The Best UK Festivals Happening in 2022

Pack up your sequins and your sleeping bags, we’ve rounded up the very best festivals across the UK for you to explore. In my humble opinion, no one does it better at music festivals than the UK. Rain or shine (let’s be honest, usually rain) we’re always (sometimes inexplicably) up for it! After a couple of strange years for festivals, 2022 will bring our first proper full festival season in a long while… and it’s looking like a busy one already.

Our hand-picked list of 50+ of the best festivals across the UK that you should hit up in the Summer of 2022…

Showcasing and adding a bit of sparkle to some of the most stunning locations in our beautiful countryside, this list of the best UK festivals features a combination of well-known festival staples as well as some of the best-kept secrets of the UK festival scene; hidden gems and intimate summer gatherings you might never even have heard of! 

Skip to Festival month:

Festivals in May
Festivals in June
Festivals in July
Festivals in August
Festivals in September

There are lineups to make your body boogie as well as a plethora of other activities from wellness to workshops to ensure a smorgasbord of experiences to tantalise the senses. Whether you’re the type to dance the night away with a cocktail in hand or you’d rather relax and indulge in some yoga then there’s an experience for you within this list of the best UK festivals.

Most of these selections are good old-fashioned British camping festival weekenders – but if pitching a tent is not for you, they’ve all got glamping upgrade options to suit every style and you can find heaps of day festivals scattered in this list too!

Festival type key:

❌ Sold out
🎫 Tickets still available (CTRL+F and 🎫 to find these!)
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Friendly
🎧 Line-up Focussed (eg. not much non-musical entertainment)
🎪 Non-musical entertainment (eg. specifically known for their theatre/workshops/other as well as music!)
💃 Fancy Dress actively Encouraged
⛺️ Camping
🎒 Day Festival

Let me know in the comments which ones you’ll be attending! Did you know we’ve also got a UK Festivals Facebook group? Join the conversation there too!

UK Festivals in May 2022

Balter Festival

South Wales | 19th-22nd May 2022 ⛺️🎫

This unpretentious ‘avin it weekender held at Chepstow race track is dedicated to the heavier side of underground dance music with a smattering of hip hop and silliness thrown in there too, with collectives like the 24hr Garage Girls hosting stages you know what to expect!

www.balterfestival.com

Shindig Festival

Somerset | 26th – 29th May 2022 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦💃⛺️🎫

The self-proclaimed “funkiest festival in the West Country”, is an intimate, family-friendly affair in the rolling hills of the Somerset countryside. With no specific main stage, punters are treated to a smattering of small stages in stretch tents and big tops, catering for everyone with fun live music through the day and plenty of late-night dance music as well as a kids area and healing field. Everyone is encouraged to get involved with fancy dress Friday too – 2022’s theme is Mardi Gras!

www.shindigfestival.co.uk

Sound like something for you? Read our review from Shindig Festival 2019!

Bearded Theory

Derbyshire | 25th – 29th May 2022 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦⛺️🎫

Bearded Theory is a multi-award winning family-friendly creative and performing arts festival set in the beautiful grounds of Catton Hall in the heart of the National Fores. Their website says that ‘Next year, we officially become ‘teenagers’ and have a whole host of new offers for you.. so watch this space. Exciting stuff!

www.beardedtheory.co.uk

Elderflower Fields

East Sussex | 27th – 30th May 2022 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦⛺️🎫

An award-winning festival for families with children. To keep those little ones entertained over this adventure weekend there is a countryside focussed array of activities that make the most of the festivals’ beautiful rural locations. The activities include art trails, tree climbing, kayaking and axe throwing as well as a variety of wonderful performances too. 

www.elderflowerfields.co.uk

UK Festivals in June 2022

Love Saves the Day

Bristol | 2nd & 3rd June 2022 🎒 🎫

Going into its 11th year, Bristol’s beloved season opener, is back at the start of summer and expanding to a new site; the iconic Ashton Court, a setting rich with festival history. On the Thursday & Friday of the 2022 jubilee bank holiday, the colourful day festival hosts acts across the electronic spectrum as well as live bands on their main stage and plenty of takeovers from Bristol’s premier party starters.

www.lovesavestheday.org

HowTheLightGetsIn

Bristol | 2nd & 3rd June 2022 🎒 🎫

Nestled in a picturesque Hay-On-Wye site (see lead photo!) HTLGI is a philosophy and music festival! It celebrates days of discussion and new discoveries with an incredible line-up of music, comedy and cabaret alongside it – you can catch my favourite tiny festival venue The People’s Front Room there too.

https://howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/hay

The Great Estate 

Cornwall | 2nd – 5th June 2022 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🎪🎫

At this “rambunctious garden fete” you can expect a suitably delectable array of happenings hosted in the grounds of the majestic Scourrier Hall in Cornwall.

