Countryside
Both genteel and wild, there’s nothing quite like the English countryside for rural escapes with its patchwork hills, dramatic dales, ancient woodlands and winding country roads. All well and good, but what is there to do in England’s countryside exactly? Quite a lot, actually. Admire the grand interiors of a stately home before catching a play in the surrounding gardens, travel back in time with visits to ancient stone circles and crumbling castles, or step into a chocolate box of quaint villages and market towns and live like a local, trying farmhouse cheeses, cream teas and real ales along the way.
October events: Taste the best of the Peak District this autumn
Eat, drink and be merry as you make your way around the stalls at the Great Peak District Fair and Buxton Beer Festival.
Location: Buxton, Derbyshire
October events: Celebrate all things foodie at the Forest Showcase Food Festival
Head to the Forest of Dean this autumn for the best in local, seasonal and speciality food and drink at the Forest Showcase Food Festival.
Location: Coleford, Gloucestershire
September events: Celebrate the golden age of beer in Kent
The Faversham Hop Festival is a unique family event that commemorates the golden days of hop-picking with two days of live music, dancing, great food and hops, hops, hops!
Location: Faversham, Kent
Learn the traditional art of Well Dressing
Take part in the tradition of Well Dressing, the Peak District’s colourful summertime spectacle.
Location: Peak District, Derbyshire
December events: Have an Enchanted Christmas at Westonbirt Arboretum
Venture into Westonbirt’s magical illuminated grounds this winter for acres of Christmas joy.
Location: Tetbury, Gloucestershire
December events: Get set for winter at The Alnwick Garden
For a festive day out with a difference, wrap up in your cosiest Christmas jumper and join in the fun at The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland.
Location: The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland
December events: Enter an underground Christmas cave
Follow the story of Archie and the Unicorn, told through glittering lights in an underground cavern.
Location: Clearwell Caves, Gloucestershire
August events: Discover the English countryside with BBC Countryfile Live
Head to the spectacular grounds of Oxfordshire’s iconic World Heritage Site, Blenheim Palace, for BBC Countryfile Live, which will be hosted from the 1 - 4 August.
Location: Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Take a guided walking tour of Mortimer Country
Strap on your walking shoes and explore the Mortimer Country with the county’s Walking Festival this summer.
Location: West Midlands
