If there’s one thing that unites all of us, it has to be food. Embodying love, history, culture, and, of course, bags of flavour, food is something that brings people together and inspires - and we can’t get enough.
Paying homage to the very best of both regional and international producers and cuisine is a fantastic line up of UK food festivals. Scattered throughout cities, countryside and coast, these amazing celebrations take place every year and invite visitors from near and far to learn new skills and sample delicious and unusual fare from the best in the business.
Offering an unmissable taste of what is to come, we’ve put together some of the top food and drink festivals in the UK to pop on your culinary agenda, from city to country to coast.
The Bubbly Show by Searcys, Westminster
26th - 27th April 2024
Get ready to pop corks and clink glasses at The Bubbly Show by Searcys. Held over two days in April, this fabulous event is hosted in the Grade I listed Carlton House Terrace, an exquisite Georgian townhouse in Westminster just a short stroll from Buckingham Palace. Showcasing the highest quality Champagnes and championing the best English sparkling wine producers, it promises tastings, talks and afternoon teas for moments of delectation. Also on the agenda are must-see masterclasses for those expert recommendations and tips. To avoid disappointment, booking is a must.
Blenheim Palace Food Festival, Woodstock
25th - 27th May 2024
From artisan bakes to craft brews, there is something for all taste buds at Blenheim Palace Food Festival. Held in the stunning, manicured grounds of the three-hundred-year-old Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, a gorgeous scene is set for days of culinary exploration here. Take part in interactive masterclasses, listen to expert top-tips from food royalty, meet local chefs, and treat yourself to an array of divine bites. For culinary expertise, the Festival Kitchen sets the stage for live demos, while the Tasting Tent encourages you to savour old favourites and exciting new products from a variety of stallholders.
Malton Food Lover’s Festival, Malton
25th - 27th May 2024
Procure a sizeable hamper and spend time flitting between all the showstopping stalls at Malton Food Lover’s Festival. Dubbed the “The Food Festival of the North”, this weekend-long festival takes place along the streets of Yorkshire’s foodie capital and focuses on everything that Yorkshire has to offer. And, a county that boasts the most Michelin stars restaurants outside of London, there’s a lot to be excited about. Head on over for days of browsing and banqueting and evenings of cocktails and conflabs, making the most of delicious cooked-to-order food served by inventive gourmet producers, and relishing the friendly, bustling atmosphere.
Taste of London, Regent’s Park
12th - 16th June 2024
Taking over Regent’s Park each year is the Taste of London festival. Spread out across five days, this eagerly awaited event rounds up all the names from leading London restaurants, well-known food personalities and up-and-coming chefs for the perfect recipe for success. With week-long food hubs and special pop-ups running side by side, the city’s finest flavours are brought to the plate by the most accomplished teams around. And, with deductive tasting, whisky vending machines, insect-garnished desserts and more, there’s plenty to pique your interest. Enjoy the addition of live music and fiery theatrics as you go, including roaming saxophone players and after-dark DJ sets.
Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival, Skipton
19th - 21st July 2024
With flavourful offerings in abundance, the Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival is one of the UK’s most widely anticipated food festivals. With a particular focus on sensational street food, the festival’s producers serve up everything from zingy seafood paella dishes to loaded fries topped with all your favourite trimmings to chocolate-covered churros. With such a huge array of edible goodies to tempt the taste buds and a beautiful backdrop of rolling Yorkshire countryside to soothe the eyes, the sights, sounds and setting of this brilliant Yorkshire food festival are hard to beat.
National Geographic Traveller Food Festival, City of London
20th - 21st July 2024
Whip up your appetite and inspire your curiosity at the National Geographic Food Festival in London’s Business District. Expanding culinary horizons, this zestful food festival encourages visitors to try amazing fare from all around the world. While chefs, authors and food experts share their knowledge and show off their skills, food stalls vie for attention and tempt with all manner of delectable delights. From Azerbaijan to Italy to Ecuador, sample your way around the globe and find new favourite dishes amongst the mouth-watering medleys. For more fun, you can also bundle up treats to take back to your boutique retreat to continue your culinary journey of discovery.
Smoke and Fire, Ascot
20th - 21st July 2024
Bringing together the very best chefs in the business, Smoke and Fire has all the ingredients for success. Calling upon both Berkshire’s and the UK’s leading foodie powerhouses to deliver a superb, family-friendly event, it takes place over a whole weekend in August on Ascot racecourse’s private grounds. With flame-grilled feasts and smokehouse treats on offer, the hours easily flow perusing all the heavenly produce. The only issue? Deciding which dish to try next. To take your barbecuing at home to the next level, you can listen to talks from the world's best fire chefs, or if you’re up to the challenge, enter the Ascot SCA Steak Cook-Off.
