Festivals in Great Britain: 2010
- 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 |
| Feb 13–21 | Jorvik Viking Festival (costumed warriors, battles) | York, England |
| Feb 19–24 | London Fashion Week | London |
| Feb 27–March 7 | Bath Literature Festival | Bath, England |
| April 2 | Good Friday | England & Wales |
| April 4–5 | Easter Sunday and Monday | Britain |
| May 3 | Early May Bank Holiday | Britain |
| May 13–16 | Keswick Jazz Festival | Keswick, England |
| May 25–29 | Chelsea Flower Show | Bath, England |
| May 26– June 6 |
Bath International Music Festival | Bath, England |
| May 22– June 7 | Bath Fringe Festival (theater, walks, talks, alternative music) | Bath, England |
| May 31 | Spring Bank Holiday | Britain |
| Early June | Late Music Festival | York, England |
| June 4–5 | Keswick Beer Festival | Keswick, England |
| June 12 | Trooping the Colour (military bands and pageantry, Queen's birthday parade) | London |
| June 15–19 | Royal Ascot (horse races at Ascot Racecourse) | near Windsor, England |
| June 21–July 4 | Wimbledon Tennis Championship | London |
| June 24–27 | Royal Highland Show (Scottish county fair) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| July 6–11 | International Eisteddfod (folk songs, dances) | Llangollen, North Wales |
| July 9–17 | Early Music Festival | York, England |
| July 29–Aug 1 | Cambridge Folk Festival (buy tickets early) | Cambridge, England |
| Aug 2 | Summer Bank Holiday | Scotland (not England or Wales) |
| Aug 6–28 | Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (massing of pipe and drum bands) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Aug 6–30 | Edinburgh Fringe Festival (offbeat theater and comedy) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Aug 13–Sept 5 | Edinburgh Festival (music, dance, shows) | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Aug 29–30 | Notting Hill Carnival (costumes, Caribbean music) | London |
| Aug 30 | Summer Bank Holiday | England & Wales only (not Scotland) |
| Sept | London Fashion Week | London |
| Sept 3 – Nov 7 |
Blackpool Illuminations (waterfront light festival) | Blackpool, England |
| Sept 17–26 | York Food Festival ww.yorkfoodfestival.com) | York, England |
| Late Sept | Jane Austen Festival | Bath, 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 13 | 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 |
Updated for 2010. 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.