Travel Adventure
The United Kingdom is by far one of the best destinations on Earth for house music. Hundreds of festivals dot the island every summer, offering every manner of lineup and environment in which to dance. Many of them reside in arm’s reach of the nation’s capital of London.
Junction 2 is one of those festivals, nesting in Boston Manor Park on the west side of London. With this considerable proximity, attendees have full access to one of the most historic cities in the world. A trip to Junction 2 is a trip to London, and London offers endless activities for travelers to enjoy.
Spend a day as a tourist hitting all the famous landmarks like Big Ben, Tower of London, Parliament, and Piccadilly Circus. Hang around Buckingham Palace to see the change of the guard. Then, get a ticket to The Eye of London and see the whole city from the top of the massive Ferris Wheel.
There are also dozens of museums, including The British Museum (where the Rosetta Stone is on display), The Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Tate Modern offering everything from historical artifacts to modern art.
Since this is intended to be a guide for those traveling to London for a festival, experiencing music in the city is surely a priority. Thankfully, Junction 2 happens during the Summer, which means all of London’s musical options will be available.
If after attending a large outdoor festival like Junction 2 you prefer an intimate club experience, legendary institutions like Fabric, EggLondon, Ministry of Sound, The Nest, and XOYO run long into the morning.
Fabric, London
London is one of the few cities in the world that employs a Night Czar. The Night Czar is a government official who ensures that the city recognizes nightlife as an invaluable cultural asset.
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London’s Night Czar is named Amy Lamé, and she works with police and other municipal bodies to keep nightlife safe and functioning for tourists and locals alike. Before she was Night Czar, Lamé spent years working to keep nightlife establishments like the cabaret club Royal Vauxhall Tavern open.
Beyond nightlife, there are dozens of venues all around the city catering to all genres. See iconic bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the London Stadium, or check out the more modest Eventim Apollo, where the art-pop muse St. Vincent is scheduled to perform in June 2022.
The Barbican Center is another excellent opportunity to engage with London culture, as the multipurpose space offers numerous types of entertainment. You can explore art exhibitions, watch movies, visit their conservatory, take architecture tours, and of course, watch musical performances. Given the more polished nature of the surroundings, expect performances from jazz musicians and classical symphonies at The Barbican.
For those who enjoy similar refined sounds, the London theater district in the West End is known the world over for hosting musicals and plays. Famous shows like Les Misérables have been playing for decades, and modern classics like The Book Of Mormon and Hamilton frequently return to one of the West End’s almost 40 different theatres.
While London is undoubtedly the cultural center of the UK, there are also dozens of cities on the island that are between a 90 minute and two-hour train ride away that offer their own individual cultural identity.
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Leeds, Birmingham, and Sheffield are just a few major cities with significant historical and artistic contributions to the UK and the world. Don’t forget to visit Liverpool and see where the Beatles first became a band.
Manchester is another major city worth visiting. Even though football won’t be in season at the time of Junction 2, visiting Old Trafford and Etihad Stadium is never a bad use of time.
Hotels
There are hundreds of hotels, a short tube ride from the Boston Manor Park, and a short tube ride from the city center. Choose a hotel based on the experience of London you’d like. Suburban to urban to rural.
Most hotels with a few miles of the venue range from $50-200 a night.
Hotels in the city center of London range from $150-500 a night, with luxury options as well.
Flight Costs On Average.
London Heathrow is one of the largest airports in the world and offers service from all around the globe. As an American-based entity, we compiled the flight costs from various populated areas at publishing. As dates for the festival get closer, flight costs will increase
LA ~$800
New York ~$600
Chicago ~$800
Seattle ~$1000
San Francisco ~$800
DFW ~$1100
Miami ~$800
