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

• 3 June : Camden Rocks

Hard rock and metal festival featuring over 250 bands (big names and underground talent) at 25 venues around NW1. This year’s line-up includes Feeder, The Coral, The Damned, The Rifles, Milburn, Reverend And The Makers, The Professionals, Royal Republic and many more. Tickets: £39.50. For tickets, visit the Camden Rocks website.

• 3 June : Field Day

Popular festival returns to East London, featuring performances from Aphex Twin, Dr John Cooper Clarke, Lady Leshurr, Flamingods, Omar Suleyman and many more. 11.30am-11pm. Tickets: £64.50 (online). Victoria Park, Victoria Park Road, Hackney, E3 5SN. Nearest stations: Bethnal Green or Mile End. For more information, visit the Field Day website.

• 4 June : Mighty Hoopla

A pure pop extravaganza comes to north-east London, featuring live music, DJs, bingo, fun fair rides, giant ball pit, karaoke, cooking talks, bars, food and more. Acts include Years & Years, All Saints, Will Young, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Fleur East, Charlotte Church’s Late Night Pop Dungeon, Snap!, Alison Limerick, Jodie Harsh and more. Tickets from £30. Finsbury Park, Harringay, N4. Nearest station: Finsbury Park. For more information, visit the Mighty Hoopla website.

• 7 – 24 June : Hampton Court Palace Festival

Big names perform against the backdrop of the historic palace. Acts include Bryan Ferry, James Morrison, Amy McDonald, Will Young’s Jazz Sessions, Van Morrison, Jools Holland, Bjorn Again, Corinne Bailey Rae, Ricky Astley and Michael Ball with Alfie Boe. Tickets range from £39.50-£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.

• 9 – 18 June : Meltdown

This year’s Meltdown Festival is curated by M.I.A. Acts include Young M.A., Tommy Genesis, Young Fathers, Soulwax, Afrikan Boy, Block Party with Rinse FM, Giggs, Yung Lean, Princess Nokia, Hip-Hop Karaoke, Crystal Castles and more. Ticket prices vary. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XX. Nearest station: Waterloo or Embankment. For more information, visit the Southbank Centre website.

• 10 June : Bushstock Festival

One day music festival across Shepherd’s Bush. Acts include The Staves, Áine Cahill, Basia Bulat, Benjamin Francis, Leftwich, Bruno Major, Colouring, Cortes, Gordi, Isaac Gracie, Jade Bird, John Joseph Brill, Jordan Mackampa, Krusoe, Liv Dawson, Methyl Ethel, Noctürn, Outlya, Rhys Lewis, Spring King, Ten Tonnes, Tender Central and The Wandering Hearts. Tickets: Tickets from £30. At multiple venues across W12. For more information, visit the festival’s website.

• 10 June : Southport Weekender Festival

Long-running music weekender comes to London for one-day only. Featuring Kerri Chandler, Roger Sanchez, David Morales, Tony Humphries, Julie McKnight, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Jazzie B, LTJ Bukem, Fabio & Grooverider, Detroit Swindle, Osunlade, Delano Smith, Derrick Carter, Joey Negro, Grant Nelson, Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson, CJ Mackintosh, Booker T and many more. 12pm-10pm. Tickets from £45. Finsbury Park, N4. Nearest station: Finsbury Park. For booking, visit the Southport Weekender Festival website.

• 15 – 18 June : Live At Chelsea

Long weekend of open air concerts at historic home of the Chelsea Pensioners. Featuring Ludovico Einaudi, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Belle & Sebastian. Tickets from £38.50. Royal Hospital Chelsea, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, SW3 4SR. Nearest station: Sloane Square. For tickets, visit the Live At Chelsea website.

• 30 June – 2 July : Love Supreme

Jazz festival in leafy Sussex, featuring The Jacksons, George Benson, Gregory Porter, Herbie Hancock, Laura Mvula, Corinne Bailey Rae, the Robert Glasper Experiment and many more. Tickets: Day £59.50, Weekend camping £165. Glynde Place, Lewes, Sussex, BN8 6SX. Nearest station: Glynde (trains from Victoria or London Bridge). For more inforation, visit the festival’s website.

• 30 June – 7 July : Greenwich Music Time

Music festival in the grounds of Greenwich’s historic Old Royal Naval College. Featuring The Jacksons, Cliff Richard, Little Mix, Alexander O’Neal and Michael Ball and Alfie Boe. Tickets from £29.50 to £75. 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.

The British Summer Time festival returns to Hyde Park

• 30 June – 9 July : Barclaycard British Summer Time Festival

Hyde Park becomes a mini-festival for 10 days, featuring nightly concerts. Acts include Phil Collins, Green Day, Justin Bieber, Kings Of Leon, The Killers, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, among others. Tickets start from £62.50. Hyde Park, W2 2UH. Nearest stations: Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge or Marble Arch. For more information and tickets, visit the BST website.

