No two journeys on the Great West Way are the same – especially if you time your adventure to coincide with one of the Way’s greatest events. From world-renowned sporting fixtures and vibrant carnivals to local beer festivals and country shows, there’s always something going on. Join the party at one of these top events.
Easter
Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race
Annual canoe marathon that sees competitors paddle from Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster in London, a distance of some 125 miles. See them off at Devizes Wharf.
Howard’s Day at Castle Combe
Easter Monday is the traditional start to the motor racing season at Castle Combe circuit and is marked by this popular race day.
May
The Bath Festival
Having recently celebrated its 70th birthday, this 17-day festival celebrates music and literature, bringing prominent writers, musicians and cultural figures to the city.
Highclere Country Show
The estate better known as Downton Abbey, Highclere hosts one of England’s best country shows, with falconry, gundog displays and the chance to have a go at clay shooting.
Swindon Festival of Literature
This fortnight-long literary festival has been running since the 1990s. Expect readings and talks from top writers, poets and storytellers.
June
Royal Ascot
Arguably England’s most famous – and grandest – horse racing event, with four days of races each kicked off by a royal carriage parade. This is your chance to wave at the Queen.
Reading Waterfest
A boat parade along the Kennet & Avon Canal and events among the Abbey ruins including Civil War and archery demonstrations, music and dance performances.
July
Bath Carnival
Bath’s biggest party features a procession of more than 1,000 dancers and musicians through the city plus plenty of world music on the sound systems and at Party in the Park in Sydney Gardens.
Bristol Harbour Festival
Bristol’s largest annual event fills the harbour from SS Great Britain to the city centre with tall ships, music stages, dance areas and food markets. Expect water displays and circus acts too.
Bristol Shakespeare Festival
Throughout July each year Bristol celebrates the national Bard with a fresh line-up of contemporary performances of Shakespeare’s work, often in unusual spaces.
Devizes Beer Festival
Long-running local beer festival at Devizes Wharf with 100-odd beers to try, some from the Wadworth brewery just along the canal. Local music too.
Henley Royal Regatta
Established in 1839, this annual regatta attracts rowing crews from around the world to its five days of head to head knockout competitions and is regarded as an integral part of the English social season.
South Cotswold Beer and Music Festival
Chipping Sodbury hosts this annual beer-based shindig, where more than 80 real ales and craft beers can be sampled. Running over two days, it also features a line-up of live music.
Kew the Music
Kew Gardens hosts six nights of laidback picnic concerts, from big names in every genre of music from pop and rock to classical and jazz.
Upfest
Europe’s largest street art and graffiti festival brings together talented artists both local and international to paint live in locations around Bedminster and Southville in Bristol. There’s affordable art for sale too.
WOMAD
Global fiesta of music, dance, art and food that started in Charlton Park, Wiltshire and has since taken the party to more than 27 countries worldwide including Australia, Chile and Spain.
August
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Europe’s largest annual meeting of hot air balloons brings colour to the sky above Bristol with twice-daily mass balloon launches and the chance to take a ride yourself.
Devizes Carnival Confetti Battle
Nobody knows why it started, but Devizes Carnival’s Confetti Battle is surely the most fun you can have with torn up bits of coloured paper. Get stuck in to the battle in the marketplace and stay for the fireworks.
Highclere Castle Battle Proms Concert
This open-air picnic concert features air displays by WWII Spitfire planes and the Red Devils parachute team, live cannon fire and a lot of flag waving to rousing British classical anthems such as Land of Hope and Glory.
Reading Festival
One of England’s biggest and best-loved music festivals, featuring big-name acts from around the world – think Kings of Leon and Wolf Alice.
September
Jane Austen Festival
Get your top hats, bonnets and lace out for this 10-day celebration of all things Austen. Highlights include a costumed Promenade through the city, and the Regency Costumed Masked Ball, with dancing in the Pump Rooms of the Roman Baths.
Heritage Open Days
This national event sees normally hidden and closed places throw their doors open to the public over two weekends. Highlights along the Great West Way include Reading Synagogue, Sevington Victorian School in Wiltshire and the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust in Bristol.
October
Henley Literary Festival and Children’s Literary Festival
This highly-regarded literary festival (and accompanying children’s literary festival) attracts some of the biggest and brightest names in books, such as Sir Michael Morpurgo and Jodi Picoult.
Legoland Fireworks Spectacular
Make your visit to Legoland even more spectacular by timing it to coincide with the annual fireworks spectacular, part of the theme park’s spooky Halloween season.
November
Bonfire Night
The Saturday closest to November 5th sees towns along the Great West Way celebrating the failure by Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London in 1605. This uniquely British event usually involves a huge bonfire, where effigies of Guy Fawkes are burned, as well as large fireworks displays.
Newbury Christmas Country Show
Dog shows, a circus, celebrity chefs and the chance to meet Father Christmas, this festive-themed country show at Newbury Showground has something for everyone.
Longleat Festival of Light
On selected dates between Novemeber and January, The Festival or Light takes you on an adventure of marvelous scenes packed with impressive creatures, outstanding scenery and beautiful structures.
December and Christmas
Bath Christmas Market
More than 200 chalets set up in Bath’s Georgian streets around the Abbey as part of this German-style Christmas market. Buy local crafts, sip mulled wine and listen to festive stories and live music.
Christmas at Kew
A show-stopping trail of festive light installations runs through Kew Gardens from late November until early January. More than a million teeny pea lights are installed along the route and there are festive treats such as spiced cider and toasted marshmallows.
Windsor On Ice
From mid-November until early January Alexandra Gardens in Windsor plays host to two ice rinks – one indoor and one outdoor. You’ll also find the UK’s biggest dodgems and plenty of other fairground rides, plus the chance to visit Father Christmas.
To find out about more festivals and events along the Great West Way, take a look at our Festivals and Events page under See & Do.
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