UK Festivals You Can Still Book for 2025
The sun is finally shining down on the gloomy UK (mostly- we're looking at you, Glastonbury), the temperatures have risen to a few degrees above freezing, shorts and vests are out in full force, and we're all ready to forget that winter ever happened with a few delicious drinks out of plastic cups and a music lineup that will make your playlist dreams come true/ speaker lineup that will put TedX to shame/ author lineup that would have you in literary heaven.
If you’ve been taking it easy so far, worry not: plenty of festivals are still to come, and these are some of the best to book for this year…even the ones that happen after “festival season” is technically over.
Maverick Festival
4-6 July. Easton Farm Park, Easton, Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Those who didn’t grow up in America are endlessly fascinated by the concept of Americana: “materials, objects, or cultural expressions that are characteristic of the United States or its people”. Thanks to that fascination, the UK has its very own Americana experience: Maverick Festival. Established in 2008, this event is regarded as the finest American music festival in the land. You can expect to hear roots music grown and nurtured on both sides of the Atlantic and a collection of more than 50 artists performing on six stages.
It’s a bit of a juxtaposition, the Americana of it all and the quintessentially British setting, gorgeously restored Victorian barns and outbuildings. But it does mean that the festival has indoor and outdoor spaces, which is a plus with the typically indecisive British weather. You don’t just get live performances at Maverick; attendees also get access to music masterclasses and dance demonstrations, among other things. It’s a festival that caters to all ages, so go with the family and enjoy a little good old-fashioned rock n roll. It’s also an easy festival to get to, which isn’t always the case in the UK. Private jet charter flights can land at Norwich Airport, just a 35-mile drive away!
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
1-25 August. Edinburgh, Scotland
The world’s largest performing arts festival has been a staple on the British festival calendar since 1947. For three weeks every August, the whole of Edinburgh transforms into an enormous campus. The Fringe has become one of the most significant cultural events in the UK, and it has a lot to offer lovers of all performing arts. If you have a venue and a show, you’re allowed to enter the festival as a performer, meaning that the style, character, and even proficiency of the performances vary wildly from event to event- you’ve been warned!
Much of the festival is dedicated to comedy, but that’s not all you’ll find on show here: think spoken word, dance, street plays…the works. Though the city is a tourist destination already, the festival adds an extra layer of excitement and camaraderie to the experience. It’s the perfect place to make new friends, enjoy the stunning city and its sights, and maybe even catch the next big actor or singer in some dingy pub performance they’ll want to forget one day.
Creamfields Festival
21-24 August. Daresbury Estate, Warrington
Ready to get your dance on? Creamfields has everything a UK raver or general EDM fan could want. Its name comes from the well-known British club promoter Cream, but it’s grown in leaps and bounds since its establishment in 1998. From its humble one-day beginnings, Creamfields has morphed into a four-day-long celebration of all things Electronic Dance Music. The 70,000 attendees (ish) that attend the festival every DAY (yes, you read that right) get to see a host of performances from all over the world on multiple event stages. Creamfields is one of the cornerstone events of the EDM community worldwide, and the quality of sound alone gives you the feeling that this might well be true.
Reading Festival
21-24 August. Richfield Avenue, Reading.
This is one of the big ones for lovers of all things eclectic and, obviously, music. Reading has been around since 1961, and it’s been called the world’s oldest “popular music festival”, still going. The list of greats who have graced the Reading stage is not a short one: Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Patti Smith, Cypress Hill, Radiohead, and more. Today, it’s an eclectic affair, and attendees come from all over the world to experience it.
The festival is also known for its strong commitment to environmental sustainability and its level of inclusivity. The musical legacy found here is beautiful, but make no mistake that this is a modern and ever-evolving festival with many aspects besides its amazing musical acts. Be sure to pack your wellies and a couple of coats/ extra sleeping bags since the weather in August has been known to be temperamental! But hey, isn’t the mud part of the fun? Expect at least one stranger to bump into your tent in the dead of night, but it’s all in good fun and festivity.
Let’s Get Festive
Festivals in the UK are as unique, eclectic, and varied as those of the UK (and the rest of the world) who attend them. From glamping to roughing it in the mud, from a cute Scottish B&B to a room in a castle overlooking immaculate grounds, these festivals cater to every kind of festival lover and every taste there is out there. Are you ready to get festive?
