Lovebox returns to Victoria Park in East London

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 most will sell out in advance so I would recommend getting your tickets asap.

• 4 June : Camden Rocks

Hard rock and metal festival featuring over 200 bands (big names and underground talent) to 20 venues around NW1. This year’s line-up includes The Cribs, Sikth, Escape The Fate, Billy Bragg, We Are The Ocean, Carl Barât & The Jackals and Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind. Tickets: £35. For tickets, visit the Camden Rocks website.

• 4 – 5 June : Born & Bred

Celebration of UK and international bass culture, with acts including ILoveMakonnen, Wiley and Slimzee and Novelist. Tickets start from £20. Haggerston Park, Hoxton, E2. Nearest station: Hoxton or Cambridge Heath. For tickets, visit the Born & Bred website.

• 8 – 23 June : Hampton Court Palace Festival

Big names perform against the backdrop of the historic palace. Acts include Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Katherine Jenkins, Art Garfunkel, George Benson, Caro Emerald, Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Anastacia and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Tickets range from £45 to £95 depending on act. Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU. Nearest station: Hampton Court (trains from Waterloo). For more information and tickets, visit the Hampton Court Palace Festival website.

• 10 – 19 June : Guy Garvey’s Meltdown

This year’s Meltdown festival on London’s Southbank is curated by Guy Garvey, frontman of Elbow, TV presenter and DJ. Featuring gigs by Femi Kuti, The Staves, Richard Hawley, Laura Marling, among others. Tickets range from free to £45. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Nearest station: Waterloo. For booking and more information, visit the Soutbank Centre website.

• 11 June : Found Festival

Six stages of house, techno, disco and more. Acts include Kerri Chandler, Derrick May, Dyed Soundorom, Trade (Blawan & Surgeon), Rødhåd, Legowelt, Theo Parrish, Ron Trent, Marcellus Pitman, Petre Inspirescu (RPR), Mara Trax (Maayan Nidam & Vera), Binh, Mood II Swing, Wamdue Kids, Dream 2 Science, 808, Abandon Silence and Cubed. 11am-9pm. Tickets from £30. Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, SE24 0PA. Nearest station: Herne Hill. For more information, visit the Found Festival website.

• 11 – 12 June : Field Day

Two day festival returns to East London, featuring performances from James Blake, PJ Harvey, Air, The Avanlanches, Formation, Goat, Hattie Whitehead, Mystery Jets, Tourist, Mabel and many more. Tickets: £49.50-£54.50. Victoria Park, Victoria Park Road, Hackney, E3 5SN. Nearest station: Bethnal Green or Mile End. For more information, visit the Field Day website.

• 24 – 26 June : Fold Festival

Nile Rodgers hosts and performs at his very own festival Fold in west London. Acts include Alison Moyet, John Newman and Angie Stone, as well as Nile and Chic performing nightly. Tickets start from £60.75. Fulham Palace, Fulham Palace, Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham, SW6 6EA. Nearest station: Putney Bridge. For tickets, visit the Fold Festival website.

• 1 – 10 July : Barclaycard British Summer Time Festival

Hyde Park becomes a mini-festival for 10 days, featuring nightly concerts. Acts include Stevie Wonder, Massive Attack, Patti Smith, Take That, Mumford And Sons, Carole King, Florence And The Machine and Kendrick Lamar, among others. Tickets range from £35 to £95. Hyde Park, W2 2UH. Nearest stations: Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge or Marble Arch. For more information and tickets, visit the BST website.

• 5 – 10 July : Greenwich Music Time

Music festival in the grounds of Greenwich’s historic Old Royal Naval College. Featuring Seal, 10CC, Jamie Cullum, David Gray and Joe Monamassa. Tickets from £32.50 to £150. 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.

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

• 7 – 17 July : Summer Series @ Somerset House

The open-air concerts in the courtyard of Somerset House returns again in July. Acts include Hiatus Kaiyote, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, Benjamin Clementine, Laura Mvula, Everything Everything, James Morrison, Courtney Barnett, Caravan Palace, St Germain and UNKLE:REDUX. Tickets range from £29.50-£35. Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA. Nearest stations: Temple or Holborn. For more information, visit the Somerset House website.

• 8 – 10 July : Wireless Festival

Wide range of music depending on your taste, with acts include Calvin Harris, The 1975, Miguel, Chase & Status, J. Cole, Craig David’s TS5, Sigma Live, Krept & Konan, Boy Better Know, Jess Gylnne, Kygo, Action Bronson and many more. Tickets start from £59.50-£62.50 plus booking fee. Finsbury Park, N4. Nearest station: Finsbury Park. For more information, visit the Wireless Festival.

• 9 July : Electric Daisy Carnival

The popular American dance music festival returns to the UK at the Milton Keynes Bowl. Includes some of the world’s biggest DJs, including Alison Wonderland, Avicii, Axwell and Ingrosso, Dimitri Vegas, Eric Prydz, Martin Solveig, Oliver Heldens, Paul Van Dyk, Andy C, Goldie, Pendulum, Roni Size & Kurst, Sigma, Duke Dumont and many more.. 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.

