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BRITISH LEGACY / THE COLLECTION

Cultural Festivals

The UK hosts numerous cultural festivals that celebrate arts, music, and heritage. These events highlight the country's vibrant cultural scene and attract visitors from around the world.

53 entries

Glastonbury Festival: music, art and life at Worthy Farm

From a 1970 gathering of 1,500 people to a major event in British cultural life, Glastonbury has grown while retaining its farm setting and broad artistic ambitions.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The world's largest arts festival, held annually in Edinburgh, showcasing thousands of performances including theatre, comedy, dance, and music.

Notting Hill Carnival: Caribbean culture on London's streets

Born from community-led celebrations, the annual west London carnival brings Caribbean and diasporic traditions into British public life.

Hay Festival: how a Welsh town became a meeting place for ideas

Founded in 1988, Hay Festival grew from a book-filled Welsh market town into an international gathering for literature, the arts and public debate.

Glyndebourne Festival Opera

Founded in 1934, Glyndebourne brings opera to a Sussex country estate through a summer festival, touring productions and learning programmes.

BBC Proms

Eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts held in the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Cheltenham Literature Festival

Since 1949, Cheltenham’s literature festival has brought writers and readers together for talks, readings and discussion.

Edinburgh International Festival: how a post-war idea took root

Founded in 1947 to bring artists and audiences together, Edinburgh’s annual festival has grown from music and drama into a broad international programme.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

An annual August performance on Edinburgh Castle’s esplanade brings military music, Scottish pipe bands and international acts together.

Brighton Festival

An annual arts festival founded in 1967, bringing theatre, music, dance and visual arts to Brighton.

Isle of Wight Festival

From its countercultural beginnings to its modern return, the festival has brought generations of performers and audiences to the island.

London Film Festival: cinema from around the world, in London

Established in 1957, the annual British Film Institute festival brings international films and audiences together in the capital.

Manchester International Festival

Biennial arts festival in Manchester, presenting new works and special events across various art forms.

Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza

A summer music event brings live performance and family entertainment to the historic Somerset abbey.

Aldeburgh Festival

Founded by Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears and Eric Crozier, the Suffolk festival grew from a local concert event into an international gathering for music and the arts.

Bath International Music Festival: music across traditions

Founded in 1948, Bath’s festival brings classical music, jazz, folk and music from around the world into the city’s cultural life.

Cambridge Folk Festival: six decades of music and change

Founded in 1965, Cambridge’s folk festival brought traditional performers, new voices and a broad idea of folk music to Cherry Hinton Hall.

Great British Beer Festival

CAMRA’s festival brings British cask beer, cider and perry together with awards, entertainment and a history of changing venues.

Harrogate International Festivals: six decades of arts in Yorkshire

Founded in 1966, the Harrogate organisation has grown from a music-led festival into a year-round programme spanning literature, crime writing and community arts.

Jorvik Viking Festival: York’s Norse past brought to life

York’s annual festival combines Viking-themed re-enactments, talks and family activities with a public celebration of the city’s Norse heritage.

Leeds Festival

Annual music festival held in Leeds, featuring popular rock, indie, and alternative music artists.

Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebration in Stratford-upon-Avon

A parade, performances and creative workshops bring William Shakespeare’s Stratford connections into focus each April.

St. Patrick's Day Festival

Celebration of Irish culture and heritage, with parades, music, and dance in various UK cities, notably London and Birmingham.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed: racing through time

Founded in 1993, Goodwood’s hill-climb festival brings historic machines and modern motor sport together at the West Sussex estate.

The London International Mime Festival

Founded in 1977, the festival brings mime and a wider range of visual performance to London.

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Prestigious flower show held by the Royal Horticultural Society in Chelsea, London, featuring innovative garden designs and floral displays.

The Three Choirs Festival

Oldest non-competitive classical music festival in the world, rotating between the cathedrals of Gloucester, Hereford, and Worcester.

Up Helly Aa

Annual Viking fire festival held in Lerwick, Shetland, featuring a torch-lit procession and the burning of a Viking longship.

Whitby Goth Weekend

A twice-yearly gathering brings Gothic music, style and market stalls to the North Yorkshire coast.

Womad Festival

World music, arts, and dance festival held annually in various locations, including Charlton Park in Wiltshire.

Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival

Annual festival in Skipton celebrating local food and drink, with cooking demonstrations, tastings, and live music.

Cambridge Science Festival

Annual festival in Cambridge featuring talks, exhibitions, and hands-on activities showcasing scientific research and innovation.

Cheltenham Jazz Festival: music in the heart of Gloucestershire

Since its launch in 1996, Cheltenham’s annual jazz festival has brought international artists, UK talent and audiences together in the town.

Edinburgh Hogmanay

One of the world's most famous New Year celebrations, featuring concerts, street parties, and fireworks in Edinburgh.

Glastonbury Abbey Medieval Fayre

Annual medieval-themed festival held at Glastonbury Abbey, featuring re-enactments, crafts, and entertainment.

Harrogate Spring Flower Show

Since 1924, Harrogate’s spring show has brought garden displays, floral art and practical gardening together.

London Craft Week

Annual event celebrating exceptional craftsmanship with exhibitions, workshops, and demonstrations across London.

London International Animation Festival

Founded in 2004, London’s dedicated animation festival brings international films and British creative work into a shared programme.

Manchester Pride: celebration, visibility and community

An annual festival rooted in Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community, bringing a parade and a varied programme of events to the city.

Oxford Literary Festival: writers and ideas across the city

An annual festival rooted in Oxford brings authors, readers and public debate into the city’s bookshops, libraries, theatre and colleges.