Summer is at our fingertips, and many of us will be looking for ways to enjoy the brighter, warmer days this June.
Luckily, there’s plenty going on this month and, with schools not yet out for summer, things should be a bit quieter too.
So, to get you inspired, here are 10 things to do and places to visit in the UK in June.
1. Enjoy great food and entertainment at the Taste of London Festival, London
12th – 16th June, 2024
Taste of London Festival is a highly popular five-day food and drink festival held every summer in the heart of Regent’s Park. And, this year, the festival is celebrating its 20th year.
Gathering a collection of London’s greatest restaurants, future food heroes, and chefs ready to launch their next big thing, the festival attracts around 55,000 visitors each year.
Several new restaurants have been added to the line up this year too, so even if you’ve been before, you can expect to taste some new flavours! There are also various bars, cooking classes, tasting sessions, artisan producer markets, and a programme of live entertainment to enjoy.
So, if you’re always struggling to decide which restaurant to go to, looking for a fun day out, or simply want to indulge in great food, Taste of London is one for your diary this June.
2. Learn something new at Jane Austen Regency Week, Hampshire
21st – 30th June, 2024
Jane Austen Regency Week is a 10-day annual festival held in Alton and Chawton, Hampshire.
It’s a celebration of the internationally-acclaimed writer and the interesting period of history she lived in. The festival is run by volunteers and participating organisations who are keen to encourage people to explore their cultural heritage.
Enjoy an exciting programme of events including walks, tours, talks, dancing workshops, and tours of Chawton House gardens – where Jane lived and wrote her novels. This year, the festival has an extra day, which includes the Regency Week Reception on Friday 21st June.
Then, of course, there’s the annual Regency Day taking place on 22nd June. Expect market stalls, musical entertainment, horse and carriage rides, soldier reenactors, and much more. Guests are encouraged to join in the fun and don their best Regency costumes!
Other literary-themed events taking place this June include the Broadstairs Dickens Festival in Kent.
This three-day festival will run from 14th-16th June and celebrates everything Charles Dickens. Expect a Dickens-themed beach party, a Barry Wootton and Friends Exhibition, and this year’s festival play, Oliver Twist.
There’s also ‘Dickens in Moving Pictures’ taking place at Broadstairs’ Palace Cinema, which documents a variety of films inspired by the author’s work.
Find out more on the Broadstairs Dickens Festival website.
3. Learn something new at the York Festival of Ideas, York
1st – 14th June, 2024
If you’re in the mood to learn something new this June, you might like to visit the York Festival of Ideas.
This award-winning festival hosts over 200 in-person and online events (most free) featuring world-class speakers, exhibitions, and performances designed to educate, entertain, and inspire.
This year’s theme is ‘The Power Of’, and topics range from history, art, and archaeology to psychology, health, and politics. Throughout the festival, there’ll also be several themed events discussing some of today’s most pressing issues.
You can download a full festival programme or find out more on the York Festival of Ideas website.
4. Head to Tweedlove Bike Festival, Peeblesshire
14th – 16th June, 2024
If you’re a keen cyclist, you won’t want to miss visiting Scotland’s Tweedlove Bike Festival. Every year, the festival welcomes thousands of bike fans to the Tweed Valley in Peeblesshire for a weekend of riding, racing, and good times.
Events include Tweedlove Bike Demo, where you can try some of the best new bikes on the planet; and Bike Expo, where you’ll find bike clothing, art, and gear of every description from all the big brands. There’ll be fantastic street food, drink, and live entertainment too. Even better, entry to the festival is completely free.
Check out the full festival lineup on the Tweedlove Bike Festival website.
5. Watch the Trooping the Colour, London
15th June, 2024
If you’re looking for a traditional activity to enjoy this month, you might want to check out the Trooping of the Colour.
The Trooping of the Colour, or The King’s Birthday Parade, is a military parade and march which celebrates the official birthday of the British monarch. In 2024, it’s taking place on Saturday 15th June and will be His Majesty King Charles III’s second Trooping of the Colour as Sovereign.
The Trooping of the Colour ceremony is believed to have been first performed during the reign of King Charles II (1660-1685). Though, it wasn’t until 1748 that it was decided the parade should mark the official birthday of the sovereign. It became an annual event after George III’s ascension to the throne in 1760.