• 1 July : Community Festival

Catfish and the Bottlemen headline the one-day festival at Finsbury Park. The Wombats, Slaves, Nothing But Thieves, Fickle Friends, The Hunna, Darlia and RedFaces. 11.30am-10pm. Tickets from £40.30. Finsbury Park, Harringay, N4. Nearest station: Finsbury Park. For more information, visit the Community Festival website.

• 6 – 16 July : Summer Series @ Somerset House

The open-air concerts in the courtyard of Somerset House returns again in July. Acts include Norah Jones, Damian Marley, The Cinematic Orchestra, Goldfrapp, Warpaint, The Robert Glasper Experiement, Birdy, Foster The People, Tom Misch, Mashrou Leila and Songhoy Blues. Tickets range from £29.50. Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA. Nearest stations: Temple or Holborn. For more information, visit the Somerset House website.

• 7 – 9 July : Wireless Festival

Wide range of music depending on your taste, with acts include Chance The Rapper, Skepta, The Weeknd, Nas, Bryson Tiller, G-Eazy, Fetty Wap, Zara Larsson, Big Narstie, Tim Westwood, Travis Scott, Sean Paul, Wiley and many more. Tickets start from £55-£62 plus booking fee. Finsbury Park, Harringay, N4. Nearest station: Finsbury Park. For more information, visit the Wireless Festival.

• 11 – 16 July : Kew The Music

Outdoor picnic concerts against the backdrop of the Victorian Temperate House at Kew Gardens. Featuring big names Mary J Blige, James, Razorlight, Passenger, All Saints, Melanie C, and Hacienda Classical. 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.

• 14 – 15 July : Lovebox

The hugely popular Lovebox returns to Victoria Park in East London. Acts include Frank Ocean, Jamie XX, Mac Miller, Rag’n’bone Man, Solange, Eats Everything, Seth Troxler, Chase & Status, Kano, Annie Mac, EZ, Jess Glynne, Andy C, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Norman Jay, Jazzie B, Horse Meat Disco and many more. Tickets: Friday from £77, Saturday from £72.25 and Weekend from £126. Victoria Park, Victoria Park Road, Hackney, E3 5SN. Nearest station: Bethnal Green or Mile End. For more information, visit the Lovebox website.

• 15 July : Let’s Rock London!

Retro festival with top acts from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s hosted by Pat Sharp and Dave Benson Phillips, featuring The Human League, Sister Sledge, Howard Jones, Roland Gift, Heaven 17, T’Pau, Boney M, Chesney Hawkes, Toyah and more. 11am-10.30pm. Tickets: Adults £48.50, Children £23.10. Clapham Common, SW4. Nearest station: Clapham Common. For tickets, visit the Let’s Rock London! website.

• 16 July : Citadel Festival

A laidback festival, featuring music from Foals, Bonobo, Wild Beasts, Laura Marling, Michael Kiwanuka, A Blaze Of A Feather and many more. Festival also includes theatre, comedy, workshops, classes, talks, debates, roller disco, wellbeing and more. Tickets from £55. Victoria Park, Victoria Park Road, Hackney, E3 5SN. Nearest station: Mile End or Bethnal Green. For tickets, visit the Citadel website.

• 22 – 23 July : Ealing Blues Festival

Two day blues festival featuring The Blockheads, Mungo Jerry, Tom Walker Band, Laura Holland Band, Bourbon Street Revival, Du Bellows, Amy Mayes Band and many more. Tickets: £5-£12. Walpole Park, Ealing, W5 5HS. Nearest station: South Ealing or Ealing Broadway. For more information, visit the Ealing Summer Festival website.

• 29 July : Livestock

Live music festival in the stunning surrounds of Forty Hall Farm in Enfield. Featuring 20 live bands across 3 stages, including The Kubricks, Soul Kinda Wonderful, California Screaming, Springsteen: A Tribute to The Boss, Boom La Tete, Laura Holland, Southbound, Blues Chapter, Ulysses The Band, Lester Clayton and many more. Lots of children’s activities too. Tickets: Adults £15-£25, Children 11-15 yrs £5, under 11 – free. Forty Hall Farm, Enfield, EN2 9HA. Nearest station: Turkey Street. For tickets, visit the Livestock website.

• 29 – 30 July : Ealing Jazz Festival

Courtney Pine featuring Omar, Ebo Taylor, Nubiyan Twist, Kenny Garrett Quintet, Mammal Hands, Remi Harris, Agata Kubiak, Matt Findlay Sextet and many more, Tickets: £5-£12. Walpole Park, Ealing, W5 5HS. Nearest station: South Ealing or Ealing Broadway. For more information, visit the Ealing Summer Festival website.

