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.
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Unmissable August bank holiday events
Featured
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
Discover the Lanes and North Laine
The Lanes were originally the centre of the sleepy fishing village of Brighthelmstone.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Retreat to Ruthern Valley
Get some peace and quiet in a wooded valley inhabited with squirrels and wild rabbits.
Location: Bodmin, Cornwall
Find each of the Norwich 12
The Norwich 12 is an exciting collection of historically and architecturally rich buildings spanning 1,000 years of history in Norwich.
Location: Norwich, Norfolk
Explore the pretty village of Thornton Le Dale
When we tell you that this place is a chocolate box village, we’re really not joking.
Location: Thornton Le Dale, North Yorkshire
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 a romantic rural retreat at Champneys spa
Enjoy some time out for just the two of you with a sumptuous pampering and walking break in the heart of Hampshire’s countryside.
Location: Liphook, Hampshire
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
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
Enjoy being pampered in your own moorland lodge retreat
Indulge in a full range of spa treatments in the comfort of your own luxury Scandinavian lodge before setting off to explore the English countryside.
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
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
Cookery and butchery courses at Coddy's Farm
Boost your culinary skills with seasonal cookery and butchery courses at Coddy's Farm, in Holmfirth. Great accommodation, great views, great food.
Location: Holmfirth, Yorkshire
Stay and play on Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park
Make the most of family fun time camping at Cotswold Farm Park, and visit nearby Bourton-on-the-Water to explore attractions & picnic by the river.
Location: Near Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire
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
Join the Clouds with Bristol Hot Air Ballooning
Take to the skies in a hot air balloon across the West Country, giving you amazing views and an unforgettable experience.
Location: Bristol
August events: Lost Village Festival
Take a trip into the surreal landscape of large-scale, interactive theatre performance art. In the woods. With DJs.
Location: Norton Disney, Lincolnshire
August Events: Take in the big screen at Hertford Castle Open Air Cinema
Grab your popcorn and enjoy a weekend of open air cinema under the stars with the beautiful Hertford Castle providing a suitably dramatic backdrop.
Location: Hertford, Hertfordhsire
