Our 2025 Summer Festivals Guide

Diana Ross at Henley, DJ Charlie Hedges near Chinnor, Fabio + Grooverider at Stowaway & Mucky Weekender (see our Q&As with both!), & more… this summer is set to be a sizzler for festival fans, says Liz Nicholls

Drumroll please! Festival season is upon us, starting in civilised style with Surrey Hills International Music Festival, 6th to 17th May. The world-class programme includes Grammy-nominated ensemble VOCES8 at Guildford’s Holy Trinity Church, virtuoso pianist Alim Beisembayev at the Menuhin Hall & the return of the Festival’s Lunchtime Young Artist Concerts at West Horsley Place. For more on these, talks & guided walks visit shimf.co.uk 

Are You Listening? offers music across Reading on 9th & 10th May; please visit areyoulistening.org.uk 

Tom Kerridge is not the only star chef cooking up a storm at Pub In the Park Marlow, 15th to 18th May, in Higginson Park. Raymond Blanc MBE, Yotam Ottolenghi, Matt Tebbutt, Simon Rimmer & more will sizzle, with great music from Dizzee Rascal, Craig Charles, Billy Ocean, Soul II Soul, Squeeze, Sophie Ellie Bextor, Jess Glynne & many more; pubintheparkuk.com 

Families who rave together stay together, so get set for Shindig Festival, 22nd-25th May, which has just moved to Wiltshire’s Charlton Park. Praised by Emily Eavis as a good Glasto alternative, enjoy a banging line-up from the likes of Giles Peterson & Mr Scruff plus glorious art installations, a craft area, wellbeing, oodles of kids’ fun & more. Visit shindigfestival.co.uk 

Rokefest makes a welcome return to the Home Sweet Home near Wallingford, 23rd-25th May, supporting great local charity Style Acre. Follow the Facebook page for updates. 

You’re all invited to enjoy comedy, kids’ shows, music, cabaret, music, theatre and spoken word at Chesham Fringe Festival, from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th May; please visit cheshamfringe.com for full info. 

Celebrate the summer Solstice on the Wasing Estate Aldermarston, RG7 4NG, 20th to 22nd June, with shining James Blake. And there’s a new words, wisdom & wellness festival on 25th & 26th May; wasing.co.uk 

The 52nd Chippenham Folk Festival, 24th to 27th May, promises a blaze of colour, music, dance, fun and laughter; chippfolk.co.uk 

It’s all going on at Silverstone, and not just racing! There’s the MotoGP event on 25th May, and then Sam Fender, Raye, Fatboy Slim, and Becky Hill will headline 3rd-6th July, followed by Silverstone Festival, 23rd to 25th August, starring Craig David, Natasha Bedingfield & Ministry of Sound Classical; silverstone.co.uk 

Happy 10th birthday to the team behind family-friendly Shynefest! This year’s fest, 30th & 31st May, in Merrist Wood, Worplesdon, stars Reef plus Nirvanher & more, all in aid of great local charity Treloar’s. Visit shynefest.uk 

Alton Beer Festival will raise good cheer & funds for great local charities, 30th & 31st May; visit altonbeerfestival.org.uk 

Witney Music Festival on 6th & 7th June offers tons of fun on The Leys with Bar Stool Preachers, Supernova, Goldie Lookin Chain, Spice Forever & more; visit witneymusicfestival.com 

Tilford Bach Festival marks its 73rd anniversary, and the orchestra in residence, London Handel Players (under musical director Adrian Butterfield) its 25th anniversary, 6th to 8th June. Visit tilfordbachfestival.com 

Wycombe Jazz Festival on 7th June offers afternoon & evening sessions with workshops, Bucks Youth Dance Company, Swingdance UK, David Kofi, Mano Puestas Trio, DJ Mr Jazzy Vibe, Rose Up Music & more; wycombejazzfestival.com  

Olly Murs will play in Palmer Park, Reading, on 13th June; legacylive.co.  

Rag N Bone man (13th June), Craig David (21st), Ocean Colour Scene (27th) & more will star at Southampton Summer Sessions; visit smmrsessions.com 

California festival vibes close to home?! Rowachella beer & music festival on 14th June, at Aston Rowant cricket club promises just this. Radio 1’s beloved party-starter Charlie Hedges will bring her dance anthems & Rowachella’s dance tent, Angie’s House, is named after the landowner who has made Rowachella happen, championing local bands and DJs to play their own material and put unique twists on covers; rowachella.co.uk 

Raise vital money for Hampshire Medical Fund by enjoying action-packed, family-friendly Good Festival near Basingstoke on 15th June. Activities include bushcraft, bubble football, alpaca walking, crocodile encounters, yoga and delicious food & drink. Visit goodfestival.co.uk 

