Boomtown isn’t just a festival—it’s a full-blown alternate reality.

Set on the Matterley Estate near Winchester, right on the edge of the South Downs, the location is huge and dramatic. You’ve got rolling hills, steep drops, woodland pockets, and a natural bowl that becomes the heart of the action. It looks incredible—but you earn it. Long walks, big climbs, dusty in the heat, muddy in the rain. It’s not a gentle site, but that’s part of the experience.

What really sets Boomtown apart is how it’s built. Instead of just stages in a field, the whole place is designed like a living city—districts with their own identities, hidden venues tucked behind doors, actors roaming the streets, and storylines unfolding around you. Atmosphere-wise, it’s unlike anything else in the UK. One minute you’re in a packed crowd at a huge stage with bass shaking the ground, the next you’re down a back alley following a random sound, stumbling into a tiny venue or some surreal bit of theatre. It’s chaotic, colourful, and constantly shifting.

There’s a proper sense of freedom to it. People dress up, play along, talk to strangers, and just go with it.

The overall experience is intense, immersive, and a bit surreal. It’s not the easiest festival—you’ll walk miles, get lost, probably end up somewhere you didn’t expect—but that’s exactly the point.