Henham Park in Suffolk once again delivered a magical weekend as Latitude Festival 2025 brought four days of music, arts, and creativity to life from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th July. With around 40,000 attendees each day, Latitude showed why it continues to stand out as one of the UK’s most family-friendly festivals.
Latitude has never been just about music. Its distinctive blend of comedy, theatre, literature, and visual art gives the festival a multi-dimensional vibe. The iconic pink sheep, known officially as Woollen Deity, grazed by the lakeside, a playful nod to Suffolk agricultural heritage. Families dove into craft workshops and children’s theatre during the day, while late-night energy pulsed through the Sunrise Arena and the Trailer Park, where some of the festival’s most talked-about sets took place.
The 2025 lineup struck an inspired balance between legendary acts and modern trailblazers. Basement Jaxx, Sting, Fatboy Slim and Kaiser Chiefs owned the main stage with high energy headline performances. Mika, Sigrid, Arthur Hill and TikTok sensations The Kiffness injected fresh energy for the teen crowd. The likes of Elbow, Doves, Snow Patrol, Feeder, Air and Public Service Announcement served the music aficionados. And those searching for rising stars were served with bands like HoneyGlaze, The Royston Club, Palace and artists on the BBC introducing stage. Festival director Melvin Benn summed it up as “a celebration of iconic artists and creative exploration” – a sentiment echoed by the packed crowds.
My personal top 5 of the weekend were:
- Fatboy Slim Headline slot – after Example and Kaiser Chiefs raised the tempo on Saturday afternoon, Fatboy Slim took the headline slot with an epic DJ set. A firm favorite.
- Feeder’s acoustic set at the Trailer Park – picture a 1970s American trailer park in the woods, add a DJ area and a small stage and you have the Trailer Park stage. A number of up and comers played over the weekend and after their excellent set on the second stage, Feeder did a secret, late night acoustic set.
- The Kiffness – the South African TikTok star famed for his tunes made from a looper and cat memes, took to the second stage on Friday. He entertained, creating songs from scratch in front of bold visuals. A set to make you smile.
- Get Medieval combat skills and knightly training – yes, it was probably for the kids, but seeing men dressed in armor, attack each another with medieval weapons was something to see. They didn’t hold back.
- Massages for charity – the Mind, Body and Zen area had various massage options as well as sauna and ice-bath experiences, but booking a slot required some advanced planning. They did have online bookings, but who plans that far ahead at a festival? All was not lost. Close to the main stage were the Community Massage charity. Around 8 therapists were on-hand to give a 10 minute rub down for a donation. The queue moved quickly and after a quick fix, you were ready to rock and roll all over again.
Latitude’s commitment to sustainability continues to set a benchmark. This year, stages were powered by renewable hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and battery storage, while refill stations helped eliminate single-use plastics. With audience travel accounting for nearly 80% of the festival’s carbon footprint, Big Green Coach services encouraged visitors to ditch the car in favour of carbon-neutral travel from Chelmsford, Colchester, Ipswich, London, and Norwich. For rail users, Greater Anglia laid on extra trains between Ipswich and Lowestoft, with shuttle buses ferrying festival-goers from Halesworth station directly to Henham Park.
With its mix of iconic headliners, creative arts, and thoughtful touches, Latitude Festival 2025 reminded us why it’s a jewel of the UK festival scene. Few events can match its ability to blend cutting-edge music with cultural depth, all within the idyllic surroundings of Henham Park. And while some affectionately refer to it as “the posh festival”, the truth is, Latitude’s charm lies in its ability to be whatever you want it to be – a family weekend, a cultural escape, or simply the best party of the summer.
Visit www.latitudefestival.com to pre-order tickets for 2026.
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Review and Photography by Kenny McLeish
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