|
Date |
Event |
Details |
Website
 |
|
February 2012 |
|
01/02/2012 |
Scottish Snowdrop Festival |
1st February - 15th March 2012
Organised in cooperation with Visit Scotland, National Trust for Scotland,
Scotland's Gardens Scheme and gardens around the country to bring you the
Scottish Snowdrop Festival. Find time to head outdoors and see these
beautiful little plants, set against the backdrop of castles, gardens and
stately homes. |
Snowdrop Festival |
|
02/02/2012 |
World Wetlands Day |
Celebrating the creation of the Convention
on Wetlands and protection of wetlands around the world. |
World Wetlands Day |
|
14/02/2012 |
Valentines Day |
This
was originally thought to be the day on which birds chose their mates. There
are many traditions and tales associated with romance activities on this
day. |
|
|
14/02/2012 |
National Nest Box Week |
14th to 21st February 2012
Launched every year on
February 14th since 1997. It is used to encourage everyone to put up nest
boxes to help our breeding birds and wildlife. |
BTO |
|
21/02/2012 |
Pancake Day |
Shrove Tuesday is
Pancake Day in the UK. As well as making and eating them, there are also
many races and activities taking place throughout the UK like the Olney
Pancake Race. |
Olney Pancake Race |
|
March 2012 |
|
01/03/2012 |
St David's Day |
Patron Saint of
Wales |
|
|
04/03/2012 |
Focus On Imaging |
4th to 7th March 2011. NEC Birmingham. Doors open 10am each day. The
major photographic show in the UK for photographers. See all the latest
equipment and offers available. |
Focus on Imaging Show |
|
08/03/2012 |
Crufts |
8th to
11th March 2012. The annual British Dog show held at NEC Birmingham. |
Crufts |
|
13/03/2012 |
Cheltenham Festival |
13th to 16th March 2012.
Gates Open 10:30am, firs race at
2pm each day. One of the main horse racing events. Jump
racing at Cheltenham Race Course |
Cheltenham Racecourse |
|
17/03/2012 |
St Patrick's Day |
Patron Saint of Ireland |
|
|
18/03/2012 |
Mothers Day |
UK.
Traditionally known as Mothering Sunday |
|
|
25/03/2012 |
British Summer Time |
British Summer Time 2012 begins. Clocks go forward 1 hour. |
|
|
April 2012 |
|
06/04/2012 |
Good Friday |
Bank Holiday in UK |
|
|
07/04/2012 |
Oxford/Cambridge Boat
Race |
Race starts at 2.15pm. The annual university Boat Race takes place on the
Thames in
London between Oxford and Cambridge University boat crews. Race starts
at Putney Bridge and ends just north of Chiswick Bridge. The first
contest gook place in 1829. Each year about 400 million people watch on
TV in over 150 countries. |
The Boat Race |
|
08/04/2012 |
Easter Sunday |
Easter Celebrations |
|
|
09/04/2012 |
Easter Monday |
Bank Holiday in UK |
|
|
12/04/2012 |
Grand National
Festival |
12th to
14th April 2012. Aintree Racecourse,
Liverpool. One of the biggest Horse Racing events of the
year over jumps. Races start around
2pm each day. The
main race on Saturday the Grand National Steeple Chase starts at 4.15pm. |
Grand National |
|
22/04/2012 |
London Marathon |
Charity Race through
London.
Races start at 9am and 10am. Best places to view are at the start, or
along Westferry Road
on the Isle of Dogs. A free spectator guide is at tube stations |
London Marathon |
|
23/04/2012 |
St Georges Day |
Patron Saint of England |
|
|
29/04/2012 |
World Pinhole
Photography Day |
Pinhole photographers will be invited to take a picture with a pinhole
camera during the 24 hours on that day. |
Pinhole Day |
|
May 2012 |
|
03/05/2011 |
Badminton Horse
Trials |
3rd to 7th May 2012.
Gates open at 8am each day. Starts at 9.30am 1st and 2nd for Dressage,
3rd Cross Country starts at 11am, 4th Show Jumping starts at 11am. |
Badminton Horse Trials |
|
05/05/2012 |
Urchfont Scarecrow
Festival |
5th to 7th May 2012.
Urchfont, Devizes, Wiltshire. The festival runs from 10.30am-5pm each
day. The scarecrow trail of 50-55 scarecrows starts at the village pond. |
Scarecrow Festival |
|
05/05/2012 |
Sweeps Festival |
5th to 7th May 2012.
