The best food festivals in the UK
Each weekend during the summer, discerning gourmands look away from the new permanent restaurant openings and descend on the best food festivals in the UK. 2024’s lineup is a corker – parks, beaches and palace gardens peppered with talented chefs from cult favourites to Michelin-star restauranteurs serving the tastiest dishes. It’s not all about eating, mind. There are cooking masterclasses, chef demonstrations and live music performances for all ages.
From spotlighting London’s best restaurants in one of the capital’s parks to buffets of Scottish food and Welsh treats by rivers and castles, there’s a delicious feast waiting for everyone – even the pickiest of eaters. Book in advance and arrive hungry; these are the best (and tastiest) food festivals in the UK for 2024.
The Big Feastival
Imagine Glastonbury but with lots more delicious food – that’s The Big Feastival. Nestled in a secluded Cotswolds farm, The Big Feastival serves up plenty of spectacular dishes with a side of amazing tunes. While headliners including Becky Hill and Snow Patrol perform their hits on the main stage, foodies tuck into award-winning street food, Michelin-worthy meals or dish up their own at the cookery school – there’s even a cheese tasting corner. There are also dedicated areas for entertaining little ones, including arts and crafts workshops, face painting, storytelling and mini-chef sessions.
Address: Alex James' Farm near Kingham, Chipping Norton OX7 6UJ, United Kingdom
Website: thebigfeastival.com
Price: Day tickets from £93.50
Dates: 23 - 25 August
Smoke & Fire
Brits love a barbecue and Smoke & Fire has returned to Malden to help you elevate your grill game. Since its inception in 2017, S&F has grown to become the UK’s largest barbecue festival, with a packed schedule of music and entertainment, plus plenty of delicious street food to tuck into. This year sees the weekender host the Great British Open Freestyle BBQ Championships and the chance to flex your skills in the chilli and hot wing challenges. You can try your hand at staying on the bucking bull and kids will enjoy the fair rides and bouncy castles, too.
Address: Promenade Park, Maldon, Park Drive, Essex, CM9 5JQ
Website: smokeandfirefestival.com
Price: Day tickets from £20.38
Dates: 17 - 18 August
Abergavenny Food Festival
While British food will always have our hearts, it’s time for Welsh cuisine to have the spotlight. Abergavenny’s food festival is doing just that. This year’s line-up features chef demonstrations from Anna Jones and Dina Macki, night markets with street food and a food-fuelled party on Saturday evening.
Address: Raglan Chambers, 63 Frogmore Street, Abergavenny NP7 5AU
Website: abergavennyfoodfestival.com
Price: Stroller tickets from £16
Dates: 21 - 22 September
The North Leeds Food Festival
Head to the North Leeds Food Festival riverside street food and artisanal delights. Think fiery fried chicken from Twisted Chick, bowls of indulgent paella from Events Kitchen, and delightfully dippable treats from Senor Churro, among many others. The website lists each of the traders as they’re announced, with a foodie-friendly guide to what’s gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and halal. Dribble over live chef demonstrations from Ajith Kumar and Teddy Lee, and inspire little ones by enrolling them in kids’ cooking classes.
Address: Roundhay Park, Roundhay, Leeds LS8 2TX
Website: northleedsfoodfestival.co.uk
Price: From £9.95
Dates: 11 - 12 May
Ludlow Food Festival
For Ludlow’s annual food festival, more than 100 exhibitors set up camp on the beautiful grounds of Ludlow Castle. From meat-based producers to vegetarian stands and artisanal bakes, there’s something for everyone to taste. Sample (and score) your favourite local produce, or embark on activities like the Real Ale Trail, which involves tasting the local pubs' best beers. Chefs, food producers and food writers host talks, workshops and master classes for food fanatics interested in the nitty-gritty of the industry.
Address: Ludlow Castle, Castle Square, Ludlow SY8 1AY
Website: foodfestival.co.uk
Price: Day tickets from £12
Dates: 10 - 12 May
Edinburgh Food Festival
Celebrating the best of Scottish cuisine, the Edinburgh Food Festival is a feast packed with street food and stalls for all ages. Previous stallholders include We Sell Dumplings, Wholly Waffles and Mana Poke Bowls, alongside pop-up bars and vendors selling tasty wares ideal for gifting or taking home for a second round. Chefs pop up for demos, while activities for big and little kids run during the festival.
Address: George Square Gardens, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ
Website: edfoodfest.com
Price: Free entry
Dates: 19 - 28 July
Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival
This annual celebration of Suffolk’s tastiest produce continues to grow year-on-year, with 131 local food and drink producers and two live demo stages taking over the site in 2023. Previous chefs in attendance include Masterchef The Professionals finalist Adam Spicer, Jeremy Lee of London’s Quo Vadis, and The Unruly Pig’s Dave Wall. Gather around the main stage for big-name cooking demonstrations before finding a sunny spot and tucking into some hearty grub.
Address: 82 Mayfield Road, Ipswich IP4 3NG
Website: aldeburghfoodanddrink.co.uk
Price: £12 advance tickets; £15 on the day; under 16s go free
Dates: 28 - 29 September
Pub in the Park
Pub in the Park is the UK’s most delicious touring festival, landing in Marlow, Chiswick, Reigate and St Albans this summer. Tom Kerridge takes to the road with chefs including Michel Roux Jr, Simon Rimmer, Andi Oliver, and Candice Brown in 2024, while there’s entertainment from the likes of De La Soul and Busted. Watch TV chefs cook up a storm in pop-up kitchens, sample craft beers and chilled cocktails, and dance late into the evenings when you book later slots.
Address: Across the UK
Website: pubintheparkuk.com
Price: Dependent on location and times
Dates: Marlow, 16 - 19 May; Chiswick, 28 - 30 June; Reigate, 12 - 14 July; St Albans, 6 - 8 September
The Great British Food Festival
The Great British Food Festival isn’t a one-off but rather a delicious event that tours during the summer. For 2024, things begin in May at Staffordshire’s Trentham Estate and conclude at Cheshire’s Arley Hall in September – passing through Edinburgh, Berkshire, and Yorkshire along the way. New for this year are a greater selection of street food vendors, live fire-cooking stages, cheese and wine masterclasses, and a mouth-watering dessert stage. All this alongside chef demonstrations, foraging walks and live music.
Address: Across the UK
Website: greatbritishfoodfestival.com
Price: Dependent on location
Dates: Various dates between May and September
Blenheim Palace Food Festival
UK food festivals don’t get much classier than this. Each summer, chefs such as Raymond Blanc, Olivia Burt and Gurdeep Loyal set up camp in the shadow of Oxfordshire’s most exquisite country house for a weekend of feel-good food. Pick up artisan treats and homemade sweets, and cool down in the (hopefully) balmy summer sunshine with craft beers, cocktails, and fruity mocktails. Furry friends and children are welcome, with special activities like cooking classes and circus skills sessions for budding foodies.
Address: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock OX20 1PS
Website: blenheimpalace.com
Price: Park and Gardens passes from £28
Dates: 25 - 27 May
The Dorset Seafood Festival
Now in its 16th year, the Dorset Seafood Festival is the stunning UK region’s award-winning food and drink festival. More than 10,000 gourmands descend yearly on Weymouth, or the freshest seafood feasts around. Devour the catch of the day as chefs and culinary experts give talks while live music rings out across the site.
Address: Peninsula, Weymouth DT4 8ED
Website: dorsetseafood.co.uk
Price: Day tickets from £15
Dates: 7 - 8 September