• 9 July : Sunfall

A new one-day festival from the teams behind Croatian festivals Dimensions and Outlook. Kicking off a day of raving in Brockwell Park, followed by eight afterparties across south London. Tickets from £50. Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, SE24 0PA. Nearest station: Herne Hill. For more information, visit the Sunfall website.

• 12 – 17 July : Kew The Music

Five day festival featuring big names including Simply Red, Bjorn Again, Jools Holland, Will Young, Gipsy Kings and The Corrs performing at outdoor picnic concerts against the backdrop of the Victorian Temperate House at Kew Gardens. Tickets start from £44. Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens), Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB. Nearest station: Kew Gardens. For more information, visit the Kew Gardens website.

• 15 – 16 July : Lovebox Festival

The hugely popular Lovebox returns to Victoria Park in East London. Acts include Major Lazer, Diplo, Kano, LCD Soundsystem, Jungle, Mike Snow, Chet Faker, George Clinton, Jack Garratt and many more. Tickets start from £61.25 (Friday) or £65.45 (Saturday) or £93.50 (weekend). Victoria Park, Victoria Park Road, Hackney, E3 5SN. Nearest station: Bethnal Green or Mile End. For more information, visit the Lovebox website.

Get your groove on… or rock out

• 17 July : Citadel Festival

A laidback festival, featuring music from Sigur Ros, Caribou, Lianne La Havas, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Matt Corby, Battles, Calexico, Cat’s Eyes, Submotion Orchestra. Festival also includes theatre, comedy, workshops, classes, talks, debates, Bump Roller Disco, wellbeing and more. Tickets from £54.45. Victoria Park, Victoria Park Road, Hackney, E3 5SN. Nearest station: Bethnal Green or Mile End. For tickets, visit the Citadel website.

• 30 July : Corona Sunsets

The beer brand brings it popular beach party-style gig to North Greenwich. Featuring Robin Schulz, Felix Jaehn, Sam Feldt, The Him, Riki Inocente, Norman Jay MBE, Nightmares On Wax DJ set, Crazy P Soundsystem, Coco Cole and Shocell on percussion. The festival will also include food stalls, beach games, make-up artists, markets and more. Tickets: £19.25. Meridian Quays, Greenwich Peninsula, North Greenwich, SE10. Nearest station: North Greenwich. For more information, visit the Corona Sunsets website.

• 6 August : Visions Festival

Hackney festival across six venues, featuring music, street food and craft beer festival. Acts include Young Fathers, Anna Calvi, Lindstrom, ESG, Lightning Bolt, Mykki Blanco, Gengahr, JD Sasmon and many more. Tickets £30. Venues include St John Hackney, Oval Space, The Laundry, London Fields Brewhouse, Moth Club and Netil360. Nearest stations: Cambridge Heath and London Fields, For more information, listings and tickets, visit the Visions Festival website.

• 6 August : Eastern Electrics

Dance festival featuring six stages in the grounds of Jacobean Hatfield House. Acts include Seth Troxler, The Martinez Brothers, Eats Everything,  Skream, Boddika, Derrick Carter, Groove Armada, Waze & Odyssey, Steve Lawler, Cassy, Darius Syrossian, Nick Curly, Shy FX, MJ Cole, Spoony, Artful Dodger and much more. Tickets start from £39.95. Hatfield House, Great North Road, Hatfield, Herts, AL9 5NQ. Nearest station: Hatfield (trains from Moorgate). For more information, visit the Eastern Electrics website.

• 6 August : 51st State

Explore the roots of house music, DJs include Louie Vega, David Morales, Soul II Soul Live, Roger Sanchez, Todd Terry, Kenny Dope, Dimitri From Paris, Bobby & Steve, Crystal Waters Live, Todd Edwards, Jazzie B (Soul II Soul), Joey Negro, Horse Meat Disco, Matt Jam Lamont, Artful Dodger, Spoony & Mikee B (Dreem Team) and many more. Tickets from £55. Trent Park, Cockfosters Road, Enfield, EN4 0PS. Nearest station: Cockfosters. For tickets, visit the 51st State Festival website.

• 6 – 7 August : Caught By The River Thames

Festival by the Thames, featuring live music, talks, readings, workshops and global food court. Music from Low, Super Furry Animals,  Beth Orton, Mulatu Astatke, the Sun Ra Arkestra, BE, Laura Cannell, Ryley Walker, Darren Hayman, Gwenno and Jonny Trunk. Tickets: Day  £57, Weekend pass £103. Fulham Palace, Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham, SW6 6EA. Nearest station: Putney Bridge. For tickets, visit the Caught By The River Thames website.

• 11 – 13 August : Some Voices presents Festival Headliners

London’s coolest choir Some Voices are bringing their own takes on the hits of Coldplay, Beyonce, Blur, Adele, Basement Jaxx, Pulp, Arcade Fire, Dolly Parton, Jay Z, The Verve and many more. Also featuring The Secret Forest, Field Of Dreams and Pop Up Disco. Door open 7pm. Tickets: £17. Mercato Metropolitano, 48-50 Newington Causeway, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6DR. Nearest station: Elephant & Castle. For tickets, visit the Some Voices website.

