Summer may be gone but festival season is still in full swing, and September brings with it an abundance of unique festivals and events for literary lovers, sporty types and foodie fans to enjoy. Head to the spa town of Bath to celebrate the works of its most famous literary resident at the Jane Austen Festival; enjoy guided walks throughout Yorkshire’s scenic countryside at the annual Yorkshire Wolds Walking and Outdoors Festival, sample the very best of Liverpool’s gastronomic delights at its Food and Drink Festival and enjoy a weekend of music, cabaret and fancy dress at Bestival on the Isle of Wight.
September events
September events: Test your fitness levels at The Great North Run
The Great North Run is an iconic half marathon with more than 54,000 runners registering to take part every year.
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
September events: Go to the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships
This annual competition between Lancashire and Yorkshire, which dates back to the 1980's, sees black puddings hurled at a pile of Yorkshire puddings on a 20-foot-high plinth.
Location: Manchester, Greater Manchester
September events: Give cultural films a go at Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival
Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival gives you the chance to watch films you won’t find in your local cinema in a range of unusual surroundings.
Location: Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland
September events: Pop-up galleries and festival arts in North Yorkshire
The Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage in North Yorkshire invites visitors to experience a unique weekend featuring 130 artists in 90 pop-up galleries.
Location: Whitby, North Yorkshire
September events: Experience Agatha Christie's Riviera in Devon
Discover Agatha Christie's Riviera and follow in her footsteps by attending her namesake festival, and walking the Agatha Christie Mile in the bustling harbour town of Torquay.
Location: Torquay, Devon
September events: Celebrate over 2,000 years of Gloucester’s history
Experience the city’s rich history at the Gloucester History Festival in September with family activities, parades. talks and tours.
Location: Gloucester, Gloucestershire
September events: Enjoy good food at Ludlow Food Festival
Take one historic town, an enviable food culture, passionate local chefs and food producers and you get the perfect recipe for Ludlow Food Festival.
Location: Ludlow, Shropshire
Admire Blackpool's light fantastic
Every autumn, Blackpool lights up the Lancashire skies with a sparkling spectacle that has to be seen to be believed.
Location: Blackpool, Lancashire
September events: Live the sense and sensibilities of Jane Austen’s Bath
Step into a Georgian world and explore the City of Bath that inspired one of England’s most famous writers.
Location: Bath, Somerset
September events: Experience arts and culture at Hull's Freedom Festival
Hull’s annual festival, Freedom, features torchlight processions, flaming installations, street dance, pop up galleries, aerial acrobats and music.
Location: Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Get your jazz hands out for the Scarborough Jazz Festival
Each September, the annual Scarborough Jazz Festival on Yorkshire’s north coast provides the ideal tonic for music lovers to wash away those summer blues.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
September events: Sample some fantastic seafood at the Newquay Fish Festival
Feast upon the edible delights that swim Cornwall’s waters as local chefs cook up a treat, right before your eyes, at the Newquay Fish Festival.
Location: Newquay, Cornwall
September events: Enjoy Nordic walking at the Walking and Outdoors Festival
The annual Yorkshire Wolds Walking and Outdoors Festival offers a host of exciting outdoor pursuits and taster sessions.
Location: Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire
September events: Celebrate Doncaster at the St Leger Festival
Join the party at The William Hill St Leger Festival, the oldest classic horse race in the world, with an array of music, fine food, arts and culture – and racing of course!
Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire
September events: Take the Scilly Sea Swim Challenge
Watch the spectacle or put yourself to the test as challengers swim and walk between Scilly's main islands in just one day.
Location: Isles of Scilly
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
September events: Experience the action-packed Tour of Britain
Held in various stages across the country in September, take to the streets and experience first-class cycling action in person at your nearest Tour of Britain event.
Location: Various locations, Britain
September events: Steam into autumn at North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Get on board the North Yorkshire Moors Railway this autumn with a varied diary of events offering a great way to spend time with family and friends.
Location: Pickering, North Yorkshire
September events: Be blown away at St Annes International Kite Festival
St Annes hosts the spectacular annual Kite Festival, featuring magnificent kites from all over the world.
Location: St Annes on Sea, Lancashire
September events: Watch Indie A-listers at the End of the Road Festival
The intimate surroundings of the End of the Road Festival give you the chance to get up close and personal with the bands and their music.
Location: Larmer Tree Gardens, North Dorset
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