It’s time to get the wellies out, find a tent and get ready for another unforgettable (if you can remember it) weekend in the great outdoors. We’ve come to expect the British Summer to be a bit of a wash-out.  But when it comes to standing in a field with a few thousand nutters, watching legendary bands and artists, the British summer definitely rocks.

We think festivals can be THE best times ever. Why? Because, apart from the music, you’re suddenly in a world where there’s no work, no exams, nearly everyone’s under 35 (or they act like it) and there’s only 1 rule – TO HAVE A GOOD TIME!

So if you’ve never been to a festival (or even if you have), we’ve put together this handy guide to British festivals for you.

But first… a bit of preparation:  You’re going to some kit, and the right clobber, LIKE OUR INCREDIBLY APPROPRIATE FESTIVAL T-SHIRTS – and the most important thing of all…a very positive attitude!

Have fun!

Glastonbury (Somerset) 25 – 28 June
With music, film, circus, green stuff, kids areas etc it’s the world’s biggest, most diverse and perhaps the muddiest festival
Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Blur, Kasabian, The Prodigy, Bloc Party, The Specials, Franz Ferdinand, Maximo Park and much, much more

Blissfields (Alresford, Hampshire) 3 – 5 July
Smallish affair in Hampshire catering for all the family
Super Furry Animals, Laura Marling, The Men They Couldn’t Hang and more

Wireless Festival 2009 (Hyde Park, London) 4 & 5 July
Major shindig in central London
Basement Jaxx, The Streets, Dizzee Rascal and many more

Hop Farm (Tonbridge, Kent) 4 & 5 July
No sponsorship, no branding, no VIPs, nice country park venue
The Fratellis, The Pigeon Detectives, Echo & the Bunnymen, Florence and the Machine, Noah & the Whale, Ladyhawke, Mystery Jets and more

T In The Park (Kinross-shire, Scotland) 10 – 12 July
Scotland’s finest festival with camping from Thursday, so make it a loooong weekend
The Killers, Kings of Leon, Snow Patrol, Razorlight, Bloc Party, Keane, The Specials, Franz Ferdinand and more

Guilfest ’09 (Guildford, Surrey) 10 -12 July
Live music, comedy, kidzone, theatre
Will Young, Athlete, The Charlatans, Motorhead, The Stranglers and more

Latitude (Suffolk) 15-19 July
The one for Radio 4 listeners – arts, literature, comedy etc as well as music
Pet Shop Boys, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Sean Lock, Lee Mack, Editors, Ed Byrne, Mika, The Pretenders, Squeeze, Ladyhawke and more

Wickerman Festival (Dundrennan, Scotland) 24 & 25 July
All tastes catered for - even golf, mountain biking & burning the wicker man
The Zutons, Human League, The Magic Numbers, Bad Manners and more

Global Gathering (Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire) 24 & 25 July
A huge dance music extravaganza for over 18s only
The Prodigy, Orbital, Pendulum, Carl Cox, John Digweed, Fedde Le Grand, Paul van Dyk and loads more

Sonisphere (Knebworth, Herts) 1 & 2 August
Touring heavy metal festival with other dates in Europe
Linkin Park, Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, Feeder, Bullet For My Valentine and more

Relentless Boardmasters (Newquay, Cornwall) 5 – 9 August
Five days by the beach on the sometimes wild & windy north Cornish coast.
The Streets, Super Furry Animals, Calvin Harris, Roots Manuva and more

V Festival Hylands Park (Chelmsford, Essex) 22 & 23 August
V Festival Weston Park (Shifnal, Shropshire) 22 & 23 August
If you want big, chart-topping acts, these are the festivals for you.
The Killers, Oasis, Snow Patrol, Razorlight, Keane, The Ting Tings, The Wombats, Dizzee Rascal and more

Reading & Leeds Festivals 28 – 30 August
Sponsored by Carling, probably the most likely to kick off, but with great line ups
Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys, Fall Out Boy, Radiohead, Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party The Prodigy, Lostprophets and many, many more

Creamfields (Halton, Cheshire) 29 & 30 August
The best of British clubland goes outdoors - definitely the one if you’re into clubbing!
Tiesto, Basement Jaxx, plus a who’s who of club acts/ DJs, including Pete Tong, Paul Van Dyk, Dizzee Rascal, Calvin Harris, John Digweed, Sascha Beardyman, Judge Jules and many, many, many more.

Bestival 2009 (Newport, Isle of Wight) 11 – 13 September
Fireworks and fancy dress, DJs and party people all in an adventure park
MGMT, Elbow, Klaxons, Massive Attack, Lily Allen, Fleet Foxes and more

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