All Points East festival: What you need to know

All Points East is one of London’s biggest summer music festivals, taking place in Victoria Park over two weekends. The event draws tens of thousands of people who come to see a wide range of artists perform live on large stages, with video screens showing close-ups of the musicians. Since its launch in 2018, All Points East has grown into a major highlight of the city’s festival season, offering both ticketed headline shows and a free community program during the week. Whether you’re planning to attend for just one night or several days, it’s important to know the key details to make the most of your experience.

This year’s festival features a diverse lineup, with music styles including grime, soul, indie, and electronic. Headliners include Raye, Chase & Status, Barry Can’t Swim, and The Maccabees. Raye, a popular singer-songwriter, will headline the fourth day, while other acts performing throughout the festival include Cleo Sol, Chronixx, SAULT, Ms Dynamite, Nao, Overmono, Shy FX, Nia Archives, Confidence Man, Orbital, Shygirl, The Blessed Madonna, Tyla, Doechii, Jade, Cat Burns, Bombay Bicycle Club, CMAT, Black Country, New Road, and Sprints. If you want to see Chase & Status, you must be at least 18 years old. For the other shows, the minimum age is 16, but anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

The festival gates open at different times depending on the day. On Friday, August 15, gates open at 2:30 pm, or 2:00 pm for those with Primary Entry or VIP tickets. On Saturday, August 16, gates open at 2:00 pm, or 1:00 pm for Primary Entry or VIP. The following weekend, Friday, August 22, gates open at 3:00 pm, or 2:00 pm for Primary Entry or VIP. On Saturday, August 23, and Sunday, August 24, gates open at 2:00 pm, or 1:00 pm for Primary Entry or VIP. Gates close at 8:30 pm each day, and the box office closes at 8:00 pm.

Getting to Victoria Park is easy using public transport. The nearest Underground stations are Mile End and Bethnal Green, both within walking distance of the park. Overground stations close by include Homerton, Hackney Wick, and Cambridge Heath. Night Tube and Night Overground services are available on Friday and Saturday nights at Mile End and Bethnal Green. Several bus routes also stop near the park, and cycling or walking are good options. There is no public car parking at the festival, so it’s best to use public transport.

Entry to the festival is through designated gates on the southern and western sides of Victoria Park. There are separate lanes for standard ticket holders, Primary Entry, and VIP guests. The festival has attracted up to 40,000 people per day in previous years, so expect large crowds and a lively atmosphere.

Inside the festival, you’ll find plenty of facilities to make your visit comfortable. There are food stalls, licensed bars, free water refill points, toilets throughout the site, medical tents, welfare areas, and seating near the food concessions. A cloakroom is available for storing your belongings, and there are accessibility provisions such as viewing platforms, accessible toilets, and medication storage for those who need them.

All Points East is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy live music, discover new artists, and experience the excitement of a major London festival. For more information and updates, you can listen to BBC Radio London or follow BBC London online.