Festivals in England

Festivals in England range from charming, old-fashioned village fêtes all the way to enormous events lasting several days and attracting over 100,000 people.There is something quintessentially English about the wonderfully timeless fêtes held on playing fields, village greens or rectory gardens, with prizes awarded for cake baking and flower arranging and competitions to guess the number of sweets in a jar.But England is also the home of some of the grandest and most prestigious festivals in Europe. Glastonbury, of course and the Notting Hill Carnival are acknowledged as not just being amongst the largest festivals of their type – they’re also amongst the best.For hundreds of thousands of people, the English summer is all about music festivals, which seem to take place every weekend from May through to September and take place in locations as varied as fields in the middle of nowhere, in the grounds of imposing stately homes or perhaps even on a race course. More and more of the best music festivals now cater for families as well as for the younger enthusiasts or the hardcore festival aficionados. This expansion of this target audience has correspondingly led to the development of more eclectic or all-encompassing festivals, so that those such as the increasingly popular Latitude, in the beautiful Suffolk countryside, are now a well-established part of the English festival circuit.Of course, that doesn’t mean that the enormous mainstream English festivals have lost any of their appeal – far from it. Reading, Leeds, V and Glastonbury continue to attract big name performers and phenomenal crowds of people.Although not pulling in the same kinds of attendances, England also has its fair share of eccentric festivals that help make the country that little bit more interesting. Many of these are associated with particular times of the year – November 5th, Easter or the beginning of spring, for example. So, if you aspire to chase rolling cheeses down a hill in Gloucestershire, evade flaming barrels in the streets of East Devon or fly like a bird off the end of a pier in Bognor Regis, then idiosyncratic England can give you the opportunity to do just that.England is also world famous for its sporting occasions, many of which have developed their own festive atmospheres. As well as being ‘national institutions’, events such as the Grand National at Liverpool’s Aintree Race Course, the Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Race and, in recent times, the London Marathon have become fabulous social occasions as well as top quality sport.As befits a country of such cultural diversity, Festivals in England can cater for every possible taste. From prestigious arts festivals to grand flower shows and from the Caribbean carnival atmosphere of Notting Hill to the refinement of Royal Ascot – England has something for everyone.

Discover the Festivals of England … Bath International Music Festival Bognor Birdman British Grand Prix Cambridge Folk Festival Chelsea Flower Show Cheltenham Festival Cheltenham Jazz Festival Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling Glastonbury Festival Grand National Latitude Festival Leeds Festival London Marathon Notting Hill Carnival Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels Oxford Cambridge Boat Race Royal Ascot Stonehenge Summer Solstice Wimbledon Tennis Tournament WOMAD Festival

10 Top Tourist Attractions in England

Last updated on December 1, 2013 in Europe - 3 Comments

There’s no shortage of cliché-ridden ideas about England: From double-decker buses, thatched cottages and

country houses, village pubs and cream teas, eccentric aristocrats and cold, grey and rainy weather. Visitors

however will find that it doesn’t rain as much as they had heard, that Indian restaurants far outnumber fish-and-

chip shops and that there are a surprising amount of great tourist attractions in England packed into a

relatively small area.

10Hadrian's Wall

flickr/Vincent0923

Hadrian’s Wall was built by the Romans to protect their colony Britannia from the tribes in Scotland. It stretches

for 117 kilometers (73 miles) across the north of England from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. Construction

started in 122 AD following a visit by Roman Emperor Hadrian, and was largely completed within six years.

Today only stretches of this famous wall are still visible. There is a national path that follows the whole length

of the wall from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway.

9Warwick Castle

flickr/Extra Medium

Originally a wooden structure built by William the Conqueror in 1068, Warwick Castle was rebuilt in stone in

the 12th century. During the Hundred Years War, the facade opposite the town was refortified, resulting in one

of the most recognizable examples of 14th century military architecture. In 2001, Warwick Castle was named

one of Britain’s “Top 10 historic houses and monuments” and is one of the top attractions in England.

8Lake District

flickr/Andrew Pescod

Located in north west England in the county of Cumbria, the Lake District is the largest National Park in the

country. The main attraction is the lakes and fells (mountains and hills) carved by glacial erosion and providing

dramatic and inspiring scenery. It is England’s premier destination for hiking and climbing. The park is visited

by about 14 million national and international tourists each year.

7Tower of London

flickr/Istvan

Now home to the British Crown Jewels, the Tower of London served as a prison from 1100 to the mid twentieth

century. The castle was founded in the winter of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England and served

as a royal residence before it became a prison. The Tower of London is reputedly the most haunted building in

England. There have been tales of ghosts, including that of Anne Boleyn, inhabiting the tower.

6The Cotswolds

flickr/Skinnyde

The Cotswolds refers to a range of gentle hills in south central England, the main range reaching 330 meters

(1083 feet) in altitude at its highest point. The region is known for the stone-built villages, historical towns, and

stately homes and gardens. The Cotswolds are a popular attraction in England, within easy striking distance of

London and several other English urban centers.

5Durham Cathedral

flickr/.Jelly

Durham Cathedral, in the city of Durham in northeast England is the greatest Norman building in England and

perhaps even in Europe. It is cherished not only for its architecture but also for its incomparable setting. The

foundation stone of Durham Cathedral was laid on August 12, 1093. Since that time, there have been major

additions and reconstructions of some parts of the building, but the greater part of the structure remains true to

the Norman design. In a nationwide BBC poll held in 2001 Durham Cathedral was voted England’s best-loved

building.

4York Minster

flickr/jack_spellingbacon

One of the largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe (alongside Cologne Cathedral in Germany), York

Minster dominates the skyline of the ancient city of York. York Minster incorporates all the major stages of

Gothic architectural development in England. The present building was begun in about 1230 and completed in

1472. The “Great East Window” inside the cathedral is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the

world.

3Windsor Castle

wikipedia/Mark S Jobling

Located about an hour west of London, Windsor Castle is often called the largest and oldest inhabited castle in

the world. It is one of the official residences of Queen Elizabeth II who spends many weekends of the year at

the castle, using it for both state and private entertaining. The earliest surviving buildings at Windsor date from

the reign of Henry II who came to the throne in 1154. Much of the castle, including the magnificent State

Apartments and St Georges Chapel can be visited.

2Big Ben

flickr/maistora

The 150 year old Big Ben Clock Tower is one of London’s top attractions. The name Big Ben actually refers not

to the clock tower itself, but to the 13 ton bell housed within the tower and takes its name from the man who

first ordered the bell, Sir Benjamin Hall. It is the 3th largest free-standing clock tower in the world. The clock

has become a symbol of the England and London and has appeared in many films. In the movie Mars Attacks!

for example the Big Ben is destroyed by a UFO attack.

1Stonehenge

flickr/Natesh Ramasamy

One of top tourist attractions in England, Stonehenge is among the most important prehistoric sites in the

world. It was produced by a culture that left no written records so many aspects of Stonehenge remain subject

to debate. Evidence indicate that the large stones were erected around 2500 BC. It is not known for certain

what purpose Stonehenge served, but many scholars believe the monument was used as a ceremonial or

religious center.

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