UK Events

Live Your Life Newsletter - August 2005
Travel & Hostel Newsletter for Backpackers

Newsletters: August 2005 | All Archives

Wicked Events in the UK this August

With the summer sun shining and everyone out for some fun we bring you this month’s events for the month of August. From toad festivals, strange music festivals, beard and moustache growing contests, and the world’s biggest food fight, August is a great month both across the UK and abroad.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Jazz Festival: 29 July- August 7th

Every year, the Edinburgh Jazz Festival presents a diverse musical celebration that brings together a wide variety of top quality performers in venues all over the city, and is the longest-running jazz festival in the country.

Isle of Skye Highland Games, Portree: 2-3 August

Inaugurated in 1877, the Isle of Skye Highland gathering has taken place each year since, except during the two World Wars. The Lump provides a natural amphitheatre for the activities and the nearby Gathering Hall is the venue for the piping competition, while the island itself is circumnavigated in the annual sailing competition.

T on the Fringe: August 3- 31

This year’s Music showcase includes the Prodigy opening at the Corn Exchange (5 August), followed by The Alabama 3 (9 August), The Zutons (22 August), Weezer (26 August), Basement Jaxx (28 August) and Razorlight (29 August). Meadowbank Stadium hosts a triple-whammy of Pixies, Idlewild and Teenage Fanclub (30 August), while Franz Ferdinand play Princes Street Gardens for two nights (30 & 31 August).

Edinburgh Military Tattoo: 5-27 August

Against the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, Scotland's top tourist attraction, over 800 performers and 30 horses fill the city with the beat of marching bands, thrilling military re-enactments and daredevil stunts, as well as the haunting refrain of the last post and the lone piper. The Edinburgh Tattoo has been a must since its first outing in 1950.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival: 7-29 August

While the official Edinburgh International Festival concentrates on what some like to call "the high arts," the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival is more eclectic, developing out of a spontaneous, grass-roots response to the international high-flyers up the road. A major breakthrough in 2003 saw for the first time sales of over one million tickets, and the eclectic jamboree offers something in the region of 1500 separate productions, populating every square inch of the city.

Edinburgh International Book Festival: 13-29 August

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is one of the biggest literary festivals in the English-speaking world. Some 550 writers come to Charlotte Square Gardens each year to appear in 650 events in just 17 days! They read from and discuss their work, while book tents sell all the latest titles and there are also lectures, panel discussions and comedy.

World Pipe Band Championships, Glasgow: 13 August

The world's biggest bagpipe event is held in the centre of Glasgow, bringing together traditional pipe bands from around the world. Drummers and dancers also compete.

Edinburgh International Festival: 14 August – 4 September

One of the world's great arts festivals, the Edinburgh International Festival fills the Scottish capital with the finest classical music, opera, theatre and dance for three weeks at the end of every summer.

Edinburgh International Film Festival:17-28 August

The Edinburgh International Film Festival is the world's oldest continually running film festival. It started in 1947 alongside the Edinburgh International Festival and the spontaneous start of the Edinburgh Fringe, and 2004 sees the 58th festival. Now based at the Edinburgh Filmhouse, it features a very wide range of international premières, retrospectives and more, as one of the leading film festivals in the UK.

Newquay

The Surf Capital of the UK shines as bright as the sun on it’s beaches in the month of August.

Nokia Unleashed Music Festival: 5-6 August

The Nokia Unleashed Music Festival takes place in Newquay's Watergate Bay alongside the annual Ripcurl Boardmasters championships.

Rip Curl Newquay Boardmasters: 1-7 August

The Rip Curl Boardmasters returns to Fistral Beach in Newquay this summer for another week of surf, skate and non-stop partying.

The SAS/Rip Curl Cornish and Open Surf Contest: 12-14 August

The Cornish Open Surf Contest still maintains the grass roots essence that has been the key to the success of the Surfers Against Sewage campaign. Competitors and spectators alike laze on Porthtowan Beach in the Cornish sunshine whilst enjoying some world class action.

Brighton

Enjoy the sun and fun in Brighton with a quick stay at St. Christopher’s at the Palace. Have you ever fancied learning how to sail, windsurf or drive a powerboat? Now you can, at Hove Lagoon in Brighton, where friendly, professional instructors offer short or long courses. Kids can enjoy fun-packed Activity Weeks during the summer or half-term to learn windsurfing, sailing, land and team sports and games.

Bath

This month take a short break down to Bath and catch some great music, great deals and learn a bit more about the world’s most popular instrument, the guitar.

International Guitar Festival: 1-27 August

Bath's International Guitar Festival presents a programme of classical and contemporary classes, rhythm and creative technology courses, featuring a string of the best guitarists in the world.

London

London is at its best in the summer months, whether you spend you time lying in a park, catching a festival or relaxing at any of the Belushi’s bars across the great city.

Activ8: 3 August

DJs, break-dancing workshops and extreme sports are just some of the many exciting activities on offer at Activ8 in Hyde Park. This major free festival, organised by the Mayor of London, includes five zones for young Londoners.

The Great British Beer Festival: 2-6 August

The Great British Beer Festival is back, at London's Olympia Grand and National Halls. Anyone attending this legendary event will no doubt find themselves encountering scores of Hooray Henrys, the odd White Bishop, and probably someone raving on about the Hobson's Choice from Cambridge. Don't be surprised if your fate is sealed by the Umpire's Finger.

Notting Hill Carnival: 28-29 August

Over half a million people take to the streets of Notting Hill in West London to celebrate the Notting Hill Carnival - Europe's largest street festival. Fabulous floats make a colourful circuit of the area and mighty sound systems blast out music throughout the day.

The Playstation Experience: 28-31 August

Following the success of last year's event, Sony Computer Entertainment UK has created an even more exciting line up for the second PlayStation Experience at Earls Court Exhibition Centre.

Carnaval del Pueblo - The Parade: 7 August

A massive Latin American Parade past our hostels at London Bridge – 80 000 people expected. Get down here because it’s going to be awesome!