Rochester Kent. Festivities include Procession of Chimney Sweeps through
the streets and Morris Dancing, also storytelling, and funfair in castle
grounds. |
Sweeps Festival |
|
07/05/2012 |
May Day Bank Holiday |
A public holiday in the UK. In some towns and villages across the
England
there will be traditional celebrations taking place in parks with Morris
Dancing, and Maypole displays. |
|
|
12/05/2012 |
National Mills
Weekend |
12th and 13th May
2012. On the 2nd weekend of May each year more than 300 windmills and
watermills open their doors to members of the public. Some of those
mills taking part are not normally open to the public and it's a great
way to see what goes on inside. |
National Mills Weekend |
|
13/05/2012 |
Exmoor Golden
Horseshoe Ride |
13th to 15th May 2012. Exford, Somerset. Days start at around 7am. A 4 day event which includes
a 100 mile endurance ride over 2 days across Exmoor. |
Golden Horseshoe Ride |
|
22/05/2012 |
Chelsea Flower Show |
22nd to 25th May 2012. RHS Flower Show at Royal Hospital, Chelsea,
London. Open from 8am-8pm daily, except Saturday (last day) when it
closes at 5.30pm. Saturday they also sell off display plants from 4pm. |
Chelsea Flower Show |
|
June 2012 |
|
01/06/2012 |
The
Derby Festival |
1st
and 2nd June 2012. at Epson Downs Racecourse,
Surrey. One of the
major horse racing events of the year with Derby Day on the Saturday.
Ladies Day on the Friday is a colourful event within the stands. |
The Derby |
|
01/06/2012 |
Appleby Horse Fair |
1st
to 4th June 2012.
Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria. The biggest horse
fair of the country. Horses are everywhere on the roads, tied up along
the riverbank, trotting horses, people on horseback and not to mention
all the tourists who come to watch. Sat, Sun, Mon are the main days,
Thurs & Fri can be quieter. £6 parking fee. Off the A66 from Scotch
Corner to Penrith. Follow the signs for the horse fair. |
Appleby Horsefair |
|
03/06/2012 |
Festival of Fools |
3rd to 7th June
2012. Muncaster Castle, Ravengalss, Cumbria. A celebration of Jesters,
clowns, magic and circus acts as well as the International Jester
Tournament. Many activities taking place. |
Festival of Fools |
|
04/06/2012 |
Spring Bank
Holiday |
A Public holiday in the UK. Normally takes place on the last Monday in
May. Moved to this date for this year only as it forms part of the
Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. |
|
|
05/06/2012 |
Diamond Jubilee
Bank Holiday |
Extra Bank holiday
added for 2012 only to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee Enabling a 4
day long holiday weekend across the UK. |
|
|
08/06/2012 |
Cotswold Olimpick
Games 2012 |
Dovers Hill Chipping Campden, Glos. Friday evening starts on the hill at
7.30pm, 5 mile race, morris dancing, dog displays, falconry, tug-o'war,
displays of back swords and more. About 10pm Bonfire and fireworks followed
by a torchlit procession back into Chipping Campden for music and dancing in
the square. Saturday afternoon:
Procession of Scuttlebrook Queen and her crowning ceremony in the Square.
Decorated floats, fancy dress and children dancing round the maypole. Street
Fair. |
Olimpick Games |
|
17/06/2012 |
Fathers Day |
In the UK |
|
|
19/06/2012 |
Royal
Ascot
|
19th to 23rd June 2012. 5 day horse racing event The Queen attends at
least one of the days, Thursday's is Ladies Day and is famous its
fashion as much as the horses. |
Royal Ascot |
|
21/06/2012 |
Summer Solstice |
The longest day in the UK each year. |
|
|
27/06/2012 |
Henley Royal Regatta |
27th June
to 1st July 2012. Traditional rowing races on the
Thames held at
Henley on Thames
Oxfordshire |
The Royal Regatta |
|
July 2012 |
|
03/07/2012 |
Hampton
Court
Palace Flower Show |
3rd to 8th July 2012. Worlds largest annual garden and
flower show at
Hampton Court Palace
near London. |
Hampton Court Flower Show |
|
07/07/2012 |
The Royal
International Air Tattoo |
7th and 8th July 2012.
Fairford, Gloucestershire. World’s largest annual Military air show. |
International Air Tattoo |
|
12/07/2012 |
Bank Holiday |
Public holiday in Northern Ireland |
|
|
13/07/2012 |
Gatcombe
International Horse Trials |
13th to 15th July 2012.
