What&#x27;s on

Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1JHFree entry, no booking

Until 27 Sept · Colchester

Tim Noble & Sue Webster: Love and Hate — Last Weeks

Free, glowing neon-sign sculptures fill Colchester's contemporary art gallery — catch this long-running show before it finally closes.

Walker Art Gallery, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8ELFree admission

Until 17 Oct · Liverpool

Vivienne Westwood: Designer in Focus

Rare pieces from Vivienne Westwood's five-decade career, including her early work with Malcolm McLaren, free to see at the Walker.

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DHFree entry, no booking required

Until 27 Sept · Birmingham

Ozzy Osbourne (1948–2025): Working Class Hero

Ozzy's Grammys, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honours and gold discs, free at Birmingham's own museum — extended repeatedly, closing for good soon.

The Gallery, Sir Duncan Rice Library, University of Aberdeen, Bedford Road, Aberdeen AB24 3AAFree

Until 6 Dec · Aberdeen

Aberdeen Artworlds: The Linklater Collection

A free exhibition marking 50 years of the Linklater Collection, with Scottish Colourists, Joan Eardley and Anne Redpath on show.

The Whitworth, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ERFree

Until 15 Nov · Manchester

Beneath the Great Wave: Hokusai and Hiroshige

The Whitworth's first Japanese print exhibition in over a century, built around Hokusai's Great Wave — free entry.

Great North Museum: Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4PTFree entry

Until 20 Sept · Newcastle

Treasure: Hidden, Lost, Found

A free family exhibition of hoards, relics and buried finds at Newcastle's much-loved natural history and archaeology museum.

Whitworth Art Gallery, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ERFree entry

Until 18 Oct · Manchester

Michaela Yearwood-Dan: The Practice of Liberation

A major free UK debut installation of painting, ceramics and sound at Manchester's much-loved university gallery.

Craft & making

Until 4 Oct · Derby

Field to Fashion at the Museum of Making

British wool from fleece to finished garment, staged inside the world's first factory.

Museum of Making, Derby Silk Mill, Silk Mill Lane, Derby DE1 3AFFree entry (donations welcome)

Towner Eastbourne, Devonshire Park, College Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ£5.50–£11 (under-25s free; pay-what-you-can first Friday of the month; Towner members free)

Until 18 Oct · Eastbourne

Comrades in Art: Artists Against Fascism

The definitive show on Britain's 1930s anti-fascist artists' movement, uniting eleven founding members' work with Nash, Knight and Pissarro.

Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia, Earlham Road, Norwich, NR4 7TJPay if and what you want

Until 4 Oct · Norwich

Living by the Rule: Contemporary Meets Medieval

An exhibition pairing contemporary artists with medieval monastic art and objects, exploring rules, ritual and rebellion.

National Museum Cardiff, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NPFree entry

Until 4 Apr · Cardiff

Ffasiwn at National Museum Cardiff

A decade of "anti-fashion" portraiture from the south Wales Valleys, told by the young people who lived it.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU£9 adult / £4.50 concessions, free under-21s; pay-what-you-can Sun 6 & 20 Sept

Until 4 Oct · Wolverhampton

Andy Warhol: Art Star

A major Tate/National Galleries Scotland partnership show of screenprints, paintings and photographs spanning Warhol's whole career.

Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TJ£14 (Art Fund members £7.25; under-18s, students & Gallery Friends free)

Until 1 Nov · Chichester

British Landscapes: A Sense of Place

Sixty-plus artists' takes on Britain's coasts and countryside, from 18th-century idylls to unsettled modern views, in a Georgian townhouse gallery.

Grosvenor Museum, 27 Grosvenor Street, Chester, CH1 2DDFree entry, donations welcome

Until 27 Sept · Chester

Earth Stories: Plwm/Lead at Grosvenor Museum

A free exhibition turning lead mining and stone extraction on Halkyn Mountain into quietly powerful 2D and 3D work.

Derby Museum and Art Gallery, The Strand, Derby, DE1 1BSFree

Until 1 Nov · Derby

Wright of Derby: From the Shadows

Two of Joseph Wright's candlelight masterpieces return to his hometown for the first time in 80 years, free.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, Wakefield WF4 4LG£9.50 adult, £7 concession, free for under-18s (covers the whole park)

Until 18 Apr · Wakefield

Hold to This Earth: Contemporary Indigenous North American Art

Yorkshire Sculpture Park's first-ever group show, bringing 38 contemporary Indigenous North American artists to the Underground Gallery.

Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJPay what you want

Until 30 May · Norwich

Tree of Life — Seyi Adelekun

An immersive, hand-woven sisal-rope installation honouring trees as anchors of cultural memory, filling the Sainsbury Centre's East End Gallery.

Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth University, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3DEFree entry

Until 20 Sept · Ceredigion

Brexit Wales, 10 Years On

Four Welsh photographers and artists mark a decade since the referendum with a free, thoughtful exhibition on what actually changed.

Talbot Rice Gallery, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YLFree entry

Until 27 Sept · Edinburgh

Anne Hardy: Feelings

A major new solo show fills Talbot Rice Gallery's grand Georgian rooms with immersive photographic installation and sound, free all summer.

The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DNFree

Until 20 Sept · London

Waldmüller: Landscapes

The first UK exhibition devoted to Austrian landscapist Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, with major loans from Vienna's Belvedere — closing soon.

BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead Quays, NE8Free

Until 17 Jan · Gateshead

Chitra Ganesh & Tish Murtha at BALTIC

Two free, drop-in exhibitions on Gateshead Quayside — a Brooklyn artist's UK debut and Tish Murtha's Tyneside photography.

The Box, Tavistock Place, Plymouth, PL4 8AXFree entry (pay-what-you-can booking encouraged for priority access)

Until 4 Oct · Plymouth

Gillian Ayres: A Life in Colour

The first major retrospective of British abstract painter Gillian Ayres, bringing together 26 works spanning seven decades at Plymouth's flagship museum.

Christchurch Mansion, Soane Street, Ipswich, IP4 2BE£10 (concessions available)

Until 4 Oct · Ipswich

Constable: Walking the Landscape

A major loan exhibition of John Constable's landscapes, including The Hay Wain, marking his 250th anniversary.

Tŷ Pawb, Market Street, Wrexham, LL13 8BBFree entry

Until 31 Oct · Wrexham

Anthony Shapland: murmur

A major free solo show from Welsh artist Anthony Shapland exploring rural queerness through new film and light-and-sound work.

Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Alexandra Road, Swansea SA1 5DZFree

Until 20 Sept · Swansea

Swansea Open 2026

Glynn Vivian Art Gallery's celebrated open-submission show, spotlighting a record 400 Swansea-connected artists across every medium.

Colchester Castle, Castle Park, High Street, Colchester CO1 1TJCastle admission (adult £13.95, child £8.50) plus £1 exhibition supplement

Until 31 Oct · Colchester

Museum of the Moon at Colchester Castle

A glowing seven-metre lunar sculpture by artist Luke Jerram floats inside Britain's oldest Norman keep for its final weeks on show.

Culture

Until 22 Nov · Canterbury

The Making of Marlowe: Poet, Playwright, Provocateur

An interactive Beaney exhibition on Christopher Marlowe's short, scandal- shadowed life, built around artefacts you won't see displayed elsewhere.

The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, 18 High Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2RAFree entry (donations welcome)

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DHFree

Until 21 Feb · Birmingham

Every Thing Must Go: Joe Lycett

Comedian Joe Lycett's tongue-in-cheek debut painting exhibition turns extinct chocolate bars and lost buildings into art.

Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XXFree

Until 20 Sept · London

TONIC FLOW: A Communal Chorus in Colour and Sound

A free sound-and-colour installation on the Southbank made with young refugees and asylum seekers.

Borough Market, 8 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TLFree entry

Until 31 Dec · London

Borough Market

London's most famous food market — a working cathedral to good eating by London Bridge, open most of the week year-round.

Camden Market, Camden Lock Place, London NW1 8AFFree entry

Until 31 Dec · London

Camden Market

A sprawling canalside maze of food, vintage and independent stalls — open every day of the year.

Cardiff Market, St Mary Street, Cardiff CF10 1AUFree entry

Until 31 Dec · Cardiff

Cardiff Central Market

A grand Victorian indoor market in the middle of Cardiff, trading Monday to Saturday.

