Summer has arrived and that can only mean one thing: a season of exciting festivals and events. From the prestigious Proms to jubilant Pride parades, arty extravaganzas to festivals for the green fingered, there really is something for everyone. Here are the best events in Great Britain this summer.

One of the oldest and largest regattas in the world, Cowes Week was first held in 1826 with just seven yachts. Now, every August sees as many as 1,000 boats take to the Solent to compete across dozens of racing classes. The regatta brings a real party atmosphere to the town – as well as a boat load of royals and celebs. The week is packed full of events and entertainment, including a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the last Friday evening.

As the unofficial LGBTQ+ capital of Britain, Brighton is the place to celebrate Pride. Held in the first week of August, Brighton & Hove Pride 2023 will see the Black Eyed Peas, Steps and Zara Larrson take to the stage for music festival Fabuloso in the Park while the Village Party rages over the seafront Kemptown district and over 300,000 participants and spectators throng the city streets for the jubilant Community Parade.

The eight-week Prom season at the Royal Albert Hall runs from mid July to early September, concluding with the over-the-top, uproarious Last Night of the Proms. Though famous as a festival of classical and orchestral music, this season offers a huge variety of styles and performers, including a celebration of an Indian Bollywood Legend, a chilled out Mindful Mix and even the sounds of underground British club phenomenon Northern Soul. Best of all? Promming (standing) tickets cost just £8!

The August Bank Holiday weekend sees Europe’s largest street carnival take over the area around Notting Hill, Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park in a celebration of Caribbean culture. The centrepiece is a parade of flamboyant floats accompanied by steel bands, costumed dancers and mobile sound systems. Along the route are bars, large screens, stages and food stalls.

Beautiful blooms and immaculately designed gardens are on show at Hampton Court Palace in July when the Royal Horticultural Society hosts the world’s largest flower show. There’s a football-pitch sized marquee packed with dazzling floral displays, an inspiring programme of talks, demonstrations and workshops, as well as an array of food and drink stalls.

August sees the skies above Bristol filled with hundreds of hot-air balloons for the four-day Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. It’s worth waking up early and grabbing a coffee and a bacon butty to watch the morning hot air balloons lifting from 6am, but if you’re not a lark you can catch the gorgeous evening ascents soundtracked by BBC Radio Bristol. There are plenty of activities throughout the day too, including children's entertainment and live music.

Every year, some 4,000 competitors and 35,000 spectators from more than 50 countries descend on Llangollen in north Wales to celebrate the International Eisteddfod. One of Europe’s largest multicultural musical events sees an eclectic mix of performances run for a week in July – including African dance troupes, women’s choral groups from Eastern Europe and traditional Welsh male-voice choirs.

Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, is a much-loved open-air museum in the Durham countryside that immerses visitors in life “way back when.” Its recreated homes, shops, schoolhouse and farm buildings provide a fascinating insight into the region’s past from the Georgian era to the 1950s. The Summer of Fun programme adds even more activities than usual to the museum’s calendar to keep families occupied during the summer holidays.

Edinburgh overflows with performers from around the world for three weeks in August, during the world-famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe. You never know what to expect from this larger than life event: acts range from top-billing comedians and musicians to upcoming artists desperate for their big break, while performances can take place in clubs, church halls and even on the city streets.

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