Festival season kicks off again for the summer

This summer sees some of the biggest music acts and DJs in the world converging  on London – and the Home Counties – for the festival season. Here’s a one-stop guide to what’s on and where to get tickets. However, be aware that many will sell out in advance so I would recommend getting your tickets asap.

• 11 – 25 June : Hampton Court Palace Festival

Big names perform against the backdrop of the historic palace. Acts include Dionne Warwick, Jools Holland, The Beach Boys, Van Morrison, Jamie Cullum, George Benson, Rick Astley and Jason Donovan. Tickets range from £45 to £70 depending on act. Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU. Nearest train station: Hampton Court (trains from Waterloo). For more information and tickets, visit the Hampton Court Palace Festival website.

• 13 – 22 June : Meltdown

This year’s Meltdown festival on London’s Southbank is curated by Musical and artistic innovator James Lavelle. Featuring gigs by UNKLE, Chrissie Hynde, DJ Shadow, Grandmaster Flash, Mark Lanegan, Joshua Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age), Edwyn Collins, Radkey, Neneh Cherry and Goldie. Tickets range from free to £40. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Nearest tube: Waterloo. For booking and more information, visit the Meltdown website.

• 14 June : Found Festival

Daytime dance party in Haggerston Park is organised by forward-thinking London club night Found. Featuring house and techno acts including Damian Lazarus, DJ Sneak, Ben Pierce, Noir, Lil’ Louis, Moody Man, Lombardo, Geddes, Krankbrother and more. 11am-9pm. Tickets start from £50. Haggerston Park, Audrey Street, off Goldsmith’s Row, Shoreditch, E2 8QH. Nearest station: Hoxton (Overground) or Cambridge Heath. For more information, visit the Found Festival website.

• 20 – 21 June : Camden Crawl

Dozens of venues across Camden come together for this annual festival, which allows revellers to buy a wristband and then crawl around the gigs. Acts include Of Montreal, ABC, The Field, Yuck, Atari Teenage Riot, Mouse On Mars, Steve Mason, Alexis Taylor, Au Revoir Simone, Dirty Beaches perform across 25 stages at venues such as Koko, Underworld, Electric Ballroom and Proud. Tickets: Friday pass £27.50, Saturday pass £30, 2 day pass: £49.50. Nearest stations: Camden Town, Camden Road, Chalk Farm and Mornington Crescent. For more information and tickets, visit the Camden Crawl website.

• 21 June : CoppaFeel! FestiFeel 2014

Festival curated by Fearne Cotton aims to raise awareness for the charity CoppaFeel, which encourages women to check their breasts for signs of cancer. Performances from Rizzle Kicks, Lianne La Havas, Zane Lowe, Swim Deep, Norman Jay and more. 1pm onwards. Tickets: £23. London Fields Brewery, 365-366 Warburton Street, E8 3RR. Nearest train station: London Fields. For more information, visit the Festifeel website.

• 28 – 29 June : Calling Festival

Although the Hard Rock is dropped, the Calling Festival lives on. Stevie Wonder, Aerosmith, Joe Bonamassa, Thunder, Paloma Faith, Jack Johnson, Richie Sambora. Tickets £69.50 per day. Clapham Common, SW4. Nearest tube: Clapham Common. For more information and tickets, visit the Calling Festival website.

• 4 – 6 July : Wireless Festival

The Calling Festival has dropped the ‘Hard Rock’ and is now at Clapham Common

The Wireless Festival moves to Finsbury Park for 2014. Acts include Kanye West, Bruno Mars, Outkast, Pharrell Williams, Drake, Rudimental, Tinie Tempah, Basement Jaxx, Iggy Azalea, Wiz Khalifa, Ellie Goulding, Robin Thicke, Sean Paul, Salt ‘N’ Pepa and much more.  Tickets start from £75 (not including fees). Finsbury Park, N4. Nearest tube: Finsbury Park. For more information, visit the Wireless Festival.

• 5 July : High Definition Festival

Dance festival outside London in East Sussex. Line-up includes Carl Cox, The Martinez Brothers, Gorgon City, Ms Dynamite. Tickets start from £39.50. Eridge Park, Tunbridge Wells, East Sussex TN3 9JT. Nearest train station: Eridge Park (trains from London Bridge) and then a taxi. For more information and tickets, visit the High Definition website.

