Everyone enjoys a three-day holiday, especially when it falls during the summer. August Bank Holiday is quite literally just around the corner, and with temperatures set to reach 30C° it’s the perfect opportunity to head out with family or friends and make the most of it.
From barbeques and pub gardens to festivals and craft days, here’s what you can get stuck into this August Bank Holiday:
Notting Hill Carnival, London W10 & W11
Notting Hill Carnival has been an annual celebration of London’s Caribbean communities since 1966, and this year is no exception. Enjoy live music, steel band performances, traditional Caribbean cuisine and the legendary parade. There will be a parade on both Sunday 25th August, starting at 10:30am, and Monday 26th August, starting at 10:00am.
Notting Hill Carnival is family-friendly, although the Sunday tends to be quieter making it easier for families to get around. On both days there will be a 72-second silence at 3pm for the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Pick Your Own
What’s better than to embrace the heat and spend the day outside picking your own fruit and vegetables?! Pick your own is guaranteed to keep the children entertained for hours and allows you to ditch the unnecessary supermarket plastic. Most farms will offer a range of summer berries, root vegetables, apples, pumpkins and leafy greens but it is best to call beforehand to check what they stock.
There are plenty of local farms scattered across the UK, so head online to track down the nearest one to you. Most pick your own farms are free to visit, just remember to pay for your finds before you leave!
Ice Cream Festival, Kent
If the weather is as hot as they say it will be, make sure you head down to Kent Life on Monday 26th August for their Ice Cream Festival. There are over 60 varieties to try before petting the farm animals and exploring the many buildings on the farm.
Kent Life also has a children’s play area, donkey rides and a quaint tea room.
Bury St Edmunds Food Festival, Suffolk
The Bury St Edmunds Food Festival in Suffolk is the perfect family-fun day out. The festival is free to enter and is open on the 25th and 26th August. Visitors can watch cooking demonstrations hosted by celebrity chefs, explore over 100 food and drink stalls and take advantage of the local farmers market. For the little ones, there’s a beach at Charter Square, fairground rides, a mini farm and ample entertainment.
PGL Family Adventures
If you’re after a family weekend away, PGL is offering discounted weekends (beginning 24th August) across several of it’s centres. The discounted cost includes all meals, accommodation and six adventurous activities. Visit their website for more information.
Bushcraft Days, Penshurst Place
On the 25th and 26th August Penshurst Place is running bushcraft days for all ages. Visitors can learn skills such as knot-tying, campfire cooking and whittling. Entrant fees apply.
If you have a little more time it is worth purchasing a ticket to the gardens, where you can explore incredible displays and get lost in the Maize Maze. The maze is open daily from 11:00am to 6:00pm.
Mini Breaks
Why not plan a last minute mini-break? A couple of days off is perfect for city breaks or staycations and you may be able to bag yourself some late-booking bargains. Just remember to make sure you buy your travel insurance – even if you are staying in the UK.
The Brighton Mod Weekender, Brighton & Hove
The Brighton Mod Weekend is back and celebrations begin on the 22nd August. During the day visitors can enjoy vintage fares and live music. Evening entertainment starts from £12.00.
This year, Sunday 25th August celebrates 40 years since the movie Quadrophenia was released. The celebrations will include a Q&A session with the cast, meet and greet opportunities and a screening of the film.
World Crabbing Competition, Norfolk
Step back in time and compete in the good ole’ World Crabbing Competition at Cromer Beach in Norfolk. Can you and your family catch the most crabs – or perhaps the biggest?
Stalls selling local food and drink and crafts will be displayed along the seafront.
