Festival season is about to step up another gear. Hard Rock Calling, Wireless, Lovebox and Tiesto in the Park are on pretty much every weekend from the end of June until the end of July and August pulls in the juggernaut that is the Clapham Weekender – South West Four and Get Loaded. Of course, there are about a hundred million other London summer music festivals happening this year, but I’d be here all day if I listed them all (sorry guys!). A more definitive list can be found here.

After shelling out for a festival ticket, it can be annoying when you then have to pay through the nose for expensive cans of Red Stripe once you get in. Of course, it’s all part of the fun – lying on the grass drinking an expensive can of inexpensive lager – but in these times of (yawn) the credit crunch we all need to keep a close eye on our pennies. That’s why I’m going to be making the most of London festival bars – and by that I mean bars and pubs in the surrounding areas of the festivals. They’re ideal for having a couple of drinks before and, of course, after the festivals have finished.

I’m lucky that I live a short walk from Viccy Park, so I’m sorted on the Tiesto in the Park and Lovebox front. However, for those of you that aren’t so lucky, check out Mile End bars and Bethnal Green bars and plan a mini crawl around London festival bars before you go. There are some great venues in and around the park that will be sure to pick up hordes of festival goers and the atmosphere will spill out onto the streets. Can’t wait!

Hard Rock Calling and Wireless are both taking place in Hyde Park as always, and you’ll be spoiled for choice for London festival bars. Hyde Park bars, Green Park bars, West End bars – Hyde Park is in such an ideal location you can pretty much take your pick. If you’ve got money to burn you can even head to Knightsbridge bars. I wish.

However, South West Four and Get Loaded in Clapham Common are perhaps the luckiest of the festivals in terms of being spoilt for choice as to which London festival bars to visit. Clapham bars are always packed to capacity once the festival ends (and before it begins) and the atmosphere is incredible as everyone descends on the local bars wearing their festival gear as most venues in the area relax their dress codes for the evening.

It’s going to be an incredible couple of months. See you in the park!