2006 was the year it all began. Founded by Festival Director Melvin Benn, our first iteration took place in what was to be our forever home of Henham Park, and welcomed headline sets from Snow Patrol, Anthony and the Johnsons and Mogwai, not to mention a 30 minute afternoon set from a new talent, Paolo Nutini. From that very first edition Latitude was unique among its festival peers, hosting revered artists sitting outside of the mainstream, a wide range of comedy, poetry, literature, theatre, cabaret and a dedicated children’s programme. It was a hub of curiosity, discovery and ideas; words that ring true to this day.
TL;DR – Latitude is a celebrated music and arts festival set in the picturesque grounds of Henham Park in Suffolk. For four days each July, we create a playground complete with a wealth of music, comedy, theatre, poetry, dance, literature, wellness, food and a huge programme for children of all ages. If you really want to get a feel for it, let’s deep dive…
Music
Latitude has been a celebration of musical brilliance since day one. We’ve been immensely proud to have welcomed the likes of Nick Cave, Grace Jones, Florence and the Machine, The National, Bon Iver, Paul Weller, Damon Albarn, Mumford & Sons, Lana Del Rey, Pulp, Kraftwerk and many more to the headline billings, plus a multitude of renowned artists spanning genres and decades.
We have always championed new and developing artists, and Latitude revellers have bared witness to early-career sets from artists who have gone on to achieve stratospheric heights: Foals, Sam Fender, Ed Sheeran, George Ezra, Haim, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Alt-J, The War on Drugs, St Vincent, Ben Howard, The 1975, Lewis Capaldi, Chvrches, Wolf Alice, Fontaines D.C., Phoebe Bridgers and countless others made their mark at Latitude before graduating to the main stages of the world. Everyone has their own ‘I was there’ moment at Latitude – what will yours be?
Comedy
Latitude cemented itself as a staple in the comedy industry calendar from the offset, hosting some of the funniest and sharpest minds on the circuit. Now home to one of the UK’s largest comedy line-ups, Latitude has long been an arena for comedians to cut their teeth and nurture their talents. Past line ups have included comedic heavyweights such as Sean Lock, Katherine Ryan, Alan Carr, Jo Brand, Simon Amstell, Bill Bailey, Bridget Christie, Frankie Boyle, Russell Howard, Judi Love, Greg Davies, Tim Key, Joanne McNally, Lee Nelson, Romesh Ranganathan, Jason Manford, Stuart Lee, Harry Hill and many, many more.
Latitude isn’t just about its Comedy headliners – we’re an established playground for the next big thing with the likes of James Acaster, Rose Matafeo, Sam Campbell, Alex Horne, Rosie Jones, Joe Lycett, Munya Chawawa, Aisling Bea, Joel Dommett and Babatunde Aleshe all having graced our stages early in their careers.
Across the Arts
From science to circus, literary heavyweight to contemporary ballet classics, Latitude truly is an immersion into arts in all their forms and genres. Our floating Waterfront Stage showcases every style of dance imaginable, from hip-hop theatre to flamenco, and perfectly formed virtuoso duets to an ensemble of 40 dancers of tomorrow. Dance institutions such as The Place, DanceEast, Sadlers Wells and more have presented exceptional works from their programmes, and audiences have had front row seats to some world-class pieces, from Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, The Four Seasons by the English National Ballet, BalletBoyz and more. It’s also not unheard of to catch some surprise musical guests on the stage; Lily Allen, Damon Albarn, Katherine Jenkins and more have lent their talents to a daytime performance on the lake.
Nestled deep within the Henham Park forest you’ll find our Theatre Arena, a 500 capacity indoor stage, blacked-out to ensure you’re completely transported to the world presented in front of you. Witness the emotionally uplifting, the visually astonishing and the physically defying; the performers and shows you’ll see will remain with you long after the festival has finished. Over the years we have been graced with performances from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Kae Tempest, Mark Thomas, The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Soho Theatre, The Royal Court Theatre, not to mention a plethora of Olivier Award winners, acclaimed circus productions, the biggest success stories from the Fringe, beloved comedians, poets, playwrights, podcasts, drag artists and cabaret. There are no boundaries, so expect the unexpected. The queue to get in is usually long, so get down to a show early if you want to secure your seat.
