There's so much happening throughout England - from food and literary festivals to concerts and theatre events! Check out our pick of what's happening over the next few months by the Enjoy England team.
Plymouth Summer Festival - Various venues, Plymouth
May through until the end of August
The Plymouth Summer Festival plays host to a diverse range of events. The world famous Transat Race acts as the curtain raiser to the whole festival on 11th May 2008. The festival brings together under one banner the vast range of maritime, music, arts and street events taking place in Plymouth over the summer months.
Find out more about the Plymouth Summer Festival
Bristol Shakespeare Festival - Various parks around Bristol
15 May - 31 August
The largest open air Shakespeare Festival in the UK. Last year, over 8,000 people attended productions in the heart of historic Bristol. As part of the festival, a variety of open air productions will take place across city parks during the summer months. Bring a picnic, sit back and enjoy the performance.
Find out more about the Bristol Shakespeare Festival
Pennine Lancashire Festival of Food and Culture - various venues, Lancashire
18 August - 18 September
From gourmet short breaks, culinary canal cruises and pony trekking picnics to steam train lunches, champagne balloon flights, ale trails and brewery tours; thousands of food lovers will experience gastronomic adventures across the county as the area celebrates its fantastic food and culture like never before.
Find out more about the Pennine Lancashire Festival of Food and Culture
Jurassic Encounter Adventure Golf - New Malden, Surrey
Opening 23 August
Located at New Malden’s famous ‘World of Golf’, Jurassic Encounter is a thrilling 18-hole golf course, complete with roaring mechanical dinosaurs, man-made ‘primeval’ caves, cascading waterfalls and lush vegetation – all set within a half acre site that recreates the mood of a land that time forgot.
Find out more about Jurassic Encounter
The Great British Duck Race - River Thames, London
31 August
Watch a quarter of a million plastic ducks race down the river Thames with stands offering games and refreshments. Charities will be in attendance to support the event.
Find out more about The Great British Duck Race
Open Cambridge: discover hidden treasures
From 13 September
What do Jeremy Paxman and Oliver Cromwell Junior have in common? Where in Cambridge can you find a chunk of Winchester Cathedral? To discover the answer, book a place on one of the free tours offered by Open Cambridge, a new scheme that will allow visitors behind the scenes to explore the history of the Colleges.
Find out more information about Open Cambridge
The Great Gorilla Run 2008 - London
27 September
There are many charity runs but none are quite like this – 1,000 people, all dressed up as gorillas and going ape for a day! Since the first race in 2003, thousands of people have donned their gorilla suits and walked, run or jogged the 7km City of London route that takes in sights such as Tower Bridge and The Tate Modern.
Find out more about The Great Gorilla Run 2008
Lancashire's Producers' Month
October
Producers' Month offers you the perfect opportunity to experience Lancashire's array of fresh, locally sourced food in a number of different ways. Purchase it from one of the farm shops or popular Farmers' Markets, taste beautifully cooked local produce in a Taste Lancashire quality assured place to eat, follow a food trail or take a trip to one of our food producers for a look at how the fresh raw materials are made into something delicious.
Find out more about Producers' Month
Only A Game? - World Museum, Liverpool
11 October 2008 till 1 March 2009
Europe’s love affair with the beautiful game will be explored in an entertaining new exhibition at World Museum Liverpool. Only a Game? will look at the human face of football in Europe from the classic era of the 1950’s to the modern age of global superstars.
Find out more about Only a Game?
Brighton Festival of World Sacred Music 2008 - various venues - Brighton
12-19 October
This year we’ve extended the Festival to 8 days, from Sunday to Sunday. The theme for the week is 'East', with sacred music from Japan, India and Turkey all in the mix. Details of the programme will follow soon but highlights include: Kathakali – spectacular dance drama from South India; Shichiseikei – chanting Japanese Shomyo Buddhist Monks; and Sufi Night – ecstatic music with Whirling Dervishes.
Find out more about the Brighton Festival of World Sacred Music 2008
Alton Towers Scarefest 2008 - Stafforshire
17 Oct-2 Nov
Escape to Alton Towers this Halloween and celebrate the season of spooktakular fun! The little ones will enjoy mini ‘boos’, braver beings will be rattled and spooked, while older thrillseekers will be spine-chillingly terrified at the Alton Towers Scarefest open every night until 9pm!
Find out more about Alton Towers Scarefest 2008
Oxford Playhouse's 70th Birthday Celebrations - Oxford Playhouse, Oxford
25-26 October
One of England's leading and best-loved theatres celebrates a major anniversary this autumn, starting with a glittering gala weekend of special events, from star-studded memories to some memorable productions.
Find out more about Oxford Playhouse's 70th Birthday Celebrations