With the vacation approaching, it's time to anticipate our escape from the Exam Term mire with some summer planning. Music festival season is almost upon us, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the seemingly endless choices then this guide is for you. From major festivals to niche events set in heritage railway sites, we've sought out the most exciting events - both in the UK and further afield - to help you plan your well-earned summer release.


Exit Festival

When: 7th-10th July

Where: Novi Sad, Serbia

Line-up Highlights: Arcade Fire, Pulp, M.I.A., Portishead, Editors, Deadmau5, Groove Armada, Beirut, Seth Troxler

Special Feature: The festival's twenty stages are connected by cobbled streets, ramparts and tunnels, promising an atmosphere like a "magical wonderland". There are also pre- and post-Exit events planned in Novi Sad and Belgrade.

You'll enjoy this if: you're a little bit adventurous, and sun is an important part of your ideal festival experience.


Lounge on the Farm

When: 8th - 10th of July

Where: Merton Farm, Canterbury

Line-up Highlights: The Streets, The Vaccines, Ellie Goulding, Everything Everything, The Joy Formidable, Katy B, Example

Special Feature: As the name implies, it is actually a festival on a countryside farm; in addition to that novelty, all of the food at the festival is locally sourced, so no shelling out a fiver for flat, disgusting burgers!

You'll enjoy this if: you're looking for a slightly more relaxed and quirky festival experience, but still want a strong mainstream line-up.


1234 Shoreditch

When: 9th July

Where: Shoreditch Park, London

Line-up Highlights: The Raveonettes, Pet Scenes, Black Lips, Covergirl, Echo Lake, The King Blues

Special Feature: Planned after-show parties and a carefully chosen roster of up-and-coming new bands.

You'll enjoy this if: you pride yourself in your ‘edgy’ music taste. Thick-rimmed glasses are essential uniform, especially if you have 20/20 vision.


Cocoon in the Park

When: 9th July

Where: Temple Newsam, Leeds

Line-up Highlights: Sven Vath, Ricardo Villalobos, Reboot (live), Seth Troxler

Special Feature: Set within the grounds of a 450 year-old mansion house in the countryside, there is also the promise of a spectacular display of pyrotechnics, lights and dancers.

You'll enjoy this if: you're after some cutting edge house and techno at a unique event.


Benicassim

When: 14th-17th July

Where: Benicàssim, near Valencia, Spain

Line-up Highlights: Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, Portishead, Mumford & Sons, Beirut, The Streets, Primal Scream, Friendly Fires

Special Feature: set within walking distance of a beach and a huge water park.

You'll enjoy this if: you want to combine your summer holiday with a music festival - Benicassim boasts a beautiful setting for a break with sun almost guaranteed.


Lovebox

When: 15th-17th July

Where: Victoria Park, London

Line-up Highlights: The Wombats, Snoop Dogg, Jessie J, The Drums, Katy B, Metronomy, Scissor Sisters, Blondie, Robyn

Special Feature: The event boasts "hidden sound-systems, secret corners within the trees and random acts of weirdness," which along with its fashionable reputation might just make Lovebox the coolest festival of the summer.

You'll enjoy this if: glamour and eclectic pop are your thing, and you're looking to experience a slice of  London’s finest festival offering.


Cambridge Folk Festival

When: 28th-31st July

Where: Sherry Hinton Hall, Cambridge

Line-up Highlights: Laura Marling, Villagers, Newton Faulkner, Frank Turner, Caitlin Rose, Chris Wood, Richard Thompson

Special Feature: Music workshops, tai chi and numerous activities planned aimed towards children. Plus, it's in Cambridge!

You'll enjoy this if: what you're looking for is a more laid-back, family friendly event with a mixture of modern and traditional folk sounds.


Indietracks

When: 29th-31st July

Where: Midland Railway Butterley, Derbyshire

Line-up Highlights: Edwyn Collins, The Hidden Cameras, Jeffrey Lewis, Jonny, Math and Physics Club, Withered Hand, Butcher Boy, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names

Special Feature: With its location of the Midlands Railway Butterley, this festival combines indie-pop with heritage trains, even offering steam train rides.

You'll enjoy this if: you are unspeakably twee, or just really like trains. On a more serious note, the novelty factor is more than balanced out by a particularly well-chosen line-up catering to the indie-pop niche crowd.


Sziget

When: 8th-15th August

Where: Óbudai Island, Budapest

Line-up Highlights: Pulp, Amy Winehouse, Interpol, The National, Kasabian, Dizzee Rascal, White Lies, Crystal Castles, Richie Hawtin, Dubfire, Judas Priest

Special Feature: A multitude of random events and tents, from World Music to Roma to Reggae.

You'll enjoy this if: you want the ultimate party atmosphere; Sziget is one of the biggest festivals in Europe and is renowned for drawing in a spectacular, fun-loving crowd.


Green Man

When: 19th-21st August

Where: Crickhowell, Brecon, Wales

Line-up Highlights: Fleet Foxes, Iron and Wine, Laura Marling, Noah and the Whale, James Blake, Villagers, The Antlers, Wild Nothing

Special Feature: The festival boasts 'Einstein's Garden,' promising a "vibrant programme of workshops, installations and performances" that "blends science and nature with entertainment, art, craft and design." Sophisticated.

You'll enjoy this if: you're a bit of an eco-warrior and/or a lover of interesting modern folk and indie music. Beard contingent likely to be high.

Reading and Leeds

When: 26th-28th August

Where: Little John's Farm, Reading/ Bramham Park, Leeds

Line-up Highlights: Pulp, The Strokes, My Chemical Romance, Muse, Elbow, The National, 2 Many DJs, Sub Focus

Special Feature: As well as a wide-ranging line-up brimming with big names, the festival's Alternative stage offers comedy and entertainment from Mark Watson to Saul Williams.

You'll enjoy this if: you want the quintessential festival experience. It's also good for larger groups due to the wide range of dance, indie and heavier rock music on offer.


Bestival

When: 8th-11th September

Where: Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight

Line-up Highlights: The Cure, Pendulum, PJ Harvey, Brian Wilson, Primal Scream, Robyn, Mogwai, Kelis, Boys Noize, Claude VonStroke, Graham Coxon

Special Feature: Surrealism - there's an inflatable church where apparently you can get married, as well as diverse additional entertainment from Burlesque to Bollywood.

You'll enjoy this if: eclecticism is what you want in a festival. Not only does Bestival boast almost every form of entertainment under the sun, there's also a great DJ line-up to supplement the many well-established live bands.