Music and festivals in Britain

Love music? You’ve come to the right place. Britain’s taste in music is just as eclectic and vibrant as its venues, with star-studded festivals, mighty classical concerts and hopping dance halls heading to its shores in 2023. Read on for the ultimate British playlist.

From pop pioneers to the diverse sounds of today, Britain has a long and dynamic musical legacy just waiting to be discovered. Our taste in music is just as eclectic and vibrant as our venues, with star-studded festivals, mighty classical concerts, hopping dance halls, and the Eurovision Song Contest heading to our shores in 2023. Read on for the ultimate British playlist…

Why Britain's best for music and festivals

Whether you catch a gig in the Liverpool bar where The Beatles were discovered, tour Oasis and Joy Division’s Manchester hang-outs, or enjoy a soul-stirring Proms concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall, you’ll find that Britain’s streets are paved with songs.

You can hear the best bands in the world at our famous music festivals, such as Glastonbury and Creamfields – or discover the next-big-thing on small, intimate stages – such as London’s Moth Club and Bush Hall. Often, music will take you to Britain’s most glorious locations too, such as Green Man Festival in the Brecon Beacons, or Scotland’s Hebridean Celtic Festival – set on the beautiful Isle of Lewis.

Sometimes, a great gig will catch you completely by surprise: a soulful saxophone played on a street corner perhaps, or a toe-tapping Celtic band in a Northern Irish pub. From centuries-old folk music played on traditional instruments, to cutting-edge dance music, A-list stars and emerging talents – here’s where to get into the groove.

Glastonbury

The UK’s biggest festival is Glastonbury Festival. With huge headliners and an enormous site - an 8.5-mile (14-km) perimeter and a capacity of around 200,000 - you’ll never forget it.

Isle of Wight

June, Isle of Wight
Another mega-festival is the historic Isle of Wight Festival, which was Britain’s answer to Woodstock. Revived in 2002, this island event is enormous fun.

Reading and LeedsAugust, Reading and Leeds

These two music festivals take place over the same weekend, in two cities, with major rock bands and indie artists usually playing both venues on different days.

ParklifeJune, Manchester
Parklife is the UK’s biggest metropolitan festival and the line-up features everything from rock to hip-hop, indie to grime.

BoardmastersAugust, Cornwall
The laid-back Boardmasters in Newquay’s famous Fistral Beach and nearby Watergate Bay is part surf competition, part music festival.

Creamfields
August, Cheshire
It’s one of the biggest dance festivals in the world and Creamfields, near Liverpool, includes talent from the worlds of house, techno, drum and bass, trance and more.

TRNSMT
July, Glasgow
TRNSMT showcases the latest in British indie and rock and has rapidly grown into Glasgow’s biggest event of the summer.

BST
June - July, London
British Summer Time in London’s Hyde Park is a series of mega-concerts through the summer, which guarantees huge headliners like Elton John, as well as rising stars.

Camp Bestival
July – August, Dorset and Shropshire
Camp Bestival is a family-friendly event which takes place in two sites in Dorset and Shropshire.
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Latitude
July, Suffolk
Latitude Festival in Henham Park in Suffolk, features music, dance, comedy, literature and family activities.

Top music and festivals experiences

From a Beatles pilgrimage in Liverpool to a rock and roll tour of London, discover Britain’s best music experiences around the nation.

Enjoy Britain’s best music festivals
The summer signals festival season in Britain, so grab your wellies and get ready to party, with one of the many music festivals taking place around the country.

Music venues you can’t miss
From the Beatles’ Childhood Homes in Liverpool, to Abbey Road and David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust street in London, discover the UK’s most iconic musical landmarks.

The music lover’s guide to London
Discover the spots that inspired the songs from The Clash and the Sex Pistols, to Queen and David Bowie.

Discover the Beatles and beyond in Liverpool
Love Me Do in Liverpool, the birthplace of the Beatles, as you follow in the footsteps of the Fab Four.

Spectacular Scottish festivals
From the Edinburgh International Festival to Glasgow’s Celtic Connections, tune in to Scotland’s best festivals.

Source: Amelia, VisitBritain Australia's Press Team, amelia.robertson@visitbritain.org