From 29 to 29 August, fresh talent, brilliant music and a beautifully decorated parade of floats come together for Notting Hill Carnival, filling the streets with intricate costumes, steel and marching bands, Calypso music and a variety of mouth-watering food. This annual event has taken place since 1966 on the streets of Notting Hill and continues to captivate visitors with its unique charm, attracting millions of people each year. Sunday 28 August is referred to as 'Children's Day', before it continues into Monday 29 August. The free event has a Caribbean festival theme, bringing a welcome splash of colour to West London.
- Placed in the top ten of the weirdest 'sports' and pastimes in 2010, the World Gravy Wrestling Championships is one of the world’s quirkiest competitions. Now in its 6th year, fearless contestants will line up to battle it out to become this year’s champion on 29 August and you can cheer them on as they wrestle in a pool full of Lancashire gravy. If the aroma is irresistible, head to a nearby pub for some gravy served the traditional way. Spectator entry is around £2 per adult and £1 per child.
Little visitors to the Alton Towers Resort will have the unique opportunity to meet special guest Mim-Mim from the hit CBeebies show Kate & Mim-Mim during the August Bank Holiday weekend. Mim-Mim will meet and greet families in CBeebies Land from 27 August to 2 September and those visiting Mim-Mim will also have the chance to win Mim-tastic prizes by sharing photos on Twitter using #CBeebiesLandMT. For a limited time only, child tickets are available for £25 if booked online before 15 August. Under-threes are free.
If you fancy escaping to an idyllic barn this August Bank Holiday, Bracken Barn in North Cornwall is the place for you and is still available for the long weekend. Located on the owner's farm, the barn is perfect for exhilarating walks, while providing easy access to attractions such as the Eden Project, Trago Mills and the historic Jamaica Inn. The renovated barn sleeps six people in three bedrooms and features solid oak and slate floors throughout, as well as oak doors, slate window sills and exposed beams. Three nights from 26 August costs £1,007 with holidaycottages.co.uk.
- Prepare for lift-off in Lanarkshire as the International Hot Air Balloon Festival returns to John Hastie Park Strathaven from 26 to 28 August as the only event of its kind in Scotland. Balloon launches will take place each day at around 6am and 6.30pm, and there will be at least 15 balloons tethered to the ground to allow for a closer view. Visitors will be blown away with the Evening Glow event on the Saturday evening at 9pm, which will see balloonists illuminate the night sky with the flames of the balloons in a choreographed sequence to powerful music. Live jazz and ukulele bands, local singers and dancers, falconry and magic shows will also take place over the weekend. The event, which is run by volunteers, is free with any donations put towards running costs.
Head to the Cotswolds this August Bank Holiday for the ultimate wellbeing, music, food and family festival taking place from 26 to 28 August, with hosts Jamie Oliver and Alex James. This year's Big Feastival features music from Mark Ronson, the Kaiser Chiefs and Ella Henderson, alongside gastronomic delights from the Original Patty Men, The Cauldron and Le Bun. The NEFF Big Kitchen will host foodie demonstrations from the likes of Jamie Oliver, Raymond Blanc and Thomasina Miers, and wine lovers won't want to miss the Brancott Estate Virtual Vines which will transport you to the vineyards of New Zealand and invite you for tastings. Meanwhile, the little ones can enjoy performances from Dick and Dom and CBeebies' Justin Fletcher.
- This year marks the diamond anniversary of the Tall Ships Races when up to 30 magnificent ships will visit the Port of Blyth during the regatta, which takes place from Friday 26 to Monday 29 August. As the Blyth event is the only Tall Ships regatta taking place in the UK this year, DFDS ferry the Princess Seaways will sail to the town’s port and provide the perfect viewing deck afloat for visitors to see the ships at close quarters with a four-hour sailing on Bank Holiday Monday. It will offer exclusive viewing opportunities as the ferry sails back along the coast with the Tall Ships for the Parade of Sail, marking the start of their race to Gothenburg. During the trip, you will also have the opportunity to spot marine wildlife with the help of dedicated ORCA wildlife officers. Prices start from £40 per person for adults and from £20 per child.
