August Bank Holiday

Written by Donna on August 28, 2009

easycar_carnival This weekend is the UK’s August Bank Holiday; the extended holiday period we’ve been waiting for since May! Some of you may have booked a week’s holiday away using Bank Holiday Monday as extra recovery time before getting back to work, or as part of a few weeks holiday so that you sign off one less holiday day!

Or maybe you’ll use the August Bank Holiday to catch up on the gardening or decorating, enjoying the currently popular staycation!

But what else could you do on Bank Holiday Monday?

In west London, the August Bank Holiday wouldn’t be the same without the spectacular Notting Hill Carnival, the largest festival of its kind in Europe which takes place on Sunday 30th and Monday 31st August! Over one million people enjoy Notting Hill’s annual carnival and its unique street festivities.

Fantastic Caribbean food stalls vie for your attention as you walk through the streets, drawing you in with their delicious smells, whilst you feel your heart give an extra beat as the many static music systems boom and vibrate through your body. Whilst your ears, nose and mouth are tantalised, the stunning sights of the vibrant floats travelling nearly 20 miles are views you will never forget. The costumes and carnival floats are quite simply spectacular; glorious multicoloured butterflies reaching 15 feet into the sky, colourful swirls of masquerade dancers, steel bands, multicoloured head dresses waving in the wind, Calypso music, reggae beat, crowds jostling for the best position along the streets – you won’t find anything quite like it in the UK! Note that a number of tube stations (London Underground) are closed in the area of the Notting Hill Carnival so make sure you check the Carnival website for details.

If you are living or holidaying in London with children, many of the Royal Parks put on activities during the August school holidays. Head to Regent’s Park by the boating lake and visit the Tree House Gallery; an eclectic collection of artists and crafts men (wood work to sewing), as well as actors and charities, inviting youngsters to explore, talk, listen to stories and join in with various activities. There are two fantastic tree houses as well as the 3 seater swing hanging high and swinging almost over the boat lake, the huge hammock, the Sound Garden, painting on the board and playing impromptu tunes on the outdoor piano – and so much more!

In East Sussex, why not step back in time and head to England’s Medieval Festival, held at Herstmonceaux Castle in Hailsham (29th to 31st August) for the 500th anniversary of the accession to the throne of King Henry VIII? Or there is the Classic Car and Motorcycle Show in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire on the 30th and 31st August. Enjoy the display at the Portsmouth International Kite Festival from Saturday to Monday or Birds of Prey demonstrations at Hever Castle in Kent on Sunday and Monday.

The Leeds Festival and the Reading Festival are currently taking place with the Arctic Monkeys performing today in Leeds and Reading on Saturday, Radiohead in Leeds tomorrow and Reading Sunday, and the Kings of Leon, in Leeds on Sunday and today in Reading.

Maybe the seaside or countryside is more to your liking, and the UK has a lot of that on offer! Formby Beach near Liverpool offers an unspoilt coastline or on the east coast, South Tyneside and Sunderland’s award winning beaches. You could visit Brighton and The Lanes or Blackpool and the Pleasure Beach!

Now what WILL you do?