If you’re looking for Summer Festivals that are something out of the ordinary in the UK this summer, look no further than these unusual summer festivals.
When you think of British summer festivals, Glastonbury or Reading might spring to mind. But the UK is known for its eccentricity and quirkiness, so beyond the mainstream music and food fests lies a treasure trove of quirky celebrations that showcase the UK’s love of the odd and the offbeat. If you’re looking for a summer experience that’s anything but ordinary, here are 10 unusual UK festivals that promise to surprise, amuse, and delight.
Many of these events take place in small villages or towns. Many small places in the UK have a bus service, although it varies on weekends. A rental car might be a better option in some cases.
1. World Snail Racing Championships (Congham, Norfolk)
When: 19th July, 2025
Forget horsepower — it’s all about snail power in this annual gastropod showdown. Held in a small Norfolk village, this tongue-in-cheek event invites snail enthusiasts to bring their own racers or pick a local champion. With a 1-inch circular track and lots of cheering, it’s surprisingly tense… and hilariously slow.
Website – World Snail Racing Championship
How to get there: Route 48 bus from Kings Lynn.
Where to Stay: Old Bell Guest House, Grimston
2. The World Egg Throwing Championships (Swaton, Lincolnshire)
When: 29th June, 2025
Whether it’s precision tossing or high-stakes catching, this messy sport tests the courage and coordination of competitors. Events include egg roulette, target throwing, and even a team toss across a river. Expect yolk-splattered clothes and plenty of laughter.
Website: Egg Throwning Championship
Transport: There is no easy way to get there by public transport. Consider hiring a car.
Places to stay: Garden Cottage, Sleaford.
3. Bog Snorkelling Championships (Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales)
When: 24th August, 2025
Diving face-first into a muddy trench in a peat bog, snorkelers compete to swim the fastest length using only flipper power. No conventional strokes allowed! It’s wet, it’s cold, and it’s gloriously ridiculous — yet attracts participants from around the globe.
Webite: Bog Snorkelling Championships
Transport: The town is accessible by train (on the Heart of Wales line) and by bus. Bus route 48 connects Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, and Llanwrtyd Wells.
Where to stay: Neuadd Arms Hotel, Llanwrdyt Wells.
4. Barefoot Festival (Loughborough, Leicestershire)
When: 25-28th Late July, 2025This offbeat, family-friendly festival encourages you to ditch your shoes and reconnect with nature. Think fire dancing, belly dancing, circus workshops, laughter yoga, and woodland crafts — all in a relaxed, boho setting. It’s as much about inner peace as it is about playful creativity.
Website: Barefoot Festival
Transport: Loughborough is accessible by train or bus, with many major connections.
Where to stay: Burleigh Court Hotel and Leisure, Loughborough.
5. International Eisteddfod (Llangollen, Wales)
When: 9th July, 2025
A celebration of global music and dance, this colourful cultural festival includes choirs, folk dancers, and traditional costumes from every continent. It’s beautifully diverse, set in a stunning riverside town — and includes a fancy-dress parade of local children dressed as countries!
Website: International Eisteddfod
Transport: How to get there.
Car hire may be an easier option for some.
Where to stay: Wild Pheasant Hotel & Spa, Llangollen
6. Port Eliot Festival (St Germans, Cornwall)
When: 21-24th August, 2025
A truly eclectic mix of literature, art, fashion, food, and wild creativity, this boutique festival defies easy categorisation. You might find authors reading in a walled garden, spontaneous poetry duels, or silent disco yoga. It’s delightfully unpredictable — like a dreamy summer fairytale.
Website: Port Eliot Festival
Transport: You can take a train to St Germans, then a bus to Port Eliot. Alternatively, you can hire a car.
Where to stay: The Liscawn . Sheviock, Cornwall.
7. 15. Festival of the Unexceptional (Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire)
When: 26th July, 2025Celebrating the ordinary yet beloved cars of yesteryears, this festival is a haven for enthusiasts of classic everyday vehicles. From vintage Vauxhalls to old-school Fords, it’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane, complete with period dress and a relaxed, picnic-style atmosphere.
Website: Festival of the Unexceptional
Transport: This is a car festival, so many people will take their own car. However, for visitors there to observe the fun, a hire car would be the best option for getting to Grimsthorpe Castle.
Where to stay: Angel at Bourne, Bourne, UK.
8. The Green Man Midnight Feast (Brecon Beacons, Wales)
When: 14-17th August, 2025 (as part of the Green Man Festival)
One of the lesser-known corners of the more mainstream Green Man Festival, the midnight feast is a surreal experience: music, storytelling, and spontaneous acts of strangeness unfold around fire pits in the early hours. Think Midsummer Night’s Dream meets modern folk rave.
Website:Green Man Midnight Feast. All information about tickets and how to get there are on the website.
How to get there: The closest station is Abergevenny You can get a shuttle bus from there.
National Express coaches will have services running to the festival from various locations around the UK.
Car parking is available for a fee.
9. The World Tin Bath Championships (Castletown, Isle of Man)
When: 13th September 2025 (postponed from 14th July, 2025)
Dozens of brave (and slightly mad) competitors climb into converted tin baths and race them across the harbour using makeshift paddles. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and filled with waterborne slapstick. Spectators can enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere — and the inevitable capsizing.
Website: World Tin Bath Championships
Transport: You can fly from London to The Isle of Man. You can also take a ferry from Liverpool, Heysham, Dublin or Belfast. Once in Douglas, you can get to Castletown by local bus routes .
Where to stay: Sefton Express Hotel, Ballasalla, Isle of Man.
10. The World Pea-Shooting Championships 2025 (Witcham, Cambridgeshire)
When: 12th July, 2025
If you didn’t already know, the practice of pea-shooting involves taking a dried pea and blowing it through a straw or some kind of tube with the aim of hitting a target.
Try your hand at pea-shooting and join in all of the other festivities at this auspicious event!
Website: World Pea Shooting Championships
Transport: Take a train to Ely (from London and other connections). Then take a bus from Ely station to Witcham.
Where to stay: The Three Pickerells, Downham, Ely.
From bogs and tin baths to airborne eggs and snail showdowns, the UK’s summer calendar is full of oddball charm. These summer festivals remind us that celebration doesn’t always need glitz — sometimes, all it takes is mud, music, and a good dose of British eccentricity.
So, if you’re looking to shake up your summer plans, why not swap the usual headline acts for snail racing or a donkey sanctuary fête? You might just stumble on your new favourite tradition.
