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
Featured
Look ahead to the August bank holiday with our round-up of end-of-summer events and festivals.
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 Lanes and North Laine
The Lanes were originally the centre of the sleepy fishing village of Brighthelmstone.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
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
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
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
Let Plymouth bring out your adventurous streak
Plymouth provides the perfect place for adventurers, with water sports, scuba diving, climbing walls, cycle paths, walks and boat trips.
Location: Plymouth, Devon
Relax and reconnect on a romantic Cornish coastal break
It’s all about you and your time together at Headland Hotel and Spa, where you can connect with each other, the ocean and the wild Cornish coastline.
Location: Newquay, Cornwall
Beach huts, breweries and barmy arcade games
Take in Southwold’s iconic sights on a coastal stroll along Suffolk’s Heritage Coastline, from brightly coloured beach huts to homemade arcade games.
Location: Southwold, Suffolk
Go glamping in a gypsy cabin this summer
Experience a summer holiday with a difference this year by staying in a quirky Gypsy Cabin style pod just 15 minutes away from Whitby.
Location: Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire
Fun and free on Kent’s coastline
Who says you need to break the bank to have a great day out with so much available for free on the coast of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate?
Location: Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, Kent
Cycle from Snape to Orford through scenic Suffolk
This delightful cycle route from Snape to Orford meanders through the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Location: Snape and Orford, Suffolk
