Great Summer Destinations and Festival near London

With the summer finally here, there has never been a better time to take advantage of the great places to visit around the country. Fascinating destinations are making the most of the summer by holding spectacular events programmes that any visitor could be a part of. 

The ancient city of Bath was given World Heritage Status in 1987. This destination gives you a unique glimpse and opportunity to fully explore this Roman gem of a city. Start off by visiting the ancient Roman Baths and the Pump Room, where the Romans bathed in its warm natural spring waters, reputed to have magical qualities.

Unsurprisingly, Bath also has a jam-packed summer events calendar. The Bath Folk Festival kicks off from the 13-19 August, and you can attend a live gig or learn to play an instrument at various workshops.  On 1st September, Ladies Day, the pinnacle of Baths annual calendar takes place at Bath Racecourse. Those who attend this celebration dress to impress, this being a day for posh frocks and hats.

Literature fans may be intrigued by the Jane Austen Festival (14-22 September), comprising a series of events to celebrate the life and work of this renowned author. The Bath Festival of Children’s Literature (28th September to 7th October) is fun for all the family, showcasing authors, illustrators, storytellers and poets. So why not book tickets from London to Bath now, and make the most of what Bath has to offer?

You could also stay closer to London and make a quick trip to Winchester. The first and foremost site in the ancient English capital city is Winchester Cathedral. Here lies beautifully illustrated Winchester Bible, 12^th century wall paintings, medieval carvings and the final resting place of Jane Austen. All this is housed within the architectural wonder of the cathedral. Summer events also abound in Winchester.

The Boomtown Fair (9-12 August) is a family oriented festival, with live shows in a variety of venues based on an entire mock city. Younger visitors will enjoy the Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine event (18-27 August) based at the Watercress Train Line. The Autumn Steam Spectacular (7-9 September) also takes place at the Watercress Train Line.

Poole, with its miles of golden sandy beaches and clean clear waters combined with a host of attractions, make it an irresistible place to visit. Furthermore, advance purchase fares are available on this route, so you can save those pennies.

The rich history of the ancient port town of Poole is displayed in Poole Museum, consisting of four floors of galleries housed in a 19th century quayside warehouse. New features following a redevelopment in 2007 consist of a striking new entrance and atrium, and a visitor lounge and terrace with magnificent views over Poole Harbour and the Old Town. Importantly, entry to Poole Museum is free and it is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities.

Of course, students leaving London to travel home can also take advantage of trains travelling to all of the above plus many more destinations. Explore the website and book now! 

This is a guest post by Suzzane Edwards, a travel blogger who writes for South West Trains. A major train operator in South and South England with train trips from London to Bath

New York International Fringe Festival and Harlem Week

A trip to New York can be the trip of a lifetime, but as well as the famous landmarks there are real pieces of culture and community to see.

For many people a visit to the big apple can be a lifetime ambition, we’re bombarded with images of the most famous city in the world from childhood.

New York City features in movies, music videos and some of the most iconic art in the world. Seeing the skyline line and walking the streets can turn a holiday into the trip of a lifetime.

There is more to do in the city that never sleeps than you could get through in a lifetime, never mind a week. As one New Yorker put it, he could do a new thing in his city every day until he died and he still wouldn’t get close to seeing it all. Of course there are the mandatory tourist sites that first time visitors have to see, no trip would be complete without heading up the Empire State Building, taking the ferry out to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island or staring in awe at the bright lights of Times Square.

If you plan a summer break take time to catch a New York Yankees game, or if you’re there in winter stop by Madison Square Garden to watch the New York Rangers ice hockey team.

No trip in August would be complete without taking in one of the shows at the New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC). It is the largest arts festival in North America, lasting 16 days and attracting over 200 companies from around the world. There are over 1,200 performances and 200 shows hosted by more than 20 venues. Now in its 16th year, FringeNYC takes place from August 10 to 26, so although it may seem a bit last minute, there are still lots of deals on New York package holidays up for grabs. The festival attracts a staggering 75,000 audience members and 5,000 artists but you can also register to be a volunteer and as a bonus you get to see the shows for free.

As there are only two full time members of staff it takes 2,000 volunteers to make FringeNYC happen. There are a variety of volunteer options available, but for every two-hour shift you work, you get to see a show for free. The positions available are concierge, box office and general volunteer so there’s bound to be something to suit you. One of the most amazing things about New York is the different boroughs in the city, although they all offer great hotels so before you decide where you want to stay why not check out the last minute New York hotel deals.

One fantastic borough is Harlem; the area even has its own week dedicated to it. Harlem Week began in 1975 as Harlem Day, a tribute to the history of the area and the community there. Despite what the name suggests, Harlem Week is spread over July and August with around 122 events taking place to celebrate the culture of the borough and the successes of Urban America. With everything from children’s festivals, live music on the streets and senior citizens lunches, Harlem Week is as diverse as the people it celebrates.