Latitude’s relationship with poetry is long-standing, and we have been honoured to welcome some of the UKs finest poetic talents to various stages across the years, including John Cooper Clarke, Benjamin Zephaniah and former Poet Laureates Carol Ann Duffy and Simon Armitage. John Cooper Clarke even wrote us a poem to celebrate our 10th birthday! 2024 was the year of our inaugural Children’s Poetry Competition. In collaboration with BBC Suffolk, we gave children aged 7-11 the opportunity to submit an original poem with the chance of doing a live reading on our opening night. We are incredibly excited to continue and grow this tradition each year and nurture young poetic talents.
Our love for the spoken and written word doesn’t end there. Throughout the weekend you’ll find a plethora of readings, conversations and panel discussions from acclaimed authors, journalists and speakers, live episodes of your favourite podcasts, and a dedicated on-site bookshop where you can buy physical books by our favourite authors (and sit and enjoy a coffee whilst you read). Past speakers across the festival include world-renowned voices from the realms of film, literature, music, theatre, fashion and more such as Vivienne Westwood, Louis Theroux, Richard Curtis, Amanda Seyfried, Richard Hawley, Thurston Moore, Keith Allen, Tim Burgess, Ralph Feinnes, Steeve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Irvine Welsh, Richard Ayoade and Bret Easton Ellis, to name a few.
Family
Latitude isn’t just a festival for adults; in fact, it’s far from it. As an award-winning family festival (not to brag), we pride ourselves on our offering for the little ones, and the not-so-little ones, alike.
It’s own mini festival-within-a-festival, The Kids Area is the ultimate hub for families to flourish, complete with a vast array of activities, workshops and entertainment for all ages. The Enchanted Garden is our second kids area; located in the Family Campsite it’s a little more relaxed, with space to spread out, run about and play with a programme of activities from face-painting to archery. Camp Greenpeace offers nature-focused action and adventure, letting you into a world of action and adventure amongst the trees. And best of all, there’s no charge for any workshops, materials or activities, so there are no limits to what you and your family can take part in.
Food
“Food, glorious food” is a sentiment we are extremely in support of; we are of the firm belief that the cuisine you consume at a festival should be equally as important as the entertainment. We are lucky to partner with Street Feast year after year, who provide a vast array of global street food cuisines for Latitude-goers to dine on throughout the weekend. If you’re looking for a more upscale dining experience, The Hothouse is your go-to; a gorgeous restaurant housed inside an adapted polytunnel and decorated as a beautiful French brocante.
Wellness
Like the cultural world around us, the festival is always evolving, and in recent years, a big focus for Latitude has become the theme of wellness and mindfulness. Following the pandemic, the team behind the not-for-profit organisation The Zen Project joined our team to bring to life Mind, Body & Zen: a gorgeous oasis in the heart of the festival where punters can partake in various forms of yoga, meditation, breathing exercises and dancing, plus spa treatments such as massages, saunas and ice-baths. It’s an environment where you are encouraged to slow down and take some respite away from the hustle and bustle of the festival. All ages and all skill-sets are welcome.
The Lake
The picturesque Latitude Lake is one of the most beautiful sights you can see in Henham Park, serving as the central landmark on the festival site and as somewhat of a permanent art installation. From synchronised swimmers to miracle-like fashion shows, the lake has seen a vast variety of activity throughout the years. Revellers can also enjoy free and guided swims in the lake (perfect for a hot summer’s day), partake in some paddle-boarding and paddleboard yoga, or simply take a blissful ride in one of our very own Venetian-inspired punts. Serenity is yours for the taking.
So there you have it; that’s what we’re about in a nutshell. If you’ve made it this far, you may as well join us… Weekend tickets to Latitude 2025 are on sale now. Your summer adventure awaits!