Gatcombe
Park,
Gloucestershire. 3 day eventing at
Gatcombe
Park
including dressage, show jumping and cross country. Car parks open from
8am to 6pm each day. |
Gatcombe Horse Trials |
|
16/07/2012 |
Swan Upping on The
River Thames |
16th to 20th July 2012. Each day starts at
9am, and finishes
around 5.30pm-6pm. An ancient ceremony which takes place in July each
year on the River Thames. The Queen's Swan Marker carries out an annual
census and health check on the population of Mute Swans, on behalf of
the Queen who owns them. It takes place on a 70 mile stretch of the
river, between Sunbury Lock and Abingdon Bridge over 5 days. A colourful
spectacle worth photographing if you can. |
Swan Upping
see also
Swan Upping
 |
|
27/07/2012 |
London Olympics 2012 |
27th July to 12th August 2012. All the
events are being held at various locations around London, and in other
parts of the UK. Most events are ticket based so it is not possible to
get access at the last minute. The date has been included here so that
those who want to avoid them no the dates they can be doing more
interesting stuff. See their website for details of venues and which
parts of the UK will be affected. |
London 2012
|
|
August 2012 |
|
01/08/2012 |
Bank Holiday
|
Public holiday in Scotland |
|
|
03/08/2012 |
The
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo |
3rd to 25th August
2012. Performances take place from (Mon-Fri) at 9pm and on Saturday's
two performances at 7.30pm and 10.30pm. |
Edinburgh Military Tattoo |
|
04/08/2012 |
National Eisteddfod
of Wales |
4th to 11 August 2012. A week long Welsh Festival of singing, music and
dance including a Welsh Choir competition. This year’s event is taking
place in Wrexham, North Wales. |
The Eisteddfod |
|
09/08/2012 |
Bristol Balloon Fiesta |
9th to 12th August 2012. First day opens at midday. Balloon launches are
usually at
6am and
6pm Fri-Sun and 6pm
on first day, these are subject to weather conditions at the time. |
Bristol Balloon Fiesta |
|
11/08/2012 |
Cowes Week |
11th to 18th
August 2012. Cowes, Isle of Wight. A sailing regatta with up to 40 races
a day. |
Cowes Week |
|
26/08/2012 |
Notting Hill Carnival |
26th to 27th August 2012.
FREE colourful street festival with over 50,000 active participants,
from performers, music from mass bands and steel bands to static sound
systems in London from 12noon to 7pm both days. Main event is on Monday,
Sunday is Children's day and is less crowded so you may be able to get a
better view. Check the maps on website for route maps and location of
toilets etc. use sunscreen, take care of your belongings |
Notting Hill Carnival |
|
27/08/2012 |
Summer Bank
Holiday |
UK Bank Holiday at the end of summer (not Scotland) |
|
|
29/08/2012 |
Paralympic Games 2012 |
29th August to 9th September 2012. Events
are being held at various locations around London, and in other parts of
the UK. See their website for details of venues and which parts of the
UK will be affected. |
London 2012
|
|
29/08/2012 |
The Great Dorset
Steam Fair |
29th August to 2nd September 2012.
Southdown, Tarrant Hinton Blandford, Dorset, on the A354. Postcode
for satnav DT11 8JA. Gates open at 8am, Car park at 7am.
Range of ticket prices depending on when you want to go. Steam engines
and vehicles of all types, Fairground Organs, vintage cars, bikes and
commercial vehicles, tractor pulling, heavy horses, vintage collections
and occupations, rural crafts, dancing shows, fairground, pipe bands,
nightlife and a music festival. |
The Great Dorset Steam Fair
|
|
30/08/2012 |
Burghley Horse Trails |
30th August to 2nd
September 2012. 3 day event including dressage, cross country and show jumping. |
Burghley Horse Trials |
|
31/08/2012 |
Blackpool Illuminations |
31st August to 4th November 2012. CENTENARY
YEAR.
The illuminations have been a major part of Blackpool since 1879. The first night is the big switch on, the
best time to visit is after the clocks change when the evenings are
darker. Great night time photography not only from the lights, but also
all the attractions on the piers. |
Blackpool Illuminations |
|
September 2012 |
|
06/09/2012 |
Heritage Open Days |
6th
to 9th September 2012.
