Look Ahead To 2024’s Culture and Music Festivals
It’s never too early to start the planning process, especially when there’s the possibility for a bit of glamping or setting sails on the high seas. We’ve pulled together the latest memorandum of literary, music and avant-garde festival events coming to Britain in 2024!
Expand vocabulary boundaries in the lit(eral) sense at these literary festivals
Oxford literary Festival – Oxford
16 – 24 March 2024
Boasting big partnerships such as Netflix, the University of Oxford and the Financial Times, the Oxford Literary Festival incorporates all aspects of the literary world. Enjoy bookshops, wine tastings, and evening strolls with your favourite author. Take part in creative writing workshops, literary dining experiences and dynamic lectures with well-known faces in the industry in tasteful venues around the city.
Hay Festival – Wales
23 May – 2 June 2024
An event flooded with talent, Hay’s Festival offers guest a chance to collaborate with the creative industry’s leading writers, comedians, musicians, poets and more! Commencing over 11 days, the festival promises to inspire and entertain those who seek a bit of fun, community, and imagination. Enjoy performances, bookshops, workshops and readings in spaces accessible for all guests.
Bude Literary Festival – Cornwall
May 2024
Held annually in north east Cornwall, Bude Literary Festival celebrates scholars and writers, offering visitors a chance to enhance their skills in unique workshops. Polish the poem that has been saved on the desktop for months, or dive into the world of fiction and ignite the dormant details of another universe once lost. The festival offers guests the chance to meet the authors, filmmakers, and artists behind their favourite works!
Bradford Literature Festival – Yorkshire
28 June – 7 July 2024
Find the passion and power of literature at Bradford Festival. Located just outside Leeds the festival features a diverse ensemble of performers, artists, and authors. Dedicated to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to take part in celebration of the arts, culture and literature, Bradford festival introduced ‘ethical ticketing’, allowing free entry to anyone who may not have the opportunity to attend otherwise.
Penzance Literary Festival – Cornwall
July 2024
Quite aptly named after its location, the Penzance ‘litfest’ brings together celebrated authors, up and coming writers, and creators seeking a space to appreciate the written word, and dive passionately into discussion. Located in the friendly Cornish village of Penzance, this ‘litfest’ offers writing workshops, celebrated guest speakers all within proximity to sandy beaches, museums and incredible cliffs on the coast of Cornwall.
Jane Austen Festival – Bath
13 – 22 September 2024
Home to a few classics and inspiration to many more, Bath hosts the annual and longest-ever running, Jane Austen Festival. Come for the regency era dress and stay for the 10 day long immersive experience. Join fellow Jane Austen enthusiasts on guided walks, lavish balls, theatre shows, and teleport back to the Georgian era for a chance to truly dive into Austen’s world.
Literature Festival at Sea – Southampton
13 – 20 November 2024
Take a chance to set sail in more than the imagination on this 7-day cruise from Southampton. Dive into more than just a few pages aboard the Queen Mary 2 and explore the high seas with fellow bookworms and mingle with authors, journalists, critics, historians and more. Celebrate literature and culture surrounded by like-minded peers.
Prepare to enter the regal world of festivals
Chelsea Flower Show – Chelsea, London
21 – 25 May 2024
Noted as the apex of architectural garden design, the annual Chelsea Flower Show focuses on the season’s top gardener extraordinaries. Showcasing their powerful landscape designs and setting the tone for the incoming floral trends. Always accompanied by a theme, next year’s show is sure to be a spectacle!
Royal Ascot – Windsor
18 - 22 June 2024
Founded by Queen Anne, the Royal Ascot Racecourse has been a prominent spectacle for over 300 years. Every summer during the month of June, the races kick-off, with 5 days of flat horse-racing in the scenic countryside. Enjoy treats and drinks in your best dress (headpiece optional) and maybe even spot a royal!
Royal Highland Show – Edinburgh
20 – 23 June 2024
Hosted in the city of Edinburgh, the Royal Highland Show celebrates the best food, farming techniques and ancient traditions of the country. Discover the rural side of Scotland, with a fresh spin on modern living. From sheep shearing to shopping, there is an event to catch everyone’s eye.
Royal Henley Regatta – Oxfordshire
2 – 7 July 2024
One of the most elite regatta events in the world, the Royal Henley Regatta boast the most, with over 300 races spanning just 6 days. Follow the sound of rushing water and cheering crowds to find the perfect viewing spot and enjoy the celebrated spectacle with drinks, sweet treats, and good friends.
Celebrate the best of British culture at these unforgettable music festivals
Rockaway Beach Festival – Bognor Regis, West Sussex
5 – 7 Jan 2024
Head over to the beach for a vibrant atmosphere, eclectic artists, and a top-notch experience. Relax by the waves and immerse in the captivating music while enjoying the stunning view. Embrace in the ultimate music getaway and let Rockaway Beach Festival be the soundtrack to an extraordinary experience by the sea.
