Best Food Festivals in the UK

Festivals have popped up all over the UK to celebrate international food and drink and the joyfulness of British summertime. Everyone’s invited, whether you’re a local looking to get the best out of your town or city or a tourist visiting for the first time. And the best part is, many are accessible by train. 

We’re traversing the CrossCountry network to discover the best food festivals in the UK. Who knows, there might be one happening on your doorstep! 

Best Food Festivals in Northern England

Cities like Manchester and Sheffield have become hubs of international food, with wonderfully diverse areas dedicated to flavourful and unique culinary offerings. With such an exciting and tasty landscape, it makes perfect sense to celebrate it; here are some of the biggest food festivals up North. 

Sheffield Food Festival

Sheffield Food Festival celebrates the city's finest culinary offerings annually over the late May Bank Holiday Weekend. The event takes place in the beautiful Peace Gardens, and you can expect live music, crafts, and, of course, lots and lots of delicious food. It’s completely free to enter and appeals to a wide range of audiences, meaning you can bring your kids, grandparents, or your friends and rest assured that you will all have a fantastic time. 

Sheffield station is serviced by CrossCountry, and you can reach the city from a number of locations around the UK. Hop on a train from areas such as Derby, Oxford, and Leamington Spa. 

York Food and Drink Festival

Held annually in September, the York Food and Drink Festival takes place on Parliament Street and St Sampsons Square, a hub for shopping and catch-ups with friends in York. York Food Festival is a not-for-profit organisation that runs two magnetising events each year that always attract big crowds. The York Chocolate Festival takes place at Easter, while the main ten-day festival takes place later in the year. You can expect markets, food demos, workshops, and plenty of free samples.  

Beyond the square, there are also pop-up events happening throughout the city, such as wine tastings, taste trails, dinners, and the Food Factory. The Food Factory holds free workshops in the Museum Gardens, where participants can learn new skills and techniques. Past renditions have successfully run bread-making workshops, as well as sessions on pasta making, vegan dips, and chocolate mousse! 

You can reach York station with CrossCountry from a range of stations across the UK, including Leeds, Darlington, and Newcastle. 

Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival

Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival in Manchester takes place annually in August and is the perfect activity for the height of Summer – as long as you’ve brought your sunscreen! Visitors can expect live music, comedy, cooking demonstrations, a fun fair for the kids, and more delicious delights.  

Heaton Park is home to some of the UK’s best festivals, such as ParkLife and the Easter Family Fun Fair. You can reach the park by tram from Piccadilly Gardens, which is a ten-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly station. If you’re travelling to Manchester by train, hop on a CrossCountry service from a variety of locations across the UK, including Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton. 

Best Food Festivals in Southern England

From busy city streets to quiet coastal towns, the South really is a culinary melting pot. In celebration of international food influences and proper British grub, here are the best food festivals available down South. 

St Ives Food and Drink Festival

St Ives Food and Drink Festival is one of our favourite free things to do in Cornwall. Every year in May Porthminster Beach comes alive with sizzling grills and enticing aromas. There are demonstrations from accomplished chefs, live sessions from local musicians throughout the day, and even a wood-fired sauna! You can also purchase tickets for the evening gigs and certain cooking masterclasses. 

Porthminster Beach is a ten-minute walk from St Ives station. You can reach St Ives by train in no time from St Erth via an alternate travel provider. CrossCountry services trains to St Erth from across Cornwall, including Penzance and Redruth. 

Cheltenham Vegan Market

Cheltenham Vegan Market returns in April along the town’s famous promenade. Vegan Fairs are an ethical organisation that hosts events across the Southwest of England. Their ambition is to teach the public all about cruelty-free, ethical consumption. In Cheltenham, there are three outdoor markets showcasing the best of vegan food and uplifting local businesses. You’ll also be able to browse a range of non-food items, like cruelty-free skincare and homeware items. 

The promenade is a short bus ride from Cheltenham Spa station, which you can get to on a CrossCountry train. You can pay a visit to this gorgeous spa town from various locations across the UK, including Cardiff Central and Gloucester. If the amazing street food doesn’t fill you up, why not book an evening meal at one of Cheltenham’s best restaurants? 

Feast On, Bristol

Feast On takes place in the green open space of Clifton Downs in Bristol each July. You’ll get to experience a range of talented restaurants and traders doing their thing in the summer sun. Expect wine tastings, illuminating talks, cookery demos, and live music across the entire four-day event. 

Clifton Downs is a half-hour bus ride from Bristol Temple Meads. You can reach Bristol from across the UK with CrossCountry, including from Exeter St Davids and Birmingham New Street. 

Best Food Festivals in Scotland

Cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh are packed with mouthwatering restaurants for all budgets, and the rural areas of Scotland showcase some of the best local produce around. Why not experience and celebrate Scotland’s finest food by attending a festival this year? 

Sausage and Cider Festival Dundee

The Sausage and Cider Festival takes place all over the UK, but in August, it comes to the coastal city of Dundee, the perfect host. Head to Camperdown Park for a thrilling lineup of events, from axe throwing and eating competitions to a lively silent disco. 

With over twenty unique sausage flavours to sample, attendees really are spoilt for choice. Whether you lean towards the sweet blend of pork and apple or prefer something fiery hot, the Sausage and Cider Festival is a fantastic summer activity in Scotland. 

Camperdown Park is around fifty minutes by bus from Dundee station. You can catch a train to Dundee with CrossCountry from various stations around Scotland, including Aberdeen and Stonehaven. 

Edinburgh Food Festival

Edinburgh Food Festival takes place over ten days in the summer. It’s completely free to visit and is one of the best activities you can attend to appreciate the flavours of Edinburgh and beyond. Previous years have seen the festival take place in the lovely George Square Gardens, filling the green space with the smell of pies, poke, and pizza. 

George Square Gardens are a fifteen-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley station, which can be accessed from various stations in Scotland with CrossCountry, including Glasgow Central. 

Best Food Festivals in Wales

Wales has a strong food culture, in both flavour and tradition, from tangy Welsh rarebit to vinegary cockles to sugar-dusted Welsh cakes. One of the best ways to sample the fine food of Wales is through its festivals - here are some of our favourites. 

Abergavenny Food Festival 

Abergavenny Food Festival is an exciting annual event for foodies, taking place in September. Set in the darling Monmouthshire market town, the festival promises two days of sensational food and entertainment. The event is split across six venues, all offering family-friendly activities, chef demonstrations, talks, and plenty of free samples. There’s also a night market taking place in Lower Brewery Yard on the Saturday – perfect for a relaxed evening of food and chatter. 

Abergavenny station is less than half an hour by train from Newport (South Wales), with an alternate provider. You can access Newport with CrossCountry from key locations, such as Nottingham, Worcestershire Parkway, and Burton-on-Trent. 

Cardiff Food and Drink Festival

Cardiff Food and Drink Festival is the largest free food festival in Wales, taking place each year in June on Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff Bay. There will be street food stalls, a farmers’ market, and a producers fair, where you can taste lovingly baked goods, experimental ice cream flavours, and plenty more. There will also be a full programme of live music throughout the event, as well as a craft market! 

Roald Dahl Plass is under fifteen minutes by bus from Cardiff Central. You can reach Cardiff by train with CrossCountry from various locations across the UK, including Chepstow and Cheltenham Spa. 

If you’re planning some of the best and biggest food festivals in the UK, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.