10 alternative UK festivals you should add to your summer hit list

Give Glastonbury a miss this year and head top one of the UK’s awesome lesser-known festivals, where you’ll find music, mischief and glitter galore. From immersive theatre to holistic spas, forest feasts to cosmic laughter waggons – read on for your ultimate summer festival guide.

1) Boomtown Fair

Prepare for three days of disco and debauchery when you walk into this trippy town, which is constructed from scratch every year in the woods of Winchester. You’ll find districts with mini clubs live music, comedy and street theatre. Put on your badass trainers and head to the ASBO disco or Legs Akimbo’s Church for an interactive party church service featuring the best in soul, blues and disco tunes. And as for activities, let’s just say chalk carving and hula-hoop making are amongst the more normal options!

When? 7th-12th August 2019
Where? Matterly Estate, Winchester
More info: boomtownfair.co.uk

2) Festival No. 6

This unique festival is set in a picturesque coastal village in Wales. Think immersive theatre, street carnivals and dancing under the stars to the likes of Metronomy, James Bay and Everything Everything. For accommodation, there’s Camping, yurting or you can go all-out fairytale and stay in The Castell Deudraeth. Ticket prices include half price virgin train fares. They’re taking a year off in 2019, but are set to return bigger and better than ever in 2020 – we can’t wait!

Where? Portmeirion, Wales
More info: festivalnumber6.com

3) Green Man Festival

Channel your inner wild thing with the stunning backdrop of the Welsh Black Mountains for a weekend of nature, quality music and partying. Kick things off with a cheeky cider in the walled garden or a pint of real ale from the Green Man Pub, before heading to the Hidden Valley to watch headliners Four Tet and Father John Misty. And they’ve even converted a double decker bus with hot tubs on the top deck and sauna on the lower deck.

When? 15th-18th August 2019
Where? Brecon Beacons, Wales
More info: greenman.net

4) Eastern Electrics Festival

Among the best alternative festivals and arguably the best festival for underground dance music and discovering new artists. Eight stages take over the grounds of this historic estate on the outskirts of London for a 24 hours of nonstop party, with a killer lineup every year. Choose from TWO after parties – one on-site until 6am and one in King’s Cross until 10am. Go hard or go home with this one!

When? 3rd-4th August 2019
Where? Hatfield House, London
More info: easternelectrics.com

5) Latitude Festival

The festival of imagination is back with an unbeatable lineup. This year there’s a new holisitic area with therapists, yoga, treatments, hot tubs and seaweed baths. But don’t be fooled, at night this tranquil oasis transforms into a party island with an Electroshack promising “a sizzling array of upbeat earworms”. Sign us up!

When? 18th – 21st July 2019
Where? Henham Park, Suffolk
More info: latitudefestival.com

6) Wilderness Festival

The festival maestros behind Secret Garden Party and Lovebox have come up trumps again: Wilderness festival is only a few years old, but has already won our hearts with its magical location deep in the forest and stellar line-up. Go wild swimming in the spring-fed lake or take part in tribal-esque workshops such as “Hunter, Gather, Cook” and hot coal walking. Wilderness is also a foodie’s paradise with a huge array of street food trucks, as well as banquets hosted by world-renowned chefs such as Raymond Blanc and Mark Hix.

When? 1st-4th August 2019
Where? Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
More info: wildernessfestival.com

7) WOMAD Festival

If you’re after a multi-cultural, multi-sensory experience, then this is the festival for you. This year’s eclectic line-up includes hip-hop legends, as well as world artists from Syria, Tibet, Mali, Senegal and South Africa. There’s an epic food market and plenty of feel-good activities from laughter yoga to acupuncture.

When? 25th-28th July 2019
Where? Charlton Park, Malmesbury
More info: womad.co.uk

8) One Love Festival

The UK’s number one reggae and dub festival has relocated to a farm in Kent due to popular demand. Spreading Bob Marley’s message of peace and love, the festival attracts a happy and diverse crowd and you can jam to music in four arenas of roots, lovers’ rock, dub, ska and reggae music. Sunday is all about the infamous Battle of the Dub Plates.

When? 30th August – 1st September 2019
Where? Coxford Down, Hampshire
More info: onelovefestival.co.uk

9) Standon Calling Festival

These guys are inviting you to take a trip out for a lazy weekend of swimming in the outdoor pool, watching live music on the lawn and partying ‘til sunrise. The guests take the fancy dress competition very seriously, so make sure you put the effort in. This year’s line-up includes Wolf Alice, Rag n Bone Man and Nile Rogers.

When? 25th – 28th July 2019
Where? Hertfordshire
More info: standon-calling.com

10) Supernormal

This is the ultimate experimental arts and music festival. This alternative festival, originally evolved from an artist’s workshop, Supernormal has stayed true to its humble beginnings and kept it a non-profit, community-based event with a capacity of just 1,500. One highlight is the travelling cinema, built from pieces of wreckage salvaged from a 1920s picture house. Expect the unexpected – nothing is too weird here.

When? 2nd-4th August 2019
Where? Braziers Park, Oxford
More info: supernormalfestival.co.uk

What’s your favourite alternative UK festival? Let us know in the comments below!