Grainger Market, Grainger Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5QGFree entry

Until 31 Dec · Newcastle

Grainger Market

A gorgeous Grade I-listed Victorian market hall in the heart of Newcastle, trading six days a week.

Kirkgate Market, 34 George Street, Leeds LS2 7HYFree entry

Until 31 Dec · Leeds

Leeds Kirkgate Market

One of the largest indoor markets in Europe, and the birthplace of Marks & Spencer — open six days a week.

St George's Market, 12-20 East Bridge Street, Belfast BT1 3NQFree entry

Until 31 Dec · Belfast

St George's Market

Belfast's beautiful covered Victorian market — food, crafts and live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

St Nicholas Market, Corn Street, Bristol BS1 1JQFree entry

Until 31 Dec · Bristol

St Nicholas Market

Bristol's best-loved market — independent traders and a famous lunchtime street-food scene, Monday to Saturday.

The Barras Market, Gallowgate, Glasgow G1 5AXFree entry

Until 31 Dec · Glasgow

The Barras

Glasgow's legendary weekend market in the East End — part flea market, part street-food yard, all character.

Museum of Gloucester, Brunswick Road, Gloucester GL1 1HPFree entry

Until 11 Oct · Gloucester

Pictures, Places & Story Spaces

A free family exhibition of art inspired by Gloucester's streets and buildings, with a cosy pop-up reading library for little ones.

Newcastle Quayside, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3DEFree entry

Until 8 Feb · Newcastle

Quayside Sunday Market

A long-running, year-round outdoor market on Newcastle's historic Quayside with independent traders selling handmade crafts, art and local produce.

Temple Newsam, Leeds LS15 0AEHouse admission £10 adult; gardens free

Until 23 Oct · Leeds

Reflections in Silver

Two new commissions of contemporary silver by Miriam Hanid and Yusuke Yamamoto, inspired by Temple Newsam's own silver collection and grounds.

The Landing, The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DBFree entry

Until 26 Sept · Southport

QuARTet at The Atkinson

Four Sefton-based artists share the gallery in a free group show inside Southport's civic arts building on Lord Street.

Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, 13 Dalston Lane, London E8 3DFFree

Until 10 Oct · London

Saturday Garden Volunteering at Dalston Eastern Curve Garden

Free, welcoming Saturday gardening sessions in a much-loved community garden on an old railway curve.

Dundee Contemporary Arts, 152 Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4DYFree entry

Until 15 Nov · Dundee

France-Lise McGurn: The Charm Offensive

A Dundee-trained painter's biggest UK show yet, spilling off the canvas and across both DCA galleries.

RSPB Fairburn Ings Visitor Centre, Newton Lane, Castleford, West Yorkshire, WF10 2BH£3.50 kit hire (reserve trails free to explore)

Until 30 Sept · Castleford

Self-Led Pond Dipping — RSPB Fairburn Ings

Hire a net and tray from the visitor centre and go pond dipping along the reserve's wetland trails, self-led at your own pace.

Penwith Gallery, Back Road West, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 1NLFree entry

Until 21 Sept · St Ives

Penwith Gallery Autumn Exhibitions

Three concurrent contemporary art exhibitions at St Ives's artist-run Penwith Gallery, housed in a former pilchard-packing works.

The Rail Yard, Kelvinbridge, Glasgow, G4 9HBFree to browse

Until 22 Feb · Glasgow

The Rail Yard Farmers Market

A weekly West End farmers market on the old Kelvinbridge railway yard, with Scottish produce alongside local crafts, street food and live music.

Waterside Arts Centre, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, Greater Manchester M33 7ZFFree

Until 3 Oct · Manchester

ADORN: Sculptural Jewellery / Wearable Art

A free jewellery exhibition of 12 contemporary makers working in metal and glass, staged for Manchester's first-ever Jewellery Week.

Castle Terrace car park, Edinburgh EH1 2EWFree entry

Until 28 Feb · Edinburgh

Edinburgh Farmers' Market

One of Scotland's largest weekly farmers' markets, set below Edinburgh Castle — Scottish producers selling fresh produce, bread and cheese.

WWT Welney Wetland Centre, Hundred Foot Bank, Welney, Norfolk PE14 9TN£10 (adult) / £5 (child), plus admission

Until 29 Oct · Welney

Discover Welney

A guided introduction to Britain's largest seasonally flooded wetland, led by volunteers along fully wheelchair-accessible boardwalks and hides.

