Visitors to the UK will be treated to a range of events and activities over the coming year. Here, we round up some of the best cultural events taking place around the UK in the first half of 2019 – many of which you can visit from your base at one of our central Windsor serviced apartments.
JANUARY
January is the month when we are all returning to work after the Christmas break. As in many other Western countries, this is a quiet time of year, when people are often feeling the financial pinch a little too much. However, this doesn’t mean there’s no time at all for fun. Particularly if you’re Scottish….
Burns Night
25th January – throughout Scotland
Burns Night is a celebration of everything to do with the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Born 260 years ago this year, ‘Robbie’ Burns is the National Poet of Scotland and throughout Scotland, people partake in music, dancing, drama and poetry before sitting down to a celebratory dinner of haggis with ‘neeps and tatties’, not forgetting a few drams of whisky of course!
Skating at Somerset House – London
You can enjoy the outdoor ice skating at London’s iconic Somerset House well into the month of January. Bring your warm clothes and enjoy the opportunity to skate around the majestic and historic courtyard. Legendary London department store Fortnum and Masons sponsor the event and provide high-end refreshments for anyone who can’t bare the idea of ice skating without champagne!
FEBRUARY
Things liven up a little more now that the light at the end of winter’s tunnel is just about visible. The days are a little longer and the daffodils and snowdrops are starting to peep through, lifting everyone’s mood and getting them excited about being out and about once more.
The Rugby Six Nations
Cardiff, London and Edinburgh 1st-16th February
The Six Nations is an annual Rugby tournament between England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Italy. Matches are played in Cardiff, Twickenham and Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
Chinese New Year Parade – London
10 February
If you want to experience Chinese New Year in the most authentic and celebratory way outside of Asia, head to London’s China Town on 10th February. Hundreds of thousands of people line the streets and take part in the procession, which involves music, dancing, huge puppets and masks. Treat yourself to an authentic plate of noodles or dimsum afterwards!
London Fashion Week
From 16 February – London
It may not be for everyone, but those interested in fashion flock to the capital each February to get a head start on the next season’s trends. Catwalk show tickets are up for grabs and events and promotions take place all over the city involving hundreds of the best London clothes and accessories brands.
MARCH
March is when spring officially arrives and the odd day of sunshine brings British people out in droves. There’s plenty to keep visitors busy this month,
St Patrick’s Day
17th March – Northern Ireland and various locations around the rest of the UK
It’s not just the Irish who enjoy St Patrick’s Day. It’s interpreted among most people as the day when we are all given a license to drink a little too much and wear something green. Aside from that, though, are a number of fantastic parades, concerts and carnivals celebrating all thing Irish.
Kew Gardens’ Orchid Festival
Until 10th March – Kew, London
The world-class botanical gardens at Kew deserve their reputation as one of London’s top tourist attractions, and are easily accessed from Windsor. Now in its 24th year, the Garden’s annual Orchid Festival is celebrating the botanical wonders of Columbia this year, with greenhouses full of the country’s most beautiful flower specimens.
APRIL
Blossom covers the trees and the warmth of the sun takes everyone outdoors in April. Think pub gardens, riverside walks, and East Egg hunts.
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Grand National,
5 – 7 April , Liverpool
This four and half mile horse race is one of the most famous in the world. It involved 30 fences and is difficult for both riders and horses to even complete, let alone win. Putting a bet on the ‘National’ is popular in the UK, but in recent years the race has been called out for being too dangerous for the horses taking part. You can make up your own mind.
The Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race,
7th April, London, England
The annual rowing race between athletes attending Cambridge and Oxford Universities, is a very English site to behold. It takes place along the picturesque stretch of the Thames at Putney and was first raced in 1829. Nearly 200 years later, it’s fought with a rivalry just as bitter as it ever was.
London Marathon
28th April – London
Another sporting event that brings out the crowds in the Capital is the London Marathon. As one of the most famous marathons in the World, elite runners from around the world rub shoulders with charity runners dresses as elephants and giant babies. Some 40,000 entrants pound the pavements for 26 gruelling miles, while thousands of onlookers gather to cheer them on and soak up the uniquely uplifting atmosphere.
MAY
Chelsea Flower Show
21-25th May – London
This Royal Horticultural Show takes place each year at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and is viewed as a quintessentially English event. With incredible floral displays and beautiful gardening inspiration around every corner, visitors from all over the world flock to this stunning event.
The Royal Windsor Horse Show
8-12 May – Windsor
This premier horse show takes place in the private grounds of Windsor Castle itself, which makes it a highly popular event for horse lovers from across the globe. The itinerary also includes the highest levels of show jumping, dressage and carriage riding.
JUNE
As the summer gets underway, you can’t move for music festivals, family events, street parties and carnivals – especially within London and the other major UK cities.
Royal Ascot
18-22 June – Ascot
Many people attending royal Ascot, which is arguably the high point of the British racing calendar and the ‘season’ enjoyed by the British upper classes, choose to stay in Windsor, as it so close-by. The racing events take place over four days, including Ladies Day, which is an event favoured by the Queen who almost always finds time in her schedule to attend the racing at Ascot each year.
The Isle of Wight festival
13-16th June – Newport, Isle of Wight
This is one of the UK’s longest running music festivals, with its roots back in the late 1960s when thousands of young people fled to the island over three years running. In 2002, the festival was revived and it has been a big success ever since.