4 SUMMER FESTIVALS TO HEADLINE YOUR UK VACATION

Summer is sneaking up fast and that means it’s time to make your plans if you haven’t already. London has loads to take in but for our money here are a few of our favorite picks for the best festivals of June and July. Note that our choices are in chronological order and not necessarily in order of personal preference.

1. Field Day Festival

Field Day Festival will be held June 6 and 7 at London’s Victoria Park and has made its reputations as one of the most eclectic and classy of the summer music festivals and this year is no exception. “This year’s line-up is a triumph,” according to British Airways and their guide to touring the city of London. They note that the festival includes acts such as Patti Smith, Ride Caribou, Todd Terje, FKA Twigs and many more making Field Day one of the must-see festivals of the summer.

2. Taste of London

There’s a lot more than just music to take in during your stay in London so it behooves one to expand their horizons and really check out all the city has to offer. Taste of London is a popular festival perfect for the gourmand on the go. This delicious multi-day extravaganza will take place June 17-21 and features some of the world’s best dishes, restaurants and chefs on displays. Attendees will have the opportunity to eat and learn with top gastronomists including Michelin-starred Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes.

3. Wireless

For music fans looking for a party with their favorite pop and hip-hop stars then the Wireless festival is the place to be. The three-day festival is celebrating its 10 year anniversary will take place from July 3-5 and boasts some of the biggest names in rap with modern day icons like Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Nicki Minaj joining legends of the game including Public Enemy, De La Soul, Grandmaster Flash and founding Wu-Tang emcees Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. The stellar line-up has fans and promoters hyped up for this summer. “This is our 10th birthday and we’re really going to make it one to remember,” Live Nation festival promoter Steve Homer told The Guardian. This is easily the best line-up of rap acts that the UK will see all year so b-boys and b-girls from Britain should buy their tickets quickly.

4. Citadel Festival

Citadel Festival has become one of the best-kept secrets in the festival world for daring fans of discerning taste. The arts and culture event features an impeccably well-curated line-up of some of the world’s most exciting underground acts along with discussions and talks on current affairs with special guest speakers on July 19 in London’s Victoria Park. The blog for Time Out London reports that the new festival aims to have a stronger emphasis on arts and culture than most traditional festivals. But that doesn’t mean that the show lacks for terrific names on the bills. Fans can catch Ben Howard and Bombay Bicycle Club along with the psychedelic sounds of Kurt Vile and the Violators along with New York City guitarist Steve Gunn. Be sure not to miss what’s sure to be a very special performance from the inimitable Neneh Cherry.

You should now be armed with enough information to make the right choice for your trip. Now hurry up and make sure you get your tickets because a lot of these festivals are already selling out. Go out and beat the heat to some of the best sounds around.