Festival season in the UK isn’t just about the music, it’s a full experience! From muddy wellies to euphoric singalongs and questionable late-night food choices. Whether you’re chasing huge headliners, indie gems, or bass-heavy DJ sets, there’s a festival that fits the vibe.
From legendary giants like Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, and Creamfields to cult favourites like Slam Dunk, Tramlines and Live at Leeds, here’s your essential guide to the best UK festivals in 2025.
The Icon: Glastonbury Festival
📍 Worthy Farm, Somerset
📅 25-29 June 2025
This is it, the UK’s biggest, most legendary festival. Getting a ticket is basically a sport at this point, but if you managed to secure one, congratulations, you’ve won the festival lottery.
This year, The 1975, Olivia Rodrigo, and Neil Young are headlining the Pyramid Stage, while Charli XCX, The Prodigy, and Loyle Carner lead the Other Stage. With surprise sets, hidden stages, and every genre under the sun, Glastonbury is unmatched.
And if you didn’t get tickets? There’s always resale (or watching it on the BBC while pretending you don’t care).
For the Indie Crowd: Live at Leeds, Tramlines & Get Together
📍 Live at Leeds: Leeds | Tramlines: Sheffield | Get Together: Sheffield
📅 Live at Leeds (24 May 2025) | Tramlines (25-27 July 2025) | Get Together (18 May 2025)
If Glastonbury is too big or too expensive, these are three must-visit festivals for indie and alternative lovers.
- Live at Leeds (May) is a one-day festival where bands take over venues across the city. The lineup this year includes Bloc Party, Sigrid, The Amazons, Manic Street Preachers and Corella
- Tramlines (July) is Sheffield’s biggest festival, set in Hillsborough Park. The 2025 lineup has Pulp, Reytons, Kasabian, Rizzle Kicks, Red Rum Club and Jake Bugg.
- Get Together Festival (May) is a smaller, curated festival with a focus on alternative, underground, and electronic artists—ideal for discovering your next favourite act.
For Rock & Alt Fans: Slam Dunk & Download Festival
📍 Slam Dunk: Leeds & Hatfield | Download: Donington Park
📅 Slam Dunk (24 – 25 May 2025) | Download (13-15 June 2025)
If you spent the early 2000s in a band tee screaming Blink-182 lyrics, these festivals are your home.
- Slam Dunk Festival (May) is a one-day festival dedicated to pop-punk, emo, and post-hardcore. The 2025 lineup includes A Day to Remember, Neck Deep, The Used and Twin Atlantic making it a must for anyone who still has a soft spot for Warped Tour energy.
- Download Festival (June) is the UK’s biggest rock and metal festival, famous for hosting Metallica, Slipknot, Bring Me The Horizon, and more. If you love mosh pits, heavy riffs, and headbanging until your neck hurts, this is the one.
For Electronic & Dance Fans: Creamfields & Land Beyond Festival
📍 Creamfields: Cheshire | Land Beyond Festival: Brighton
📅 Creamfields (21-24 August 2025) | Land Beyond (2 – 4 May 2025)
If bass drops, euphoric anthems, and all-night dancing are more your speed, these festivals are essential.
- Creamfields (August) is the UK’s biggest dance music festival, bringing huge names in house, techno, and EDM. Expect Chase and Status, FISHER, David Guetta and Chloe Robinson, alongside insane production, fireworks, lasers, and a lot of glitter.
- Land Beyond Festival (May) happens in Brighton, mixing house, techno, and bass music with immersive stage designs and festival production. Becky Hill, Bru-C, Sub Focus and Dizzee Rascal are part of this years lineup.
Reading & Leeds Festival: The Ultimate All-Rounder
📍 Reading & Leeds: Reading & Leeds
📅 21-24 August 2025
If you want a bit of everything, Reading & Leeds is a safe bet. Known for huge headliners, legendary mosh pits, and a mix of rock, rap, pop, and indie, it’s one of the UK’s biggest festivals.
Recent years have seen The Killers, Sam Fender, Billie Eilish, and The 1975 take the stage, so expect 2025 to be just as stacked with the likes of Chappell Roan, Hozier, Bring me the Horizon and Travis Scott headlining.
Which UK Festival Is Right for You?
With so many options, the real question is which one fits your vibe?
- For the full festival experience: Glastonbury
- For indie & alternative gems: Live at Leeds, Tramlines, Get Together
- For rock & punk energy: Slam Dunk, Download
- For electronic & dance: Creamfields, Land Beyond
- For an up-and-coming festival: Docksfest, Get Together
- For a mix of everything: Reading & Leeds
