HERE

Reggae Land Festival

Photo: Reggae Land / Facebook.com

When: Saturday 3rd - Sunday 4th August 2024

Where: The National Bowl in Milton Keynes, England

2024 lineup: Popcaan, UB40 ft Ali Campbell, Gyptian, Koffee, Goldie, General Levy, Mungo's Hi Fi & Friends, and many more

Let's be real for a second, is there any genre that screams summer like reggae? We’d say definitely not. The laidback chick-chick of the guitar, the boomy, wholesome bass, and often plenty of lyrics about happiness and contentment - it’s as summery as it gets.

Reggae Land is a massively adored fest with jungle, dub, and dancehall alongside reggae tunes by some of the biggest names in those scenes. 30,000 people are set to head over this year to enjoy over 80 artists across four stages, fairground rides, rum shacks, gin bars, and over 50 food traders including Caribbean treats. In the peak of the English summer, it’s going to be gorgeous.

For more information on Reggae Land, click- HERE

Latitude

Photo: Latitude Festival / Facebook.com

When: Thursday 25th - Sunday 28th July 2024

Where: Henham Park in Suffolk, England

2024 lineup: Kasabian, London Grammar, Duran Duran, Corinne Bailey Rae, Rick Astley, Nile Rodgers and CHIC, and many more

This family-friendly festival has been one of the UK's favourites for some time; renowned for its unique atmosphere. Offering indie, pop, electronic, and rock alongside a wealth of comedy, art, theatre, wellbeing activities, an award-winning children's, teenagers, and family programme, lake swimming, poetry, and more.

Latitude is one of the best summer music festivals to attend in 2024 for multiple reasons, but mostly because you can catch a slice of quite literally everything in one space.

So if you’re after a festival full of extra activities to check out, Latitude is definitely one to consider.

For more information on Latitude Festival, click - HERE

Kelburn Garden Party

Photo: Kelburn Garden Party / Facebook.com

When: Thursday 4th - Sunday 7th July 204

Where: Kelburn Country Centre in Largs, Scotland

2024 lineup: Erol Alkan, Prosumer, James Holden, DJ Marky, Bombscare, Tama Sumo, Nubiyan Twist, Rebecca Vastmant and more

If you prefer music festivals with less mainstream artists on the lineup, take a look at Kelburn. Perfect for those who love a bit of everything, the lineup offers disco, drum and bass, house, techno, jazz, blues, funk, reggae, folk, world music, hip-hop, rock - basically everything.

Going hard with a massive programme, there's also art, a huge campfire, spoken word, hidden grottos, bizarre attractions, the waterfall pool, and so, so much more. They even have a Turkish steam room!

For more information on Kelburn Garden Party, click - HERE

Summer and music festivals go together like salt and pepper. Or an ice-cold pint on a warm evening. Or like... well, we think you get it. It's a magical combination. What UK summer festivals will you be moshing, raving, skanking, or shuffling at in 2024?

Also, if you want to check out something a bit different, why not check out the best EDM, trance, or house and techno festivals? With loads of options, we're here to help you make the most of this festival season.

If we've got you in the mood for a bit of festival planning, you might want to take a look at our guides to the best festivals in Croatia, Spain and all of Europe. You can also check out Skiddle's full festival guide here.