By the season
What’s on in Britain
Britain’s year turns on its seasons — snowdrops and the Six Nations in winter, bluebells and flower shows in spring, festivals and long light evenings in summer, deer rutting and golden woods in autumn. Here’s what to catch, month by month.
Summer right now — around July
Puffin & seabird season
Coastal cliffs & islands
Puffins return to breed on cliffs and islands such as the Farne Islands, Skomer, Bempton and the Shetlands.
Highland Games season
Across Scotland
Caber-tossing, piping and dancing at gatherings from Braemar to Cowal through the summer.
The Championships, Wimbledon
London
The oldest tennis tournament in the world, played on grass in SW19.
Official site →BBC Proms
Royal Albert Hall, London
Eight weeks of daily classical concerts ending with the Last Night of the Proms.
Llangollen International Eisteddfod
Llangollen
Choirs, dancers and musicians from around the world gather in the Dee valley.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Edinburgh
The world's largest arts festival takes over the whole city every August.
Official site →Month by month
JanuaryWinter
Snowdrop season
Woodlands & gardens nationwide
The first flowers of the year carpet woodland floors and historic gardens — Cambo, Anglesey Abbey and Welford Park are famous displays.
Hogmanay
Edinburgh & across Scotland
Scotland's spectacular New Year celebrations, with Edinburgh's street party among the world's biggest.
FebruaryWinter
Snowdrop season
Woodlands & gardens nationwide
The first flowers of the year carpet woodland floors and historic gardens — Cambo, Anglesey Abbey and Welford Park are famous displays.
Six Nations rugby
Twickenham, Murrayfield, Principality Stadium
England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland host home fixtures in the northern hemisphere's biggest rugby championship.
MarchSpring
Six Nations rugby
Twickenham, Murrayfield, Principality Stadium
England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland host home fixtures in the northern hemisphere's biggest rugby championship.
Daffodil season
Nationwide, especially Wales
Wales's national flower blooms across parks, verges and gardens — the Lake District's Ullswater shoreline inspired Wordsworth.
Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham
Four days of championship National Hunt horse racing culminating in the Gold Cup.
Lambing season
Farms & dales nationwide
Spring lambs appear across the countryside; many farms and rare-breed centres open for lambing days.
AprilSpring
Lambing season
Farms & dales nationwide
Spring lambs appear across the countryside; many farms and rare-breed centres open for lambing days.
Bluebell woods
Ancient woodland nationwide
Britain holds around half the world's bluebells — ancient woods turn a haze of blue in late spring.
Puffin & seabird season
Coastal cliffs & islands
Puffins return to breed on cliffs and islands such as the Farne Islands, Skomer, Bempton and the Shetlands.
Whitby Goth Weekend
Whitby
A twice-yearly gathering in the Dracula-linked seaside town, spring and autumn.
MaySpring
Bluebell woods
Ancient woodland nationwide
Britain holds around half the world's bluebells — ancient woods turn a haze of blue in late spring.
Puffin & seabird season
Coastal cliffs & islands
Puffins return to breed on cliffs and islands such as the Farne Islands, Skomer, Bempton and the Shetlands.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
London
The world's most famous flower show, staged in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Official site →Highland Games season
Across Scotland
Caber-tossing, piping and dancing at gatherings from Braemar to Cowal through the summer.
Hay Festival
Hay-on-Wye
A ten-day festival of literature and ideas in the Welsh 'town of books'.
Official site →JuneSummer
Puffin & seabird season
Coastal cliffs & islands
Puffins return to breed on cliffs and islands such as the Farne Islands, Skomer, Bempton and the Shetlands.
Highland Games season
Across Scotland
Caber-tossing, piping and dancing at gatherings from Braemar to Cowal through the summer.
Hay Festival
Hay-on-Wye
A ten-day festival of literature and ideas in the Welsh 'town of books'.
Official site →Glastonbury Festival
Worthy Farm, Somerset
The UK's largest greenfield music and performing-arts festival (fallow years aside).
The Championships, Wimbledon
London
The oldest tennis tournament in the world, played on grass in SW19.
Official site →JulySummer
Puffin & seabird season
Coastal cliffs & islands
Puffins return to breed on cliffs and islands such as the Farne Islands, Skomer, Bempton and the Shetlands.
