Summer Festivals in England

Today, when people talk about summer festivals in England, they invariable mean one of two things. Either they're referring to ‘traditional' English summer fetes (think fields, flowery dresses, Morris dancing, tombolas and more than the odd pint of beer), or they mean large-scale music festivals (think fields, welly-boots, music, and more than the odd pint of beer).

These two guises of the humble ‘English Summer Festival' all but define the summer months in England, with weeks worked through in order to reach the festival fun of the weekend. As a result, they prove just about the most fun you can have in a field, and if you happen to be in the country come June, July, August and September this year, you'd be well served by joining in the fun.

Here, then, is a select rundown of the best summer festivals in England.


Glastonbury

Glastonbury is the big one. Five nights, 150,000 people, over 20 stages, and more beer than you can drunkenly shake a stick at, it is quite simply the defining summer music festival in England. Tickets are pricey, but given the superstar lineup that's all but guaranteed year-in year-out, it's well worth the expenditure.

Aside from the music, Glastonbury is famous for its weather: about once every four years, downpours of rain turn the fields of the festival into one massive mudbath. As a result, camping out becomes… shall we say, a little tricky. If you don't like the sound of sleeping in the rain, there are various festival hostels in the surrounding villages and towns that make for an altogether drier time.


Bestival

Bestival is widely touted as being the ‘new' Glastonbury. While Glasto has been running for years now, Bestival is a relatively recent up-start. This fantastic English summer festival, held on the Isle of Wight in September, is becoming increasingly popular, due in part to the impressive set of headliners it attracts, and in part to the wide-scale ‘dressing up' that festival-goers participate in.

As with Glasto, if you don't fancy slumming it with the masses in the fields, there are plenty of English summer festival hostels at hand on the Isle of Wight that offer comfortable (and rain free) accommodation for reasonable prices.


Sevenoaks Summer Fair

The sleepy town of Sevenoaks is prime English Summer Fair territory. Steeped in English heritage, and populated by many immensely appealing village inns, it offers one of the best and widely recognized summer fairs to be had in the land. Ok, so you won't see Metallica or The White Stripes on its music stage, but then you will see a fair few folk musicians and galloons of mightily tasty ale instead. If that seems like a fair exchange, we promise you: It is!


The Great British Beer Festival

Continuing the alcoholic theme is the Great British Beer Festival, which is held every year in London's Earl's Court Convention Center. Visitors here get to sample English ale from all over the country, with most doing so until they can no longer raise their arm to their mouth.

If this beer-filled mayhem sounds like your cup of tea (so to speak), there are plenty of a London Hostels nearby that offer affordable and comfortable accommodation. There are even a few within walking distance - if you're up to it by the end of the day, that is.