Festivals and Events

Festivals and Events

There are always lots of things to do in Britain. At any time of the year there is always a festival of some sort or another going on around the country.

Notting Hill Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival is said to be Europe's biggest street festival. Every year it attracts up to 1.5 million people to the streets of London. The Carnival's roots date back to the Abolition of Slavery Act in 1833 when the first Caribbean carnival was held in Trinidad.

Now it has everything from hip hop, house and salsa to West African drumming, costumed masquerade bands, floats, steel bands, static sound systems, and two enormous live stages.

Glastonbury Festival

In June every year, the Glastonbury Festival attracts many famous bands to the often muddy fields of Somerset in South West England. For three days around 200,000 people camp in tents and watch their favourite bands perform live. Last year Oasis, Morrissey and Paul McCartney all played at the festival.

The Edinburgh Festival

People from all over Britain go to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, on New Years' Eve to celebrate Hogmanay. About 100,000 people join the party on the streets of Edinburgh to see in the new year at midnight. Over 8 tonnes of fireworks are used to light up the sky as the new year starts.

The Grand National is Britain's biggest horse racing event and watched around the world by 600 million people. 40 horses compete in this long race over water jumps and hurdles.