Every summer, like clockwork, Glastonbury dominates the UK festival conversation.
And fair enough – it’s iconic and tends to secure some of the most talented names in music.
But while everyone’s obsessing over Pyramid Stage headliners and Worthy Farm mud forecasts, a wave of equally thrilling, genre-spanning festivals is quietly redefining the live music scene across the UK.
From superstar-studded bills in central London to transformative woodland retreats, these alternatives aren’t just second choices – they’re experiences that offer something far more unique than Glastonbury.
Whether you want cutting-edge curation, family-friendly vibes, superstar one-offs, or deep-woodland wellness, this year’s Glasto alternatives cover more musical and cultural ground than ever.
They’re easier to access, often more affordable, and come without the ticket scramble of a lifetime. Maybe it’s time we all looked beyond Worthy Farm.
Here are the 2025 music festivals you should be talking about:
BST Hyde Park (June & July, London)
Better headliners than Glastonbury?
BST Hyde Park is back for summer 2025, bringing another blockbuster season of superstar performances and one-off shows. Now firmly established as a must-do on London’s cultural calendar, the festival draws hundreds of thousands of fans each year.
Spanning three weekends in June and July, the 2025 edition features an all-star lineup including Olivia Rodrigo (27 June), Zach Bryan (28 & 29 June), Noah Kahan (4 July), Sabrina Carpenter (5 & 6 July), Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts (11 July), Stevie Wonder (12 July), and ELO (13 July).
All Points East (August, London)
East London’s heavyweight contender.
Victoria Park’s All Points East has built a reputation for boundary-pushing lineups, and 2025 continues the tradition.
This year brings Chase & Status (16 Aug), Barry Can’t Swim (22 Aug), RAYE (23 Aug), and the long-awaited return of The Maccabees (24 Aug). And with more names to come, it’s shaping up to be a highlight of the late-summer calendar.
LIDO Festival (June, London)
The new kid with a killer lineup.
A fresh face with big ambition, LIDO Festival lands in Victoria Park this June with an eclectic, high-energy roster: Massive Attack (6 June), Jamie xx (7 June), Turnstile’s Outbreak Fest (13 June), Charli XCX’s ‘party girl’ experience (14 June), and London Grammar (15 June). Expect the unexpected.
Solstice at Wasing (21 June, Berkshire)
The mindful music retreat.
Forget crowds and queues—how about a magical solstice concert under the stars with James Blake, set deep in the Berkshire countryside? Solstice at Wasing blends music, nature, and well-being, with extras like wild swimming, lakeside saunas, and forest workshops. A one-day festival that might just change your whole vibe.
SMTOWN LIVE in London (28 June, Twickenham)
K-pop’s biggest names in one mega-concert.
For one night only, London will host SMTOWN LIVE—an all-star K-pop celebration marking SM Entertainment’s 30th anniversary. Think: TVXQ!, Girls’ Generation’s Hyoyeon, EXO’s SUHO and CHANYEOL, Red Velvet, aespa, NCT DREAM, RIIZE, and more. A first-of-its-kind Europe-exclusive spectacle.
BLUDFEST (21 June, Milton Keynes)
YUNGBLUD’s festival of chaos and community.
After a breakout debut, BLUDFEST is back and bigger than ever. Held at The National Bowl in Milton Keynes, 2025’s genre-hopping lineup features Chase Atlantic, blackbear, Denzel Curry, Rachel Chinouriri, Peach PRC—and of course, YUNGBLUD himself. Loud, defiant, and fiercely inclusive.
Warwick Sessions (2–6 July, Warwick)
Historic setting, diverse sounds.
Set in the shadow of Warwick Castle, this five-day festival offers an eclectic mix of pop, punk, soul, and indie. Highlights include Train, Beverley Knight and Will Young, The Stranglers, Craig David, and elbow. A perfect fusion of heritage and high-energy performances.
Y Not Festival (31 July–3 August, Derbyshire)
The underdog with massive mainstages.
Y Not’s 2025 lineup reads like a playlist you’d actually want to press play on: The Prodigy, Courteeners, Madness, The Wombats, Primal Scream, Franz Ferdinand, Sigrid, and Annie Mac, among many others. Set in the stunning Peak District, it’s a classic weekend escape with serious sound credentials.
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