Travel - What's On Around The UK: Under starter's orders...

The week starts on a sedentary note with the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run - a must for classic car buffs. More than 400 enthusiasts from across the world will give their pre-1905 motors a bit of throttle while awaiting starter's orders at Hyde Park Corner some time between 7.30am and 9am today.

Dating back to 1896, the rally started with the scrapping of the law that required a man with a red flag to run in front of every motor vehicle. To celebrate this breakthrough the flags were burned and everyone set off on a little jaunt to Brighton. If you want to wave them on their way they will be chugging along the A23 to Gatwick, then the B2036 to Pyecombe and back on the A23 again to Brighton.

Guy Fawkes meets New Orleans this week when the Mendip Mardi Gras gets underway. If you have somehow missed all the firework displays around Britain during the past couple of weeks, all is not lost.

The carnival begins with a rocket display as a procession of more than 100 glitzy floats, lit with 30,000 lightbulbs, wind their way through the streets of Shepton Mallet (Wednesday), Wells (Friday) and Glastonbury (Saturday). Call for more information (tel: 01749 343027) or e-mail: lofthousem@mendip. gov.uk

Next for a little pomp and circumstance. The Lord Mayor's Show takes place in London on Saturday. It is the largest procession of its kind in the world, with more than 6,000 people taking part, 140 floats and military bands jollying marchers along. The journey of the gilded state coach to the law courts dates back to the 13th century.

Setting off from Mansion House at 11am, the Lord Mayor will arrive at St Paul's Cathedral to be blessed by the Dean and Chapter on the steps of the west front. And, guess what - there's fireworks. London's largest display on the River Thames is set for 5pm between Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges.

But if you're more interested in the contemporary scene, the 1999 Board- X Snowboard Festival kicks off from the 12-14 November in Battersea Park, with some of the world's top snowboarders, including the Olympic Champion, Gian Simmen, "ripping" on the 70m Big Air Jump. A real snow public trial slope will let you experience that "board on snow" feeling and there will be live music and cold beer with top underground DJs such as Freq Nasty, Klute, BLIM and DJ Shuff.