Notting Hill Carnival, London
August Bank Holiday in London means (mainly) one thing – Carnival. Officially turning 50 this year, Europe’s biggest street party is a whirlwind of parades, dancing and booming sound systems, attracting about two million people. Parades start at around 9am on Sunday (known as children’s day, the vibe’s more chilled) and Monday (which can be full-on for some). After the action winds up on Sunday, head south-east to Peckham for the Deadly Rhythm Carnival After Party at the Bussey Building (10pm-5am, residentadvisor.net, from £10). Another option is Secretsundaze’s birthday bash at the Oval in Bethnal Green, from 2pm on Sunday until 6am the next day (secretsundaze.net, from £14.50).
Regattas
All aboard! The inaugural Islands’ Regatta in St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly promises a riot of flotillas, races, and boats for the public to board, including a Royal Navy Type 23 frigate and a replica tall ship. There’ll be a water carnival with a raft race, a maritime exhibition at the Isles of Scilly Museum, taster rowing sessions, guided walks, a pirate cruise for kids, live outdoor music and sea shanties in the pub. Or, if you’re in northern England, the Tall Ships Regatta in Blyth, Northumberland, will have some of the finest tall ships in the world on show, with entertainment from concerts to a sea battle.
• Both until 29 August, visitislesofscilly.com, visitnorthumberland.com
Outdoor cinema
A dozen films are being shown on three huge inflatable screens in the bucolic setting of Grantchester Meadows in Cambridge this weekend (cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk). Kids’ films include the new Jungle Book, but adults might prefer Brooklyn or The Lady in the Van. For Harry Potter fans, screening of six films from the canon will take place against the magical backdrop of Lancaster Castle, known for the Pendle witch trials in the 1600s (sneakyexperience.co.uk, from £14.50, tickets include a 90-minute “wizarding experience”) . Both until 29 August. On Barry Island, near Cardiff, the free open-air cinema is showing Star Wars: the Force Awakens on Saturday and Dirty Dancing on Sunday at 8.30pm (call 01446 704737 for more information). In Brighton’s Preston Park, there’s a choice of True Romance on Saturday and Withnail & I on Sunday, both at 8.15pm (£10, picturehouseblog.co.uk)
Beach parties
The National Trust-owned Souter Lighthouse, between South Shields and Sunderland, is organising a beach party on Saturday with a barbecue, games and activities, such as sandcastle competitions (11am-4pm, nationaltrust.org.uk). In the West Country, dance the day (and night) away at The Break, a cool new bar and music venue at the Beach House hotel on Widemouth Bay near Bude, Cornwall. Radio 1 academy resident DJ Dan Kelly (aka Beat Maneuva & Friends) will be hosting a weekend takeover, with great cocktails and Asian-themed food, plus a “roast on the coast” on Sunday (27-28 August, beachhousewidemouth.co.uk).
Fatbike tours, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan
Hire fatbikes for a sandy off-road adventure to remote beaches along Merthyr Mawr, one of Europe’s largest sand dune ranges. Porthcawl Bike Hire is a new company with a choice of bikes available over bank holiday (everything from mountain bikes to kids bikes and trailers) and owner Corum Champion also leads guided rides for a minimum of two people if you want to learn more about the area.
• Fatbikes £35 for four hours, standard bikes £20 (unguided), porthcawlbikehire.co.uk
Cider tasting, Kent
Cider fans can raise a glass at the Brogdale Artisan Cider Festival in Faversham, where they will meet the makers and try a host of local brews on Saturday and Sunday.
• Adult £9, child £5, ciderfestivalkent.co.uk
Lakes festival, Cumbria
Events at the new hands-on Lakes Alive arts event range from banquets by the Kent river to virtual reality flights over the Lake District. One highlight is Minimum Monument, an installation by Brazilian artist Néle Azevedo: with the help of volunteers, she will be making 3,000 tiny figures out of ice, which will be placed on the ruins of Kendal Castle and allowed to melt away.
