Sophie Mayhew

It’s never too early to start planning for the new festival season, as while we agonisingly wait for the announcement of headliners for some of the world’s finest festivals (Glasto, we’re looking at you), others have already got themselves together (Primavera Sound, NOS Alive, Coachella, we thank you) with brilliant programmes of who are set to be some of 2025’s hottest artists.  And no matter your music taste, who you’re going with, your weather preference or your capacity for camping, the world will have a festival that’s right for you, from Europe to the USA, Canada to Japan and Australia to India. Overwhelmed? Don’t sweat – here’s our comprehensive roundup of the best festivals in the world taking place in 2025. RECOMMENDED:🌤️The best festivals in Europe in 2025🎪The best festivals in the UK in 2025🎭The best things to do in the world this year🌃The best cities in the world right now At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Europe is not lacking in jaw-dropping beauty, but how do you choose its top spots? Its home to seven Wonders of the World, for one thing, as well as 34 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and even that doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of the incredible things you can find across the continent.  But even if we can’t list every single one, we can list our favourites. To put together this list, we asked our editorial staff team and travel writers based in Sweden, Greece and more for the most beautiful things they’d ever seen in Europe. The result? Stories of taking boats out on Germany’s hidden lakes, climbing up to vast sand dunes in France and afternoons spent strolling Art Nouveau streets in Latvia. From solitary islands to packed ski resorts, here are the most beautiful places in Europe, picked by us. RECOMMENDED:🌤️ The most beautiful places in the world🌃 The best city breaks in Europe🏖️ The best beaches in Europe🌊 The best places to ‘coolcation’ in Europe Ella Doyle is Time Out’s guides editor. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Forget the sleepy, uptight Cotswolds: The Bull is hip and sexy, offering serious quality dining and drinking. Reopened in July 2023 by James Gummer and Phil Winser, who are also behind The Pelican in Notting Hill, it is lit almost exclusively by candlelight, with open fires and wooden beamed ceilings. The whole thing is intimate, romantic and inviting: sink into comfy leather armchairs by the roaring fire, with any tipple you could want in hand, and admire the perfectly preserved flagstone floors and Regency-style comforts. Move through to the restaurant, and be guided by your waiter – everything on the menu is local, seasonal and celebratory of British produce. End with a digestif before heading upstairs via a spiraling ancient staircase to flop easily into your open-plan room and enveloping four-poster bed. There are 10 rooms to choose from in this glorified pub, as well as a boutique cottage if you’re needing something for the whole family. The pared-back design continues in the bedrooms, with soft whites and oak features adding to the relaxing atmosphere. Free-standing bathtubs and kingsize beds are the prime feature in every room, which overlook either the quintessential Costworlds Charlbury high street or pretty pub garden. Neighbourhood Situated in the chocolate box town of Charlbury, this idyllic Oxfordshire pub with rooms is an ultimate countryside getaway. With luscious fields and winding footpaths all around, it’s a great option if you want to feel clean air in yo

Watergate Bay Hotel really is a special place. Situated directly above a spectacular two-mile expanse of rolling waves, this stunning hotel is sleek and modern in design and is positioned in an exceptional setting. Unfussy and catering to every need, it feels luxurious while void of any pretentiousness. From plush beach loft suites offering the best views in the house, to more modest rooms with self-catered options or dog and child friendly spaces, there is something for everyone; every touch has been thoughtfully considered.  There are three different dining options: laid-back and breezy at the Beach Hut, an all-day lounging vibe at the Living Space that will see you from coffees through to cocktails, or the stunning seasonally changing three-course menu at Zacry’s, which brings the most exquisite Cornish seafood to the table. With plenty of delicious food options to choose from and coastal walks in each direction, there is no need to get in the car. And to unlock full relaxation mode? There’s the swim club: an indoor pool with glass views of the ocean below, a host of treatments available from experienced therapists; as well as a sauna and hot tub on the outside decking. Come back fully rejuvenated, with the sea air in your lungs and hair.  Neighbourhood Situated in the heart of the bay, this hotel is nestled among three brilliant dining options, a surf shop and a delicious take-out coffee and cakes spot, No.1 Cubs. It’s easy to swim, surf, or take a seaside walk right from