Credit: Owen Howells/The Good Life Society
Strong Women
8 of the best health and wellness festivals to book now for summer 2024
By Lauren Geall
Updated 9 months ago
4 min read
Treat yourself to a break this summer with our pick of the best health and wellness festivals to book now.
The evenings are getting lighter, we’ve reached ‘jumper and a light jacket’ weather and the clocks are going back this weekend – after a long old winter, it feels as if summer is finally getting closer. And we can think of few better ways to celebrate the return of longer days and warmer weather than booking some festival tickets.
Long-gone are the days when festivals were simply about getting drunk in a field with your mates. While there’s still space for those kinds of experiences, there’s also a growing number of wellness festivals providing a space for you to relax and unwind away from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life.
At these festivals, you’ll find early morning yoga sessions, cold water plunges and the chance to get up close and personal with some of the leading experts across the wellness space, so you can return to normal, feeling a bit more zen.
Keep reading to check out some of the best wellness festivals across the UK, which you can book now for summer 2024.
SWEAT Fitness and Wellbeing Festival
When/where: 4-5 May in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth
What: Set up to champion local businesses in the health and wellbeing sector, the SWEAT Fitness and Wellbeing Festival is now in its 10th year. The two-day festival offers plenty of activities for attendees to try, as well as the ‘Power up the Tower’ challenge, which invites participants to attempt a 560+ stair climb up to the top of the Spinnaker Tower.
How much? It’s free to attend!
The Big Retreat Festival
When/where: 24-27 May in Pembrokeshire, Wales
What: The Big Retreat’s picturesque setting is just one of its selling points. Offering a range of wellness activities, community events and, of course, live music, this festival is all about unplugging from life and recharging in the heart of nature. Activity-wise, there’s everything from yoga and meditation to paddleboarding and cold-water swimming. And once all the physical stuff is over, there are fascinating talks and workshops to keep you entertained. Plenty of exciting names have already been confirmed for this year, too.
How much? Day tickets are available from £69, while adult access to all four days starts from £220. Under 5s are free, while camping spaces cost extra.
Mind Body Spirit Festival
When/where: 24-27 May, London Olympia
What: Who said wellness festivals have to take place in the countryside? The Mind Body Spirit Festival at London Olympia brings together exhibitors, speakers and workshops from across the worlds of health and wellness for the ultimate self-care weekend. There are over 70 free sessions you can attend across the four day event, too.
How much? Day tickets from £18.
Wellnergy Festival
When/where: 15 June in London, 6 July in Manchester
What: Don’t have the time or energy to commit to a multi-day festival? Wellnergy has got you covered. This one-day event brings together 10,000 likeminded individuals for a day filled with wellness classes, expert talks and lots of music. We dare you to come away without a little extra pep in your step.
How much? Early bird tickets from £45.
Endure24
When/where: 8-9 June in Reading and 29-30 June 2024 in Leeds
What: One for the trail runners among us, Endure24 is a festival with a difference. During these two-day events, runners have 24 hours to run as many laps of an 8km woodland course as possible, all while soaking up the atmosphere with live DJs, carnival drumming groups and a pop-up pub known as ‘The Runner’s Rest’. You can enter as a soloist, in a pair, or as a team of up to 12, so grab some friends and get ready for 24 hours of chaos.
How much? Entry from £20pp.
Connect At The Yards
When/where: The Yards, Covent Garden
What: This one-day wellness event in Covent Garden is a haven for health and fitness lovers. With a range of classes on offer – including Barre by Digme and HIIT + Strength by Lululemon – a wellness marketplace and music from Brixton Radio and Balance, there’s plenty to get stuck into. Oh, and you can also pay a little extra to get a goodie bag full of incredible treats.
How much? £55 for general admission.
Love Trails Festival
When/where: 11-14 July in Gower Peninsula, South Wales
What: Looking to let off a bit of steam? Love Trails Festival has everything you need. Combining running, live music and adventure, the festival gives attendees the opportunity to take part in a variety of races and running events, ranging from a 5km trail run to a pub crawl run and a session led by Friday Night Lights. Adventure activities including coaststeering and surfing are also available, and musical headliners this year include JOY (Anonymous) and Aleighcia Scott.
How much? Four-day tickets from £255.
The Good Life Society Summer Camps Series
When/where: Various dates in July at the Hawarden Estate, North Wales
What: If you’re looking for an experience that’s more on the peaceful side, then opt for The Good Life Society’s Summer Camps series. This collection of three micro-festivals brings together experiences ranging from poetry workshops and guided open water swimming to whisky tasting and candle making. And it’s all set within the serene grounds of the Hawarden Estate, making it the ideal spot to unwind and reconnect with nature.
How much? Adult day tickets from £169, children under four go free.
Images: SWEAT Fitness & Wellbeing Festival/Umpf, Owen Howells, Mind Body Spirit, Wellnergy Festival, Threshold Sports, Anna Rachel Photography, The Good Life Society
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