• Until 28 August, lakesalive.co.uk
Ice-cream festival, Kent
Kent Life, a working farm and heritage attraction in Maidstone, is holding its first ice-cream festival on Monday. There will be lots of samples, a toppings station, and stalls selling cake pops, marshmallows and more.
• Adult £9.50, child £7.50, Monday, kentlife.org.uk
City beaches
No need to go to the seaside to chill on the beach ... Nottingham has a sandy beach for bank holiday sunbathers, complete with paddling pool, deck chairs and a beach bar. There will be a funfair with games and rides, too (until 4 September (nottinghamriviera.co.uk). Among London’s offerings are Camden Beach on the roof of the Roundhouse, complete with 150 tonnes of sand and beach huts (until Monday, free, roundhouse.org.uk) and a slice of Miami at Brixton Beach Boulevard, with cool cocktails and retro vibe (until Sunday, brixtonbeachboulevard.com).
Celebrate Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon
Launched last week, Shakespeare’s New Place offers a fresh perspective on the Bard, giving visitors the chance to walk in his footsteps at the site of what was his family home in the town centre – with a new exhibition bringing his world to life. The £6m project is part of celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the playwright’s death earlier this year.
• Town Houses pass tickets (including Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Hall’s Croft) adult £17.50, child £11.50, shakespeare.org.uk
Steampunk takeover Lincoln
Put on your top hat, do up your corset: the Asylum Steampunk Festival – the biggest in Europe – takes to the city’s cobbled streets for a fun few days celebating the 19th-century steam-powered world, with everything from fashion to music and comedy. Some events are free, others require tickets.
• Until 29 August, asylumsteampunk.co.uk
Climbing (or gravy training), Devon and Lancashire
Forget the Olympics... the Deep Water Solo Climbing Competition in Exeter shows athletic prowess in the extreme, with climbers attempting to ascend steep walls without ropes, then dropping into the sea below when they can climb no higher. Over 160 amateurs from across the country compete – it’s free and mind-boggling to watch (until 29 August). For a messier sport, there’s always the World Gravy Wrestling Championships, taking place on Monday in Rossendale, Lancashire (visitlancashire.com).
• Quay Climbing Centre, facebook.com/deepwatersoloexeter
Full steam ahead, Edinburgh
It’s not a national holiday in Scotland, but still – why not spend Sunday exploring the Borders in old-school style on board a steam train? Running twice a day between Edinburgh and Tweedbank and back every Sunday until 25 September (and stopping at Galashiels along the way), you’ll chug through beautiful scenery on the historic Royal Scot locomotive, with optional extras such as a three-course lunch or a tour of Sir Walter Scott’s house.
• Scotrail.co.uk, adult £55, child £40
High ropes, North Yorkshire
Swing through the trees at this new attraction – Treetop Nets is home to world’s highest trampoline and the longest net walkway. Suspended 12m off the ground in pretty woodlands near Ripon, there’s hours of fun with tunnels, slides and walks in the canopy – and it’s so safe, no harness is required. Suitable for over-threes. There’s one in the Lakes, too, near Windermere.
• Under-fives £12.50, older children and adults £20, treetopnets.co.uk/ripon
Walking, Devon and Kent
Weather permitting, bank holidays are made for walking. For those who want to do more than just pull on their boots and follow their noses, there are several walking festivals running across the country. In Dartmoor national park in Devon, you can join various events, from ranger-led strolls to night walks, with something for all ages and abilities (until 4 September, moorlandguides.co.uk, most free). On Kent’s south coast, the White Cliffs Walking Festival offers 40 walks, from two to 20 miles (until 31 August, whitecliffswalkingfestival.org.uk).
History days, Warwickshire
Step back in time for a re-enactment of the great siege (the longest in medieval history) of Kenilworth Castle on its 750th anniversary. The two-day event will see battles re-enacted at the striking Norman keep and there will be lots to learn about the skills needed to survive an attack, plus plenty of entertainment.
• 28-29 August, family ticket £31.70, adult £12.20, child £7.30, english-heritage.org.uk
