What's on in the UK - your guide to the next few months
16 August 2012


It's been a really busy year for the UK, and even as the Olympics and Paralympics come to a close there is still plenty to do and see.

Below is English UK's guide to the major events and exhibitions being held in the UK from September till November, with a preview of what's coming up in December.

September

Art: Pre-Raphaelites: Victorian Avant-Garde opens at the Tate in London on 12 September and runs till 13 January 2013. This exhibition looks at a major British art movement and contains beautiful paintings.

Events:

Jane Austen Festival in Bath is running from 14-22 September, with 69 events, the highlight could be a parade through the centre of Bath of people in 18th century costume.  

Shoreham Airshow including Battle of Britain scramble and support from the Royal Air Force, 1-2 September.

Fly To The Past including a Rock to the Past concert and the Oxford Festival of Flight. Oxford Airport, 1 and 2 September.

Northern Ireland International Airshow including a performance by stunt team The Red Arrows on 8 and 9 September.

Goodwood Revival - this is motor racing, but as it was in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, held from the 14-16 September at Goodwood in Sussex.

The Great River Race - annual river marathon race involving 300 crews to find the Traditional Boat Champions. Expect to see all sorts of boats, with all sorts of crews. The race, on 15 September, is likely to start at around 10.30 at Millwall Riverside, London E14, go through central London, and end in Richmond.

Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival - if you are in London on 30 September, try to see this. The Pearly Kings and Queens are a London tradition where each area had a "Royal Family" with special suits covered in pearl buttons. The families did lots of work for charity. Now the main event is this harvest festival, which starts at Guildhall Yard before a parade to St Mary-le-Bow church at 3pm.

The Great Gorilla Run - go along to this for a laugh. It's a 7k fun run round London where all the runners wear gorilla suits. It's to raise money to save gorilla habitats and will be held on 22 September.

The Braemar Gathering - ever heard of traditional Scottish sports like tossing the caber? You'll see them here, with large crowds and usually the Queen. The Gathering is always held on the first Saturday in September at Braemar in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

London Tattoo Convention - more than 300 tattoo artists plus much more at Tobacco Dock, E1 on September 28-30.

Music: Wagner's Ring cycle will be performed in its entirety at the Royal Opera House in London from 24 September to 2 November. Bestival -  Stevie Wonder headlines at the Isle of Wight music festival held 6-9 September.  

October

Film: The new James Bond film, Skyfall, will open on Friday 26 October in London's Leicester Square. Disney's Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 are getting special treatment at London's Royal Albert Hall on 21 October, with a selection of the music being performed live while excerpts of the film are shown on the big screen.

Music: Iconic French pop star Johnny Hallyday plays his first ever live UK show at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 15 and 16 October.

Events: Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour is a Cirque du Soleil performance including 30 of his songs, with acrobatics, aerial displays and puppetry, including a 6ft high version of the singer's famous white glove. London's North Greenwich Arena from October 12-19.

Diwali - there are festival of light celebrations in many UK cities including London and Leicester, which hosts one of the biggest celebrations outside India, with up to 35,000 people attending. Click here for more details.

November

Sport: Outdoor ice-rinks will be opening at London's major attractions and in other UK cities. Venues include Somerset House in London (20 November - 20 January 2013), the Natural History Museum (from November to January 2013 - dates to be confirmed) and at Brighton's Pavilion (mid-November 2012 - February 2013 - dates to be confirmed).

Music: London Jazz Festival will be held from Friday 9 November to Sunday 18 November, with artists including Herbie Hancock, Jack deJohnette and Sonny Rollins, at various venues.

Events: The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run - a rally of pre 1905 cars goes down London's Regent Street on 3 November and drives to Brighton on the morning of 4 November.

The Lord Mayor's Show - samba dancing, a stately procession and fantastic fireworks take over London on 10 November. 

Coming up in December and beyond...

Walking with Dinosaurs - a show based on 20 life-size mechanical dinosaurs, plus earthquakes, volcanoes and falling comets. It will be on at London's O2.

Disney on Ice at Wembley Arena in London from 26 December to 6 January.

 

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