Lit up stage at the music festival with people raising their arms in the air.
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Lit up stage at the music festival with people raising their arms in the air.The summer music festival season returns each year with a vengeance. Here are the best music festivals to attend in the UK, including where they will be taking place and what you can expect from each event. Discover what epic music awaits.

The Best UK Music Festivals by Private Jet Charter

If you’re new to the festival scene and looking for ideas, or even if you’re a regular at some of the most well-known UK festivals and want to try something new, our festival guide will give some inspiration for where to go during the UK festival season. 

So, while you start planning the best way to get to your favourite summer festivals via private jet charter or helicopter charter (and the festival outfits you’ll be packing), here’s an outline of some of the best UK music festivals on offer.

1. London Jazz Festival

When: November

If you’re a fan of watching live music in upmarket city venues and less keen to pitch a tent in the outdoors and worry about packing all of the necessary festival essentials, then the London Jazz Festival could be an enjoyable option for you.

As far as London festivals go, this is one of many music events that take place in the city — the difference being that this festival features a line-up of some of the UK’s (and the world’s) best jazz acts. If jazz isn’t strictly your cup of tea, though, the festival line-up features acts that should be appealing to all age groups and musical tastes, with various theatre shows and events for children that make it accessible for the entire family.

Past line-ups have included performances by Amadou & Mariam, Yo La Tengo and Hailu Mergia. With this diverse programme, the only challenge you’ll face is choosing which shows to attend.

Held in different locations around the city, this festival is easy to access via London City Airport if you live outside of the city and choose to go with a private jet rental. Since you’ll most likely be travelling between all kinds of different venues around London, why not get to the city in the most convenient way possible in the first place?

In fact, as this festival is one of the few that doesn’t take place in summer, there’s even more reason to keep warm and arrange private transport to avoid getting caught in the winter rain and cold.

2. Isle of Wight Festival

the fireworks in the sky by the river at night.
the fireworks in the sky by the river at night.

When: January

The Isle of Wight Festival is one of the most legendary festivals in the UK — even after its impressive 50+ years on the festival circuit. Famous for hosting Jimi Hendrix and other iconic bands during the late 1960s, this festival has serious credibility when it comes to offering musical value.

Since going to the festival also requires you to get away from the city, it’s a wonderful opportunity for an escape from the daily urban grind, especially if you choose to go with a private jet rental to get you in and out of the Isle of Wight airport quickly and easily.

Some of the line-up highlights from past years include Noel Gallagher and the High Flying Birds, George Ezra, Biffy Clyro, Lionel Richie, Lewis Capaldi and Muse.

A proper weekend (and technically island) escape, this festival promises a lot of fun away from the big cities, with all of the big stages you’d expect at this kind of festival, with an added Speakers Corner and Silent Disco to keep you entertained.

3. Glastonbury Festival

When: June

No list of the best music festivals in the UK would be complete without Glastonbury. One of the biggest festivals on the summer circuit, Glastonbury can get notoriously muddy. However, with an annual line-up that brings all of the best names in music together, it’s totally worth spending a weekend in your wellies.

In fact, if you decide to rent a private plane to get to the Vale of Avalon in Somerset, landing and taking off from Bristol Airport, getting stuck in the mud isn’t something you'll have to worry about – until you’re at the festival itself, of course.

To give you an idea of what to expect from the main stage line-up, previous events have included The Killers, The Cure, Janet Jackson and The Chemical Brothers, as well as Snow Patrol, Billie Eillish, Sheryl Crow and Lauryn Hill. 

Even if you don’t make it to the front of the main stage to get to see some of the biggest names in the business, there are over 100 other stages that you can visit over the course of the weekend.

Since this kind of event does have a large footprint, it’s also a big festival with a conscience. Glastonbury partners with organisations like Oxfam, Greenpeace and WaterAid, so you’ll also have the opportunity to give back while having a good time and letting your hair down.

4. Wilderness Festival

Fire show at the music festival with people standing around in the background.
Fire show at the music festival with people standing around in the background.

When: August

If getting out into the countryside, swimming in a lake in the sunshine and engaging with the arts is more what you’re looking for in a music festival, Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire could be an ideal option for you.

While many people might choose to arrive at the festival in a campervan or caravan, why not make the whole camping experience more convenient with a private jet rental, which can get you easily in and out of nearby London Oxford Airport? You could then opt for the festival’s boutique camping experience and stay in a luxury yurt, Bedouin tent or safari lodge.

To give you an idea of the kind of music to expect from the festival, Robyn, Groove Armada and Bombay Bicycle Club, Tom Odell, Ata Kak and Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra were a few of the acts from previous events.

What differentiates this festival from the rest is that there are a variety of different camping options, ideal for those who require more accessible facilities, as well as people with families and those who might prefer a quieter camping environment.

In addition to music stages, there are also a number of other arts-related events at this boutique music festival, including a range of dining experiences, talks and debates. 

5. Reading Festival and Leeds Festival

When: August

Reading Festival is another of the most well-known music festivals in the UK. It operates in parallel with Leeds Festival – these twin festivals have the same bill, with acts travelling between the two venues to perform on different days over the weekend.

Highlights from previous events include the Foo Fighters, Bastille, Of Mice & Men, Post Malone, Machine Gun Kelly, Arctic Monkeys and Rage Against the Machine.

Whether you choose Reading or Leeds, a private flight will easily be able to get you in and out of Blackbushe Airport if you’re going to Reading, or Leeds Bradford or Leeds East Airport if you’re going to Leeds. To give you some perspective on what a difference a private fight would make, you could even organise to see your favourite act at both festivals.

Don’t miss out on the festival season highlights

While we’ve covered just a handful of the many options on the UK music festival circuit, this selection should give you a decent idea of the variety of choices available.

You might like to get muddy and right up at the front of the stage or prefer to dive into a lake and swim outdoors. Or, you might go for the accessibility and diversity that a city music festival experience offers. Whatever you choose, a private plane will help make accessing any festival experience more seamless, convenient and enjoyable.

All you need to do is pack your bags and allow us to get you and your friends or family to your festival of choice this upcoming summer or winter season. Take a look at our destinations guide to help plan your music festival route.

Fly in style with ACS

To reach any of these festivals, why not charter a helicopter or private plane? Contact us to discuss private jet costs or talk to a member of our team to create your own tailor-made trip. If you’re looking for affordable helicopter or private jet charter options, we’d love to help you get to the best UK music festivals this year.

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