About Download Festival

80,000 annual Rock fans cannot be wrong: Download Festival is the most popular British Rock and Heavy Metal festival. Always hosting the real big players in the scene including Saxon, Black Sabbath, Slipknot, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Kiss, Judas Priest, and Guns N' Roses. Download is held at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England, since 2003. Normally, Donington Park is a motorsport circuit. Also hosting Formula One races in former days. For details, head to the festival webpage.

The festival was conceived as a follow up to the Monsters of Rock festivals which had been held at the Donington Park circuit between 1980 and 1996. Download first took place on the circuit infield just like Monsters of Rock. In 2008, Formula One developments meant the infield was no longer suitable as festival site. In 2009 finally, the festival moved to a much more suitable location to the south of the circuit and has remained there every year since.

Download Festival offers 3 or 5 days camping passes. There are also options with hotel, camper van or arena ticket only. If you got some more spare money and wanna have a fancier festival experience, try one of the pre-pitched accommodation options which range from Tipis to Airstreams. Enjoy superior amenities including proper toilets and warm showers, car parking, as well as a convenience shop.

If you need to get back home the next day, your best option is East Midlands Airport just next to the festival site. Otherwise, we recommend one or two more nights in Birmingham which is 1 hour drive by car. Also Leicester, Manchester, or Sheffield are near options. More time left? Then head to Leeds or Liverpool.