We’ve only got today
Love music but hate spending several days cooped up in a tent and smelling a tad, eh… au-natural? Or maybe you’ve done Glasto once or twice and are not sure you are willing to commit to another full weekend of camping and dry shampoo. Well, maybe a day festival is for you. And here in the UK, we sure have a lot of them.
Dress up in your best festival gear – the more glitter and OTT accessories the better – and head to one of these festivals this summer. What’s even better is you can reach them all by train – so no need to find a designated driver. Just book yourself a day-return and leave that tent behind!
SW4
If Ibiza and Tomorrowland are just a tad over budget, hop on the train on the August Bank Holiday Weekend to Clapham Junction and head to the Common for two days the some of the best EDM, house and trance music about. This years headliners include Deadmau5 and Pendulum so it’s bound to be one of the best years yet. Plus, you’re moments from Clapham’s notorious Infernos, if you wish to keep the party momentum going into the night.
Get there: Take the train to Clapham Junction Station and follow the masses heading to Clapham Common. Along with being well-connected to stations outwith London, if you are travelling in from further afield, London Victoria and Waterloo run frequent trains to Junction.
Lovebox
Live bands, DJs and everything in between – Lovebox has perhaps one of London’s most diverse line-ups. Headed up by Frank Ocean, it’ll be his only London show this year. The two day festival in Victoria Park is also famed for having some of the best after-parties around, in iconic venues such as Central London’s Fabric – so you can easily party from dusk ’til dawn. Plus you’ll be in the heart of London – where better to enjoy a party?? Lovebox takes place on 14th and 15th July.
Get there: Victoria Park is well connected with several stations nearby. Jump on a train to either Cambridge Heath, Hackney Wick or Bethnal Green and you’ll be within strolling distance of the festival.
Wildlife
Located out at Brighton City Airport, this isn’t the most scenic festival location, but the atmosphere of this popular festival more than makes up for it. Disclosure and Rudimental are the curators of the event, which usually takes place on the second weekend of June, and they are joined by some incredible acts such as Stomzy, Wiley, Fatboy Slim and Eric Prydz. Combine this with a day or two’s recovery on Brighton beach and you are on to a winner.
Get there: Catch the train to Brighton or Worthing, where you can take a festival bus to the venue from Preston Park Brighton and Worthing Central Station.
Demon Dayz
Gorillaz fans rejoice, this Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett curated one-day festival promises the headliner’s notoriously impressive visuals along with a yet-to-be-announced line up that promises not to disappoint. It follows the release of their fifth album and will be located in the kitschy wonderland that is Dreamland Theme Park in Margate. Be there on the 10th of June to catch the spectacle.
Get there: Catch the train to Margate and stroll over to Dreamland that is a short walk away.