- The world’s biggest gathering of vintage and modern scooters takes place on the Isle of Wight from 26 to 29 August, having taken place each August since 1980 and attracting up to 7,000 scooter aficionados each year. The main hub for events is at the Smallbrook Speedway Stadium in Ryde where there will be live entertainment, DJs, licensed bars and catering from around the world, as well as camping facilities. There will be parties each evening and at midday on Sunday, thousands of scooters will set out together for a ride through the Isle of Wight. Make the most of the Bank Holiday with a weekend camping ticket to the Isle of Wight International Scooter Rally and access to all the events from £39.25 per person based on four people travelling by car with Red Funnel.
Escape to Suffolk's only island for a relaxed end of the summer holidays and spend a day and night surrounded by amazing wildlife on peaceful RSPB nature reserve Havergate Island in the River Ore. See flocks of birds, grasshoppers or crickets and with some luck spot the wild Havergate hares in their natural home. The Big Wild Sleepout, from 28 to 29 August, gives you exclusive admission to the remote nature reserve, a 20-minute boat trip down the river, and the opportunity to participate in a programme of exciting activities. Prices start from £124 for adults and £78 for three to 16 year olds.
Join a weekend of intimate spectacular happenings across the Lake District National Park at Lakes Alive from 26 to 28 August. Bring and share at the Giant Jacob’s Join along the bank of the River Kent, learn to fly a drone or go on a virtual flight in the Bird HIVE. For a cultural hit, visit the ruins of Kendal Castle where more than 3,000 ice sculptures of people will be waiting to greet you, or visit The Factory for open art studios, dancing and even a micro beer festival. The event in Kendal is free and fun for all, designed to reflect and celebrate the people and beautiful landscape of the Lake District.
- This summer, the View from The Shard has been transformed into a glorious garden oasis set 800ft above London with 360-degree panoramic views of the city. Height of Summer, London’s tallest garden, features thousands of brilliant blooms in celebration of The Year of The English Garden while offering unparalleled views for up to 40 miles. Visitors can enjoy the quintessential English garden and sip cocktails from a floral-inspired menu. The summer garden installation is included in standard entry to The View from The Shard until 4 September, with tickets priced from £25.95 per adult and£19.95 per child.
- The Great Scottish Swim is part of Europe’s biggest open water swim series and takes place from 26 to 27 August, with over 2,000 swimmers of all ages and abilities expected to head to the majestic surroundings of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park to take on a range of distances from the beginners half-mile to the brand new 10k marathon swim. The event includes an elite race featuring some of the top open water swimmers from around the world. If you're looking for the ultimate in revitalising weekends, there is no better way than to spend it in the open water of Loch Lomond before relaxing on its fun-filled shores. Prices start from £24 for swimmers aged 12 and up.
- Sneaky Experience is bringing a touch of history back to life in a magical experience at Lancaster Castle, a place known for its famous trials of the Pendle witches in the 1600s, this August Bank Holiday. The outdoor screenings, from 25 to 29 August, promise to entertain fans of the Harry Potter films of all ages, with the majestic backdrop of Lancaster Castle providing a fantastic setting for a magical day out. Tickets are priced from £14.50 which includes a 90-minute wizarding experience with classes, plus a film screening.
Inspired by the lavish lifestyle of Dubai, Manchester's five-star Lowry Hotel is hosting a one-off event for Brits who love to brunch this August Bank Holiday. In Dubai, extravagant brunches are a social staple, with restaurants competing to see who can create the most elaborate offering. The Lowry Hotel will serve up its own twist on the concept on Sunday 28 August, holding a bottomless brunch in its grand ballroom. A plentiful open buffet will showcase pan-Asian and European dishes and diners can quench their thirst with endless Prosecco, beer, house wines and Aperol spritz, while Manchester’s VIVA Ems, a regular DJ on Unity Radio, will perform live at the extravagant event. The brunch will run from 12.30 to 3.00pm, priced at £49 per head. Call 0161 827 4000 to book.
- The beautiful region of Lisburn in Northern Ireland is home to one of the country’s finest craft beer and music festivals, The Hilden Beer and Music Festival, which takes place from 26 to 28 August. Named after Northern Ireland’s oldest independent brewery, the Hilden Brewery, the three–day event showcases live music from local artists, craft beers and gourmet food on the historical grounds of Hilden House, with over 35 beers and ciders on offer. 2016 will mark its 31st year and will include live performances from local rock and folk artists, including Rackhouse Pilfer, Dr Bluegrass and The Bonnevilles. From fine dining in the brewery’s Tap Room restaurant for die-hard foodies, to a Family Fun Day packed with activities for all ages, the festival has something for everyone. Tickets cost from £10 per person.