Get lost in the secret gin garden, book yourself a hot tub session, dance the night away in the silent disco woodland or take part in the Victorian Sports Day complete with sack races and croquet. A varied musical line-up accompanies alternative activities which include; Wine Tasting, Hip Hop Karaoke, a Vintage Fair and Swing Dance workshops!

www.greatestatefestival.co.uk

The Mighty Hoopla

London | 3rd & 4th June 2022 🎒🎫

“With freedom, expressionism and fun at our heart, Mighty Hoopla is the UK’s most-inclusive and fabulous festival!” Doesn’t that sound incredible?! Mighty Hoopla is the pop festival of dreams, with queer culture at its heart a truly bubblegum line-up and an array of other unique performances and activities from London’s finest LGBTQ+ collectives.

www.mightyhoopla.com

Cross the Tracks

London | 5th June 2022 🎧🎒🎫

Heading up the Thursday at Brockwell Park after Mighty Hoopla, Cross the Tracks has a focus on jazz, soul and funk with the bill headed up by Khruangbin & Joy Crookes this year as well as a wide array of food traders and its own craft beer fair.

www.xthetracks.com

Gottwood

North Wales | 9th-11th June 2022 🎧⛺️🎫

This independent gem of a festival is situated near the North coast of Wales in one of the most beautiful woodland festival sites. With a focus on underground electronic music, this critically acclaimed boutique festival has been going for over 10 years and always remained independent.

www.gottwood.co.uk

The WildWood Disco

Cambs | 17th – 19th July 2022 🎧🎫 ⛺️

An intimate gathering in the woods over 2 days and 3 nights, this magical party under the forest canopy harks back to 90’s rave era, with late-night dancing across 4 small secretive stages.

www.thewildwooddisco.com

Glastonbury

Somerset | 22nd -26th June 2022 ⛺️ ❌

This one needs no introduction really. Indisputably one of the Best Festivals in the World, the behemoth that is Glastonbury Festival is finally back and it’s going to be a special year indeed…

www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

El Dorado Festival

Herefordshire | 30th June – 3rd July 2022 💃🎫 ⛺️

A boutique festival from the creative minds behind immersive club nights Cirque du Soul, El Dorado is going into its 6th year and fuses all the makings of what has become the template for a proper boutique UK festival; a gorgeous site, epic decor and stage builds, genre-spanning line-up, fancy dress themes, silly games, fireworks and more.

www.eldoradofestival.com/

Outlook Festival

Cheshire | 30th June – 3rd July 2022 🎧🎫⛺️

The celebration of sound system culture is coming to Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire next summer, for its first-ever UK show! Since 2008 Outlook has brought together music lovers from around the world to enjoy its events, orchestra projects, and large-scale festivals. It was the ultimate beach holiday and festival combined, and now they are bringing that energy to UK soil.

outlookfestival.com/outlook-uk

UK Festivals in July 2022

Noisily Festival

Leicestershire | 7th – 10th July 2022 🎧🎫

A true hidden gem of the UK festival scene, this creative little festival is adults only and take place in a beautiful forest valley in Leicestershire. It has really carved out a specialist niche with an eclectic mix of electronic music across its magnificently designed stages as well as an impressive wellness area full of talks, workshops, healing and more.

You can read our full Guide to Noisily Festival here to understand a bit more of the vibe!

