August’s warm and sunny weather and array of festivals and events means you have plenty of options for things to see and do
Bristol
Bristol in southwest England is a city that simply erupts with life in the Summer. The city’s annual Balloon Fiesta provides days of fun as the city’s sky is filled with more than 130 hot-air balloons, creating a kaleidoscope of colour over the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Usually there are also, on the ground at Ashton Court Estate, fairground attractions and stalls offering local produce and crafts.
This year the Fiesta, usually a four-day affair, will take the form of a ‘Fiesta Fortnight’ with flypasts and ballooning spectaculars over the city. It still promises to be a magical time to visit this southwest hub of creativity and culture.
Minack Theatre, Cornwall
The Minack Theatre, situated four miles from Land’s End, Cornwall, is beautifully perched on the very edge of a cliff face. The theatre was originally opened in 1932 in order for locals to perform their favourite Shakespeare plays. Some of the plays performed are still by Shakespeare and his contemporaries.
During your visit, don’t miss out on a wander through the theatre’s gardens, which wrap around the theatre, dotted with plants that rarely grow in a climate as mild as Britain’s.
Edinburgh
The legendary, arts-focused Edinburgh International Festival (7-25 August) and its sibling, the Edinburgh Fringe (6-30 August), creates a month-long buzz in Scotland’s capital. World-famous acts as well as emerging talent put on over 50,000 opera, theatre, dance, music and comedy performances to make Edinburgh the summer destination city in Britain.
In 2021 the EIF has reimagined itself with bespoke outdoor venues and a parallel digital programme for audiences who cannot travel. The Fringe are likewise preparing for both in-person and online events this summer.
Dorset
Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is simply beautiful at this time of year. Stroll through the historic seaside town of Lyme Regis, splash in the sea at Chesil Beach or Lulworth Cove, or take in the views from ancient Abbotsbury.
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