Stereophonics, Yard Act, Razorlight, Supergrass, Sting, Faithless, Justin Timberlake, Lottery Winners, Clean Bandit, Supergrass, James & more will star at The Isle of Wight Festival, 19th-22nd June. Visit isleofwightfestival.com 

Blenheim Palace is the stunning backdrop for Nocturne Live, 19th-22nd June. Thursday 19th stars Richard Ashcroft, Lightning Seeds & The Zutons. Friday 20th it’s Gary Barlow & Beverley Knight, Saturday 21st The Corrs & Natalie Imbruglia and Sunday 22nd Nile Rodgers & CHIC En Vogue Shalamar; nocturnelive.com 

Iford Manor Jazz Festival, 19th-22nd June, stars Jason Rebello, Jacqui Dankworth, Shakatak & more; ifordmanor.co.uk 

Embrace the longest day of the year with the free Grace & Gravity Summer Festival on Howbery Park near Wallingford, 10am-3pm on 21st June; graceandgravity.studio 

Mindset Unlimited Wellbeing Festival in Wokingham on 21st June invites you to explore seven stages, with expert talks, energising holistic movement, food demos, sound baths, and uplifting live music. And it doesn’t stop there; you can enjoy regular ongoing wellness opportunities to keep the good habits & vibes going! Please visit mindsetunlimited.co.uk 

The Great British Food Festival in Hurst on 21st & 22nd June, is sure to fill you up with food & ideas; greatbritishfoodfestival.com  

Nathan Moore will host another marvellous Marlow Rock Bottom on 21st June starring Re-Take That, Knight, Grooveline, Natalie Gray, beer, family fun & more; please visit marlowrockbottom.com 

Summer Sounds on Sunday, 29th June, in Frensham Heights will star Fearlessly Taylor, Ed Sheeran Tribute, Outrageously Olivia, plus food & drink; frenshamevents.uk 

Nile Rodgers & Chic, Smokey Robinson, Jacob Collier, En Vogue & more will star at Love Supreme Jazz Festival in Glynde Place near Lewes, 4th-6th July; lovesupremefestival.com 

The team behind award-winning Guilfest know how to throw a party. This year’s shindig, on 5th & 6th July in Stoke Park, stars The Jacksons, Razorlight, Soul II Soul, Sleeper, Stereo MCs, Dub Pistols, Guildford Vox, Horsell Singers, Rock Choir & more; guilfest.co.uk 

Joe Wicks Festival at Kew promises a wholesome get-together in the botanic gardens on 6th July. Watch this space for a chat with Joe in June! thebodycoach.com 

Celebrating disability lifestyle & inclusivity, Parallel Windsor on 6th July, in Windsor Great Park’s Long Walk, will offer live music, storytelling, arts & craft, sport, wellbeing, dance, family fun and more, all accessible, with a quiet space & sensory zone. £7.50pp; parallellifestyle.com 

Craig David, The Human League, Alison Moyet & more star at Kew The Music, 8th-13th July; visit kewthemusic.org 

Diana Ross, McFly, Rick Astley, Jo Whiley & more will sparkle at the riverside black-tie Henley Festival 9th-13th July; henley-festival.co.uk 

Feeder, DJ Woody Cook & more will star at Fi.Fest in Maidenhead on 11th & 12th July, with Cast, Heather Small & Rick Parfit Jnr & a silent disco; fifest.co.uk 

London Community Gospel Choir & Urban Soul Orchestra will dazzle at Classic Ibiza, Bowood, 18th & 19 July; classicibiza.co.uk 

Sophie Ellis-Bextor & Ella Henderson will get the party started at Newbury Racecourse on 19th July with Bjorn Again on 15th August & Clean Bandit on 16th; newburyracecourse.co.uk 

Englefield Estate near Reading will host The Jacksons, Sister Sledge and Boney M on 19th July, The Beach Boys, David Essex & Lulu on 20th; visit heritagelive.net 

Throw shapes not toys at Raver Tots in Reading’s Prospect Park on 20th July; ravertots.co.uk 

Truck in Steventon will star Nothing But Thieves, Kasabian, High Contrast & more, 24th to 27th July; truckfestival.com.  

Enjoy talented tribute acts such as Fleeting Rumours, Definitely Mightbe & other greats at Marvellous Festival in Wokingham, 19th & 20th July; marvellousfestivals.com  

Basement Jaxx, Supergrass, Wet Leg, Air, Orbital, Annie Mac, The Bootleg Beatles, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Gok Wan and more will delight at Wilderness in charming Charlbury, 31st July to 3rd August; with banquets, a lakeside spa, edifying talks, workshops & more; please visit wildernessfestival.com 

Non-profit grassroots beauty Fieldview, in Little Somerford, Wiltshire, 31st July to 3rd August, promises music from K.O.G, Webmoms & others, with inspiring wellbeing fun & lots more; fieldviewfestival.co.uk 

