Festivals in Great Britain: 2013
- 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 15–19 | London Fashion Week | London |
| Feb 16–24 | Jorvik Viking Festival (costumed warriors, battles) | York, England |
| March 1-10 | Bath Literature Festival | Bath, England |
| March 29 | Good Friday | England & Wales |
| March 31-April 1 | Easter Sunday and Monday | Britain |
| May 6 | Early May Bank Holiday | Britain |
| May 9–12 | Keswick Jazz Festival | Keswick, England |
| May 21-25 | Chelsea Flower Show | Bath, England |
| May 24–June 9 | Bath Fringe Festival (theater, walks, talks, alternative music) | Bath, England |
| May 22– June 2 |
Bath International Music Festival | Bath, England |
| May 27 | Spring Bank Holiday | Britain |
| June 7-8 | Keswick Beer Festival | Keswick, England |
| June 15 | Trooping the Colour (military bands and pageantry, Queen's birthday parade) | London |
| June 18-22 | Royal Ascot (horse races at Ascot Racecourse) | near Windsor, England |
| June 20-23 | Royal Highland Show (Scottish county fair) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| June 22-30 | Golowan (Midsummer) Festival | Penzance |
| June 24–July 7 | Wimbledon Tennis Championship | London |
| July 5-13 | Early Music Festival | York, England |
| July 9-14 | International Eisteddfod (folk songs, dances) | Llangollen, North Wales |
| July 25–28 | Cambridge Folk Festival (buy tickets early) | Cambridge, England |
| Aug 2-24 | Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (massing of pipe and drum bands) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Aug 2-26 | Edinburgh Fringe Festival (offbeat theater and comedy) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Aug 5 | Summer Bank Holiday | Scotland (not England or Wales) |
| Aug 9–Sept 1 | Edinburgh International Festival (music, dance, shows) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Aug 25-26 | Notting Hill Carnival (costumes, Caribbean music) | London |
| Aug 26 | Summer Bank Holiday | England & Wales only (not Scotland) |
| Aug 30–Nov 3 | Blackpool Illuminations (waterfront light festival) | Blackpool, England |
| Sept 13-20 | London Fashion Week | London |
| Sept 13-21 | Jane Austen Festival | Bath, England |
| Sept 20-29 | York Food Festival | York, England |
| 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 9 | 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.