Bank holiday breaks
England is bustling with holiday ideas to make the most out of your long weekends, from romantic getaways exploring picturesque landscapes to cheap weekend breaks that won't skimp on the fun. Looking for ways to entertain the kids? There’s plenty of family fun to be had this bank holiday, whether it’s swinging through the trees in the forest, playing arcade games on the coast or attending one of England’s many free bank holiday festivals and events.
Unmissable August bank holiday events
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Look ahead to the August bank holiday with our round-up of end-of-summer events and festivals.
Get back to nature at High Force waterfall
Explore a peaceful landscape of moors and hills, valleys, waterfalls and rivers dotted with picturesque villages and historic market towns.
Location: Durham Dales
Build sandcastles at Bamburgh Beach
Do you know your cockles from your winkles? St. Aidan and Grace Darling certainly did. And what better place to learn than on Bamburgh Beach.
Location: Bamburgh, Northumberland
Make a splash at Sandhaven Beach
Sandcastles, surf and smiles await in the fantastic seaside town of South Shields!
Location: South Shields, South Tyneside
Get your vintage chic on at Dreamland Margate
Indulge in an 'old fashioned yet oh so fashionable' break in the UK's trendiest seaside resort
Location: Margate, Kent
Discover the majestic Warwick Castle
Explore the spooky towers and frightening dungeons at Warwick Castle, and uncover its gruesome past spanning over 1100 years.
Location: Warwick, Warwickshire
Discover the Lanes and North Laine
The Lanes were originally the centre of the sleepy fishing village of Brighthelmstone.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Stand astride the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory Greenwich
Stand with one foot in the east and one in the west and feel on top of the world at this historic observatory.
Location: Greenwich, London
Explore the Norfolk Coast Path
Start your trek along the Norfolk Coast Path and witness some of the most tranquil sights you can see along the coastline.
Location: King's Lynn, Norfolk
Plan a romantic escape to Malmaison Oxford
Enjoy chocolate dipped strawberries in a converted prison on a romantic break in Oxford.
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire
Retreat to Ruthern Valley
Get some peace and quiet in a wooded valley inhabited with squirrels and wild rabbits.
Location: Bodmin, Cornwall
Take your senses on a trip back in time at Beamish
Touch, taste, hear, see and smell history on an unforgettable journey into the past at England’s largest open-air museum.
Location: Vale of Durham
Grab your paddle for an exploration of Bristol’s Harbour
Set out on a water sports adventure in Bristol’s beautiful, historic Harbour - the perfect setting for learning to paddleboard, canoe or sail.
Location: Bristol
Experience a revival of Cotswolds’ culinary traditions
Perfect your culinary skills at Thyme at Southrop’s cookery school, then explore some of the Cotswolds’ best restaurants in Bibury and Nailsworth.
Location: Southrop, Gloucestershire
Visit one of Capability Brown’s finest landscapes
Celebrate Capability Brown’s tercentenary as you explore 42 acres of Sherborne Castle's beautiful gardens and soak up the beauty, peace and tranquility of this natural setting.
Location: Sherborne, Dorset
Soar above England’s highest chalk sea cliff
Work up the courage for a unique, exhilarating way to take in the iconic scenery of East Sussex’s famous Beachy Head, near Eastbourne.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Rainy Day Activities: Discover Bath’s 13 marvellous museums
Discover the incredible and diverse collection of museums, galleries and exhibitions, all within a short stroll of one another, on a rainy day in Bath.
Location: Bath, Somerset
Get back to nature whilst glamping in a shepherd’s hut
A stone’s throw from Kielder Water and Forest Park, PoSHHuts in Falstone is an oasis of indulgence – a perfect glamping getaway in Northumberland.
Location: Falstone, Northumberland
Indulge in a romantic city break in Manchester
Your romantic getaway is just round the corner; visit some of the city’s most sumptuous hot spots for great cuisine and spectacular skyline views.
Location: Manchester, Greater Manchester
Trot over to meet Redwings Horse Sanctuary's rescued residents
Come nose to nose with some of Redwings Horse Sanctuary's most delightful residents at Redwings Ada Cole Rescue Centre in Essex.
Location: Nazeing, Essex
Be beside the seaside in Gorleston-on-Sea
Take the buckets and spades gorgeous Gorleston Beach before exploring the ancient Roman ruins and the Angles Way.
Location: Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk
Escape to the Lancashire countryside on a romantic spa trip
Indulge yourself at Woodland Spa in Lancashire and take your pick from a wealth of relaxing treatments – from facials and manicures to holistic treatments.
Location: Burnley, Lancashire