• 10 – 20 July : Summer Series @ Somerset House

The open-air concerts in the courtyard of Somerset House returns again in July. Acts include Agnes Obel, The Cat Empire, Kelis, Daughter, Kodaline, Bastille, Franz Ferdinand, Chvrches, Sam Smith, Clean Bandit and Little Dragon. Tickets: £28.50 (not including booking fees). Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA. Nearest tube: Temple or Holborn. For more information, visit the Somerset House website.

• 12  – 13 July : Electric Daisy Carnival

The popular American dance music festival comes to the UK for a weekend at Milton Keynes Bowl. Includes some of the world’s biggest DJs, including Avicii, Calvin Harris, Fatboy Slim, Nicky Romero, Hardwell, Steve Aoki, Gordon City, Route 94, Steve Angello, Timo Maas, Paul Oakenfold and Paul Van Dyk. Tickets: Saturday £65, Sunday £60, Weekend £120. Milton Keynes Bowl, Watling Street, Milton Keynes, MK5 8AA. Nearest train station: Milton Keynes (Trains from Euston, 30 minute walk). For more information, visit the Electric Daisy Carnival website.

• 3 – 13 July : Barclaycard British Summer Time Festival

Hyde Park becomes a mini-festival for 10 days, featuring nightly concerts and comedy performances. Acts include Arcade Fire, Jake Bugg, Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, Faith No More, The Libertines, The Pogues, McBusted, Backstreet Boys, Tim Michin, Alan Davies, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Tom Odell, Tom Jones, Boyzone and Little Mix. Tickets for main stage concerts range from £35 to £95. Hyde Park, W2 2UH. Nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge or Marble Arch. For more information and tickets, visit the BST website.

• 16 – 20 July : Kew The Music

Five day festival featuring big names including Elvis Costello, Bjorn Again, Jools Holland, Simple Minds and Bill Bailey performing at outdoor picnic concerts against the backdrop of the Victorian Temperate House at Kew Gardens. Tickets range from £33.50 to £52.50. Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens), Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB. Tube: Kew Gardens. For more information, visit the Kew Gardens website.

• 18 – 19 July : Lovebox Festival
  

  Summer Series concerts take place in the picturesque courtyard of Somerset House

The hugely popular Lovebox returns to Victoria Park in East London. Acts include Chase & Status, M.I.A., Nas, Bonobo, A$AP Rocky, Crystal Fighters, Katy B, Annie Mac, The Horrors, Mount Kimbie, Soul II Soul, Tensnake, Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez, Dimitri From Paris and Norman Jay. Tickets start from £44.75 (Friday) or £55 (Saturday) or £77.95 (weekend). Victoria Park Rd, Hackney, E3 5SN. Nearest tube: Bethnal Green or Mile End. For more information, visit the Lovebox website.

• 2 August : Eastern Electrics

Dance festival featuring six stages in the grounds of Jacobean Hatfield House. Acts include Art Department, Kerri Chandler, Laura Jones, Maxxi Soundsystem, Ellen Allien, Geddes, Giles Smith, Route 94, Jack & I, Mr Normski, Ralph Lawson, Craig Richards and much more. Tickets start from £45. Hatfield House, Great North Road, Hatfield, Herts, AL9 5NQ. Nearest station: Hatfield (trains from Moorgate). For more information, visit the Eastern Electrics website.

• 2 August : Visions Festival

Hip festival which started last year returns for a second year, covering five venues in East London – Oval Space, The Laundry, Hackney New Empowering Church, Netil 360 and London Fields Brewhouse. Acts include Polica, Perfume Genius, Baths, The Range, Deptford Goth, Young Fathers, Eleanor Friedberger, Eyedress, Rainer and many more. Tickets £25. Nearest stations; Cambridge Heath and London Fields, For more information, listings and tickets, visit the Visions Festival website.

• 15 – 17 August : One Love Festival

Festival which promotes the message of the late Bob Marley, with reggae and ragga music, amongst others. Features music from King Kong, Dom Dem & Ras Demo, Apache Indian, Cocoa Ted, John Holt, Wailing Souls, Cornell Campbell with Soothsayers, Coxsone Vs Fatman International and much more. Tickets start from £50 for adults, £25 for children depending on how many days, camping/non camping. Stockwell Farm, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. Nearest station: Leighton Buzzard (trains to Euston). For more information and tickets, visit the One Love website.

• 16 – 17 August : V Festival

Although not actually in London, Chelmsford is just outside the capital which means you can commute if you don’t fancy camping. Acts include Justin Timberlake, The Killers, Ed Sheeran, Example, Paolo Nutini, Lily Allen, Tinie Tempah, Elbow, Bastille, Alesso, Kaiser Chiefs, Blondie, Chase & Status, Rita Ora, Jason Derulo, Sam Smith, Aloe Blacc, Ceelo Green, All Saints and Chic feat Nile Rodgers. Tickets: £89 day passes, £165 weekend no camping, £189 weekend with camping. Nearest station: Chelmsford (trains to Liverpool Street). For more information and tickets, visit the V Festival website.

