Festivals in Great Britain: 2012
- This list includes major festivals in major cities, plus national holidays observed throughout Great Britain. Many sights and banks close down on national holidays — keep it in mind when planning your itinerary. Note that this isn't a complete list; holidays can strike without warning.
- Many British towns have holiday festivals in late November and early December, with markets, music, and entertainment in the Christmas spirit. Two of these include York's St. Nicholas Fayre and Keswick's Victorian Fayre.
- For specifics and a more comprehensive list of festivals, contact the Visit Britain office in the US or check www.whatsonwhen.com.
- NOTE: Before planning a trip around a festival, make sure that you verify the festival dates at the festival or local TI's website.
- Related travel information in Great Britain.
| Jan 1 | New Year's Day | Britain |
| Jan 2 | New Year's Holiday | Scotland |
| Jan 25 | Robert Burns Night | Scotland |
| Feb 11–19 | Jorvik Viking Festival (costumed warriors, battles) | York, England |
| Feb 17–21 | London Fashion Week | London |
| March 2-11 | Bath Literature Festival | Bath, England |
| April 6 | Good Friday | England & Wales |
| April 8–9 | Easter Sunday and Monday | Britain |
| May 3–6 | Keswick Jazz Festival | Keswick, England |
| May 7 | Early May Bank Holiday | Britain |
| May 22–26 | Chelsea Flower Show | Bath, England |
| May 25–June 10 | Bath Fringe Festival (theater, walks, talks, alternative music) | Bath, England |
| May 30– June 10 |
Bath International Music Festival | Bath, England |
| June 1–2 | Keswick Beer Festival | Keswick, England |
| June 2–5 | Queen's Diamond Jubilee | Britian |
| June 4 | Spring Bank Holiday | Britain |
| June 16 | Trooping the Colour (military bands and pageantry, Queen's birthday parade) | London |
| June 19–23 | Royal Ascot (horse races at Ascot Racecourse) | near Windsor, England |
| June 21–24 | Royal Highland Show (Scottish county fair) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| June 25–July 8 | Wimbledon Tennis Championship | London |
| Late June | Golowan (Midsummer) Festival | Penzance |
| July 2–8 | International Eisteddfod (folk songs, dances) | Llangollen, North Wales |
| July 6–14 | Early Music Festival | York, England |
| July 26–29 | Cambridge Folk Festival (buy tickets early) | Cambridge, England |
| July 27–Aug 12 | 30th Summer Olympic Games | London |
| Aug 3–25 | Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (massing of pipe and drum bands) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Aug 3–27 | Edinburgh Fringe Festival (offbeat theater and comedy) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Aug 6 | Summer Bank Holiday | Scotland (not England or Wales) |
| Aug 10–Sept 2 | Edinburgh International Festival (music, dance, shows) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Late Aug | Notting Hill Carnival (costumes, Caribbean music) | London |
| Aug 27 | Summer Bank Holiday | England & Wales only (not Scotland) |
| Aug 31–Nov 4 | Blackpool Illuminations (waterfront light festival) | Blackpool, England |
| Sept 14–22 | Jane Austen Festival | Bath, England |
| Sept 21–30 | York Food Festival | York, England |
| Sept 21–26 | London Fashion Week | London |
| Nov 1 | All Saints' Day | Britain |
| Nov 5 | Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Night (fireworks, bonfires with effigy burning of 1605 traitor Guy Fawkes) | Britain |
| Nov 10 | Lord Mayor's Show (horse drawn coach parade and fireworks) | London |
| Nov 30 | St. Andrew's Day | Scotland |
| Dec 24–26 | Christmas holidays | Britain |
| Dec 31–Jan 2 | Hogmanay (Scottish New Year's celebration) | Scotland |
For lots more information, check out our best-selling Rick Steves' Great Britain guidebook — or join us on one of our free spirited Britain tours.