August Bank Holiday weekend: The coolest things to do in the UK
Make the most of a staycation with festivals, events and more
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Left it too late to book a weekend away for this Bank Holiday? There’s still plenty to keep you occupied right here in the UK, from foodie festivals to a 10km run with a twist.
Here are 10 of the coolest things going on from 25-27 August. Go on, embrace the staycation.
Get boozed up while running 10km
Food and fitness combine this weekend at Yorkshire’s answer to the Marathon du Medoc (the French marathon that features regular wine and food stops). The picturesque town of Malton is hosting its own version, although being marathon ready isn’t a prerequisite – this incarnation is only 10km. The Marathon du Malton takes place on Sunday 26 August, starting and finishing at Malton’s Market Place and featuring various tasty offerings along the route. These include craft beer from Brass Castle Brewery, macaroons baked by Malton based producer Florian Poirot, and pan-fried grouse sourced from the local Yorkshire moors from The Talbot. Entry costs £20, plus £2 booking fee.
Head to the funfair
Dreamland, Margate’s ultra-cool amusement park, is putting on a full programme of events to celebrate August Bank Holiday weekend. Friday night sees the park host the Silver and Sequins variety show, while DJ Roni Size takes to the outdoor stage on Saturday, performing a live anniversary set of his Mercury Prize-winning album “New Forms”. Kids are catered for on Bank Holiday Monday, with Peppa Pig making personal appearances in the park at intervals throughout the day.
Test drive the world’s first BoRo Beach Bike
This 17-seater bike, modelled on a quintessentially English beach hut, is getting its first outings in Ryde on the Isle of Wight. It has space for 10 pedallers, five non-pedallers and two children. There are themed rides along the seafront, from speed dating to chess tournaments; on Bank Holiday Monday (27 August) there’s an Afternoon Tea Ride with a stop-off at Appley Beach Cafe to snack on scones, homemade cake and cucumber sandwiches. Journeys depart from Wightlink’s FastCat terminal at Ryde Pier Head, return tickets from £5; afternoon tea ride costs £19.50.
Don your flying goggles
Expect wacky racers, the “smuggling of exotica” at the Illicit Market, an out-there fancy dress parade and a Great Exhibition of ingenious creations at this year’s Steampunk Festival, the Victorian Steampunk Society’s retro-futuristic extravaganza in Lincoln’s Cathedral Quarter. Runs from 24-27 August; tickets from £15 for a day wristband.
Celebrate LGBTQ+ folks at Pride
Rita Ora and Alexandra Burke are headlining this year’s Manchester Pride Festival, one of the UK’s most prominent Pride celebrations. A highlight is the Parade, which sees Manchester’s streets filled with a riot of colourful floats in front of a crowd of thousands. The Superbia Weekend cultural programme offers debates, premieres and workshops, while activities include sing-a-long cinema screenings of The Greatest Showman and Hairspray, a silent disco and karaoke. From 24-27 August.
Grab your popcorn
Hertford Castle is usually closed to the public but it’s opening for two nights of cinema over the Bank Holiday, offering open air screenings. Grab a blanket and book tickets for Ghostbusters on Saturday 25 August; tickets cost £7.
Treat your taste buds
The Great British Food Festival, as you might imagine, celebrates British cuisine, drawing foodies from all over the UK to Bowood House in Wiltshire. There are cooking demonstrations, talks from top chefs and food experts, including resident forager James Woods and Great British Bake Off and MasterChef contestants Julia Chernogorova, Frances Quinn, Lyndsay Evans and Zaleha Olpin, plus more artisan food producers than you can shake a breadstick at. Real ale, wine and live music also feature. From 25-27 August; tickets from £9.
greatbritishfoodfestival.com/bowood-house
Step back in time
Swap modern for medieval at Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex. The off-beat Medieval Festival features jousting, archery and battles, plus a hog roast, authentic crafts, parades and storytelling. Highlights include an evening torch-lit procession. It’s all so A Knight’s Tale. From 25-27 August; tickets from £17.50.
Catch the Great Exhibition of the North
This summer's celebration of everything that’s great about the North is still going in Newcastle, and there are a variety of events happening this Bank Holiday weekend. There’s free street theatre courtesy of Bread and Butter Theatre, a talk by neuroscientist Dr Yuki Kikuchi at the Great North Museum and a showing of animated adventure Bridges at the Sage Gateshead. Exhibition runs until 9 September.
Rock out at Leeds Festival
This year’s Leeds Festival will see more than 80,000 music fans enjoying big name acts, including Fallout Boy, Travis Scott, The Kooks, Kings of Leon, Kendrick Lamar, Dua Lipa and NERD. It’s not too late to join in the fun; tickets are still available from £69.50 for a day pass. From 24-26 August.
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