As temperatures (gradually) rise, the sun gives us glimpses of what’s to come, and we all begin to emerge from a home-focused existence with renewed energy, optimism and a desire to reconnect, it’s time to look forward to that exuberant summer-in-the-capital vibe that London never fails to deliver.

While many of us will book into at least one of the major festivals happening across the country each summer – Glastonbury, Latitude, Wilderness, Isle of Wight Festival, Shambala, Camp Bestival – there is no shortage of quality festival fun to be had here on our urban doorsteps. And aside from having an absolute blast, festival-going can also bring important social and community-focused benefits for revellers.

Elliot Allison, general manager of London’s first urban cidery, Hawkes, says: “A summer festival with mates is the perfect opportunity to leave the stresses of modern life behind. When strangers congregate in one space with the aim of having a great time, what might distinguish us from each other is forgotten, and instead we get lost in festival conviviality – they remind of us our shared humanity.

“Us Londoners are fortunate to live in a diverse, multicultural, inclusive city that celebrates all tastes, choices and backgrounds. Every corner of the capital has appeal and something different to offer, so no matter what ‘having a good time’ might look like, there’s a festival for everyone and generally never more than an hour away. And whilst most typically, summer events are centred on the multitude of different genres of music and dancing, they also cater to those looking to enjoy something a bit different; yoga & chill, a dog-friendly festival, or even one paying tribute to our daily morning staple of coffee!

“There are too many London festivals to list, but this is my round up of the lesser known, more local, but still exceptional events that help to bring the city to life in the summer. And you never know where Hawkes – city ciders to the core – may pop up, so keep eyes peeled and tastebuds at the ready if you’re looking for a refreshing drink to accompany your urban summer festival experience…”

Read on for Elliot’s favourite festivals in and around London to give you some inspiration for a summer blowout to remember.

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Ealing Blues Festival, Ealing

Dating back to 1987 in direct connection to the Ealing Blues Club – which has been played by Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Pete Townshend, and can even lay claim to overseeing the creation of the Rolling Stones – Ealing Blues Festival celebrates the rock and blues heritage of Britain.

Taking place 22-23 July in Walpole Park in Ealing, expect to strut your stuff to The Geoff Garbow Band, shuffle to the West London Roots Revue, and boogie to The Vampirettes.

Tickets to the Ealing Blues Festival, in partnership with Ealing Jazz and Comedy Festivals, will be available to book soon here.

Krankbrother, Shoreditch & Finsbury Park

Having started in 2009, krankbrother is one of the UK’s leading forces in electronic music. Over the years, the group has thrown raging parties in a variety of venues, such as abandoned buildings, public spaces and one-off outdoor locations.

Those who’ve spun the discs over the years include Peggy Gou, Solomun, Four Tet, Daniel Avery and The Blessed Madonna, as well as many more electronic music scene hotshots.

Tickets for various krankbrother parties between June and August are available here.

Mighty Hoopla, Brockwell Park, Brixton

Glitter, good vibes, and a host of pop excellence. Brockwell Park’s Mighty Hoopla is London’s biggest queer pop festival, which in the past has had the Sugababes, Cheryl, Chaka Khan, Jessie Ware and more grace its stages.

Not only is it fun and fabulous, Mighty Hoopla champions LGBTQ+ art and culture and provides a safe space for the queer community and its allies in London and beyond.

A handful of tickets for the Sunday 4 June, where you can expect to see the likes of Years & Years, Roisin Murphy and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, are available here.

Body Movements, Hackney Wick

If the East London queer rave scene is more for you than glitter pop, Hackney Wick’s Body Movements on 29 July is the solution.

Spread across various venues throughout the ward, including Colour Factory, La Terraza and Studio 94, expect to hear the very best of London’s queer DJs, producers and collectives including (but not limited to) Jungle Kitty, PXSSY PALACE, Queer House Party, Riposte and Rat Party.

Final tickets are available through Resident Advisor here, with afterparty tickets included too, meaning there’s no reason for the party to end when the festival stops.

