UK festivals to have on your radar in 2025

Forget about all the sanitised silliness of Coachella — we all know that the Brits do it best when it comes to festivals. All mud, chaos, abandoned wellies and performances from artists more likely to do a bump in a portaloo than churn out some polished dance routine, there’s a reason why the fields of England become boggy and litter-addled each summer. Whether you’re more for getting all trippy in the forest or keeping it a little calmer with some light jazz, there’s something for everyone. By the way, all of the above becomes obsolete when we release our international edition of this article. 

We Out Here | 14th – 17th August

Set over four days and taking place in Dorset, We Out Here is the festival celebrating UK club culture, curated by one of the kings of the scene — none other than Gilles Peterson. It’s an eclectic little line-up this year — everyone from Pa Salieu to Michael Kiwanuka to Noname will be taking to one of the festival’s fifteen stages (a fair few of them are open air, forest-y numbers), while there’ll be sets from the likes of Ben UFO and Mr Peterson himself. And, because We Out Here understands that not everyone is of the having-a-transcendental-experience-on-some-shrooms-age, there’s loads for the hippy-dippy families amongst us. Think dedicated campsites, tuba lessons with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, skate sessions with Scorcha Skate Club, and even on-site nannies — so mummy can get off her tits in peace! Grab tickets here. 

Lost Village | 21st – 24th August 

Tickets are currently sold out, but you can always do a little last minute scramble when you realise you haven’t gone into another realm nearly enough times this summer. What we’re getting at is Lost Village, which takes place on a privately owned woodland in the Lincolnshire countryside, is the place for tapping into whatever it is you’re unable to at the nine to five. It’s surreal, with revellers exploring abandoned woodlands and uncovering all manner of surprises. And helping you along the way is, of course, music by everyone from Palm Trax to Chaos in the CBD. There’s also something that’s been dubbed an “energy garden” — if you plan on being that extra layer of insufferable. Learn more about Lost Village here, then head to a Facebook group filled with pill-heads who are having to get rid of their tickets so they don’t have another drug-induced nervous breakdown.

Project 6 | Date TBC

Though not much is known about the 2025 edition of Rinse FM’s Project 6 Festival, trust us when we say it’s one to grab a ticket for. Showing off a roster of names from the world of garage and grime, last year the (entirely independent) festival had names like Casisdead and Shy FX on the bill. And this year? Well, that hasn’t been announced just yet, but we can assure you it’ll be good. Taking place in Brockwell Park it’s a nice one for everyone south of the river, too. Go on — grab yourself a ticket. Take risks. 

NTS x GALA | 23rd May

Right, technically this is just one stage at GALA (which takes place during the May bank holiday, over in Peckham Rye) but we’re confident you could spend a whole day larking about with NTS. This year the cult radio station has teamed up with the festival, co-presenting the first portion of the three day festival, offering up big names like Floating Points and Moodymann on their very own stage. Elsewhere at the festival on the Friday you’ll also find sets by everyone from Theo Parrish to Benji B. You know the deal — tickets here. 

Houghton | 7th – 10th August

Houghton is one of those festivals where the amount of people rambling on it kind of makes you want to never, ever be in attendance — individuality complex and all that. Unfortunately, revellers of Houghton, which takes place in Norfolk, might be onto something. Founded back in 2017 by DJ and producer Craig Richards, the festival has quickly become the one to grab yourself a ticket for. There’s a big ol’ smattering of names on this year’s lineup, though if we had to choose some of the ostensible “biggies” to chuck your way, it would be Palmtrax, Ben UFO and Or:la. There’s hidden stages, the crème de la crème of soundsystems… I don’t know. Head down to The Spurstowe and whisper the word “Houghton” and someone will tell you all about it. Again, this one is sold out, but we reckon there’ll be a load of tickets going at the last minute when the Tilly Fizzes of the world are forced to sell their ticket after having to check into the Priory for a bit. You know the ones.

All Points East | 16th – 24th August

Where do we begin with All Points East? Taking place over ten days (not consecutively — don’t panic), this year’s lineup includes everyone from Doechii to The Maccabees. Sure, that’s a bit random, but that’s kind of what makes All Points East so good — each day is catering to a whole different crew. You’ve got the “nitty” day (Chase and Status), the day for those hailing from, hm, the Dalston area (Confidence Man and Shy Girl), the day for the lovers of Capital radio (Tyla) and, last but not least, the day for… old people? Yeah, that’s the one with The Maccabees. No, but really — there’s actually a special place in our heart for the names on the 24th. Not only does it mark the first time in ten years that The Maccabees are performing together, but the five lads have curated who’s playing, so there’s also The Cribs and Bombay Bicycle Club on the roster. The whole thing also takes place in east London’s Victoria Park, so after the festival you can watch all the rich families living in nearby townhouses get pissy about the amount of Lost Marys and/or nos canisters on the ground. Happy days. Tickets here. 

Field Day | 24th May

This year, Field Day has swapped out its usual Viccy P setting for Brixton’s Brockwell Park. And heading south to perform? There’s headliner Peggy Gou as well as Fatima Yamaha, James Blake, Jayda G, Jungle, Mall Grab and Skream… And lots, lots more. Obviously this is one for fans of vibey little DJ sets rather than actual live performances, but we’d say it’s an easy sell. Namely, it’s a day festival and the beauty of that is you can be right sloshed at about 3pm and have already had your comedown by bed time. Maybe, anyway. If you can resist the afters… Yeah, you’ll have an awful hangover. Tickets here. 

Meltdown | 12th – 22nd June

Curated by none other than Little Simz, this year’s edition of Meltdown (which is, by the way, the country’s longest-running artist-curated music festival) features performances by everyone from Mike Skinner to Lola Young at the Royal Festival Hall (and, occasionally, the Queen Elizabeth Hall). It’s a bit more of a subdued affair – less mushrooms, more G&Ts – but with it taking place over ten days, there’s sure to be a little something for everyone. Tickets here. 

Love Supreme Festival | 4th – 6th July 

Last but not least, we’ve got one for the lovers of the slower stuff — Love Supreme festival, taking place in the South Downs of East Sussex, is ringing in 2025 with a lineup that includes The Roots, Thee Sacred Souls, and Nile Rodgers. You can imagine the vibe of this one. Kids running about, picnic blankets and truly classic tunes… Drunkenly swaying to “Le Freak” while you begrudgingly let your three-year-old chow down on some overpriced loaded fries because you’re too pissed to protest and you really don’t want them to kick up a fuss when you have a small drag on one of the other mum’s joints that she’s saved for the occasion… Anyway, tickets here.