Upcoming UK Music Festivals in 2023

The UK is arguably one of the best countries worldwide for music festivals, offering a jam-packed event calendar throughout the summer months, stretching across all genres. But which UK music festivals should you book tickets for in 2023? Join us as we share a quick rundown of some of the most popular upcoming UK music festivals for 2023.

Glastonbury, Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, 21st - 25th June 2023

Let’s start with the biggest music festival in the UK, the one and only Glastonbury! As we’re sure you’ll know, tickets are super hard to get your hands on and sold out in a matter of minutes back in November. However, a ticket resale will be held in April 2023, giving you the opportunity to purchase any tickets that have previously been bought but not fully paid for. Keep your eyes peeled!

What we (and everyone else for that matter) love about Glastonbury is that it embraces every genre across the music spectrum, from rock and pop to hip hop, funk, jazz, dance and drum and bass.

Last year Diana Ross claimed the legendary spot, and headliners included Billie Eilish, Sir Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar. The 2023 Glastonbury lineup is expected to be announced towards the end of March, but so far, Elton John is confirmed, which is pretty awesome in itself.

But it’s not just about music and muddy fields. Glastonbury has something to offer everyone, with various activities from woodland yoga to all-night parties, food pop-ups and inspiring talks.

Most people stay at the onsite camping facilities for an authentic Glastonbury experience. However, booking cheap hotels and low-cost accommodation in the local area is also possible. Search the Glastonbury dates on Plans Change to secure the best hotels at the best prices.

Reading and Leeds, Richfield Avenue, Reading and Bramham Park, Leeds 25th - 27th August 2023

Reading and Leeds Festivals have become a rite of passage for British teenagers looking to let off steam after getting their GCSE results. Back in the day, the line-up tended to be rock, indie and metal heavy. However, today it is much more balanced, with artists across all genres, including dance, hip hop and alternative pop.

Billie Eilish, Sam Fender, Foals, The Killers, Imagine Dragons and Lewis Capaldi will headline the main stages at Reading and Leeds over the August Bank Holiday weekend. You can also expect performances from Wet Leg, Becky Hill, Central Cee and loads more!

Like with Glastonbury Festival, most people choose to camp at Reading and Leeds Festival, but if you’d rather stay in a hotel, there are plenty close by, including:

Reading

• VOCO Reading
• Crowne Plaza Reading
• Holiday Inn Reading South

Leeds

• Crowne Plaza Leeds
• Holiday Inn Express Leeds City Centre
• ibis Styles Leeds City Centre Arena

Download Festival, Donington Park Leicestershire, 7th-11th June 2023

Download Festival is a mammoth 5-day premier rock event based at the spiritual home of rock, Donington Park in Leicestershire. Featuring timeless classic rock acts from the 70s and 80s, along with newcomers from the worlds of nu-metal, hardcore and emo, there's something for all alternative music fans to enjoy.

What's more, this year marks the festival's 20th anniversary and is set to be the biggest and best Download Festival to date. Headliners include Bring Me The Horizon, Metallica and Slipknot, with the latter playing two unique sets (no songs repeated) on Thursday and Saturday.

There are various camping options available at Download, including 'quiet camping' (for those who need a break from the 24-hour party atmosphere) and 'eco camping,' described as 'a place for exploring and playing' while connecting with and respecting nature.

Still, if festival camping isn't for you, there are plenty of hotels close to Donington Park, including:

• Holiday Inn Express East Midlands Airport
• Hilton East Midlands Airport
• Travelodge Nottingham EM Airport

Parklife, Heaton Park, Manchester 10th-11th June 2023

Launched in 2013, Parklife has become one of the UK’s most popular weekend music festivals, attracting some of the biggest names in the music industry across all genres. Last year the Manchester music festival featured top talent, including 50 Cent, Megan Thee Stallion, Lewis Capaldi and Eric Prydz and this year is set to be equally as big, with the likes of Aitch, The 1975, Fred Again, The Prodigy, Little Simz, Becky Hill, Rudimental and Self Esteem gracing the various Parklife stages.

Something to keep in mind - there’s no camping at Parklife, so you’ll need to ensure you’ve booked overnight accommodation in Manchester. Look no further than Plans Change for top Manchester hotels at great prices. Book now, or take a chance and leave it until the last minute to see if you can snap up one of our fantastic Resale Deals!

Boardmasters, Newquay, Cornwall, 9th-13th August 2023

Surfing, sunshine and spectacular Cornish coastline - what could be better? Well, how about some of the best music acts in the business? Boardmasters promises it all with a laid-back line-up of indie bands, folk stars and pop favourites, along with surfing stars, skateboarders and BMX legends, complete with a beautiful setting, no other than Newquay’s Fistral Beach.

The first wave of the Boardmasters 2023 line-up has been announced, with Liam Gallagher and the incredible Florence + the Machine as headliners. They will be joined by Little Simz, Four Ret, Example, Cassyette, Dylan, Kid Kapichi, Dimension, Kings of the Rollers, Charlie Tee, Jaguar and a whole bunch of other acts that are yet to be announced!

What we love about Boardmasters is that there’s something for everyone. Alongside the live performances, DJ sets, and beach bar parties, there’s a real focus on sustainability and well-being with yoga classes, reiki and even a pop-up eco spa! And if you’re more the outdoorsy type, you won’t be disappointed. Boardmasters has a range of activities to try, including kayaking, coastal runs and surf lessons to keep you busy!

Wondering where to stay for Boardmasters? The festival offers camping and boutique camping options, which include Bell Tents, Tipis and Yurts on a spacious composite complete with posh showers, a pamper area and Eco Loos. There are also lots of budget-friendly hotels near Fistral Beach in Cornwall offering rooms during the festival, including:

• Newquay Beach Hotel
• Best Western Hotel
• Sandy Lodge Hotel

To name a few!

Search and book Cornwall hotels for Boardmasters with Plans Change.

Isle of Wight Festival, Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight, 15th - 18th June

Last but certainly not least, on our list of upcoming UK music festivals in 2023, we have the legendary Isle of Wight Festival, which started in 1968 and is still going strong over 50 years later!

The Isle of Wight Festival is known for its crowd-pleasing line-ups featuring huge household names, and this year is no different. So far, several top artists have been announced for 2023, including George Ezra, Pulp, The Chemical Brothers, Sugababes, Anne-Marie, Robbie Williams and Blondie.

The great thing about the Isle of Wight Festival is that it attracts multi-generations and makes a real effort to be inclusive, offering free tickets for children under four and discounted tickets of just £7.50 for kids aged 5-12.

Don’t want to camp with the kids? We don’t blame you! You can stay anywhere on the Isle of Wight with excellent transport links and still enjoy a fantastic festival experience. Some of the hotels closest to the Isle of Wight Festival in Newport include:

• Travelodge Newport Isle of Wight
• Premier Inn the Isle of Wight
• One Holyrood, Newport

Use our handy hotel search to find an Isle of Wight hotel within your budget, or check out our Resale Deals page to see if anyone is selling a hotel reservation nearby for your chosen dates.

UK music festival hotels

If there’s one piece of advice we can give for UK music festivals is not to let the camping put you off going! You can still enjoy the full festival experience without sleepless nights under a tired-looking tent. So instead, enjoy a little luxury (and a great night’s sleep) in one of the nearby hotels and avoid paying a fortune for your hotel room reservation by booking money-saving deals with Plans Change.