The best food festivals in the UK

A group of friends enjoying drinks at a festival

The best UK food festivals

England

Taste of London Food Festival, London
Good Food Show Summer, Birmingham
Bolton Food and Drink Festival, Bolton
Vegan Camp Out, Oxfordshire
Good Food Festival at Goodwood Racecourse, Chichester, West Sussex
Hampton Court Palace Food Festival, Surrey
York Food Festival, York
Taste Cumbria Cockermouth, Cumbria
Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival, Suffolk

Ireland

Ballycastle Seafront Artisan Market, County Antrim
Belfast Mela, Belfast
Armagh Food & Cider Weekend, County Armagh

Scotland

Taste of Nairn, Nairn
The Eat & Drink Festival Scotland, Glasgow
Taste of Grampian, Aberdeen
Foodies Festival, Glasgow
Stranraer Oyster Festival, Stranraer

Wales

Cardiff Food & Drink Festival, Cardiff
Abergavenny Food Festival, Abergavenny

Jump to:

- England
- Northern Ireland
- Scotland
- Wales

England

Taste of London Food Festival

Multiple plates of food with hands reaching for it

When: 18-22 June 2025

Where: Regent's Park

Price: From £28

Taste of London celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with five days of outdoor feasting. Organised by Taste, the festival takes place in Regent's Park and brings together the crème de la crème of London's culinary scene, showcasing the hottest restaurants, emerging food heroes and upcoming culinary trends.

There are more than 120 dishes on offer from some of London's best restaurants including Santo Remedio, Roka and Burger and Lobster, alongside bars, live music and entertainment, with cooking classes and themed workshops taking place, too.

Tickets start from £28 for entry, or £38 tickets include entry and your choice of two signature dishes.

Good Food Show Summer

When: 12-15 June 2025

Where: NEC, Birmingham

Price: From £26

The Good Food Show Summer is set to warm up the NEC, Birmingham, from 12-15 June at the NEC Birmingham. Expect a show bursting with recipe inspiration, tips and tricks from top chefs and experts, hands-on workshops and tastings, unique dining experiences and a huge variety of producers and brands providing the best product knowledge and ingredients advice, as well as tasting and shopping. Don’t miss James Martin, Si King, Nadiya Hussain and more.

Plus, your ticket includes free entry into BBC Gardeners’ World Live, offering expert advice, beautiful Show Gardens and al fresco dining inspiration.

Bolton Food and Drink Festival

When: 22-25 August 2025

Where: Victoria Square, Bolton

Price: Free

The UK’s biggest food and drink festival returns to Bolton this summer, taking over the Greater Manchester town from Friday 22 to Monday 25 August in a bank holiday weekend extravaganza.

Expect plenty of festivities, as Bolton Food and Drink Festival celebrates its 20th year by fusing global cuisine from over 180 street food vendors, top TV chefs, live music, entertainment and activities for the whole family to feast on.

Entry to Bolton Food and Drink Festival is free, with options to enhance the experience by purchasing tickets for live chef demos and more.

Vegan Camp Out

Tent with crowd walking around and in it

When: 29 August -1 September 2025

Where: Bygrave Woods, Hertfordshire

Price: Day tickets are £80 (adults) or £40 (children); weekend tickets £130 (adults), £60 (children)

Experience a plant-based paradise at Vegan Camp Out, where people come together from all over the world to celebrate vegan living.

There's so much going on from inspiring talks and live music to invigorating yoga sessions and soul-soothing meditation classes. Delve into diverse workshops where you can deepen your understanding of veganism and holistic living.

There's plenty of delicious food and drink on offer from Indian and Chinese dishes to pizzas, kebabs, decadent ice cream, and refreshing smoothies and juices. And for those with dietary requirements, there are plenty of allergen-free options.

This year, the festival boasts a staggering line-up of 60 vendors, making history with the largest gathering of vegan food options ever assembled in the UK.

Good Food Festival at Goodwood Racecourse

When: 15-17 August 2025

Where: Goodwood Racecourse, Chichester

Price: General Admission from £12.50 (adults). Children under 12 go free

The Good Food Festival will be returning to Goodwood Racecourse in West Sussex from the 15-17 August, 2025. Now in its fourth year, the Good Food Festival brings together foodies, chefs and producers from across the UK for a three-day culinary celebration. With something for all ages, there will be cooking demos, family activities, VIP experiences, book signings, live music and more.

The festival features the Festival Kitchen with Ruby Bhogal, star of The Great British Bake Off, hosting a line-up of guest experts showcasing their culinary tips and tricks such as gluten-free food blogger Becky Excell, West Sussex local Jane Dunn of Jane’s Patisserie, award-winning vegan baker Philip Khoury and Sian Anderson, a restaurateur and BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ. There will also be a chance to meet many of the famous foodie faces in person at special book signings that will take place throughout the three days.

On the food and drink side, you'll be able to meet hand-picked food and drink producers at the Good Food Market before going on a gastronomic journey in the Street Food Village.