This year’s parade will include over 1200 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians marching from Buckingham Palace, down The Mall, and along Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall. Members of the Royal Family will ride alongside on horseback and in carriages, and the display will close with an RAF fly-past.
Tickets to watch from the Horse Guards Palace are sold out, but you can still get a limited view standing on The Mall or the edge of St. James’ Park overlooking the Horse Guards Parade from 9am. The event will also be broadcast live on the BBC.
6. Enjoy live music at Belsonic, Belfast
7th June – 29th June, 2024
Belsonic is a huge outdoor music festival held annually in Ormeau Park, Belfast. As a UNESCO City of Music, Belfast proudly hosts various music festivals – and Belsonic is one of its most-loved.
This year’s lineup includes Sting, Becky Hill, Take That, Shania Twain, and Belters Only. Belsonic is made up of several different concerts and invites a variety of world-class acts.
Since its humble beginnings in 2008, Belsonic continues to be a roaring success – so why not join in the fun this year?
7. Explore some of the UK’s most beautiful private gardens, UK-wide
As the weather warms up and the colours of summer appear, there’s nothing more idyllic than strolling through beautiful gardens.
And, luckily, the National Garden Scheme allows you to access over 3,500 exceptional private gardens across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands. Even better, it’s all to raise money for nursing and health charities.
Whether you’re after a peaceful day out, seeking garden inspiration for your own home, or feel like exploring somewhere new, there’s a treasure trove of beautiful gardens to browse. Included are everything from town and cottage gardens to historic, family, and dog-friendly gardens.
The beauty of the scheme is that all open gardens are different, so you’ll never know what you’ll discover next. To find open gardens near you, use this interactive map on the National Open Garden Scheme website.
If you’re unable to visit an open garden in person, there are also over 190 gardens that can be explored virtually on the National Open Garden Scheme website.
8. Mark the beginning of summer at Stonehenge Solstice Fest, Wiltshire
18th – 22nd June, 2024
One of the best things about summer is the longer days and lighter evenings. And summer solstice (the longest day of the year) marks the beginning of the new season.
This year, the summer solstice falls on Thursday, 20th June and Stonehenge Solstice Fest in Wiltshire is an ideal way to get involved.
As you set up camp among the breathtaking landscape of Stonehenge, expect fantastic live folk music from the likes of James J Turner, River Roots, Roving Crows, Eyes Alchemist, and many more. There’ll also be craft workshops, holistic yoga, foraging events, delicious food and drink – and plenty of time to wind down, relax, and enjoy nature in between.
This year’s festival also includes a whole extra day for no added charge! To find out more, head over to the Solstice Fest website.
9. Enjoy a day out at The Royal Cheshire County Show, Cheshire
18th – 19th June, 2024
Now in its 186th year, The Royal Cheshire County Show is a feel-good celebration of Cheshire’s countryside, agriculture, artisan food, and family fun.
This year’s attractions include the ever-popular Horse Show, the Sheep Show, and the Food Live Theatre featuring eight celebrity chefs including Jean-Christophe Novelli and Shelina Permalloo. There’ll also be over 3,000 wonderful animals to meet and interact with.
In the Food Village and Makers Market, you can shop and sample tasty artisan food – and on the first day, there’ll be a live evening performance from boyband, Boyzlife, too.
10. Delve into research at Glasgow Science Festival, Glasgow
6th – 16th June, 2024
To learn more about the research that’s shaping our lives, cities, and futures, Glasgow Science Festival might be the event for you.
Now in its 18th year, Glasgow Science Festival has grown to be one of the UK’s largest festivals, with a jam-packed programme of over 150 events hosted in more than 40 venues across the city, suitable for all ages.
Programme highlights include a space-themed outdoor cinema, a health and wellbeing escape room, a science circus cabaret, a special pub quiz, and a chance to pilot underwater drones. Most events are free and you can download a full programme on the Glasgow Science Festival website.
If you’re unable to make the festival in person, you can also join talks, activities, and experiments online via Science on the Sofa.
Final thoughts…
Many of us will be excited by the arrival of summer. And no matter your interests, there’s plenty going on this June to make the most of this new season.
For further reading, head over to the art and culture of travel sections of our website. Here, you’ll find everything from fun days out in the UK to staycation ideas.
What are your plans for June this year? Have any of the ideas on our list sparked your interest? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.