5 Things to do in the UK this August

Ready to party? Good because there are festivals and carnivals happening all around the UK this August. If you’re visiting Brighton, Nottingham, Edinburgh or London then you’re in luck. You can combine a trip to a beautiful, historic city with some festivities and celebration. However, if you want to avoid the crowds then grab your walking books and backpack – it’s time to take a hike to one of our national parks.

1  Visit a National Park

This year our national parks celebrate their 70th birthday. There are now 15 national parks across the UK – the first was the Peak District in 1951, and the most recent was the South Downs National Park in 2011. They make up five per cent of Britain and the government is conducting a review to see if we need more. They’re an amazing resource for our health, rural traditions, history, heritage, outdoor activities and the sheer restorative power of nature. This August why not put on your walking boots – or at least head to a very picturesque national park pub. We explore the UK’s National Parks.

2  Brighton Pride 2-4 August

This is the UK’s Biggest LGBTQ Pride Festival and described as “a vibrant celebration of all that is wonderful about Brighton & Hove’s diverse community, with visitors from across the globe enjoying its spectacular celebrations”.

Head to the seaside town of Brighton, less than 1 hour from London, for this all-singing, all-dancing carnival. There’s a huge concert, cabaret, line dancing, a dog show, costumes and a community parade which attracts a crowd of over 300,000 people.

For the last 200 years, Brighton has been known as ‘London by the sea’ – the resort of choice for those wanting an easy escape from London. Our local Blue Badge Guide, Rick Morris tells us why Brighton is so unique and so worth a visit.

3  Edinburgh Festival (2-26 August) 

August is the month to visit Edinburgh as it’s the famous Edinburgh Festival when literally thousands of performers take part in shows at over 300 venues across the city.  There are comedy shows, dance, music, cabaret, children’s shows and much more. You can find well known performers as well as new artists waiting to be discovered.

A highlight of the festival is the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, where you can watch military bands from around the globe perform on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. 

There is so much to see and do in Edinburgh so take a guided tour with one of our local guides. If you want to get out of the city for a day then here are our top guided tours from Edinburgh.

4  Robin Hood Festival in Nottingham 5-11 August

Take a trip to the famous Sherwood Forest in Nottingham for the 35th Robin Hood Festival. Robin Hood fans can learn more about the legends of Sherwood whilst enjoying live re-enactments, song, dance, storytelling, sword-fighting, crafts, archery as well as food and drink.

Nottingham is a fascinating city to visit with a rich literary history. Blue Badge Guide Felicity Whittle tours us around Nottingham’s literary history.

5   Notting Hill Carnival London – 25 – 26 August

It happens every year on the last bank holiday of the summer and if you can face the crowds and loud music then it’s quite a sight to see. It’s one of the largest street carnivals in the world with close to a million people dancing on the streets of Notting Hill to celebrate Caribbean heritage. You’ll be treated to a display of costumes, floats, music, street food and a great party atmosphere. Combine this with our guided tour of London.