Events

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OPEN GARDENS

Hundreds of open garden events take place in Britain every year, mainly during the summer and mostly, though not exclusively, in rural villages. The gardens belong to private homes and are often quite modest. The open garden event normally involves 10 gardens or so, sometimes more, sometimes less, and can either be a local event in its own right, or part of a larger village show of some kind. If you enjoy looking at gardens, a local open gardens can be an enjoyable way of spending an hour or three. Entry fees are usually just a few pounds. Check the UK National Directory for events near you.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Nationwide
Link to featured article
Primary Management
Private - open to the public
GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL

The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts was first held in 1970, the day after Jimi Hendrix died, when the headlining act was T Rex (who replaced the Kinks). It was the brainchild of farmer Michael Eavis and is now a regular event, the largest of its kind in the world. Though best known for its music (as well as its mud and awful toilets), the festival, as its name implies, covers all performing arts - such as dance, cabaret and comedy. For 5 days during June, Worthy Farm is transformed into a major conurbation of 175,000 people - it is a masterpiece of logistics and organisation. Headline acts over the years have included the likes of the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, The Who, Adele and Dolly Parton.

Attendance is ONLY possible by allocated ticket obtained via the festival website.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Worthy Farm
Pilton
Shepton Mallet
County
Somerset
Post Code
BA4 4BY
Main Historic Period
Modern
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Something for the bucket list? You MUST obtain allocated tickets via the official website to attend this event.
Primary Management
Private - open to the public
LOWTHER CASTLE

Lowther Castle is a dramatic Victorian ruin, but with a much longer history. The massive estate fell into disrepair, was used for tank training during the Second World War and, since the 1950s, the castle itself has been open to the elements. The ruins have now been stabilised and turned into gardens, the original gardens are being restored, there is an exhibition charting the history of the Lowther family and their medieval Viking origins. Outbuildings have been restored to create a courtyard area and cafe, there are walks, views - and 'the Lost Castle' - a wonderful, enormous, adventure playground in the woods, said to be the largest of its type in Britain. Lowther Castle also stages a number of events during the year, including a music festival, 'Kendal Calling'.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Penrith
County
Cumbria
Post Code
CA10 2HH
Main Historic Period
Victorian
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Brougham Castle, Acorn Bank, Larch Cottage, the Lake District
Primary Management
Other
LORD MAYOR’S SHOW (The)

The Lord Mayor's Show has been an annual event in London's calendar for 800 years. It is a festival of pageantry and colour, free to see, which begins with a flotilla of boats and barges on the Thames, a river pageant. Next comes the parade, a procession of something like 7,000 participants in the region of 3 miles long, crammed into a 1.7 mile route from Mansion House, the Lord Mayor’s official residence in the City, near Bank, to the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand in Westminster. In the evening, the grand finale is a spectacular firework display over the Thames.

The Lord Mayor’s Show always takes place on the second Saturday of November. Most roads in the City are closed all day and the Embankment is closed until the evening.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
The City of London
County
London
Post Code
EC4
Main Historic Period
All
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Somewhere near St Paul's Cathedral is a good spot to watch the procession. But see the river pageant first, at about 9am, have breakfast, then watch the procession go by.
Primary Management
Local Authority
ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place over several nights each August, coinciding with the Edinburgh Festival. It began in 1949/1950 and consists of military displays and music performed by British, Commonwealth and other nations' armed forces. The event takes place in a dramatic setting on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade at the top of Castle Hill, with audience stands erected high over the City. The Edinburgh Tattoo is seen by in excess of 200,000 people every year, with a high proportion of visitors coming from overseas. It is also televised and viewed by audiences worldwide. Tickets sell out fairly quickly. Though international in nature, there is a strong Scottish feel to the Tattoo. The traditional ending is a performance by the massed pipes and drums, the National Anthem and, finally, a floodlit lone piper playing a lament.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Tattoo Office
1-3 Cockburn Street
Edinburgh
County
Lothian
Post Code
EH1 1QB
Main Historic Period
Modern
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Held at Edinburgh Castle
Primary Management
Military
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE

Edinburgh Festival Fringe is one of several festivals held in the City, and the largest. It is an open access event that takes place every August alongside the Edinburgh International Festival and includes comedy, theatre, cabaret, children's shows, circus - pretty much anything - and ANYONE can take part. Edinburgh Festival Fringe began in 1947 when eight groups arrived in Edinburgh hoping to perform at the newly formed Edinburgh International Festival but were refused entry. They went ahead and performed on the fringe of the Festival anyway. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is now the largest arts festival in the world.

Beyond the Fringe (as it were), Edinburgh is immensly buzzy during this festival, with street performers on almost every corner.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
180 High Street
Edinburgh
County
Lothian
Post Code
EH1 1QS
Main Historic Period
N/A
Tip/Nearby
Also see Edinburgh International Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Primary Management
Other
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

The Edinburgh International Festival is one of several festivals that take place in the City. Beginning in 1947, it aims to offer the best in the performing arts - theatre, music, opera, dance, film etc - from around the world, as well as talks and workshops.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
The Hub
348-350 Castlehill
Edinburgh
County
Lothian
Post Code
EH1 2NE
Main Historic Period
N/A
Tip/Nearby
Also see Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Royal Military Tattoo
Primary Management
Other
SNAPE MALTINGS

Snape maltings is a complex of shops, holiday accommodation, café and pub centred around the world famous concert hall. The buildings are mainly converted Victorian industrial buildings, originally used for the malting of barley. The venue was created by composer Benjamin Britten and his partner, singer Peter Pears, reclaiming the old buildings. A programme of music runs all year.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Near Aldeburgh
County
Suffolk
Post Code
IP17 1SR
Main Historic Period
Modern
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Aldeburgh, Orford
Primary Management
Independent
BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) is an aerial display team flying historic aircraft. They appear at shows throughout the country, on state occasions and at events commemorating the Second World War.  The aircraft normally flown are an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane and they are all veterans of the Second World War.  The Lancaster is one of only two in the world that are still flying - the other is in Canada.  The Spitfire collection includes an original Mark 2 version that flew in the Battle of Britain as well as later models, such as the high-flying high-speed reconnaissance versions.  The collection also includes a Douglas C-47 Dakota that ferried wounded soldiers from Normandy after D-Day.   The flight is administratively part of No. 1 Group RAF, flying out of RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire - which is an operational base on the front line of Britain's defences. The Battle of Britain Flight aircraft can be visited at Coningsby, where expert guides will give you details of their history and tales of the men that flew them.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
RAF BBMF Visitors Centre
Dogdyke Road
Coningsby
County
Lincolnshire
Post Code
LN4 4SY
Main Historic Period
Modern
Link to featured article
Useful Website Address
Tip/Nearby
Tattershall Castle, Woodhall Spa, Lincoln
Primary Management
Military
Bramley Apples, large, green and great for cooking

The Bramley apple originated from a pip planted by a young girl, Mary Ann Brailsford, in Southwell in c1809. There is an annual Apple Festival in Southwell, in October. Bramley apple trails are available all year round.

Region/Nation
Location/Address
Tourist Information Centre
Minster Chambers
Church Street
Southwell
County
Nottinghamshire
Post Code
NG25 0HD
Main Historic Period
Georgian
Link to featured article
Tip/Nearby
Southwell Minster, Southwell Workhouse
Primary Management
Local Authority

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