Church House, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Dartmoor, Devon TQ13 7TAFree entry; donations to Devon Air Ambulance

Until 29 Oct · Widecombe In The Moor

Widecombe Artisan Craft Market

A weekly Thursday market of Dartmoor makers inside a 16th-century National Trust hall, free to wander with donations going to the Air Ambulance.

South Square Centre, Southgate, Thornton, Bradford BD13 3LDFree entry

Until 1 Nov · Bradford

Here, Somehow — Jenny Bratt

A tender first solo show of neighbourhood paintings by Joan Day Bursary winner Jenny Bratt, in a converted 19th-century cottage gallery.

Craft in the Bay, The Flourish, Lloyd George Avenue, Cardiff CF10 4QHFree admission

Until 28 Oct · Cardiff

Enamel, Glass, Pâte de Verre: as Material Thought

A free exhibition at Craft in the Bay exploring enamel and glass as materials for ideas, not just decoration, from leading Welsh craft makers.

Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6BDFree with garden admission (Adult £14 / Child £7 / Family £35; free for National Trust members)

Until 8 Nov · Dorking

Moominvalley Trail at Polesden Lacey

A gentle garden trail through the National Trust's Surrey estate, meeting the Moomin family among the borders and woodland.

Knole, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0RP (Brewhouse Café and Bookshop)Free with normal admission (Outdoor & Tower ticket around £6; free for National Trust members)

Until 12 Oct · Sevenoaks

Babyccino Coffee Morning & Storytime at Knole

Weekly babyccinos, toys and storytime for under-5s in Knole's Brewhouse — a soft landing for meeting other parents.

The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG£25–£33 depending on time slot; under-16s free with an adult

Until 11 Jul · London

The Bayeux Tapestry

The Bayeux Tapestry comes to London for the first time in 900 years, on loan to the British Museum in a major once-in-a-generation show.

Ham House, Ham Street, Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey TW10 7RSIncluded with garden admission (National Trust members free)

Until 11 Oct · Richmond

Past Made Present — Ham House and Garden

Emerging furniture and product designers respond to William Morris inside a Stuart mansion and its riverside garden.

78 Derngate — The Charles Rennie Mackintosh House, 78 Derngate, Northampton NN1 1UHFree

Until 4 Oct · Northampton

Nine @ 78 Derngate

A free multi-artist exhibition of glass, sculpture, mosaics, painting and print running through the Mackintosh house and garden in Northampton.

Venues across Birmingham city centre and suburbs, West MidlandsMostly free; some tours ticketed

Until 20 Sept · Birmingham

Birmingham Heritage Week

Ten days of rare access to Birmingham's hidden history — tunnels, catacombs and buildings usually closed to the public.

Camden Art Centre, Arkwright Road, London NW3 6DGFree entry

Until 17 Jan · London

Liz Larner: A Hard Line to Bend

The sculptor's first UK institutional show — ceramic "asteroids" and radical material experiments, free to visit.

Venues across Coventry city centre, West MidlandsFree entry (Heritage Open Days)

Until 20 Sept · Coventry

Coventry Heritage Open Days

Ten days of free tours and rare access across Coventry, from timber-framed cottages to the War Memorial's Chamber of Silence.

Ironbridge Gorge, Ironbridge, Telford, Shropshire TF8Free entry to most events; some activities separately ticketed

Until 20 Sept · Ironbridge

Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Festival

Ten days of guided walks, a coracle regatta and free heritage open days across the UNESCO Ironbridge Gorge.

Royal West of England Academy, Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1PX£8.90 (£4.45 with National Art Pass)

Until 3 Jan · Bristol

RWA 173rd Annual Open Exhibition

Bristol's major open-submission show, with 500+ contemporary works spanning painting, sculpture, photography and mixed media.

Cwmdu Caravan and Camping Site, St Michael's Close, Crickhowell, Powys NP8 1RPCamping plus event ticket, typically from around £60pp for the weekend — see gostargazing.co.uk for exact 2026 pricing

Sat 12 – Tue 15 Sept · Crickhowell

AstroCamp Autumn 2026

A weekend camped under Brecon Beacons dark skies, with guided stargazing, talks and telescopes provided for beginners.