TRNSMT Festival

Glasgow | 8th – 10th July 2022 🎧🎫

A music focussed day festival in the heart of Glasgow, TRNSMT 2022 has music across three stages with a focus on an indie/rock vibe.

www.trnsmtfest.com

NASS Festival

Somerset | 7th – 10th July 2022 ⛺️🎪

A four day festival of music, street art, skate and BMX culture – NASS boasts headliners like The Streets but is a real twist on the standard festival where skate culture is at the forefront. Attendees can witness some of the world’s leading skaters and BMX pros as well as immersing themselves in live street art and getting involved and MC workshops and more.

www.nassfestival.com

Beatherder Festival

Lancashire | 14th – 17th July 2022 💃⛺️🎫

One of the only festivals in the UK on my bucket list that has thus far evaded me, Beatherder is a festival in Lancashire with an unpretentious dedication to underground music and wonderful attention to detail on its beautiful stage builds and site arts.

https://beatherder.co.uk/

Big Love Festival

Wales | 15th – 17th July 2022 💃⛺️🎫

Set in the 120-acre grounds (and inside!) the legendary Baskerville Hall (that place has seen some parties!), this small independent festival boasts woodland stages, a swimming pool and sauna, swanky indoor party rooms, cosy campfires and a fun line-up filled with all of your festival favourites.

www.biglovefestival.co.uk

Secret Garden Party

Cambridgeshire | 21st – 24th July 2022 💃🎪⛺️❌

IT’S BACK!!!!!!!!! If we deserve anything after the last couple of festivals it’s the return of one serious party; the mighty Secret Garden Party. Four days of pure hedonism in the beautiful field and lakes of Abbotts Ripton.

secretgardenparty.com

Read our post on the 5 things to do for the last time ever at the last ever Secret Garden Party (that didn’t age well!) and have a taste of SGP 2017 in photos.

Nozstock Festival

Hereforshire | 21st – 24th July 2022 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦⛺️🎫

A family-run festival set on an intimate farm that hosts a melting pot of music as well as some surprisingly epic and fantastical stage designs for such a small festival (around 5,000 capacity!) This year’s varied line-up has been released, which you can browse through HERE!

Standon Calling

Hertfordshire | 21st-25th July 2022 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦 💃⛺️🎫

An independent festival that grew from just an annual family barbeque, this fun boutique family-friendly festival not only has an annual costume parade but also welcomes DOGS for its yearly dog show! It’s a mid-sized festival so expect plenty of recognisable names on the line-up too.

www.standon-calling.com

Bluedot Festival

Cheshire | 21st-24th July 2021 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦 🎪⛺️🎫

Held at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire the twist to Bluedot as a music festival is that it also focuses on science and cosmic culture! Alongside a huge line-up (Bjork & Groove Armada this year!) you can also expect science experiments, incredible light focussed art installations, mind-bending talks, telescopic displays and more.

www.discoverthebluedot.com/

Body Movements

30th July 🎧🎒❌

After a triumphant debut in 2021 Body Movements is back, taking over 16 spaces in London’s Hackney Wick with a diverse array of queer collectives focussing on a breadth of underground electronic sounds.

Y Not Festival

Derbyshire | 28th – 31st July 2022 🎧⛺️🎫

Set in the beautiful peak district this indie-rock-pop festival has been going since 2005 and showcases acts across 10 different stages.

www.ynotfestival.com

Camp Bestival

Dorset | 28th – 1st August 2022 💃👨‍👩‍👧‍👦⛺️🎫

All of the colourful fun energy of the original British boutique festival, Bestival, but distilled into the most exciting family festival in the UK where both the kids and the grown-ups are catered to – camp Bestival is a giant play park with world-class DJ’s alongside the world’s biggest bouncy castle!!

www.campbestival.net

Farmfestival

Somerset | 29th-30st July 2022 💃⛺️🎫

Frequented by their prominent neighbour and Glastonbury legend Michael Eavis himself, Farm Fest is evidently a festival for true festival lovers.  Boasting seven musical stages over its intimate pastures, Farm Fest is known for its friendly crowd and its long-running and competitive best hat competition.

www.farmfestival.co.uk

Deer Shed Festival

North Yorkshire | 29th – 31st July 2022 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦⛺️🎫

North Yorkshire’s Deer Shed Festival has announced the first headliners and line-up additions for Deer Shed 12, their first full capacity event since 2019. As the festival prepares to make its full return to Baldersby Park, they have announced the first acts scheduled to appear including headliners Nadine Shah, John Grant and Django Django.

www.deershedfestival.com

Kendal Calling

Cumbria | 29th – 31st July 2022 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦💃⛺️❌

Set in the incredibly stunning vistas of the Lake District, Kendal Calling is celebrating 15 years this year! Which in UK festival years basically makes it a cool uncle. It’s on the larger side at 25,000 people, it has a varied line-up across many stages and a theme across site every year!

www.kendalcalling.co.uk/

Our Ultimate Festival Packing Checklist will provide inspiration for what to take on your next festival season!

