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Are you planning to attend one of the biggest heavy metal festivals in the UK? Bloodstock Open Air is a yearly festival, and everything is prepared for the 2025 edition. Over 20 bands will perform throughout the three days of the festival.

We prepared a guide to help you with everything you’ll need to attend Bloodstock 2025, from basic information to pro tips on surviving a heavy metal experience!

bloodstock festival

What is the Bloodstock Open Air?

Bloodstock Open Air festival started in 2001 at the Derby Assembly Rooms as a one-day festival with two stages. It rapidly expanded to Catton Hall in 2025 and became one of the most popular festivals in Europe.

This festival pays homage to great metal legends who passed away by dedicating stages to their memories. The main stage is named after James Dio, and the secondary stage carries the name of Sophie Lancaster..

The festival has featured many iconic bands, like In Flames, Trivium, Sleep Token, Knocked Loose, Lorna Shore, and many other metal giants.

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When is Bloodstock Open Air 2025 taking place?

Like previous years, Bloodstock Open Air will occur during the 2nd week of August, from August 7th to August 10th, just a few days before Reading Festival.

Where is the Bloodstock Open Air 2025 taking place?

Bloodstock Open Air 2025 is taking place at Catton Hall.

The hall is located in Walton-on-Trent in Derbyshire and it’s a country house where the different stages find their place every year.

How much does the Bloodstock Festival 2025 cost?

Bloodstock 2025 tickets are partially sold out, as Saturday and Sunday tickets are no longer available for purchase.

For Friday, general admission tickets costs £96, which includes a small transaction fee. Price was the same for the already sold out tickets.

There were some additional tickets available, including parking and camping, which ranged from £203 to £231, but these are already sold out.

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What is the Bloodstock Festival 2025 lineup?

The Bloodstock 2025 lineup varies a lot, from the main bands performing on the James Dio Stage, supporting bands in the Sophie Lancaster Stage, and upcoming bands performing on the Hopical Storm New Blood Stage.

Here’s a quick look at some of the bands that will perform at the festival:

  • James Dio Stage: Trivium, Gojira, Mastodon, August Burns Red, Creeper, Kublai Khan TX, The Black Dahlia Murder, Paleface Swiss, Fear Factory.
  • Sophie Lancaster Stage: Obituary, Thrown, Nailbom, Kataklysm, Me and That Man, Wall, Siglos, Static X, Dead Flesh, Gnome, All for Metal, High Parasite, Dogma.
  • Hopical Storm New Blood Stage: The Machinist, Fortune Teller, Preyers, Lowdown, Hekz, Spitting Teeth, The Cartographer.

Where to stay during Bloodstock 2025 Festival?

Like other festivals in Europe like Sziget or Reading, there will be free camping spaces for attendees.

The available camping sites are Asgard, Hel, Hidgard, Valhalla, Ironwood, Ragnarok, Kyrr, and Jotunheim.

The Kyrr campsite is only for people with a Kyrr Camping Ticket, as this is a private space closer to the Catton House.

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For those looking for relaxation after a day of heavy metal, Ragnarok offers a quiet campsite, as any noise after midnight means a person can be ejected from the campsite.

There are also VIP camping sites ranging from £398 to over £2,500 for the most luxurious options available.

How to travel to Bloodstock Festival?

People have two options to arrive at Catton Hall and attend the festival. 

  • By tax: Fares range from £18 to £60 based on your departure destination. These fares include both the to and from taxi.
  • By bus: The official shuttle bus service is available from the Tamworth Train Station, departing at 11:00 AM on Thursday, 7th. These tickers aren’t available for sale yet.
  • Big Green Coach: The official travel partner for the Bloodstock Open Air. It offers departures from 34 different cities, with tickets ranging from £60 to £90 on average.

Tips to attend the Bloodstock Open Air

Before you arrive at Catton Hall during the Bloodstock 2025 dates, there are some tips to consider to prepare for the adventure.

  • Plan which bands you want to see: Each stage features different bands, and some schedules might collide, so plan accordingly so you don’t miss the ones you really want to see.
  • Pack enough clothes: The festival goes on for three days and there will be a lot of moshing and pogoing, so pack properly so you don’t end up wearing the same metal shirt through the weekend. 
  • Figure out how to stay connected: You can stay connected in the UK in two ways, using an eSIM for the UK, or if you’re backpacking around Europe and visiting other countries, Holafly Connect is a far more reliable service to use.
  • Stay hydrated and eat: Whether you’re drinking some beers, jumping all day long at the festival, or walking a lot from one stage to another, make sure to take some time to eat and drink something. Plus, you can consider purchasing UK travel insurance as an additional security measure.
  • Prepare your budget: If you have paid for the festival tickets, the next thing is to consider how much you’ll use moving around, eating, and buying merch during the festival, so take your time to prepare a proper travel budget!
Julio Osuna

Julio Osuna

English Content Writer

I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.

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