RSPB Minsmere, Sheepwash Lane, Westleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 3BY£9 adult / £5 child (non-members; includes reserve entry and a hot drink)

Until 21 Nov · Westleton

Discover Minsmere in Autumn

Guided walks through the RSPB's most famous Suffolk reserve, timed for migrant birds, fungi and the last of the autumn colour.

Venues across Cardiff — community centres, gardens and allotments (see foodcardiff.com for full programme)Free

Until 31 Oct · Cardiff

Good Food Cardiff Autumn Festival

A seven-week city-wide festival of free, community-run food events — harvest celebrations, cooking demos and grow-your-own days across Cardiff.

Various locations across the High Weald, including Rye, Battle, Robertsbridge and Forest Row, East Sussex and KentFree

Until 20 Sept · East Sussex

High Weald Walking Festival

Free guided and self-led walks across the Kent and Sussex High Weald, from Rye Harbour wildlife rambles to easy family strolls.

The Old Savoy, home of The Deco Theatre, Abington Square, Northampton NN1 4AEFree, booking required via the box office

Sat 12 – Tue 15 Sept · Northampton

The Old Savoy: Behind-the-Scenes Heritage Tour

Free guided tours inside Northampton's glorious 1936 art deco super-cinema, as part of Heritage Open Days.

London-wide — 800+ buildings across all 33 boroughsFree to volunteer

Until 20 Sept · London

Open House Festival — Volunteer Stewarding

Steward a building for a shift during London's landmark architecture festival, opening 800+ extraordinary buildings free to the public.

Venues across St Ives, Cornwall (St Ives Theatre, St Ives Library and Guildhall box office)Free street entertainment; ticketed events from around £10

Until 26 Sept · St Ives

St Ives September Festival

Two weeks of music, art, theatre, talks and walks across St Ives' galleries and seafront venues, from folk and jazz to comedy and poetry.

Venues across East Devon, from Exmouth to AxminsterVaries by event (individual bookings; some free)

Until 20 Sept · Sidmouth

Taste East Devon Festival

A nine-day trail of tastings, feasts and foraging across East Devon, from a River Cottage mushroom feast to an apple-pressing party at Whimple.

Streets, parks and open spaces across Brighton and Hove, Brighton, BN1Free

Until 8 Nov · Brighton

The Story Trail

Thirty giant, artist-painted BookBenches turn Brighton and Hove's streets and parks into a free citywide trail.

Culture

Mon 14 – Fri 18 Sept · Worcester

Croome Heritage Open Days

Five days of free entry, tours and talks at the National Trust's Capability Brown landscape near Worcester, including the rarely-open Panorama Tower.

Croome, near High Green, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR8 9DWFree entry (Heritage Open Days)

Sedbergh, Cumbria, centred around The Black Bull, Main Street, Sedbergh LA10 5BLFree walks; ticketed wellbeing sessions

Mon 14 – Sun 20 Sept · Cumbria

Sedbergh Walking & Wellbeing Festival

A week of guided fell walks, sunrise starts and wellbeing sessions in England's official Book Town, on the Lakes/Dales border.

Culture

Tue 15 Sept · Stoke On Trent

Middleport Pottery Free Heritage Trail

A free self-guided Heritage Open Days trail around Middleport Pottery's bottle oven, steam engine and Victorian mould store.

Middleport Pottery, Port Street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 3PEFree

Winchester Cathedral, 9 The Close, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9LSFrom £19

Tue 15 – Sat 19 Sept · Winchester

Wild! A Festival of Flowers and Nature

A once-every-four-years flower festival fills Winchester Cathedral's ancient nave with wild, immersive floral art.

The English Gardens, The Regent's Park, LondonFree

Until 1 Nov · London

Frieze Sculpture

Eleven international artists' large-scale sculptures spread through Regent's Park's English Gardens, free to wander any day.

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BDFree

Wed 16 Sept · London

Nature and Us

A free new gallery reopening a room hidden since the Second World War, with 50 objects tracing humans' relationship with nature.

Glasgow Cathedral, Castle Street, Glasgow G4 0QZFree talks and tours; ticketed concerts from around £12

Thu 17 – Sun 20 Sept · Glasgow

Glasgow Cathedral Festival 2026: Rooted in Discovery

A 10th-anniversary weekend of live music, talks and silent cinema inside Glasgow's oldest surviving medieval building.