Camp Bestival, at Lulworth Castle in Dorset, 31st July to 3rd August, stars Tom Jones, Annie Mac, Erol Alkan, Basement Jaxx, Goldie live & tons of kids’ fun such as Dick & Dom & Mr Tumble; dorset.campbestival.net 

Surf’s up at many school-leavers’ rite of passage Boardmasters, 6^th to 10^th August, way out west in Cornwall! You’ll also find wellbeing and a stunning music line-up including Raye, Central Cee, The Prodigy & other party-starters; visit boardmasters.com 

The Power of Now is the theme of the powerful Boomtown, 6th-10th August, near Winchester. This fabulous festival-lovers’ parallel world promises sensory overload, with 12 main stages, 50+ hidden venues, and one red-hot secret line-up. Visit boomtownfair.co.uk 

Enjoy blasts from the past (in your vintage glad rags!) at Retro Festival in Newbury, 8th-10th August; retrofestival.co.uk 

Soft Cell, Holly Johnson, Midge Ure & more will offer great retro vibes at Rewind in Henley, 15th -17th August; south.rewindfestival.com 

Summertime Live in Windsor on 16th August offers four stages of live music & DJs, headlined by Ministry of Sound Ibiza Anthems, plus Ellie Sax (watch this space for our interview!), a Sigma DJ set, Hedkandi, Ibiza Anthems, So Solid Crew, Switch Disco & loads more. Tickets just £29.50; visit summertimelive.co.uk 

Jungle (DJ set), Fabio & Grooverider, Shy FX and more will star at Stowaway, 15th-17th August at Stowe which also offers immersive theatre, comedy, paddleboarding, feasting and a roller disco; visit stowawayfestival.co.uk 

All Points East is an absolute banger for dance fans. The festival at London’s Victoria Park on 16th August will star Chase & Status, Shy FX, Brockie & more; visit allpointseastfestival.com

Ready for Reading? Hozier, Chappell Roan & Travis Scott will headline this rock festival titan, 21st-25th August. Visit readingfestival.com 

Hold tight! Rockstar Energy presents Creamfields over the bank holiday weekend, 21^st to 24^th August in Daresbury, Cheshire. This year, 80,000 music fans and more than 300 of the world’s biggest electronic artists will once again dazzle at the four-day dance music extravaganza. The line-up features Swedish House Mafia, ANYMA (UK festival exclusive), David Guetta (UK festival exclusive), Boris Brejcha, Chase & Status, Eric Prydz, Fisher, Sara Landry, Hardwell, Amelie Lens, Dom Dolla, Hannah Laing, Camelphat, Ewan McVicar, Duke Dumont, Jamie Jones, Patrick Topping, Sonny Fodera, Fatboy Slim, Josh Baker, Andy C, Gaskin, HorsegirL, Eats Everything, Franky Wah, AZYR, Ben Hemsley, Ben Nicky, Martin Garrix, Gorgon City & more! www.creamfields.com 

Faithless Live, Nelly Furtado, Alex James, Britpop Classical & more will bring the tunes, while Raymond Blanc, Si King, George Egg & more will feed your hunger & curiosity at Big Feastival 22nd-24th August, at Alex’s farm in Kingham. Other delights include children’s TV megastar Justin Fletcher and a family dance class with Oti Mabuse; visit bigfeastival.com  

Love choral music? The small Wiltshire village of Edington comes alive in late August with Edington Music Festival; edingtonfestival.org 

Enjoy Rock the Rec in Windsor, 24th August; rocktherec.co.uk, and the same weekend it’s Wokingham Festival, 23rd-25th August; wokinghamfestival.co.uk 

Madness, Squeeze, Rita Ora, Travis, Seasick Steve & more will fuel another Carfest, 22nd-24th August in Laverstoke Park; carfest.org  

As we celebrated last year, Towersey festival has bowed out forever. But the good news is that you can enjoy a weekend of discovery with music, dance, arts, craft, comedy, relaxation and inspiration with Found Festival, 22nd-24th August, at the beautiful Claydon Estate near Buckingham; visit foundfestival.uk 

Jo Bartlett & Danny Hagan, founders of Green Man Festival & The Wake in the idyllic woodlands near Billingshurst, RH14 0AL, on Saturday, 23rd August, are thrilled that King Creosote, whose songs have been performed by (Simple Minds, Patti Smith & more) will headline. Also enjoy DJ sets, a children’s area, talks, wonderful food & camping; thewake.uk 

End of the Road Festival, at Dorset’s Larmer Tree Gardens, 28th to 31st August, stars Self Esteem, Caribou, Father John Misty & much more; visit endoftheroadfestival.com 

David Rodigan, Phil Hartnoll of Orbital, Don Letts, DJ Yoda & more will star at Mucky Weekender in Micheldever, 11th-13th September; mucky-weekender.co.uk