Free Festivals in the UK: How To Guide
Here is your guide to attending free festivals in the UK, and which are some of the best.
How to make the most of free festivals in the UK
Attending free festivals in the UK may involve some planning to make them the best experience possible. It’s best to get your transport, accommodation and travel route sorted as early as possible, especially if you’re looking to attend popular summer festivals UK or festivals coming up soon.
Most of all, when attending free festivals in the UK, it’s most important to keep an open mind. Okay, so your chart toppers and Radio One darlings aren’t going to be on the main stage at these budget festivals.
However, consider this an opportunity to see some of the most talented, experienced, and underrated musicians in the UK. Whether you discover up-and-comers, local talent, or old hats in a niche genre, this is your opportunity to broaden your horizons and experience the unique festival atmosphere.
You never know; you may discover something that’s right up your street that you never even considered before while exploring the festival music genres and activities on offer.
What kind of free festival do you want to attend?
There are many different kinds of free festivals in the UK, so it’s worth thinking about what your interests are so you can attend events that suit you. Use a festival search to find the perfect match, whether you’re into mainstream festivals, boutique festivals, or something in between. Consider the festival age restrictions and categories to narrow down your options.
Free Food And Drink Festivals In The UK
If you’re a foodie, you might want to consider attending a food festival. For example, The Little Cheese Festival in Caerphilly is perfect for cheese lovers.
Pontyclun Food and Drink Festival or Edinburgh Food Festival are also great options to sample delicious festival food stalls.
Free Music Festivals In The UK
Much of the major festival scene revolves around music. Don’t worry there are plenty of free music festivals too, from rock festivals to indie music festivals to pop music festivals. Love blues? Try Upton Blues Festival – the most prominent blues festival in the UK.
If you’re a folk lover, there are a number of free folk festivals across the UK, including but not limited to Gloucester Folk Trail, Sheffield Folk Sessions, and Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival.
Check out this website to learn more about the UK’s free folk festivals.
Perhaps you’re interested in discovering new acts? Check out Worcester Music Festival, a great event for new bands to perform.
Interest-based free festivals
If you have a particular interest or just want to discover something a little different, there will be a festival for you.
If you’re into hot air balloons, Bristol Balloon Fiesta is the one to head to, as Europe’s largest annual hot air balloon festival.
Check out this great time-lapse of the balloons taking flight.
Into history? Why not check out Tewkesbury Medieval Festival. This one’s also great for those who like dressing up!
Or, if you’re a fan of cars, why not give Great Yarmouth Wheels Festival a go?
Consider attending local events
Another great option is to consider local events. Fetes and parties in the park may seem like the type of event from yesteryear. In fact, many of these free local events are still running today and are a great way to find a festival near me or small festivals near me.
These events are often free to enter and can include a number of entertainments and activities, including music, competitions, car shows, traders, food and drink and more. They’re perfect for those looking for day festivals UK.
If you live in London, you’re at a great advantage here. There are a number of free events and free festivals London, so you will have the pick of almost any niche that you want.
This is also a great opportunity to get out and about and connect with your own local community. Often, these types of local events are listed in the local paper, local events magazines, or online as free events UK.
So, keep an eye out for what’s happening in your area so you can get involved in local events at no cost!
How long do you want to spend at the free festival
A great idea is to think about how long you want to spend at a festival. Many free festivals take place over a day, making them perfect day festivals, but a number of them take place over a weekend or sometimes even longer.
This can be a great thing to consider as it may affect whether you want to book accommodation or not.
For instance, if you make it a day trip, you will only have to pay travel costs. However, staying for extra days may tot up in terms of accommodation and food.
The good thing is, having saved on the cost of a ticket, you will be able to spend more money on things like that to extend your stay at these cheap festivals UK.
Where will you stay?
If you do decide to stay for longer than a day, it can be helpful to put some forethought into where you can stay. Whilst some of these festivals may have festival camping attached, the majority will not.
This means you will either have to look into local hotels or see if there are any unassociated campsites that you can book. If you’re trying to save money and get the true festival experience, booking a campsite is a great option.
Of course, with van life becoming more and more popular all the time, you could go with this option and sleep your nights away in a cozy camper!
Make a summer of free festivals
If you decide to go with the campervan option, then it could become very easy to attend these festivals regularly. You could even set aside a summer to attend as many as possible and make the most of the festival season.
This could be an especially good idea if you’re working remotely. This way, you could put aside an entire summer to travel the UK, attend as many free festivals as possible, and live out of your campervan.
This way, you’re saving money on festivals and accommodation. Your only costs need to be travel and necessities such as food and drink. Doesn’t sound like a terrible way to spend a summer to me!
Make sure you plan ahead
The most important thing when it comes to attending free festivals in the UK is to plan ahead. Do your research on festival dates, locations, line-ups, and more to ensure a smooth experience.
Some of the most important things to consider will be:
- Which festivals do you want to attend?
- How do you get there?
- Where should you stay?
- Is the whole festival free, or are there areas that are ticketed?
- What budget should you need for the entire trip?
- Should you buy food there or pack a picnic?
Beyond that, the great thing about free festivals and local events is that you can just turn up and enjoy them for as long or as short a time as you like. With some festival planning, you can make the most of the festival crowds and family-friendly festivals on offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest free festival in the UK?
The biggest free festival in the UK is Notting Hill Carnival, a free festival in London that celebrates Caribbean culture.
What is the most famous festival in the UK?
The most famous festival in the UK is Glastonbury Festival. However, this is a paid festival, with festival tickets costing hundreds of pounds.
How many UK festivals are there?
There are currently around 500 festivals in the UK.
What is the biggest free festival in the world?
The biggest free festival in the world is The Donauinselfest – a music festival in Vienna, Austria.
What is a free festival?
A free festival is a festival that does not require an admission fee, and acts are performed with no charge to attendees.
Concluding attending free festivals in the UK
Overall, attending free festivals in the UK makes for a wonderful way to attend some of the best events in the country without spending a penny. From dance music festivals to free music events, there’s something for everyone.
There is no need to spend £200 for a festival ticket when some of the most original and talented musicians are playing at these festivals entirely for free.
As I said before, this is a wonderful way for you to broaden your horizons too and discover some new music you may not otherwise listen to. Embrace the festival experiences and tips on offer.
Thank you so much for reading, and I hope to see you back here again soon!