Multiple venues city-wide, GlasgowFree

Thu 17 – Sun 20 Sept · Glasgow

Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival

Hundreds of normally closed or hard-to-reach Glasgow buildings open for free guided tours, talks and family activities.

Huntington Farm, Lauder, Scottish Borders TD2 6QUAdult day admission £10; under-16s free; parking £5

Thu 17 – Sun 20 Sept · Scottish Borders

ISDS Sheep Dog World Trial 2026

Over 300 handlers and dogs from 31 nations compete in the birthplace of the Border Collie for the sport's biggest prize.

Tarland Square, Tarland, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire AB34 4YNFree entry (market and square events)

Thu 17 – Sun 20 Sept · Tarland

Tarland Food & Music Festival

A free village-square food market and folk music festival in the heart of Aberdeenshire's Cromar valley.

Chiddinglye Estate, Selsfield Road, West Hoathly, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 4QSDay and weekend tickets from allthingsfungi.co.uk; under-18s free on the Sunday family day

Fri 18 – Sun 20 Sept · East Grinstead

All Things Fungi Festival

A weekend camping festival devoted to mushrooms — identification walks, cultivation workshops, microscopy and UV night-walks in the Sussex woods.

V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RLFree

Fri 18 – Sun 20 Sept · London

Digital Design Weekend

A free weekend of installations, workshops and demos at the V&A exploring how creative technology intersects with ecology, care and community.

Multiple venues across Durham City — Redhills Durham Miners Hall, Durham Cathedral, Palace Green & the MarketplaceTickets vary by event/day pass — see tickettailor.com/events/durhamfolkfestival

Fri 18 – Sun 20 Sept · Durham

Durham Folk Festival

A new city-wide folk festival across Durham's cathedral, market place and miners' hall, with singing sessions, ceilidhs and river-cruise gigs.

Ely Museum, The Old Gaol, Market Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4LS£3.50 per child; accompanying adult needs a museum admission ticket or annual pass

Fri 18 Sept · Ely

Little Explorers at Ely Museum

A monthly morning of themed craft, stories and songs for under-5s inside Ely Museum's former gaol building.

Newby Hall & Gardens, Ripon, HG4 5AEFrom £23 advance (£28 on the day)

Fri 18 – Sun 20 Sept · Harrogate

Harrogate Autumn Flower Show

The UK's premier autumn gardening show fills Newby Hall's grounds with 5,000 blooms, nurseries and floral art.

Clumber Park, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 3AZFree entry (normal parking charges may apply)

Fri 18 Sept · Worksop

Heritage Open Day at Clumber Park

Free entry to this vast Nottinghamshire parkland estate for one day, with volunteers on hand to share the history of the old ducal estate.

The Stockyard, Melton Mowbray, LeicestershireFrom £6 in advance

Fri 18 – Sat 19 Sept · Melton Mowbray

Melton Beer, Cider & Gin Festival

An indoor beer, cider and gin festival at The Stockyard in Melton Mowbray, with more than 50 craft drinks and live music across two nights.

Food & drink

Fri 18 – Sat 19 Sept · Oxford

The Oxford Wine Festival

A weekend of wine tasting in Oxford's grand Examination Schools, with your first ten tasting vouchers included in the ticket.

Oxford University Examination Schools, 81 High Street, Oxford OX1 4ASFrom £24.50 (includes first 10 tastings)

FACT, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool L1 4DQFree entry

Until 14 Feb · Liverpool

Rae-Yen Song at FACT Liverpool

A free, immersive exhibition of new sculpture, textiles and sound inspired by diasporic mythology and family lore, opening at FACT Liverpool.

Richmond Market Hall, Market Place, Richmond, North YorkshireIndividual walks and talks ticketed separately, from £15 — see programme for full pricing

Until 27 Sept · Richmond

Richmond Walking and Book Festival

A ten-day North Yorkshire festival of guided walks through Swaledale and Wensleydale alongside author talks, with walking groups capped at 16 people.