Highland Games season
Across Scotland
Caber-tossing, piping and dancing at gatherings from Braemar to Cowal through the summer.
The Championships, Wimbledon
London
The oldest tennis tournament in the world, played on grass in SW19.
Official site →BBC Proms
Royal Albert Hall, London
Eight weeks of daily classical concerts ending with the Last Night of the Proms.
Llangollen International Eisteddfod
Llangollen
Choirs, dancers and musicians from around the world gather in the Dee valley.
AugustSummer
Highland Games season
Across Scotland
Caber-tossing, piping and dancing at gatherings from Braemar to Cowal through the summer.
BBC Proms
Royal Albert Hall, London
Eight weeks of daily classical concerts ending with the Last Night of the Proms.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Edinburgh
The world's largest arts festival takes over the whole city every August.
Official site →Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Edinburgh Castle esplanade
Massed pipes, drums and international acts perform on the castle esplanade each August night.
Notting Hill Carnival
London
Europe's biggest street carnival, a celebration of Caribbean culture over the August bank holiday.
Heather in bloom
Moorland — Yorkshire, Peak District, Scotland
Upland moors turn purple as the heather flowers in late summer.
SeptemberAutumn
Highland Games season
Across Scotland
Caber-tossing, piping and dancing at gatherings from Braemar to Cowal through the summer.
BBC Proms
Royal Albert Hall, London
Eight weeks of daily classical concerts ending with the Last Night of the Proms.
Heather in bloom
Moorland — Yorkshire, Peak District, Scotland
Upland moors turn purple as the heather flowers in late summer.
Blackpool Illuminations
Blackpool
Six miles of the seafront lit up with over a million bulbs from late summer into autumn.
Red deer rut
Highlands, Exmoor, Richmond Park
Stags bellow and clash antlers during the autumn breeding season — spectacular at dawn.
OctoberAutumn
Blackpool Illuminations
Blackpool
Six miles of the seafront lit up with over a million bulbs from late summer into autumn.
Red deer rut
Highlands, Exmoor, Richmond Park
Stags bellow and clash antlers during the autumn breeding season — spectacular at dawn.
Autumn colour
Woodlands, arboretums & parks nationwide
Beech, oak and maple turn gold and russet — Westonbirt, the New Forest and Scottish glens are highlights.
Whitby Goth Weekend
Whitby
A twice-yearly gathering in the Dracula-linked seaside town, spring and autumn.
Belfast International Arts Festival
Belfast
Northern Ireland's flagship arts festival across theatre, music, dance and visual art.
NovemberAutumn
Blackpool Illuminations
Blackpool
Six miles of the seafront lit up with over a million bulbs from late summer into autumn.
Autumn colour
Woodlands, arboretums & parks nationwide
Beech, oak and maple turn gold and russet — Westonbirt, the New Forest and Scottish glens are highlights.
Belfast International Arts Festival
Belfast
Northern Ireland's flagship arts festival across theatre, music, dance and visual art.
Bonfire Night
Nationwide; Lewes is famous
Fireworks and bonfires on and around 5 November; Lewes in Sussex holds Britain's largest celebrations.
Remembrance
Nationwide
Poppies and services mark Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day; the Tower of London and Cenotaph are focal points.
Christmas markets
Cities nationwide
Festive stalls and mulled wine — Bath, Manchester, Birmingham (Frankfurt Market), Edinburgh and York are among the biggest.
Christmas light trails
Gardens & estates nationwide
After-dark illuminated trails light up Kew, Blenheim, Longleat, Kew and many National Trust estates.
DecemberWinter
Christmas markets
Cities nationwide
Festive stalls and mulled wine — Bath, Manchester, Birmingham (Frankfurt Market), Edinburgh and York are among the biggest.
Christmas light trails
Gardens & estates nationwide
After-dark illuminated trails light up Kew, Blenheim, Longleat, Kew and many National Trust estates.
Hogmanay
Edinburgh & across Scotland
Scotland's spectacular New Year celebrations, with Edinburgh's street party among the world's biggest.
28 seasonal highlights and counting. Dates for annual events vary year to year — always check the official site before travelling.