• 30 July : MySliceFest

Music and pizza festival – what’s not to like? Acts include Delilah, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Bluey Robinson, Sammy Porter, Guy D’Angelo, DJ Rugrat and many more. Doors open 12pm. Tickets from £25. Wembley Park, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0TU. Nearest station: Wembley Park. For tickets, visit MySliceFest website.

• 5 August : Visions Festival

Hackney festival across six venues, featuring music, street food and craft beer festival. Acts include Liars, Sophie, Jenny Hval, Blanck Mass, Zebra Katz, The Men, Helado Negro, Noga Erez 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.

• 5 August : Eastern Electrics

Dance festival has moved from Hatfield House to central London. Acts include Ame, Art Department, Carl Cox, Darius Syrossian, Dennis Ferrer, Guti (live), Hot Since 82, Mind Against, My Nu Leng & Dread MC, Skream, Steve Lawler and many more. 11am-10pm. Tickets from £39.95. Morden Park, Morden, SM4. Nearest station: Morden South. For more information, visit the Eastern Electrics website.

Dance festival 51st State returns to North London

• 5 August : 51st State

Explore the roots of house music, DJs include Masters At Work, Louie Vega, Kenny Dope, Dimitri From Paris, Derrick Carter, Todd Terry, Wookie, Matt Jam Lamont, Artful Dodger, Byron Stingily, Bobby & Steve, Shola Ama, Norris Da Boss Windross, Ramsey & Fen, Barbara Tucker, Omar, Norman Jay MBE, and many more. Tickets from £40. Trent Park, Cockfosters Road, Enfield, EN4 0PS. Nearest station: Cockfosters. For tickets, visit the 51st State Festival website.

• 12 August : Sunfall Festival

A one-day festival from the teams behind Croatian festivals Dimensions and Outlook. Acts include Horse Meat Disco, Antal, Beautiful Swimmers, Derrick May, The Black Madonna, Gilles Peterson, Jackmaster, Larry Heard, Jay Electronica, Madlib, Roy Ayers, Shanti Celeste, IG Culture, Eric Lau and many more. Tickets from £50. Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, SE24 0PA. Nearest station: Herne Hill. For more information, visit the Sunfall website.

• 19 – 20 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 Pink, Jay Z, Madness, Busted, Craig David, Clean Bandit, Ellie Goulding, Dizzee Rascal, Ella Eyre, Emeli Sande, George Ezra, Gorgon City, James Arthur, Jason Derulo, Jess Gylnne, Krept & Konan, Pete Tong, Rudimental, Sean Paul, Scouting For Girls, Stormzy, Steve Aoki, The Vamps, The Wailers 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.

• 26 – 27 August : South West Four

Clapham Common dance music festival returns for its 14th year. Acts include Pendulum, Deadmau5, Tinie Tempah, Marco Carola, Eric Prydz, Knife Party, Sigma Live, Steve Vath, Example and many more. Tickets: Saturday from £57.50, Sunday from £55, Weekend £105. Clapham Common, SW4. Nearest station: Clapham Common. For more information and tickets, visit the South West Four website.

• 27 – 28 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.

• 28 August : House Of Common

One-day music festival headlined by Madness. Also featuring Craig Charles, Dave Rodigan, Dawn Penn, De La Soul, Hackney Colliery Road, Skatalites, Toddla T and more. 12-10.30pm. Tickets from £39.38. Clapham Common, SW4. Nearest station: Clapham Common. For tickets, visit the Madness website.

• 1 – 3 September : One Love Festival

Festival which promotes the message of the late Bob Marley, with reggae and ska music, amongst others. Features music from Derrick Morgan, U Roy, Horace Andy, Benjamin Zephaniah, Black Slate, Delroy Williams and the Sons Of Africa, Michael Prophet, Capital Letters, Vin Gordon and many more. Tickets: Weekend £140, Day £47. Colebrook Lakes, High Weald AONB, 19 Kingstanding Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2. Nearest station: High Brooms (trains from Charing Cross). For more information and tickets, visit the One Love website.

• 9 – 10 September : OnBlackheath

Music festival on Blackheath Common featuring live music and great food. Acts include Travis, The Libertines, Metronomy, Seasick Steve, De La Soul, Jake Bugg, Steve Mason, KT Tunstall, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Tom Grennan, Black Honey and more. Tickets – Day: £49.50, Weekend: £90. Blackheath Common, SE3 0UA. Nearest station: Lewisham, Blackheath or Greenwich. For more information, visit the OnBlackheath website.

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

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

To find out where London’s urban beaches are this summer, click here.

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