Rock Oyster, Wadebridge
25th - 28th July 2024
One of the most popular food and music food festivals in the South West, Rock Oyster takes full advantage of its glorious location on the Camel Estuary in gorgeous North Cornwall. With a mixture of views and food that’s impossible to pass up, it appeals to food-lovers from near and far looking to savour every moment of deliciousness in Cornish style. Circus classes, den building and skateboard workshops for children, and wellbeing sessions for grownups are just some of the things on the weekend menu, as well as a full specials board of food tents, chef tipis, and kitchen stages.
New Forest Food Festival, Christchurch
17th - 18th August 2024
Springing to life in 2023, the New Forest Food Festival is all set for its second year of foodie festivalling this year. Held just outside the gorgeous New Forest in the idyllic seaside town of Christchurch in Dorset, this fresh-out-the-oven festival hosts a unique celebration of all things New Forest. From craft bakes to organic brews to artisan chocolates and more, a seriously delicious array awaits. Sample, savour, experiment and learn, indulging in as many fine flavours as you can. Topped off with cookery demonstrations from seasoned chefs, there is plenty to look forward to. Learn expert advice from the pros and take home some new ideas to try out in the kitchen, flourishing your skills to create your own culinary masterpieces.
The Big Feastival, Cotswolds
23rd - 25th August 2024
Firmly placed on the culinary map, The Big Feastival takes place on Alex James’ (of Blur fame) beautiful farm in the picture-perfect Cotswolds. Combining the best sounds and tastes of the year, it serves up a full menu of things to see and do. As well as a huge line-up of family-friendly activities and attractions (including theatre performances, wild workshops, crafts and music headliners), this weekend-long celebration encompasses all the foodie goodness you could wish for. From street food to rustic dining, and from cookery skills classes to chef presentations, let your taste for discovery lead the way.
Seafest Dorset Seafood Festival, Weymouth
7th - 8th September 2024
Whether you can’t wait to try flavoursome fruits de mer or simply soak up the atmosphere of this grand alfresco festival, you have plenty to look forward to at Seafest, Dorset’s annual seafood festival. Found on Weymouth Peninsula, this award-winning fayre of fare runs along the beach and harbourside and overlooks jaw-dropping Jurassic coastline. Naturally, seafood is a speciality here, with local produce taking centre stage. That said, there’s also plenty of non-nautical dishes to try too. Browse the eclectic array of stalls or sit back with a glass of something crisp and enjoy the vibrant, friendly atmosphere.
Taste East Devon Festival, Various
14th - 22nd September 2024
Taste East Devon takes all the best bits about Devon and serves it up on a plate. Paying homage to the incredible fruits of the county, this unmissable festival incorporates several events at various locations throughout East Devon. Ensuring there is always something to capture your attention, the supercharged culinary line-up includes wine tasting, kitchen garden tours, foodie masterclasses, markets and more. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage is also in on the action, promising two wonderful feast evenings with dishes comprised of fantastic produce and ingredients from the locale. Peruse the schedule and pencil in your favourite, ready to be won over with the best flavours in town.
Abergavenny Food Festival, Abergavenny
21st - 22nd September 2024
An unmissable event on Wales’s social calendar for 25 years, Abergavenny Food Festival has plenty to tempt culinary connoisseurs of all ages. Whisked across six venues, the festival has more than 150 stalls in the town’s handsome Victorian market hall, brewery yard, castle grounds and more. Chef talks, demonstrations and debates are just some of the things going on to tempt the adults, meanwhile a children’s cookery school is ready to inspire the next generations of future chefs. Fuel your creativity with tips from pros, before taking your pick of the tastiest sweet and savoury street food must-tries to boost your energy and fill your tum.
Pub in the Park, UK
Dates: Various
The brainchild of chef Tom Kerridge, the famous Pub in the Park promises a mashup of all the country’s biggest talent. The largest touring food and music festival of its kind, it travels England in a flurry of colour and tantalising aromas, including charming locations such as Marlow and Bath. Secure yourself a ticket and take a pew at the demo stage to glean top tips from celebrity chefs and Michelin-star gurus, before exploring the huge range of foodie tents for the tastiest dishes du jour. With a soundtrack of live music from world-famous bands and all sorts of family-friendly attractions, there’s something to see at every turn.
Foodies Festival, UK
Dates: Various
Look forward to Michelin chefs, MasterChef winners, Great British Menu champs, Great British Bake Off stars and all the best local chefs at Foodies Festival. Dubbed the Gastro Glastonbury, this famous festival is hosted in some of the UK’s most buzzing cities, including Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, and London. Opening up a world of foodie flair to everyone, it beckons with everything from cooking masterclasses to dedicated drinks tents to artisan food stalls, so that you can satiate your curiosity and your appetite all in one place. Arrive hungry and leave replete, laden with bags of goodies to take back to your retreat and new ideas to rustle up in your kitchen.
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