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Make a date with history | | A
Wealth of unique events going back to times gone by - We have selected a selection
of must sees. | |
Our events programme helps to bring history to life for thousands of visitors
every year. This year's programme includes a hugely varied and inspiring
range of events for all ages and interests. Astral include return transport from
London, prepaid tickets and a guide for the day Your visit to Britain is
bound to coincide with a major cultural or sporting event. See if your vacation
coincides with any of our dates. |
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Cheese
Rolling » The annual cheese rolling races at Cooper's Hill must rank amongst
the strangest of England's weird and wonderful traditions» 31st May 2004
Henley
Royal Regatta Day Tour » This is an annual five-day event of rowing races
and social gatherings! 30th June » 1st July » 3rd July 2004
Blenheim
Palace Flower Show » The Flower Show blooms in the palace's beautifully
landscaped gardens and this year it will flourish again with over 250 exhibitors»
(10th, 11th and 13th June 2004) Ascot
Day Tour » Where top class racing is combined with tradition pageantry and
style. » 15th June » 16th June » 17th June (Ladies Day) »
19th June 2004
Robin Hood Festival, Nottinghamshire Jousting!
- Jesting! Archery! and a whole host of medieval merriment for all the family
in the legendary home of the world's favourite outlaw - 2nd August 2004 Crop
Circle Day Tours » Astral are offering unique tours this summer to some
of the finest circles in the West Country » 27th July » 28th July
» 29th July » 30th July » 3rd Aug » 4th Aug » 5th
Aug 2004
Glorious
Goodward Races » One of the most enjoyable weeks in racing on the calendar
is the five-day "Glorious Goodwood" meeting » May » August
(2004 dates to be announced)
The
Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary overnight Tour » 5th November 2004
Castle
by Candlelight Christmas Tour » This tour is an adaption of our Pilgrim's
Progress Day Tour visiting Canterbury Cathedral and the Garden of Kent »
13th December » 14th December » 18th December » 19th December
» 21st December
N.B Our full list of U.K Events, including
English Heritage special events will be announced on 1st January 2004
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January |
01
Lord of Westminster’s New Years Day Parade. International Boat show, Earls
Court, London. Jan/Feb Chinese New Year celebrations Soho, London. |
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February |
Leeds
castle, Kent half term story telling | |
March |
St
Patrick’s celebrations, (London has third largest Irish population of any
city). Ideal Home Exihbition, Earls Court, London. Oxford and Cambridge
boat race, Putney to Mortlake, London. Chelsea Antiques Fair. 1-11th
Spencer House, London: The Indian Imperial Orders: an exhibition to mark
the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen. | |
April |
Queen’s
Birthday gun salutes, Hyde Park and The Tower of London. The London Marathon,
the world’s biggest! with over 35,000 starters. St. Goerge’s Day celebrations.
6th Sulgrave Manor, Chamber Concert. | |
May |
Football
Association Cup Final, (most important day of the year for Football fans).
The Chelsea Flower Show, the world’s largest. 4-6th Hever Castle,
Kent, Mayday music & dance. 11-12th Leeds Castle, Kent, festival of
English Food & Wine. 18-19th Rockingham Castle, Northamptonshire, A
major English Civil War battle re-enactment - 500 troops lay siege to the Castle. |
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June |
Royal
Ascot: 17th to 21st June, taking place again over five days. Beating Retreat,
Mounted Bands of the Household Cavalry and the Massed Bands of the Guards Division
in this colourful musical ceremony. Derby Day, Major flat race of the Season.
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition , 10,000 works submitted of all standards
and styles. Trooping the Colour, the Queen’s official birthday party with
military parades, music and a Royal Air force fly past. Royal Ascot, horse
race meeting, Outrageous hats, horse racing and Champagne. Wimbledon Lawn Tennis
Championships. Open air music festivals begin, for example: 29th Leeds
Castle open air classical music concert with fireworks. Kenwood House, open air
classical music festival with fireworks. 1st Chatsworth House, Derbyshire,
Open air concert. 1-9th Leeds Castle, Blenheim Palace, Classical
Concert with fireworks. 22-23rd Sulgrave Manor, Northamptonshire, recreation
of life during the time of the Vikings. 29th Burghley House, Lincolnshire,
Summer Concert in the Park. | |
July |
Summer
Sales, price reductions across London’s stores. Hampton Court Flower Show.
Henley Royal Regatta, international rowing regatta. Henry Wood Promenade
Concerts begin, (July-Sept) arguably the world’s greatest classical music
festival. 3rd Leeds Castle, Kent, Childrens Prom Concert. 14th Rockingham
Castle, Northamptonshire, Open Air Shakespeare - Richard III. 21st Rockingham
Castle, Open Air Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet. Sulgrave Manor, Northamptonshire,
Daniel Defoe’s-Moll Flanders. | |
August |
Great
British Beer festival, introduce your taste buds to 300 real ales and ciders.
Chelsea Antiques Fair. Notting Hill Carnival, world’s second largest
street party with 2.5 million visitors. Features: free concerts, sound systems,
steel bands, caribbean food and colourful floats. 3rd Ragley Hall, Warwickshire,
Fireworks & Light Open Air Concert. 25-26th Rockingham Castle, the
Vikings visit middle England once again! | |
September |
Great
River Race, 250 traditional boats compete in this 22 mile race on the Thames.
London Open House, access to buildings of architectural interest that
are normally closed to the public. Leeds Castle, The Great Balloon &
Vintage Car Festival. | |
October |
Pearly
Harvest Festival, Pearly King’s, Queen’s and Princesses gather at St. Martin-in-Fields
Trafalgar Square, London. for harvest thanksgiving. International Festival
of Food and Wine, London. State Opening of Parliament. London Motor
Show, Earls Court. Trafalgar Day Parade, Sea Cadets commemorate Nelson’s
vistory at the Battle of Trafalgar. | |
November |
London
to Brighton Veteran Car Run, cars limited to speeds of 20 mile an hour aim
to reach Brighton before 4pm. Bonfire Night, ( firework displays and bonfires
) all over England, Scotland and Wales, celebrates a foyled plot to blow up the
Houses of Parliament on the 5th November 1605. Lord Mayor’s Show , a procession
of 140 floats snakes it’s way through the City of London. Remembrance Sunday
Ceremony, the Queen, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries lay wreaths
and observe a minute’s silence at 11am at the Cenotaph war memorial, London, in
remembrance of all British and Commonwealth soldiers who gave their lives since
World War One. | |
December |
Christmas
Lights and Tree, London receives a fir tree from the Norwegian people in thanks
for Britain’s role in liberating Norway from the Nazis. Numerous famous shopping
streets boast impressive displays of Christmas lights. New Years Eve celebrations!
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| |  | | | Many
of the Christmas customs that began in feudal times are still part of contemporary
Christmas celebrations. The old custom of hanging mistletoe, for example, dates
from the time of the Druids who honoured this plant in their religion and used
it in their sacrificial rites | | Click
here for more | | | Just
a short note to thank you for your assistance during our bookings etc. Everything
you arranged for us was perfect. We have recommended you to our friends and will
certainly be contacting you for our planned trip to Europe next year. Thanks
again. Mr. Joseph - CANADA | | Click
here for more | |  |