UK Festivals in August 2022

Boomtown Fair

Hampshire | 11th – 15th August 2021🎪⛺️💃🎫

A festival experience unlike anything else on earth. Boomtown is a fantastical pop-up city with a winding street-like set design and smorgasbord of characters and performers populating the festival site to match. The festival has some of the most epic stage builds in the world and celebrates the width and breadth of underground music culture alongside boundary-pushing art, theatre and more.

www.boomtownfair.co.uk/

Find out more about Boomtown in our rundown of the Best Festivals in the World.

Valley Fest

Somerset | 4th – 7st August 2022 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🎪⛺️🎫

Nestled on the edge of the sparkling Chew Valley Lake this pint-sized party has a real focus on not just lovely music but also showcases a variety of glorious local food, with stalls aplenty and sit down feats galore! Yum!

www.valleyfest.co.uk

Wilderness

Oxfordshire | 4th – 7th August 2022 🎪👨‍👩‍👧‍👦⛺️🎫

An idyllic boutique festival paradise, Wilderness melds all the finer things in life to create its unique festival experience. Set in the rolling landscape of Cornbury Park, attendees can dance to a deliciously diverse line-up, swim in the lake, catch one of the many talks or workshops or shop in the beautifully curated markets.

www.wildernessfestival.com

Boardmasters Festival

Cornwall | 10th – 14th August 2022 🎪⛺️

Situated in the picturesque Cornish town of Newquay, the clue is in the name with Boardmasters which has been host to international surf competitions since the 80s. As well as a globally leading programme of surf competitions and surf culture, the festival also plays host to one of the biggest musical line-ups in the UK and plenty of other things to get involved in such as wellness, art, and more.

www.boardmasters.com

Houghton

Norfolk | 11th – 14th August 2022 🎧⛺️🎫

Produced by the team behind the beautiful Gottwood festival and curated by Craig Richards, Houghton is a headsy celebration of electronic music set in a beautiful tree-lined site with stunning attention to detail and a strong focus on art… it’s also got a 24-hour licence, so you know this is one hell of a party! After 3 consecutive cancellations, we’re excited for big things for its return.

www.houghtonfestival.co.uk

Bloodstock Open Air

Derbyshire | 11th – 14th August 2022 🎧⛺️🎫

The UK’s largest independent Metal festival, Bloodstock is the go-to weekender for heavy metal lovers. Across four days and five stages the festival, which has been running for over 15 years, hosts an international line-up of acts that span the genre, from classic headliners to more extreme metal flavours.

www.bloodstock.uk.com

ArcTanGent

Bristol | 17th – 20st August 2022 ⛺️🎧🎫

“A haven of progressive music across the spectrum of all things heavy”, ArcTanGent is an award-winning small independent festival focussed on the heavier spectrum of music. The four-day festival, which is set on the grounds of Fernhill Farm just outside Bristol boasts music across five stages and prides itself on its friendly crowd!

www.arctangent.co.uk

Green Man Festival

Wales | 18th – 21st August 2022 🎧🎫

One of the most stunning UK festival locations, Green Man’s main stage is set against a backdrop of the hills of the Brecon Beacons. The four-day event is focused primarily on its indie leaning line-up but also has a well-rounded programme of literature, film, comedy, theatre, poetry, arts and more.

www.weoutherefestival.com

Warm Up Festival

Hertfordshire | 18th – 21st August 2022

Warm Up Festival is set in a dreamy and tranquil forest in Hertfordshire. The festival’s mainstay is “emotive electronic dance music” which is provided by a line-up of local and international DJ’s spread across two intimate woodland stages, enhanced by interactive art and dappled in the light of the forest canopy. Warm Up Festival also have a comprehensive wellness schedule throughout the weekend, including sound journeys, guided meditations, yoga classes, fitness & workshops to nourish the mind, body and soul.

www.warmupfestival.co.uk

We Out Here Festival

Cambridgeshire | 25th – 28th August 2022 🎧🎫

Residing on the gorgeous ex-Secret Garden Party site in Abbots Ripton and now coming into its second year, We Out Here is curated by BBC 6Music’s Gilles Peterson and features the width and breadth of London’s burgeoning new Jazz scene as well as a diverse range of underground selectors who will be soundtracking the evenings.  

