1 Mathew Street Festival, Liverpool

Now the largest free music event in Europe, the Mathew Street Music festival lasts for four days with live music straddled across five different stages in the city centre.

August 25-28, mathewstreetfestival.com.

2 Leeds West Indian Carnival

The oldest Caribbean carnival in Europe swings through Chapeltown and Harehills for the 39th time this August bank holiday, beginning and ending in the barbecue-lined Potternewton Park. August 27, leedscarnival.co.uk.

3 Cardiff Calling & South West Four, Cardiff

Back-to-back festivals over the bank holiday weekend, in Cardiff for the first time after two years in London.

August 26 & 27, cardiffcalling.com, southwestfour.com.

4 Manchester Pride Parade

Manchester's LGBT community paints the city pink as the parade weaves its way through and around Canal Street, drawing to a close 10 days of partying, film, arts, entertainment, sport and debate.

August 26, manchesterpride.com.

5 TDK Cross Central Festival, London

This year's Cross Central features a line-up resembling a small army, as "the thinking man's festival" returns to Kings Cross goods yard.

August 26-27, crosscentral.co.uk, £20/day.