Free Entry to many properties usually closed to the public or normally
charge admission such as the National Trust properties across the UK
which includes England, Wales and Northern Ireland. See website for
places taking part. Every year on four days in September, buildings of
every age, style and function throw open their doors, ranging from
castles to factories, town halls to tithe barns, parish churches to
Buddhist temples. |
Heritage Open Days |
|
22/09/2012 |
Autumn Equinox |
When day and night are equal length. Druids celebrate at Primrose Hill,
London and Stonehenge as well as other ancient monuments. |
|
|
October 2012 |
|
03/10/2012 |
Horse of the Year
Show |
3rd to 7th October 2012. Held at the NEC
Birmingham. Major
show jumping event in UK. |
Horse of the Year Show |
|
28/10/2012 |
British Summer Time
Ends |
British Summer Time ends. Clocks go back one hour. |
|
|
31/10/2012 |
Halloween |
|
|
|
November 2012 |
|
03/11/2012 |
Bridgwater Guy Fawkes
Carnival |
Starts at
7pm. A colourful illuminated procession of over 150
entrants, many large vehicles with many thousands of lights, which can
take 2-3 hours to complete. Many photographic opportunities but get
there early to get a good spot at the front. |
Bridgwater Carnival |
|
04/11/2012 |
Bridgwater Guy Fawkes
Carnival - Squibbing |
10:45pm after the carnival procession around 150
Squibbers are involved in a simultaneous firing of large fireworks. The
Squibbers line the Bridgwater High Street in a line of two wide and all
light they squibs at the same time. The large firework is strapped to a
cosh, and the squibbers hold it at arms length above their heads. |
Bridgwater Carnival |
|
05/11/2012 |
Bonfire Night |
Various firework demonstrations both small local events
and large public displays go on around the country |
|
|
10/11/2012 |
Lord Mayors Show -
London |
A street parade which starts at the Guildhall at 11am after an RAF
flypast; this is watched by the new Lord Mayor from outside of Mansion
House. The parade includes about 200 horses, 60 floats (displays on top
of a vehicle), 200 motor vehicles, 20 marching bands and 23 carriages.
It takes about one hour to pass. The Lord Mayor follows at the end of
the procession in his golden coach. The procession travels past St
Paul's Cathedral and ends at the Royal Courts of Justice in Aldwych. At
1.00pm the procession returns, starting near
Temple
tube station, and following Victoria Embankment and Queen Victoria
Street back to the Guildhall, finishing at about 2:30pm |
The Lord Mayors Show |
|
11/11/2012 |
Remembrance Sunday |
Remembrance events take place all across Britain to remember those that
have died or been injured during wars. The largest event being at The
Cenotaph in London. |
Poppy Day |
|
30/11/2012 |
St Andrews Day |
Patron Saint of Scotland |
|
|
December 2012 |
|
17/12/2012 |
International Horse
Show |
17th to 23rd December 2012.
Olympia, London. 7 days of show jumping indoors in the
Olympia arena. |
Olympia Horse
Show |
|
22/12/2012 |
Winter Solstice |
Shortest
day of the year |
|
|
25/12/2012 |
Christmas Day |
Worldwide |
|
|
26/12/2012 |
Boxing Day |
Public Holiday in UK |
|
|
30/12/2012 |
Edinburgh Torchlight Procession |
Calton
Hill, Edinburgh 6.30pm. A procession of people carrying wax based torches
and once they get to Carlton Hill there is Firework Finale at around 7.45pm.
You can buy the torches and be part of the procession as well. |
Torchlight Procession |
|
31/12/2011 |
New Years Eve |
|
|
|
31/12/2012 |
Nos
Galan New Years Eve Road Race |
Mountain
Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taff, South Wales. 5pm-8.30pm. An evening road race for
children and adults the first junior race starting at 5.15pm and the Adult
5k race at 7pm. |
Nos Galan |
|
31/12/2012 |
Stonehaven Fire Ball Spectacular |
Stonehaven, nr Aberdeen. On the stroke of midnight (spectators should be in
place by 11pm). Over 60 people march up and down the High Street of
Stonehaven (just south of Aberdeen) swinging giant, blazing fireballs
weighing up to 20 pounds each. |
Stonehaven Fire Balls |
|
January 2013 |
|
01/01/2013 |
New Years Day |
Worldwide |
|
|
01/01/2013 |
New Years Day
London Parade |
Starts at 12noon in
Parliament Square,
FREE EVENT where more than 10,000 performers from 20 countries follow
the 2 mile route through London. Types of attractions include: marching
bands, cheerleaders, historic vehicles, clowns, acrobats, giant balloons
etc. |
London Parade |
|
01/01/2013 |
Hogmanay - Edinburgh |
New Year celebrations in Scotland. |
Edinburgh Hogmanay |
|
25/01/2013 |
Burns Night |
Burns Suppers are traditional Scottish celebrations of the birth of the
most famous Scottish Poet Robert Burns. |
Burns Supper |
|
February 2013 |
|
10/02/2013 |
Chinese New Year |
When many parades and
festivals take place amongst the Chinese communities within the UK. Year
of the Snake. |
|