The inaugural Greenwich Music Time Festival comes to the Old Royal Naval College

• 20 – 23 August : Greenwich Music Time Festival

Inaugural music festival takes place in the grounds of Greenwich’s historic Old Royal Naval College. Featuring Goldfrapp, Jools Holland, Russell Watson, Melanie C and Marc Almond. Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, SE10 9NN. Nearest station: Cutty Sark (DLR), Greenwich or Maze Hill. For more information and tickets, visit the Greenwich Music Time Festival website.

• 23 – 24 August : South West Four

Clapham Common dance music festival returns for its 11th year. Acts include Above & Beyond, Alesso, W&W, Fedde Le Grand, Arty and Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano. Danny Avila, Oliver Heldens, deadmau5, Eric Prydz, Andy C, Pete Tong, Madeon, Wilkinson, Stanton Warriors, GTA, Karma Kid and SecondCity. Tickets: Day £55, Weekend £105. Clapham Common, SW4. Nearest tube: Clapham Common. For more information and tickets, visit the South West Four website.

• 25 – 26 August : Notting Hill Carnival

Long-running institution returns to the streets of West London. Plenty of soundstages will be dotted around featuring a wide range of music. Then of course there’s the carnival itself. Free. Sunday is more geared towards children, while Monday is the adults’ day. Check TFL website for transport information because many stations nearby will be closed. For more information, check out the Notting Hill Carnival website.

• 11 – 14 September : Stow Festival

Music festival returns to Walthamstow, East London. Artists include John Otway, Barry Cryer & Ronnie Golden, Steve White & The Protest Family and more. At 20 local venues including Ye Olde Rose & Crown, the William Morris Gallery, the Warrant Officer and Waltham Forest Library. For more information, visit the Stow Festival website.

• 13 September : Ceremony Festival

One day dance music festival across six stages. Acts include Inner City LIVE, Louie Vega, DJ Sneak, Claptone, Todd Terry, Kevin Saunderson, Chez Damier, Lil Louis, Roy Davis Jnr, Skepta & JME, Plastician, MANIK, Nick Curly, DJ W!LD, Applebottom, Fur Coat, Santé, Sidney Charles and many more. 11am-10pm. Tickets: £25. Finsbury Park, N4. Nearest tube: Finsbury Park. For more information, visit the Ceremony Festival website.

• 13 – 14 September : On Blackheath

A new festival on Blackheath Common featuring live music and great food. Featuring Aloe Blacc, Massive Attack, Grace Jones, Imelda May, Gilles Peterson. Gizzi Erskine will be hosting the food stage. Tickets: Adult day: £57.50. Adult weekend: £99. Child day: £35. Child weekend: £60. 12-10.30pm. Blackheath Common, SE3 0UA. Nearest train/DLR station: Lewisham, Blackheath or Greenwich. For more information, visit the On Blackheath website.

• 13 – 14 September : Good Times In The Park

DJ legend Norman Jay MBE brings his Good Times brand to Wormwood Scrubs to celebrate three decades of music across three stages. Acts include Chaka Khan, Groove Armada, The Brand New Heavies, Dub Pistols, Idris Elba, The Cuban Brothers, David Rodigan, Goldie, Jazzie B, Ms Dynamite, Terry Farley, Fabio and Grooverider and Norman himself of course. Tickets: Saturday only £35, Weekend £65. Wormwod Scrubs Park, Scrubs Lane, W12 0DF. Nearest tube: East Acton. For more information and tickets, visit the Good Times In the Park website.

• 14 September : United Festival

One day festival celebrating 25 years of British rave culture. Featuring big names from the worlds of Drum & Bass, Old Skool, Jungle, House, UK Garage, Trance, Hard House, Acid Techno, Psy Trance, Old Skool Hardcore, Old Skool House and Club Classics. Acts include Angie Brown, Baby D, Kele Le Roc, Fabio & Grooverider, Matt Jam Lamont, Pied Piper, Andy Farley. Tickets start from £25. 11am-9pm. Finsbury Park, N4. Nearest tube/train: Finsbury Park. For more information, visit the United Festival website.

For a guide to what else is on in London in September, click here.

Or for a guide to open-air cinemas in London this summer, click here.

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