Hampton Court Palace Food Festival

When: 23-25 August 2025

Location: Hampton Court Palace, Surrey

Price: Tickets from £27.20. HRP members go free.

The annual Hampton Court Palace Food Festival is held over the August Bank Holiday weekend and is a family-friendly celebration of all things food, hosted in the epic location of Henry VIII's beautiful gardens.

This year, Bluey will be making an appearance, and the kids' zone is sponsored by LEGO, ensuring plenty of fun for the little ones.

There's a broad range of street food, plus pop-up bars serving tasty tipples, refreshing craft beers and exquisite wines. With over 150 fantastic brands and producers on site, you'll be able to get your hands on everything from mouth-watering cheeses and sausages to brownies and churros.

What's more, your ticket will give you access to the palace made famous by Henry VIII, his wives and children.

York Food Festival

When: 19-28 September 2025

Where: Parliament Street, York

Price: Free entry

York Food Festival runs events throughout the year celebrating local and regional food and drink, with the main 10-day festival held at the end of September. It is a not-for-profit organisation, and any money generated from ticket sales goes back to the festival to improve it year after year.

The festival focuses on Yorkshire produce and chefs, with cookery lessons on offer, demonstrations and events. While admission to the festival is free, those keen to take part in city-wide events such as food factories, wine tastings, dinners and trails can find further details on the York Food Festival website.

Taste Cumbria Cockermouth

When: 27-28 September 2025

Where: Cockermouth, Cumbria

Price: Free with some events ticketed

This event, a staple of Cumbria's calendar since 2010, was born out of the need to revive Cockermouth following devastating floods. Here's a taste of what's in store: producer stalls, a street party in Market Place, a drinks tent and outdoor picnic area with live music all weekend, hot food court, cookery demonstrations, fairground rides, and children's activities. Best of all, attendance is free, with ticketed events to be announced closer to the time.

Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival

When: 27-28 September 2025

Where: Snape Maltings, Suffolk

Price: Early bird tickets from £15, tickets at the gate, £16. All under-16s free.

The 2024 festival boasted an impressive 130+ traders, two demo stages, seven masterclasses, 32 children's cookery classes, artisan producers and exceptional street food. Although the 2025 line-up remains under wraps, the stellar cast of 2024 included Tom Aikens, William Sitwell, Dominique Woolf and Tom Booton.

There will once again be a dedicated family area offering cooking classes, crafts, demos and a toddler area for under-5s. All producers and traders are from within East Anglia, showcasing the incredible produce on offer in the area, all in the beautiful surroundings of Snape Maltings.

Dartmouth Food Festival

When: 24-26 October 2025

Where: Dartmouth, Devon

Price: Free

The Dartmouth Food Festival is a well-regarded event celebrating food and drink in the heart of this Devon town. It brings together an impressive line-up of chefs and a varied programme of events at locations across Dartmouth.

Run entirely by volunteers, the not-for-profit festival is free to attend, allowing visitors to explore its diverse programme over three days. With a strong focus on education, inspiration, and sustainability, the festival supports the local community while ensuring its long-term future.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, the festival continues to bring together the town’s vibrant food scene, attracting around 20,000 visitors each year.

Ireland

Ballycastle Seafront Artisan Market

When: 22 June, 6 July, 20 July, 3 August, 17 August, 21 September

Where: Ballycastle Seafront

Price: Free

The Ballycastle Seafront Artisan Market is more than just a market; it's a vibrant celebration of local food, culture and traditions. Nestled along the scenic Causeway Coast, what sets this market apart is its commitment to quality and provenance. Every item tells a story crafted with care and passion by local artisans who take pride in their work.

At the market, meet the faces behind the goods – producers who pour their heart and soul into everything they create. Discover new flavours and witness raw talent in action.

The market is a perfect stop on a day out. After browsing the stalls, stroll along Ballycastle beach or explore the charming town with its cosy coffee shops, inviting restaurants and independent shops.

Belfast Mela

Woman dressed in traditional clothing dancing

When: 16-24 August 2025

Where: Belfast city centre

Price: Mela Carnival (16 August) is free with some ticketed events such as Mela Day (24 August, £12)

The Belfast Mela is one of Northern Ireland's leading arts festival, bringing together music, dance, theatre, wellbeing and food from around the world to celebrate the city's growing cultural diversity.

August heralds the arrival of Mela, a Sanskrit term signifying 'to meet', drawing up to 60,000 visitors annually to Belfast. The event transforms the city, infusing its streets with the kaleidoscopic sights, sounds and aromas of nations worldwide.

Since its inception in 2006, Mela has flourished, expanding its footprint to encompass the whole city of Belfast across an eight-day festival.

The 2025 programme will be announced on the Mela website in early August 2025

Armagh Food & Cider Weekend

When: 4-7 September 2025

Where: Armagh, Orchard County

Price: TBC

Taking place among beautiful apple orchards, this festival celebrates cider-making and Armagh's fantastic local produce. At the Food & Cider Weekend you'll find al fresco dinners, artisan markets, cider tasting, foraged lunches, tours and talks. Last year's programme also included a pizza pottery workshop, foodie film night, bread-baking sessions and a murder mystery dinner, so expect lots more exciting events this year.

