Music festivals - Britain's top 10

Glastonbury Festival

When: 24th-28th June
Where: Glastonbury (where else!), Somerset
Why: Glastonbury is the Mac Daddy of music festivals, the Big Cheese, Il Supremo, the Head Honcho… (sorry, we'll stop now), but Glastonbury really is the big one. As well as an unbeatable line-up of acts including Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Blur, Lily Allen and The Prodigy, there's around 2,000 performances at 50 venues, including music, cabaret, theatre, circus, a fantastic kids' area, poetry, green crafts and lots more.
Web: Glastonbury Festival (www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk)

T in the Park

When: 10th-12th July
Where: Near Kinross, Scotland
Why: In true Scottish style, this is the summer festival that shows the rest of Britain how to have a good time - the nosiest, craziest, jumping-around-on-shoulders-wildest festival in the country. Now in its 15th year, T in the Park is Scotland's major summer music festival. As well as the music from the likes of Razorlight, Pet Shop Boys, Lady GaGa The Killers, Blur and Bloc Party, there's a fantastic fairground, delicious organic food and drink and numerous stalls and bars.
Web: T in the Park (www.tinthepark.com)

O2 Wireless Festival

When: 4th-5th July
Where: Hyde Park, London
Why: The O2 Wireless Festival is the coolest music festivals in London. Held over 2 days in London's Hyde Park, it plays host to some of the best bands, artists and DJs around. This year's Wireless has a rum-'n'-raisin flavour with two distinct sounds over the 2 days. The likes of The Streets and Paul Oakenfold join the mighty Basement Jaxx to give the Saturday more of a dance vibe, while Kanye West, Flo Rida and Young Jeezy inject some fresh hip-hop beats into the Sunday.
Web: O2 Wireless Festival (www.wirelessfestival.co.uk/)

Wakestock

When: 10th-12th July
Where: Pwllheli, Gwynedd, North Wales
Why: Relentless Wakestock adds a completely new dimension to the rolling-around-in-mud-listening-to-bands formula we know and love. Wakestock adds wakeboarding into the mix to bring you a weekend of high-octane music and excitement. What started as a party in a car park after a wakeboard contest, has grown into one of the coolest music festivals in Europe playing host of top bands such as Moby, N*E*R*D and Dizzee Rascal, along with the biggest wakeboard competition in Europe.
Web: Wakestock (www.wakestock.co.uk)

The Eden Sessions

When: July-August (various dates)
Where: St Austell, Cornwall
Why: Set inside the Eden Project, the world's largest glass-domed 'global garden', Eden Sessions offer a festival experience like no other. You'll get world class artists such as Paul Weller, The Kooks and Kasabian, in a venue dubbed the 8th Wonder of the World. Jarvis Cocker described Eden Sessions as "no mud, no pushy sponsors, no dodgy burgers, just lots of greenery".
Web: The Eden Sessions (www.edenproject.com/sessions/)

The Big Chill

When: 6th-9th August
Where: Eastnor Deer Park, Herefordshire
Why: The Big Chill started life 15 years ago as a series of parties in London. Today it's become one of the country's most impressive summer festivals set in the sweeping backdrop of the Malvern Hills. Known for its striking visual displays and New Age character boasting on-site masseurs, alternative therapists and healers (which you'll probably need by the end of the festival), The Big Chill is an extraordinary place to both listen to top artists and, as the name suggests, 'to chill'.
Web: The Big Chill (www.bigchill.net)

V Festival

When: 22nd-23rd August
Where: Chelmsford and Staffordshire
Why: The V festival attracts the big name acts from around the world such as Fatboy Slim, Oasis and Natalie Imbruglia, as well as acts that don't usually do the summer festival circuit. The event happens across 2 jaw-dropping historic venues; Weston Park with its stunning 17th-century stately home and a 1000-acre parkland, and Hylands Park which boasts a neo-classical Grade 2* listed house set in 570 acres of parkland including ancient woods, pleasure gardens and a serpentine lake. How's that for music meets heritage?!
Web: V Festival (www.vfestival.com)

Leeds and Reading Festival

When: 28th-30th August
Where: Leeds, West Yorkshire / Reading, Berkshire 
Why: Leeds and Reading Festival is Britain's leading rock, alternative and indie festival and believe it or not, one of the oldest music festivals in the world with a head-banging history going right back to 1961. Held simultaneously across 2 locations, the outstanding line-up dash frantically between venues so you get the same top-notch artists such as Radiohead, Kings of Leon and Kaiser Chiefs, no matter which of the 2 festivals you rock up to.
Web: Leeds Festival (www.leedsfestival.com/home/index.aspx), Reading Festival (www.readingfestival.com/home/)

CREAMFIELDS

When: 28th-30th August
Where: Daresbury, Halton (near Liverpool)
Why: Creamfields has received endless accolades for getting the fields around Liverpool stomping to the beats of electro, house, garage, acid, minimal and every of type of dance music you can imagine. Stomp around this summer festival to the likes of Mylo, Laurent Garnier, Paul van Dyk and Sasha in the massive outdoor stage area or one of the 10 DJ-only areas. Creamfields has also had massive international success having staged the events in no less than 15 countries - although it's home will always be our Liverpool!
Web: CREAMFIELDS (www.creamfields.com)

Bestival

When: September
Where: Newport, Isle of Wight
Why: Bestival is more than just a festival, it's a philosophy. And there's no better way to see out the summer festival season than this award-winning 3-day boutique music festival set in a leafy country park in the heart of the Isle of Wight. The creative vision behind Bestival brings you not only an eclectic, world-class music, but also unusual experiences such as the Bollywood Cocktail Bar, fancy dress en mass and even a Hidden Disco. It's this uniqueness that makes Bestival a wondrous world of discovery and a damn good end to summer!
Web: Bestival (www.bestival.net)