• 13 August : Chingford Get Together

Concert featuring Scouting For Girls, Toploader, Shola Ama, Livin’ Joy and more. Food and drink stalls also on site. 1-8pm. Free entry. Ridgeway Park, off Peel Close, Chingford, E4 6XU. Nearest station: Chingford (25 min walk). For more information, visit the Waltham Forest.gov.uk website.

• 13 – 14 August : Nashville Meets London

Two day country music festival featuring artists from Nashville and the UK. Featuring Logan Brill, American Young, Ty Herndon, Logan Mize, William the Conqueror, Megan O’Neill, Hannah Rose Platt, Yola Carter, Pauper Kings and Honey Ryder. Sat 13 2-10pm, Sun 14 2-9pm. Free. Canada Square Park, Docklands, E14. Nearest station: Canary Wharf. For more information, visit the Canary Wharf website.

• 20 – 21 August : V Festival

The Essex leg of the dual city festival is in Chelmsford, just outside the capital which means you can commute if you don’t fancy camping. Acts include Justin Bieber, Rihanna, SIA, David Guetta, Little Mix, Kaiser Chiefs, Faithless, Tinie Tempah, Jess Gylnne, Rita Ora, All Saints, Example, Years & Years, Big Sean and many more. 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.

• 27 – 28 August : South West Four

Clapham Common dance music festival returns for its 13th year. Acts include Rudimental Live, Andy C, Dizzee Rascal, Knife PArty, The Chemical Brothers, Above & Beyond, Carl Cox, Paul Kalkbrenner, Armand Van Helden, Blonde, Danny Tenaglia, Camo & Krooked, Redlight, Pete Tong, Sasha, Route 94 Vs Second City, Roni Size and many more.. Tickets: Saturday £59.50, Sunday 62.50, Weekend £117.50. Clapham Common, SW4. Nearest tube: Clapham Common. For more information and tickets, visit the South West Four website.

• 28 – 29 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.

• 29 August : House Of Common

One-day music festival headlined by Madness. Also featuring Toots And The Maytals, David Rodigan, Congo Natty’s UK All Stars, Mike Skinner and Murkage pres Tonga, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Ms Dynamite, Norman Jay MBE, Craig Charles, Spring King, Rob Da Bank, Toddla T, Terry Farley, Kiko Bun and Reggae Roast DJs. 12-10.30pm. Tickets: £47.81. Clapham Common, SW4. Nearest tube: Clapham Common. For tickets, visit the Madness website. For more information, check out Metro Girl’s blog post on the festival.

• 2 – 4 September : One Love Festival

Festival which promotes the message of the late Bob Marley, with reggae and ragga music, amongst others. Features music from Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Junior Reid, Big Youth, Max Romeo, Half Pint, Kabaka Pyramid, Jah9, The Congos, I Kong, Sister Nancy and many more. Tickets: Weekend £140, Day £47. Hainault Forest Country Park, Hainault, Essex. For more information and tickets, visit the One Love website.

• 10 September : Feelings Summer Fete

One day dance spectacular to mark the approaching end of summer. Featuring fun fair, independent record market, gourmet street food and craft beers. DJs include Joe Claussel, Mike Dunn, DJ Alfredo, Mark E, Kon, Dan Beaumont, Cosmic Tom, FYI Chris and many more. 11am-11pm. Tickets: £15-£25. Greenwich Peninsula, North Greenwich, SE10. Nearest station: North Greenwich. For more information, visit the Feelings LDN website.

• 10 – 11 September : OnBlackheath

Music festival on Blackheath Common featuring live music and great food. Featuring Primal Scream, Belle & Sebastian, Hot Chip, James, Roisin Murphy, Lonelady, Squeeze, Soak and Rosie Lowe. 12-10.30pm. Tickets: Adult day: £56.70-£62.10. Adult weekend: £106.92. Blackheath Common, SE3 0UA. Nearest station: Lewisham, Blackheath or Greenwich. For more information, visit the On Blackheath website.

• 11 September : Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park

Radio 2 hosts a one day music festival, featuring Sir Elton John, Gregory Porter, Jamie Lawson, Madness, LeAnn Rimes, Status Quo, Travis and Andreya Triana. Hyde Park, W2 2UH. Nearest stations: Hyde Park Corner or Marble Arch. For more information, visit the BBC website.

• 15 – 18 September : Stow Festival

Music festival returns to Walthamstow, East London. Artists TBA. Ticket prices TBA. Ye Old Rose & Crown, 55 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17 4SA. Nearest station: Walthamstow Central. For more information, visit the Stow Festival website.

For a guide to London’s open-air and pop-up cinemas this summer, click here.

For a guide to what’s on in London in September, click here.

For a guide to London’s urban beaches this summer, click here.

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