Scotland

Taste of Nairn festival

When: TBC

Where: Nairn Community & Arts Centre

Price: Free entry

Taste of Nairn festival is a three-day celebration of food and drink that proudly hosts the renowned World Tattie Scone Championship. This event highlights Nairn's exceptional producers and growers and includes an array of attractions, including an artisanal market, cookery demos and a baking competition.

Lucy Harding from Nairn Business Improvement District shares, "Each year, we tweak the event to ensure it is fresh and offers something new. This year, we are delighted to be adding a street market."

The Eat & Drink Festival Scotland

When: 23-26 May 2025

Where: SEC Centre, Glasgow

Price: £13 a day for adults, children's tickets are free

Eat & Drink Scotland is a celebration of modern cuisine, mixology marvels, global flavours, and independent craftsmanship all under one roof. Eat, drink and see celebrity chefs cooking live and sharing tips. Shop at the artisan producers market, with some of Scotland's best food on offer including locally sourced meats and cheeses, bread, patisserie, pickles, oils and more.

Taste of Grampian

When: TBC

Where: P&J Live, Aberdeen

Price: Early bird tickets £12.50 + fees/ general admission £15 + fees

Get ready for an epic culinary extravaganza as Taste of Grampian gathers food enthusiasts under one roof at P&J Live in early June to champion local businesses and indulge in the irresistible flavours of the region.

Prepare for a feast of activities catering to all ages, with local chef masterclasses offering inspiration at every turn. Sample the best beverages the north-east has to offer, embark on fun food trails, and enjoy inflatable attractions for junior foodies.

Tickets are available now. Don't miss the opportunity to see cooking demos by acclaimed chefs such as Nadiya Hussain and Si King – guaranteed to elevate your culinary adventures to new heights.

Foodies Festival

When: 8-10 August 2025

Where: UK-wide, at Rouken Glen Park in Glasgow

Price: Adult tickets start from £20

Looking for a delicious day out? Look no further than the Glasgow Foodies Festival. It's set to be the biggest celebration of chefs, food, drinks and live music featuring Symphonic Ibiza, Scouting For Girls and Blue.

Watch top chefs, including MasterChef champions and Michelin-starred experts, whip up their signature summer recipes in the Chefs Theatre. And for those with a sweet tooth, join expert bakers in the Baking Theatre to learn the secrets behind showstopping cakes.

You can also taste new wines, champagnes, and cocktails at the Drinks Theatre while eating delicious street food from around the world. And there's plenty of fun for everyone, with chilli-eating competitions and food challenges happening all day long. Kids can even get involved at the Kids Cookery Theatre.

For £25 per person, you can join hands-on Thai green curry masterclass sessions led by top chef Nigel Brown. And don't miss the all-new Flavour Town Fire Stage, where you can witness mesmerising fire-cooked recipes like Louisiana cajun chicken and cowboy butter tomahawk steak.

Stranraer Oyster Festival

When: 12-14 September 2025

Where: Stranraer

Price: Tickets released in June – check the official website for further information

Stranraer is home to Scotland's last wild, native oyster fishery, and the festival pays homage to the town's prized delicacies with a dynamic three-day programme. The 2025 line-up is yet to be announced but expect demos from celebrity chefs, extreme pond dipping, and an eclectic artisan market. Not to mention the famed Big Oyster Bash, children's entertainment, a sprawling oyster bar, and a breathtaking fireworks display illuminating the shores of Loch Ryan.

At the festival's heart lies the Scottish Oyster Shucking Championship, affectionately dubbed the ShuckOff. Here, culinary maestros and seafood aficionados vie for the chance to represent Scotland at the prestigious World Championships in Galway, Ireland, in late September.

Wales

Cardiff Food & Drink Festival

When: 27-29 June 2025

Where: Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay

Price: Free

The Cardiff Food & Drink Festival is a highlight in the city's summer calendar. At the heart of the festival, the producers fair and farmers market offer a variety of top-quality produce. There's also a street food piazza where you can try everything from curries to paella, catch live music at the bandstand and find unique handcrafted goods at the crafts market.

Abergavenny Food Festival

When: 20-21 September 2025

Where: various venues in the centre of Abergavenny

Price: Free and ticketed options available – check the official website

Founded in 1999 by two local farmers in response to the BSE crisis, the Abergavenny Food Festival (AFF) has grown into a significant event. It's held over the third weekend of September, drawing people together to celebrate the diverse food culture of Wales and beyond.

There are six venues and the food markets have over 200 stalls, each packed with tasty local treats, artisanal goodies and flavours from around the world. Visitors can also enjoy cooking demonstrations by top chefs, talks and debates on food-related topics, hands-on workshops for all ages, live music and street food.