music
March 10, 2026
Seven of the best music festivals to visit by train from the UK
From jazz in Rotterdam and hip-hop in Paris to brass bands on the beach in Blackpool, the Guardian’s music editor chooses the best European festivals that can be reached by rail
TL;DR
- Fête de la musique in France offers free, impromptu outdoor performances across the country, with Lille being a convenient Eurostar destination from London.
- Roadburn in Tilburg, Netherlands, is a prestigious festival for adventurous heavy music, accessible via train changes in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, or Brussels.
- The Black Lights in Blackpool features brass bands on the beach and underground rave culture acts, easily reachable by train from across the UK.
- Westival in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is a boutique festival easily reached by train from Manorbier station, offering a range of bass music and wellness activities.
- North Sea Jazz in Rotterdam, Netherlands, has expanded beyond jazz to include soul, R&B, disco, and African pop, and is directly accessible from London.
- Dekmantel in Amsterdam, Netherlands, is renowned for its left-of-centre techno and bass music programming, held in a forested park.
- C2C (club to club) in Turin, Italy, offers an affordable festival rooted in dance culture but now spanning underground and overground genres, located at the historic Fiat building.