The Best Music Festivals in London 2022

London is world-renowned for many things: Big Ben, expensive rent, bobbies on the beat, expensive rent, Buckingham Palace, expensive rent, the 'Swinging Sixties', the list goes on. Did I mention ludicrously expensive rent? I digress.

These days however, you can add music festivals to that growing list, particularly in the summer months when the British gloom dissipates and breaths new life into the city's glorious green spaces. 

The UK capital boasts a diverse helping of some of Europe's most interesting, most finely curated urban, electronic, indie, and rock festivals, all within its tightly-packed city limits.

Here's ten of the best that are on offer this impending summer. 

Luno presents All Points East

Festival lineup: Tame Impala, Gorillaz, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Disclosure, The National

A sizeable addition to London's festival scene after its stellar debut in 2018, the new eclectic giant has laid claim to Victoria Park by bringing arguably the biggest ever lineup to the English capital each year since. It's hard to argue with the pedigree of names on offer, which span numerous scenes and genres, as well as two weekends in peak summer.

When & where: 19-20 & 25-28 August 2022; Victoria Park  

Luno presents All Points East 2022 Guide / Book Tickets To Luno presents All Points East 2022 Here

All Points East presents Field Day

Festival lineup: The Chemical Brothers, Kraftwerk, Peggy Gou, Floating Points, HAAi, Folamour

After several changes of locale since All Points East muscled in, Field Day has returned to its spiritual domain. Losing none of their innovation during its transition period, the festival is now widely considered as the city's most forward-thinking electronic music event, with pioneers of the genre paired with a famously inclusive atmosphere.

When & where: 20th August 2022; Victoria Park 

All Points East presents Field Day 2022 Guide / Book All Points East presents Field Day 2022 Tickets Here

American Express presents BST Hyde Park

Festival lineup: The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Eagles, Duran Duran, Pearl Jam, Adele

Hyde Park has held some legendary shows throughout the years, none more since British Summer Time set up shop in the historic surrounds. And the legends keep coming, seeing music's most iconic names frequent central London's royal park for the series of one-off concerts each summer.

When & where: 24th June - 10th July 2022; Hyde Park

American Express presents BST Hyde Park 2022 Guide / Book Tickets To American Express presents BST Hyde Park 2022 Here

Hospitality Weekend In The Woods

Festival lineup: High Contrast, Roni Size, DJ Marky, Calibre, Kings of the Rollers & Inja, Flava D, Nastia

For cosmopolitan drum and bass aficionados it doesn't get much bigger or better than Hospitality Weekend In The Woods. The foundations of Beckenham Place Park rumble for an entire weekend in September, with the entire spectrum of the genre cater for by individual stage hosts, including Hospitality themselves.

When & where: 17-18th September 2022, Beckenham Place Park 

Hospitality Weekend In The Woods 2022 Guide / Book Tickets To Hospitality Weekend In The Woods Here

GALA

Festival lineup: Little Dragon, Sons Of Kemet, Nubya Garcia, Goldie, Job Jobse, Horse Meat Disco, Josey Rebelle

GALA has become an institution in its local Peckham community because of its passion for infectious rhythms, emphasis on local talent spanning jazz, house, and techno, and some spectacular vibes. Mixmag described the three-day festival as one of "dance music's happy places." We couldn't agree more.

When & where: 2-4th June 2022, Peckham Rye Park

GALA Festival 2022 Guide & Waiting List

Wireless Festival

Festival lineup: Cardi B, J Cole, Nicki Minaj, Tyler, the Creator, SZA, A$AP Rocky

Wireless Festival has become a beloved resident of Finsbury Park since its relocation there in 2014, and for ample reason - no festival anywhere in the UK boasts a hip-hop, R&B, and grime lineup on the same level as this titan. Especially since their expansion to Crystal Palace Park, where the biggest charting names from across the pond and both here at home congregate.

When & where: 1-3 & 8-10 July 2022; Finsbury Park & Crystal Palace Park

Wireless Festival 2022 Guide & Waiting List

Junction 2

Festival lineup: Nina Kraviz, Amelie Lens, Four Tet, Jon Hopkins, Maceo Plex, Ben Klock

Named after its original home at Boston Manor Park which was quite literally underneath a motorway junction, Junction 2 has since relocated to London’s beautiful Trent Country Park for greener pastures. Curated by brands including Adam Beyer's Drumcode label and Croatian festival Sonus, J2 is a who's who of techno names who come to let loose.

When & where: 17-18th June 2022; Trent Country Park

Junction 2 2022 Guide / Book Tickets To Junction 2 2022 Here

Wide Awake

Festival lineup: Primal Scream, Bicep [live], Caribou, Floating Points, Overmono [live], The Comet Is Coming, Amyl and the Sniffers

Relative newcomer Wide Awake has launched itself into the mixer of London's best festivals after only one outing so far, given its accommodated for the weird and wonderful scenes sprawled around the capital. 2022's edition is a two-day affair with even more dance music on offer, but its still as left-field as it gets.

When & where: 27-28th May 2022; Brockwell Park

Wide Awake 2022 Guide / Book Tickets To Wide Awake 2022 Here

Beautiful People Festival

Festival lineup: Masters At Work, Anané, Moodymann, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Arrested Development, DJ Spoony

Beautiful People does what it says on the tin, congregating beautiful people with big vibes at the former Olympic Park for a day iconic artists who spin the likes of house, soul, R&B, garage and disco. Billed as "the world's friendliest party", you can tell that the crowd has been lapping up all the Vitamin D England has to offer all summer long. 

When & where: 3rd September 2022; Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Beautiful People Festival 2022 Guide / Book Tickets To Beautiful People Festival 2022 Here

Cross The Tracks

Festival lineup: Khruangbin, Joy Crookes, Patrice Rushen, Sampa the Great, Mereba

Brixton's Brockwell Park has been reinvigorated in recent years with an influx of fresh-blooded festivals, and Cross The Tracks is exactly that. A delicious blend jazz, funk, and soul, 2022's edition also showcases the foremost female names from the respective aforementioned genres - a recipe for an easy, breezy Sunday in the sun.

When & where: 5th June 2022; Brockwell Park

Cross The Tracks 2022 Guide / Book Tickets To Cross The Tracks 2022 Here

More like this:

• Top 20 Music Festivals in the UK
• Top 10 Electronic Music Festivals in the UK
• Top 20 Music Festivals in Europe