The festival, which has its own beautiful lake areas on-site, also has a serene Wellness area, family activities, and a record shop. 

www.weoutherefestival.com

Stowaway

Buckinghamshire | 19th-21st July ⛺️🎫

A rebranding of “The Festival of Beer”, we heard some amazing things about it last year. Set in the heart of the Buckinghamshire countryside the site features acres of beautiful parkland, woodland and lakes. Our pals The Provibers host a wonderful market tent there and the programming is varied across music and activities like a roller disco.

stowawayfestival.co.uk/

Beautiful Days

Devon | 19th-21st August 2022 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦💃🎫

Beautiful Days is The Levellers’ own festival, named after their hit song and set in the rolling hills of Escot Park in Devon. 

The festival has resolutely maintained its old-school, non-corporate sensibilities for the past 18 years and you’ll be able to enjoy a broad line-up of live music with strong folk and punk leanings. It boasts excellent family-friendly facilities but there’s also plenty to do for the ravers amongst you with the Little Big Top serving you DJs until the early hours… 

www.beautifuldays.org

Field Day

London | 29th August 2022 🎧🎒🎫

A staple of the London day festival calendar, Field Day has announced that they will be returning to Victoria Park at a later date of the August bank holiday. Spanning four arenas of music, the line-up at Field Day is always fresh and diverse, I loved it when I went back in 2018.

Shambala

Northamptonshire | 25th-28th August 2022 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦🎪⛺️💃❌

This very special festival gem is known for its exceptionally friendly and exuberantly dressed crowd, unparalleled dedication to sustainability, quirky programming and more. Back to their full-sized offering after 2021’s mini ‘Shambino’, Shambala has been sold out for a while, but if you’re a keen cyclist there’s still a chance to get a ticket in exchange for pedalling yourself to the festival!

www.shambalafestival.org

Read 10 reasons why I think Shambala might be the Best festival ever.

UK Festivals in September 2022

Camp Wildfire

Kent | 26th-29th August & 2nd-5th September 2022 ⛺️🎪💃

More Adult Adventure Camp than Music Festival, the popularity of Camp Wildfire’s incredibly unique concept has seen it split into two consecutive weekends for the second weekend! Campers will spend their days taking part in varied activities like kayaking, headpiece making, knife throwing, life-drawing, choir, shooting, apothecary, foraging… honestly, the list goes on! And they’ll spend their nights dancing and making friends by the fire. The inner girl guide in me is desperate to try this out one day!

www.campwildfire.co.uk

Lindisfarne Festival

Northumberland | 1st -4th September 2022 ⛺️🎫

Less than an hour away from both Newcastle and Sunderland, Lindisfarne is one of the rare festivals catering to the North East. Now in its 6th year on its Northumberland coast farm site, Lindisfarne promises hundreds of acts including Dizzee Rascal and Groove Armada over eight stages with plenty of non-musical entertainment too!

www.lindisfarnefestival.com

End of the Road

Dorset | 1st – 4th September 2022 ⛺️🎧

The independent indie festival is catered to music obsessives and had had a dedicated crowd since it began in 2005, it’s situated in the picturesque Larmer Tree Gardens which are famous for their native roaming peacocks!

www.endoftheroadfestival.com

Waterworks

London | 17th September 2022 🎧🎒🎫

Waterworks burst onto the summer calendar last year with its debut edition in Gunnersbury Park. A collab by London based promoters Percolate and Bristol producers Team Love – the festival aims to celebrate independent electronic music culture and features non-hierarchical musical programming with all the beautifully produced conceptual stages given equally weighted line-ups.

www.waterworksfestival.co.uk

Things to think about before buying your festival tickets…

• Please do not feel tempted to purchase tickets from strangers, there are a crazy amount of scammers out in force this year – ensure that you are only purchasing through your chosen festival’s ticket platform or official reselling platform.
• Alternatively – why not look for work or volunteer opportunities? Many UK festivals have been basically mothballed until now so many haven’t opened their volunteer programmes yet and there will be lots of volunteer places up for grabs soon, check out my Guide to how to find Festival Work & Volunteering Opportunities for tips on how to get involved.

Pin this list of the Best Festivals in the UK for later…