NEWS
EVENTS
10 Amazing Festivals Within Driving Distance Of Where You Live
The music festival is an intrinsic part of the summer scene. These events are a great opportunity to see several great music acts in a unique setting – a way of seeing your favourite acts in the flesh and discovering new up and coming bands at the same time.
Depending on where you live, there’s a good chance that a festival is within reasonably easy reach. If you’ve learnt to drive and have wheels, a wonderful choice of festivals await and are a more-than-suitable treat for that hard work spent learning how to control a car.
1. Glastonbury
If you’re in Somerset or the south-west you’re near the biggest greenfield festival in the world.
From humble beginnings in 1970, the Glastonbury Festival boasts attendance figures of around 170,000 each June.
It’s not cheap nor is it easy to get tickets but it’s well worth the expense and effort to experience this iconic event,
2. V Festival
This is held in two locations simultaneously during the penultimate weekend of August, near Chelmsford, Essex and Weston-under-Lizard in Staffordshire.
Chelmsford is within striking distance for Essex, the London area, parts of East Anglia, Hertfordshire and Kent – perfectly poised for plenty of road trippers.
Staffordshire V is well placed for visitors from the Birmingham, Midlands and even Wales being only around ten miles from Wolverhampton and close to the Shropshire border.
3. Reading and Leeds Festivals
Both share the same bill over the August bank holiday weekend. Reading is well placed for people living along the M4 corridor in Berkshire and Wiltshire and those based in Hampshire and East Sussex.
The Leeds Festival is located near Wetherby so suited to people living in not only Leeds but York, Bradford, Sheffield and further west into the Manchester and Merseyside areas.
4. Isle of Wight Festival
This famous gathering is close for those living in Hampshire and more easterly parts of Dorset. Held in June, it shouldn’t be confused with September’s Bestival, also on the Isle of Wight.
5. Rewind
Three versions of Rewind take place in Scotland (July), Cheshire and Henley-on-Thames Oxfordshire (both August).
Rewind Cheshire - held in Siddington - is conveniently placed for festival goers living in and around Manchester, Merseyside, the Midlands and north Wales. Rewind Perth would attract those living in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and the surrounding areas while Rewind Henley is ideal for those along the M4 corridor, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, parts of Hampshire, East Sussex and London.
6. T in the Park
Another Perthshire festival, T in the Park is held in Strathallan in July. Like Rewind above, it’s well placed for those living in major Scottish cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and the surrounding areas.
7. Latitude
An arts and entertainment festival, Latitude started in 2006 near the picturesque Suffolk coastal town of Southwold.
Latitude is ideal for East Anglia residents and those living further west into Northamptonshire and south towards Essex, Cambridgeshire and London who want to make the pilgrimage to the seaside for some superb music and culture.
8. iTunes Festival
This indoor Apple-sponsored festival is held at the Roundhouse in Camden, North London throughout September.
Along with Londoners, it’s close for people in Essex and the home counties - be aware that parking in Camden and London generally can be difficult so you might need to think about leaving your vehicle a little further afield and making the last leg f your trip by public transport.
9. Creamfields
Held over the August bank holiday weekend, Creamfields is a must for those who love dance and house music living in and around Manchester, the more northerly Midlands districts, Merseyside and North Wales.
10. Festival Number 6
Set in the pretty Portmeirion area in Gwynedd, North Wales, this family-centric arts and music festival started in September 2012.
While obviously well-placed for visitors based in northern and central parts of Wales, it’s reasonably close to parts of Cheshire and Merseyside.
More festivals
There are many more festivals of various sizes each year in the UK, and not just in the summer either. Wherever you are in the UK, there should be some festival fun somewhere within easy driving distance.
Choose one that suits your location and get behind the wheel for an experience that will live with you for a lifetime.
