Books and cooks
Broadcasters, chefs and writers, including Ian McEwan, Beryl Bainbridge, John Mortimer, PD James, Ruth Rendell, Sue MacGregor, James Naughtie, Raymond Blanc and Antonio Carluccio are at the Oxford Literary Festival.
Oxford Union. March 13-17. Event times vary, so call for information. Tickets £4-£10. 01865 514149.
Screen break
An 11-day festival of Spanish cinema starts next week at Manchester's Cornerhouse . Events will include appearances by film-makers and celebrities. Food and wine will be on offer in the café bar.
Oxford Street. March 14-24. £4.70, £3.70 concessions; matinees (before 5pm) £3.80, £2.80 concessions. 0161-200 1500, cornerhouse.org.
Bleak house
The 19th-century workhouse at Southwell in Nottinghamshire was the test bed for a regime which saw hundreds more built under the New Poor Law of 1834. It opens next week after restoration by the National Trust.
March 13-November 3, Wednesday-Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays, noon-5pm (opens 11am in August). £4 adults, £2 children, £10 families (2 adults/up to 4 children), free to NT members. Price includes audio guide. 01636 817250.
Objects of desire
Indian silver ornaments from the Chandrika Foundation in Jaipur are on show at Bradford's Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Lister Park.
Until April 21, Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sundays 1pm-5pm, closed Mondays. Free. 01274 751212, bradford.gov.uk/tourism/museums.
Meet sci-fi stars
Appearances by actors from TV shows and movies including Star Trek and Dr Who are promised at Europe's biggest fair for collectors of science fiction, cult television and film memorabilia.
NEC, Birmingham. Today and tomorrow, 11am-5pm/10am-5pm. £7 adults, £5 children. 0121-767 4555, memorabilia.co.uk.
The wheel thing
Stunt riding by US team Starboyz is among the highlights of the Scottish Motorcycle Show this weekend.
Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. Until tomorrow, 9am-5pm. £12 adults, £6 concessions, accompanied under-15s free. 08700 717170, scottishmotorcycleshow.co.uk.
Full bloom
Last chance to catch Kew Gardens' orchid festival, which ends tomorrow, in the steamy atmosphere of the Princess of Wales Conservatory.
Today and tomorrow, 9.30am-5pm. £6.50 adults, £4.50 concessions. Free admission to children aged 16 and under. 020-8332 56555, kew.org.
Pilot lights
Sit at the controls of a helicopter in this year's first "open cockpit day" at Weston-super-Mare's Helicopter Museum.
10am-4pm (last admission 3.15pm). £3.75 adults, £2.75 children (5-16), £3.25 seniors, £11 families (2 adults/ 2 children). 01934 635227, helicoptermuseum.co.uk.
