By Amy Jones
As most universities are finishing for the summer, three types of students exist in terms of what they do. First, the student decides to earn as much money as possible while they don’t need to study. Then you have the students who do nothing and make the most of their time off, saving as much money as possible for when they go back in September. Finally, you have the students who go on holiday and enjoy a summer full of festivals. Summer is festival season so how else are you supposed to spend your student loan over the next couple of months?
The UK loves summertime festivals, especially in the capital. London has plenty of things to do in summer, and one of those is the festivals it has. There are quite a few iconic festivals that you can consider, which you may have heard of, so let’s take you through some of the best.
Notting Hill Carnival
Arguably one of the most well-known festivals for summer is the Notting Hill Carnival, a festival that is celebrated on the streets of Notting Hill. This fantastic festival celebrates Caribbean culture and spans across the August bank holiday. With live music, vibrant parades and magnificent food, this festival has everything going on. There is no better way to celebrate summer than a festival embracing another culture and entailing fantastic costumes.
Wireless Festival
From the 11th to the 13th, Wireless Festival is certainly back with a bang, with the Artists that they have already lined up at the iconic Finsbury Park. You have Drake, Partynextdoor, Boy Better Know, Burna Boy and Vybz Kartel all performing. It is a fantastic lineup that certainly can’t be missed, so try to find yourself a ticket and enjoy this iconic lineup that only a few get to experience.
Here you will find some of the best festival outfits where you can really get that festival feeling in the summer weather and the general audience tends to be in their early 20s and late teens so you won’t feel too out of place. It is a festival that cannot be missed if you are in London this summer.
Greenwich and Docklands International Festival
For those students who don’t want to spend their money, the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival is the perfect solution. From the 22nd of August to the 6th of September, this festival is one to experience like no other. This festival is slightly different to the others however, there is still a lot going on, and you don’t need to be there every day, which is even better for those who don’t want to camp for a festival.
Kew the Music
Up next is Kew the Music, another fantastic music festival that is an iconic part of Kew Gardens and well-known to many southerners. This year, it’s going big with the lineup, including Craig David, UB40, The Human League and many others. This year, the festival will be running from July 8th to July 13th. Now, the tickets are on the expensive side, with many of them being +£80; however, there is no doubt that this is a lineup that cannot be missed, especially if you need something to spend your student loan on. Let’s hope the weather is great to make it worth the money.
BST Hyde Park
Now, although we’ve mentioned it a lot later, this is still one to consider. Hyde Park is an iconic part of London, especially during the winter months when Winter Wonderland is open. That being said, we are in summer now, and there is only one thing to talk about, which is BST Hyde Park. This one is for the students who are true festival lovers, and it has been a hit since 2013.
BST Hyde Park never fails to attract the biggest stars in the world. This year, they have managed to get Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Zach Bryan, Stevie Wonder and many more. It is a link that cannot be missed.
At BST Hyde Park, there is no opportunity for camping over, so you’ll have to look at AirBnBs or hotels nearby. For those who don’t want to drink whilst they are there, which is very understandable due to the endless queues, there are plenty of Hyde Park parking spaces near the festival, but ensure you book early enough to secure your parking spot.
Somerset House Summer Series
Somerset House Summer Series is another festival that we are sure you will enjoy if you have never been. It has a picturesque backdrop of the Somerset House, which is lit up by its exterior lights as you dance the night away. This year, they have a fantastic lineup showcasing Rizzle Kicks, Freya Ridings, Jacob Banks, Parov Stelar, The Snuts, FLO and many more. This summer festival runs across ten days, so there are plenty of days when you can see your favourite artists.
Festivals Outside of London
Although there are some students who will want to stay in and around London, there are so many amazing festivals that are outside the capital. So let’s take a look at some of those to see which are the best to visit.
TRNSMT
This is a very popular festival located in Glasgow Green and has a fantastic lineup over the weekend of the 11th to the 13th. Here, you get to see 50 Cent, The Script, Jamie Webster, Biffy Clyro, Fontaines D.C., Jake Bugg, The Kooks, Snow Patrol, The Lathums, Nina Nesbitt and many more.
Yes, this festival is on the other side of the country; however, you are able to camp there, and it is an experience that you will truly appreciate in your younger years. So, get that train booked or a car packed and head over to this wonder festival.
Reading and Leeds
Reading and Leeds is another iconic festival that you can enjoy when you are a student, and this is in August, from the 22nd to the 24th. The best part about this festival is that it is very similar to TRNSMT in terms of genres. It has Hozier, Bring Me The Horizon, Becky Hill, Travis Scott, D-Block Europe, Sea Girls, DJ EZ, Example, and Red Rum Club.
Boomtown
Last but not least, Boomtown, which is from the 6th to the 10th of August. The lineup is very upbeat and consists of Caribou State, Sex Pistols, Sean Paul, Hybrid Minds, Rudimental, Honey Dijon and many more.
As you can see, there are a lot of festivals that are perfect for a student. However, if you are staying in London over the summer period, there is plenty to choose from, without worrying about breaking the bank. Plus, you don’t need to worry about camping overnight because you will have your student accommodation nearby.