Liverpool Sound City – Liverpool
4 – 5 May 2024
Sound City plans to return with a bang in 2024! A promise to showcase the finest talent from around the globe, this unforgettable 3-day event will bring together established stars and rising artists, capturing the essence of the city’s musical spirit. Don’t miss out on this incredible journey through the world of new music, crafted by 16 years of experience and expertise.
Download Rock Festival – Derby
14 – 16 June 2024
Rock your summer with a ticket at Download Rock Festival, the colossal rock event held at the legendary Donnington Park, also known as the original place of rock. Join thousands of passionate fans for an electrifying experience full of headbanging, guitar strumming experiences across 16 stages from top-tier rock bands. Unleash your inner rockstar and immerse in the celebration of all things rock!
Isle of Wight Festival – Newport
20 – 23 June 2024
Always known as the initiator of the summer season, the Isle of Wight continues to attract top talent, and festival fanatics from all over the world. Renowned for its line-up of iconic legends and incredible atmosphere, the festival continues to smash the bar every year. Expect stunning views, glamourous camps, engaging artists and unforgettable memories.
Park Life Festival – Manchester
June 2024
Experience the ultimate music extravaganza in the heart of Manchester. This annual two-day event showcases an impressive line-up of genres, from dance to rock and electric to grime. Now a non-camping event, this festival has quickly developed the reputation of showcasing quite a few music legends such as, The 1975, George Ezra, the Wu Tang Clan and so many more!
Dance to the front of these eclectic festivals that offer more than music
Celtic Connections – Glasgow, Scotland
18 Jan – 4 Feb 2024
Celtic Connections is the annual celebration of Celtic music in Scotland, bridging together cultures from around the globe. The festival features over 2,000 artists of different genres, once in a lifetime collaboration, exciting workshops, open events, and the chance to feel like an honorary Scot during a spontaneous Ceilidh* (*social gathering)!
Brit Fest – Cheshire
5 – 7 July 2024
Just like Britain, this festival has something for everyone. From traditional classic cuisine like fish and chips, to an assorted range of tasteful street food vendors. Alongside top tier entertainment, visitors have the option to woodcraft and whittle or even slip quietly into a silent disco. Brit Fest celebrates the finest of British tradition and culture by curating a melting pot of the country’s best.
Goodwood Festival of Speed – West Sussex
11 – 14 July 2024
More than just a motorsport event, Goodwood Festival has something for the amateurs, the fanatics, and even the novice. Discover the latest on F1 technology and meet the creators behind it. Wander the incredible Goodwood estate to find the rally stage featuring pilot legends racing against the clock in iconic, top of the line machinery. Satisfy the need for speed with an immersive experience behind the wheel and race with the newest tech.
Truck Festival – Oxfordshire
26 – 28 July 2024
A festival created to stand out from the rest, Truck Festival celebrates the whacky side of all thing’s entertainment. Discover the newest emerging talents alongside a few established ones and experience the unique part of festival life at Truck Festival.
Get ready for a year of rejuvenation with the ultimate wellbeing festivals
Rebalance Bath- Festival of Wellbeing – Bath
25 Jan – 2 Feb 2024
Immerse in a transformative journey that celebrates holistic wellness and rejuvenation. Unwind in the serene setting of Bath, a city renowned for its healing waters and historic charm. Indulge in workshops from mindfulness and nutrition to self-care. Experience the magic of ancient healing practices and the latest trends in wellness, all tailored to enhance overall wellbeing.
The Big Retreat Festival – Pembrokeshire
24 – 27 May 2024
Adventure by day and relaxation by night is possible at one of Britain’s top wellness festivals next Spring. Choose from over 300 exciting experiences, from yoga and fitness to live music, and foraging. Inhale a breath of fresh air during yoga each morning, followed by a healthy spread of well curated festival foods, and forage onwards to the sound of live music.
Feel Good Festival – Cumbria
7 – 9 June 2024
Treat yourself to an immersive weekend in the woods. Designed to ensure each festival goer can ‘feel good,’ the festival creates a peaceful space full of dedicated workshops, farm fresh foods, energising entertainment and so much more!
Wellnergy Festival – London
Summer 2024
Escape the hustle and bustle of the big city and find music, fitness and fun entangled in the mindfulness event of the season. The Wellnergy Festival offers an exciting line-up of international DJs, local street food vendors and ample fitness courses from martial arts to Barre. As a partner of Sustainability Run, each ticket will come with the opportunity to buy and plant a tree in a developing country!
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For more information relating royal experiences in Great Britain please visit:
www.visitbritain.com/gb/en/top-royal-britain-things-do.
www.royalwarrant.org/directory
Opening dates are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.
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