York Art Gallery, Exhibition Square, York YO1 7EWFrom £7.50, included in gallery admission

Until 17 Jan · York

Turner, Wedgwood and Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman

A major new York Art Gallery show marking 200 years since sculptor John Flaxman, with over 70 loaned works.

Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Manchester M13 0FEFrom £21.45

Fri 18 – Sun 20 Sept · Manchester

Wing Fest Manchester

Three days of 100,000 chicken wings, live music and DJs inside Manchester's Edwardian Victoria Baths.

Parliament Street & St Sampson's Square, YorkFree entry to markets and demonstrations; some ticketed extras

Until 27 Sept · York

York Food & Drink Festival

A ten-day festival taking over York's Parliament Street with 100+ food and drink producers, street food and daily chef demonstrations.

Abergavenny town centre (11 venues), Abergavenny, NP7, MonmouthshireDay ticket £17, weekend ticket £26, under-16s free

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Abergavenny

Abergavenny Food Festival

Wales' best-loved food festival takes over the whole town — 120+ producers, chef demos and a Saturday-night castle party.

Exeter Phoenix, Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exeter EX4 3LSFrom £30

Sat 19 Sept · Exeter

Altered Images — Happy Birthday

Original singer Clare Grogan leads the band through their 1981 debut album in full at Exeter's much-loved independent arts centre.

BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead Quays, South Shore Road, Gateshead NE8 3BAFree entry

Until 1 May · Gateshead

BALTIC Open Submission 2026

BALTIC's flagship open-call exhibition of around 100 works by artists from across the region and beyond, free to visit on Gateshead's quayside.

Victoria Art Gallery, Bridge Street, Bath BA2 4AT£9 adult (Upper Gallery free; half price with National Art Pass)

Until 7 Nov · Bath

Bath Society of Artists 121st Open Exhibition

Bath's long-running open-submission show fills the Victoria Art Gallery with local painting, print and sculpture alongside invited artist Basil Beattie RA.

Parker's Piece, CambridgeFree entry

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Cambridge

Cambridge Autumn Food, Home & Craft Fair

A free weekend fair on Parker's Piece, with food and drink, arts and crafts, and cookery demos running all day.

Kettle's Yard, Castle Street, Cambridge CB3 0AQFree entry

Until 31 Jan · Cambridge

Sunil Gupta: Life with a Camera

A major, free photography retrospective opens at Kettle's Yard, tracing five decades of Sunil Gupta's work.

Northern Sea Wall, Minnis Bay, Birchington-on-Sea, Kent, meet outside Minnis Bay Bar & Brasserie, The Parade, CT7 9QPFree (registration required)

Sat 19 Sept · Birchington

Great British Beach Clean: Minnis Bay

Join the Marine Conservation Society's flagship beach clean and litter survey on the Kent coast — dogs, kids and beginners all genuinely welcome.

The Yard, Waterworks Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1RTFree entry

Sat 19 Sept · Hastings

Hastings Makers Market

Fifty independent makers fill The Yard with ceramics, textiles and prints for a wheelchair-accessible afternoon of browsing.

Gunby Estate, Hall and Gardens, Spilsby, Lincolnshire PE23 5SSFree (normal admission waived for Heritage Open Days)

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Spilsby

Heritage Open Days at Gunby Estate

Free entry to a National Trust hall and gardens for one weekend only, with steampunk duelling, sea shanties and maker stalls.

Abbey Pumping Station, Corporation Road, Leicester, LE4 5PXFree entry (small charge for museum train rides)

Sat 19 Sept · Leicester

Abbey Pumping Station Food & Craft Fair

Local food producers and artisan makers fill Leicester's Victorian pumping-station museum, with vintage vehicles and live jazz.

Lincoln Castle, Castle Hill, Lincoln, LN1 3AAFree castle grounds; standard admission for the Wall Walk & Prison

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Lincoln

Dog Friendly Days at Lincoln Castle

Leads off for the weekend — dogs get the run of Lincoln Castle's grounds, Wall Walk and Victorian Prison on these selected dates.

Castle Hill, Lincoln, LN1 3AAFree entry

Sat 19 Sept · Lincoln

Lincoln Farmers' Market

A monthly farmers' market on historic Castle Hill selling produce grown and made across Lincolnshire.