DogFest, Losely Park, Surrey

The fact that a whole festival exists entirely devoted to dogs just goes to show how much us Brits love man’s best friend.

DogFest is held at seven different stately homes across England. The closest option for Londoners is Losely Park, Surrey on 27-28 May.

This poochtastic summer fair brings together dog lovers from far and wide to enjoy a range of canine-related activities including dog shows, agility contests, and even a dog walk en masse.

And you don’t need to have a dog of your own to join in on the fun!

Tickets for DogFest are available here.

Bankside Open Spaces Festival, Bankside, Southwark

Bankside Open Spaces Festival is one of the capital’s biggest free festivals happening on 10 June in Bankside, London.

With performers, live music and DJs covering the most diverse genres in the festival’s history, a Latina parade, a dog show, a beach, sports & dance workshops, gardening workshop, free massages, yoga, stilt walkers, fire breathers, local makers, crafts, art, walking tours, a dedicated after party from 9pm, and much more, this festival really does offer something for everyone.

Celebrating community & the urban outdoors, Bankside Open Spaces Festival is run by environmental charity, Bankside Open Spaces Trust, and attracted 20,000 festival-goers last year.

Bankside Open Spaces Festival is an unticketed event, so you can just rock up on the day!

Happy Place, Chiswick

For all aspiring wellness gurus out there, this is the festival for you.

Happy Place Festival, direct relative of the Happy Place podcast hosted by broadcaster Fearne Cotton, takes place twice over the summer – 15-16 July in Chiswick and 2-3 September in Cheshire.

Attendees will be able to take part in all manner of wellness-related activities, such as energy healing, yoga, mindfulness and breathwork workshops, attending inspirational and motivational talks, and even enjoying a massage.

Tickets are still available here, so you can reset, recharge, and feel your best.

Community Festival, Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace Park’s Community Festival started in 2017 and showcases the biggest names in the indie music scene.

This year, headliners such as Two Door Cinema Club, The Wombats, The Vaccines, and Baby Queen will be storming the Community Festival stage on 7 July. It’s the ideal shindig for those looking to tap into some ‘indie sleaze’ nostalgia, or scope out the newest arrivals on the alternative music scene.

Grab tickets to this one-day festival here.

South Facing Festival, Crystal Palace

Also at Crystal Palace Park, South Facing Festival is a series of open-air concerts, with performances by a range of high-profile, critically-acclaimed artists across a mix of genres.

Over the past two years, top names such as London Grammar, Dizzee Rascal, Becky Hill, The Streets and even the English National Opera have performed at the festival.

This year, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (28 July), Primal Scream (4 August), The Jesus and Mary Chain (4 August), Rudimental (5 August), James & Happy Mondays (11 August), First Aid Kit (12 August) and Craig David (13 August) will be taking the Crystal Palace Bowl stage across July and August.

Tickets for individual concerts are available here.

World Yoga Festival, Henley-upon-Thames

Held in Henley-upon-Thames every year, the World Yoga Festival (3 – 6 August) is hosted by the Arsha Kula Foundation, a registered UK charity teaching meditation and yoga.

The festival brings together the most revered yogis across the world for four glorious days in August to offer their teachings.

In addition to an incredible range of yoga styles to try, there is a plethora of world and vegan food stalls to choose from as well as healers, traditional Indian folk musicians, and artisan creators.

Tickets for this family-friendly festival for the spiritually inclined are available here.

One Day, Burgess Park, Camberwell

Uber cool Hackney-born online radio station, NTS, brings its official festival, One Day, to Camberwell’s Burgess Park for one day only, on 27 May.

The festival has a modest but by no means insignificant lineup of musicians. From New York rapper JPEGMafia to Detroit deep house producer Theo Parrish to South London’s own post-punk band Dry Cleaning.

Aspiring Pitchfork reviewers and casual listeners of experimental sounds alike will be able to enjoy One Day. Tickets for the all-dayer are available here.