All Points East 2025 Review

Set in the heart of East London’s Victoria Park, All Points East has quickly established itself as one of the capital’s essential summer festivals since launching in 2018. In the years since, it has grown into a major fixture of the city’s cultural calendar, now boasting six stages and a capacity of 50,000. This year’s edition brought together global headliners, cult favourites and rising talent for two stacked weekends of music. Our festival team attended one of the ticketed days, joining tens of thousands of fellow festival goers in Tower Hamlets to bring you the FLODown on APE 2025…

All Points East 2025, Barry Can’t Swim. Image credit Isha Shah. Image courtesy of All Points East.

Standout Sets

As the festival gates opened in the mid-afternoon, crowds of eager revellers rushed in to catch sets from up-and-coming acts such as ATRIP and Stefan Mahendra. We kicked off our festivities with an upbeat DJ set from the legendary Blessed Madonna before heading to the main stage for Shygirl, followed by the much-loved Australian band Confidence Man. Their infectiously fun set was capped off by a special guest appearance from pop star JADE, who joined to perform their new single ‘Gossip’. 

Finally, Barry Can’t Swim’s headline set felt like a true coming-of-age moment. It was his first major festival headline show and, fittingly, it fell on his 33rd birthday. Reflecting on his meteoric rise, he said to the crowd: “Two years ago I played Hoxton Hall and didn’t know if anyone would turn up - there were, like, 400 people. And doing this two years later on this stage, in front of this many people, is crazy.” In spite of this, there were no signs of nerves as he launched into a set which blended his signature euphoric dance grooves with the warmth of his live band, creating a sound that was both festival-sized and deeply personal. He seamlessly alternated between new cuts from Loner and fan favourites such as How It Feels, before bringing on poet Jack Loughrey (better known as somedeadbeat) to perform Deadbeat Gospel to the crowd's delight.

All Points East 2025, Barry Can’t Swim. Image credit Ellie Koepke. Image courtesy of All Points East.

Food & Drink

All Points East is known for spotlighting East London vendors, and this year’s food offering lived up to that reputation with a wide and varied selection. Hash Hut’s loaded hash browns were a highlight, piled high with unexpected flavours from miso pork to creamy macaroni cheese. Veggie and vegan options were plentiful, with Chulo’s signature Nepalese bowls standing out for both value and flavour. Meanwhile, BBQ Dept offered a fun twist on classic burgers with brioche buns stuffed with beef brisket and pulled pork, all made with responsibly sourced meat from local butchers.

A standout presence this year was the Cointreau Margarita Bar, which paired cocktails with curated playlists to show how music can heighten flavour. The concept, developed with music psychologist Professor Adam Ockelford, made for a fun and memorable stop between sets. With its bright orange beach-bar feel and frozen Margaritas in passion fruit and watermelon, it quickly became one of the liveliest spots on site.

All Points East 2025. Cointreau Margarita Bar. Image credit Kris Humphreys Photography.

In The Neighbourhood

In spite of its rapid growth, APE has stayed rooted in its local community through its “In The Neighbourhood” Programme. Running alongside the main festival, it offers free events for Tower Hamlets residents, many of them family-friendly. Activities range from yoga sessions and open-air movie nights to live concerts and even free bike repairs, while generous ticket ballots enable many to attend this celebration of music and culture on their doorsteps. 

All Points East 2025, In The Neighbourhood. Image credit Bethan Miller-Carey. Image courtesy of All Points East.

Accommodation

All Points East is a day festival with no on-site camping facilities, so visitors from outside the city had their pick of hotels across East and Central London. FLO's top recommendations:

The Hoxton, Shoreditch: The original Hoxton hotel, opened back in 2006, set the tone for the brand’s laid-back, design-driven style. With a buzzing open-lobby concept, the Hoxton Grill, and rooms that range from the compact “Shoebox” size to more spacious options, it’s a vibrant base for festivalgoers who want to be right in the heart of East London’s nightlife.

The Standard, King’s Cross: Set in a striking Brutalist building that was once the Camden Town Hall Annex, The Standard brings retro-futuristic charm to its 266 rooms and social spaces. Expect bold, graphic interiors, an exterior glass elevator, and a rooftop bar perfect for post-festival partying. This is an ideal choice for festivalgoers who want a stylish, centrally located base to explore beyond East London.

Mama Shelter, Shoreditch: A great option for festival goers watching their budget, without having to sacrifice on comfort, design or vibes. Mama Shelter brings East London’s creative energy straight into its maximalist interiors with bold prints, playful kitsch, and unexpected touches from karaoke booths to arcade games.

All Points East 2025, Chase & Status. Image credit Bethan Miller-Carey . Image courtesy of All Points East.

Festival Factfile 

Size: 50,000

Length: 5 individual day events, spread across 2 weekends

Location: Victoria Park, Grove Road, London E3, UK

Ticket price: from £69.95 + booking fees per day

USP: world-class acts with a neighbourhood feel in the heart of East London.

Recommended for: anyone seeking a one-day festival with a mix of live bands and DJs, in a welcoming environment suitable for all ages. 

Website: allpointseastfestival.com

Instagram: @allpointseastuk

Review by Sofia Carreira-Wham