Top Music Festivals To Look Forward To In South East England

The festival season has begun, and it’s got off to a glorious start with plenty of sunshine and very little of the wet stuff. The south east of England is one of the best places to be if you love outdoor summer events, with a huge variety of choice, a great atmosphere and a pleasant climate. 

Here’s a look at some of the top festivals to attend in the South East this summer, and why minibus hire with a driver is the smartest travel option for groups. 

Why minibus hire makes sense  

Planning travel to a festival can be a logistical nightmare, even if you have a small group. Rural festivals can be difficult to access on public transport, and may require costly taxi fares on top of your train fare. If you are camping over the weekend, then lugging all your stuff around and finding space for it in crowded train carriages can also be a huge hassle. 

Driving also presents problems, as it means that you will need to find a safe (and probably expensive) place to park. The traffic can also be challenging around festival sites, plus someone will have to be the designated driver with the stress of navigating and staying in good enough shape for the drive back. 

Minibus hire solves all of these problems, offering prompt and stress-free delivery and pick up directly to and from the festival site. There’ll be plenty of room for all your luggage with boot storage, and it’s also an environmentally friendly choice compared to travelling in individual vehicles. 

Top festivals in the south east 

Love Supreme Festival, Glynde Place, East Sussex 4-6 July

There are still some tickets available for the acclaimed Love Supreme Jazz Festival, which takes place in a grand country estate near Lewes. The lineup features an eclectic mix of jazz, funk, R & B and soul. Among the headliners this year are Nile Rodgers & Chic, Maxwell, The Roots, En Vogue, and Durand Jones & The Indications. 

Away from the main action, there’s a wellness lounge, an outdoor swimming pool, a Rough Trade record store and a kid’s area. Besides all of this, there’s a Jazz Lounge featuring artist interviews, panels, film screenings, and album playbacks, as well as a dance, spoken word, and comedy tent, plus a DJ tent and various options for partying on into the night. 

We Out Here, Wimborne St Giles, Dorset 14-17 August 

We Out Here is a chilled out festival curated by 6 Music’s Giles Peterson, and features a blend of musical genres from soul, hip hop, afro, jazz, house and much more. Besides the music, this award-winning festival focuses on wellness, cultural, and family friendly activities, with talks and discussions in a beautiful lakeside setting.

The food and drink is also carefully selected to represent a variety of world foods, and the traders are carefully selected for their use of sustainable packaging and products, fair living wages for employees, and support for charities or initiatives. 

Victorious Festival, Southsea, Portsmouth, 22-24 August

If you’re after something with an edgier vibe, then the Victorious Festival could be your sweet spot. It’s in a stunning coastal location at Southsea, just a couple of miles from Portsmouth city centre. The headliners this year include Queens of the Stone Age, Madness, Vampire Weekend, Kings of Leon, and Bloc Party. 

However, the festival is also a welcoming space for families, with a dedicated kid’s arena featuring assorted TV characters, dance troops, princesses, arts and crafts, face painting and much more besides.