5 of the best summer events in 2024

Looking for some dates for your calendar this summer? You’re in luck, because 2024 is packed with festivals, gigs, carnivals and special events at cities across the UK. We’ve listed our top five to get you started, but there are plenty more – and you can save money when you get to them with megabus. Book your seat, get the group chat excited, and get yourself to one of these.

Best for nature: Wales Nature Week, various locations – June 29-July 7
Wales Nature Week is a celebration of the country’s species and habitats, so it’s a great time to get out and about exploring. There’ll be special events running at lots of locations in Wales – from Wildlife Trust and RSPB reserves, to parks and community green spaces – or you can just pick one of Wales’ many wildlife-filled areas. Even the capital city, Cardiff, has plenty of places to enjoy nature. Walk around the lake at Parc Tredelerch, pack a picnic for Bute Park, or hike the Cardiff Bay trail.

Best for eating your way around: Foodies Festival, Glasgow – August 9-11
Foodies Festival is actually a series of 14 events happening up and down the country, starting in Cardiff in May and ending in Norwich in September. Part food festival, part music festival, it’s a great shout if you want a treat for your ears and your stomach. In August it heads to Glasgow with Scouting For Girls making an appearance alongside MasterChef’s Gary Maclean – although not on the same stage. And the festival is in Edinburgh the week beforehand, so you’ve got two Scotland dates to choose from.

Best for finding new music: Leeds Festival, Bramham Park – August 21-25
OK, so we’re spoilt for choice in the UK when it comes to music festivals, so it was tricky to whittle this down to just one. But Leeds Festival always delivers a winning mix of big names and up-and-coming artists, and 2024’s festival is no exception. Lana Del Ray and The Prodigy are on the line-up in Leeds alongside the likes of Raye, Jorja Smith and Skrillex. And we’ve teamed up with the festival’s official travel partner, Big Green Coach, to make your festival travel plans nice and easy.

Best for soaking up some culture: Notting Hill Carnival, London – August 25-26
The Notting Hill Carnival takes to the streets of London’s W10 and W11 areas every August on the bank holiday weekend, and if you haven’t been – you need to. Europe’s biggest street festival is a giant celebration of Caribbean culture, with incredible street food, steel bands, sound systems and a giant parade on the Monday. Two million people show up every year, so come early and be ready to party. And while you’re in London you can tick off some more of the capital’s cultural gems, from the British Museum to the V&A.

Best for lazing on the beach: Plymouth, May to September
Nothing says summer like a day at the seaside, and Plymouth is a good shout. The city’s nearest sandy beaches, Bovisand and Wembury, are only a 20-minute drive from the centre, or a 40-minute journey by bus. If you don’t fancy heading out that far, get your fix of sea views from Plymouth Sound and take a dip in Tinside Lido on Plymouth Hoe. This Art Deco saltwater pool only opens in the summer months from May to September and comes with amazing ocean views.

Ready to go? Get your travel plans sorted with megabus.