Festivals and Events along the Great West Way

All year round, the Great West Way hosts a range of top festivals and events between Bristol and London. From Christmas light trails like Windsor Great Park Illuminated and Longleat Festival of Light, to unique outdoor events such as Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta in the summer. Whether you are starting your journey in London and want to know what’s on along the Thames, or settling in the county of Wiltshire and looking for something to do for the whole family, the Great West Way is known for its diverse calendar of events.

Seasonal Celebrations on the Great West Way

With the festivities starting from November into the New Year, Christmas on the Great West Way is always an exciting time to visit. Expect twinkling festive markets between Bristol and London, like the well-known Bath Christmas Market, with its magical Regency backdrop providing the perfect setting for a mulled wine and mince pie!

Head to the centre of the Great West Way route, into the county of Wiltshire, where you can enjoy a range of seasonal celebrations including pantomime shows, small village light switch ons and spectacular festive light trails.

Longleat Festival of Light

Each year, Longleat puts on a show with their iconic festive lantern trail, the UK’s original, biggest and most exciting lantern festival! This year, the Festival of Light celebrates the Christmas season with a new theme, ‘British Icons’. Meet fan-favourite characters from Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run, Wallace & Gromit and more while you journey to some of the UK’s most famous landmarks, marvel at native wildlife and sights - all spectacularly reimagined in lantern form.

Food & Drink Festivals between Bristol and London

The soft sunshine of British spring and summer calls for a range of exciting Food and Drink festivals and events on the Great West Way. Head to the far western side of the route, to the vibrant city of Bristol, for Bristol’s Craft Beer Festival, taking place at the beginning of summer each year. The perfect way to delve into local brewing culture in Bristol and beyond.

Or a short drive from Bristol is the World Heritage City of Bath, where you can experience the biggest celebration of top chefs, tasty food and delicious food at their Foodies Festival. Taking place at the end of August at Royal Victoria Park, here you can watch MasterChef Champions, Michelin-starred and top chefs cooking their signature summer recipes!

Outdoor and Cultural Events around Bristol and London

Great West Way is home to stunning countryside and bustling towns and cities, making it the perfect place to experience a range of top outdoor and cultural events each year! Be sure to plan your journey to Bath around the city’s iconic Jane Austen Festival in September, the largest and longest running festival of its kind! A much anticipated highlight of the event is the Grand Regency Costumed Promenade. Here, you can walk alongside 500 Jane Austen fans in Regency dress as you stroll past Bath’s famous landmarks including Holburne Museum and Pulteney Bridge.

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Europe’s biggest hot air balloon event takes place along the Great West Way at Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta! This spectacular free event features over 100 hot air balloons taking off at dawn and dusk over the skies of Bristol. Be sure not to miss the famous Night Glows, when the balloons light up the sky to a soundtrack provided by BBC Radio Bristol. Throughout the day, visitors can expect entertainment for all the family, including aerial displays, children's activities, fairground rides, food stalls and more.

Plan your Visit along the Great West Way

Plan your next visit along the Great West Way this season and make the most of a range of exciting festivals and events throughout the year. For events just around the corner, take a look at What’s On this Week and What’s On this Weekend for some fun last-minute plans.