Music festivals 2018: The best London music events to book now

The new year is here, the 2017 festival wristbands you've worn since the summer are looking more frayed than ever and it’s about time you started making your plans for 2018.

As ever, London will play host to an impressive roster of music festivals this year, celebrating a massive variety of artists and genres across all parts of the city.

It must be said that 2018 marks a slightly uncertain time for some events, with residents of Brockwell Park attempting to block plans for Lovebox and Field Day festivals. However, whatever happens, there’s still so much to discover in this year’s festival lineup.

As well as the big, established summer events in the city, there are a few new names to look out for this year, which could make 2018 the best year ever for London music festivals.

All Points East

It’s the newest music festival series in London and it’s already shaping up to be one of the best... This year, for the first time, Victoria Park is playing host to All Points East, a shiny new celebration of alternative music in east London, welcoming a host of brilliant acts between May 25-27. LCD Soundsystem, the National, the xx and Björk headline, while the likes of Beck, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Phoenix, Lorde and Father John Misty are also set to perform. All Points East is single-handedly making it an exciting time to be a music fan in east London.

May 25-27. Victoria Park, E3 5TB. Buy tickets here

We Are FSTVL

We Are FSTVL is celebrating its sixth year in 2018 and offers up one of the strongest dance, bass and grime offerings of the summer. It’s Upminster location means it’s a little out of town but well worth travelling to for fans of dance, bass and grime.

DJs Charlie Sloth, Andy C, Carl Cox, DJ Ez, Eric Prydz and Marco Carola are all performing this year but while the main stage is a great draw, the house tent also puts on great acts during the day.

May 25-27. Damyns Hall Aerodrome, RM14 2TN. Buy tickets here

GALA

Set in the woods of Peckham Rye Park on May 27 you’ll find GALA festival, celebrating independent and alternative music in south London. The event moved from Brockwell Park last year, where it welcomed the likes of Crazy P and Horse Meat Disco, along with loads of great food and drink options.

Tickets are priced from just £20-£40, so if you’re looking for somewhere new this summer, GALA could be a great place to try.

May 27. Peckham Rye Park, SE15 3UA. Buy tickets here

Field Day

Field Day first came to Victoria Park 10 years ago and quickly developed a reputation for being a great celebration of alternative music in London.

Electronica royalty Aphex Twin performed alongside King Gizzard & the Lizzard Wizard and Run The Jewels at the festival in 2017, and 2018 could prove to be the biggest year yet for the festival. However, the festival is moving to Brockwell Park this year and the change of location has stirred up controversy. Guardians of Brockwell Park have launched a petition to pull the plug on the festival, which could potentially prove a problem for festival organisers. However, Field Day has been a major London event for over a decade and almost certainly will be a big player for years to come.

June 2. Brockwell Park, SE24 9BJ. Buy tickets here

Hampton Court Palace festival

The Hampton Court Palace festival series is a chance for pop fans to take in a wide selection of widely loved artists in one of the most impressive settings in the entire city. This year sees Gary Barlow and the Beach Boys play two nights apiece, with Jools Holland and guitarist Joe Bonamassa also performing on separate nights. It’s one of the more sophisticated music events of the summer, with tickets ranging from £49 to £149.

June 12-20. East Molesey, KT8 9AU. Buy tickets here

Community

Indie fans from all over the city will be descending on Finsbury Park on July 1 for Community, a one-day celebration of alternative rock music in north London. The event champions up and coming bands, as well as established names like Circa Waves, The Vaccines and headliners Two Door Cinema Club. It’s great value too, at just £40 plus booking fee for a ticket, making this one of the best options for music fans on a budget.

July 1. Finsbury Park, N4. Buy tickets here

British Summer Time

The Cure, Michael Buble, Eric Clapton, Bruno Mars and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters are all performing in Hyde Park as part of British Summer Time this July, which promises to be the biggest series of shows the capital has on offer this year. Even better, each headliner is backed by a fantastic roster of support acts, with the likes of Interpol, Santana and Goldfrapp also performing across the course of the festival series.

July 6-14. Hyde Park, W2 2UH. Buy tickets here

Wireless Festival

One of the blockbuster London events of the summer comes in the form of Finsbury Park’s Wireless Festival, which opens its doors for the weekend of July 6-8. Chance The Rapper, Skepta and The Weeknd headlined the event last year, and while the 2018 lineup has yet to be revealed, you can guarantee some of the biggest acts in dance, rock and pop will be gracing the stage in north London this year. Weekend tickets come in at £160, but individual day tickets cost upwards of £55.

July 6-8. Finsbury Park, N4. Buy tickets here

Lovebox

Lovebox festival, formed by DJs Groove Armada, has been bringing some of the most eclectic mix of acts to London for over a decade. After welcoming Frank Ocean, Jamie XX and Solange to headline their biggest year to date in 2017, Lovebox has relocated to Brockwell Park, near Brixton. It’s a huge move for the festival, and much like Field Day, guardians of Brockwell Park have launched a petition to pull the plug on the festival. However, all being well, Lovebox will remain an institution for London’s music fans in 2018 and prove to be a must-attend event this summer.

July 13-14. Brockwell Park, SE24 9BJ. Buy tickets here

Citadel festival

Citadel is one of the newest names on London’s summer festival lineup, having launched in 2015, and finds a middle ground between boutique and mainstream events. There’s an alternative, but accessible feel to past lineups with likes of Foals, Laura Marling, Ben Howard and Bombay Bicycle Club headlining Citadel over the last few years. We’re still waiting for the first line-up announcement for this year’s event. However, the festival is in the process of moving from Victoria Park to south-east London’s Brockwell Park this summer and organisers will be looking to see in the new surroundings in style.

July 15. Brockwell Park, SE24 9BJ. Buy tickets here

South West Four

Clapham Common plays host to one of London’s biggest dance music festivals over August bank holiday weekend, as South West Four celebrates its 15th anniversary. The first acts have just been announced for the festival, with the likes of Stefflon Don, Dizzee Rascal, Bugzy Malone and Craig David set to join headliners Chase and Status on the bill. Standard weekend tickets begin at £115 and go on presale on Wednesday, January 17.

August 25-26. Clapham Common. SW4 OHY. Buy tickets here