Street food festivals are one of the best ways to try several vendors in one visit — and a great way to discover new food vans you'll want to track down again afterwards. Here's what's worth knowing before you go, plus how to plan around it.
Most UK street food festivals run Friday to Sunday, bring together 15–40+ independent vendors, and are usually free or low-cost to enter (you pay per dish, not for entry, at most events). Expect queues at peak times (12–2pm and 5–7pm), cash and card both generally accepted, and a genuinely wide spread of cuisines in one place.
Festivals are brilliant but occasional. For regular street food — weekday lunches, weekend markets, evening trade — VanTrack maps food vans across London, Essex and Kent so you can find vendors on any normal day, not just festival weekends.
Free to browse. No signup needed.
Open the Map →| Before you go | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Check opening times | Many festivals open later on weekdays than weekends |
| Bring a mix of payment | Most vendors take card, but signal can be patchy at big events |
| Check the weather | Most festivals are outdoors — queues move slower in rain |
| Note vendor names you like | So you can find them again on VanTrack after the event |
Festival dates, locations and vendor lineups change frequently and are organised independently of VanTrack. Always check the specific festival's official page for current dates and details before travelling.