The Jolly Brewer, 27 Broadgate, Lincoln LN2 5AQTicketed — see venue listing for current prices

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Lincoln

Lincoln Folk Festival

Two days of traditional and contemporary folk music, food and beer at a much-loved Lincoln pub venue.

Loki Wine, 10 Greenfield Crescent, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3AU£45

Sat 19 Sept · Birmingham

Autumn Cheese & Wine Tasting at Loki Wine, Edgbaston

Seven seasonal wines paired with artisan cheeses from Anderson & Hill, Birmingham's leading cheesemonger.

St Mary's Church, High Pavement, Nottingham NG1 1HN£2.50 (under-12s free)

Sat 19 Sept · Nottingham

Nottingham's Craft & Flea Makers Market

A makers market inside a medieval church in the Lace Market — independent Nottingham artisans selling ceramics, jewellery and vintage.

Orchard Square, Sheffield City Centre, S1 2FBFree

Sat 19 Sept · Sheffield

Orchard Square Makers Market

A Saturday makers market in Sheffield's Orchard Square with local traders selling homewares, plants, jewellery and deli goods.

The Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3JF£14 in advance / £16 on the gate; dogs go free

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Maidstone

Paws in the Park: Kent Show

The UK's largest outdoor dog show marks its 20th year at Kent Showground, with agility, flyball and more than 30 have-a-go activities.

Penrhyn Castle and Garden, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 4HNFree entry (part of Cadw's Open Doors festival)

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Bangor

Open Doors Free Weekend at Penrhyn Castle

Free entry to a neo-Norman castle and its parkland for one weekend only, with slate-splitting by real Llanberis quarrymen.

Sandwich & Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve, near Ramsgate, KentFree

Sat 19 Sept · Ramsgate

Great British Beach Clean, Pegwell Bay

A Marine Conservation Society beach clean on the sandy shore at Pegwell Bay near Ramsgate, part of the national Great British Beach Clean.

Market Place & Broad Street, Reading, BerkshireFree entry

Sat 19 Sept · Reading

Reading Vegan Festival

Forty-plus vegan food and craft stalls fill Reading's Market Place for a free, all-day plant-based graze.

Roundhay Park, Leeds LS8 2ES (start near Hill 60)Free

Until 19 Mar · Leeds

Roundhay parkrun

A free, weekly, all-abilities 5k around Leeds' biggest park, followed by coffee at the lakeside café.

RSPB Scotland Loch Leven, Vane Farm, B9097, Kinross KY13 9LXFree (guided walks free but pre-booking required)

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Kinross

RSPB Loch Leven Doors Open Days

Free guided wildlife walks around Loch Leven's reserve as part of Scotland-wide Doors Open Days, with step-free routes on offer.

Tir na nOg Holistic Centre, near Drymen, Stirlingshire G63 0NF£19 adult / £6 child per day, £35 adult weekend pass, under-5s free

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Drymen

Scottish Wild Food Festival

A weekend of foraging walks, wild-food banquets and forest-school activities at a holistic centre near Loch Lomond.

Pitt St. Skatepark, 315 Commercial Road, Portsmouth, PO1 4AYEarly bird from £25 for adults, under-5s free

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Portsmouth

Send It 100

Two days of skate jams, vert ramp showcases and free beginner coaching at Portsmouth's indoor skatepark, marking the city's 100th year.

Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester CO1 1JHFree

Until 17 Jan · Colchester

Simon Carter: From the Landscape

Essex artist Simon Carter's most ambitious show yet turns Firstsite's galleries into a walk-through painting of the coast — free entry.

Food & drink

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Stratford Upon Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon Food Festival

Over 100 food and drink stalls fill Henley Street and Bridge Street for a two-day autumn feast.

Henley Street & Bridge Street, Stratford-upon-AvonFree entry, food and drink priced individually

Food & drink

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Nottinghamshire

Festival of Food & Drink at Thoresby Park

A country-house food festival with 160+ stalls, cookery demos and TV chefs on Sherwood Forest's doorstep.

Thoresby Park, Nr Ollerton, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG22 9EPFrom £10 adult (advance), free parking included

Trecco Bay Holiday Park, Bay View Road, Porthcawl, Bridgend CF36 5NGFree

Sat 19 Sept · Porthcawl

Trecco Bay Beach Clean

A Great British Beach Clean session on the Glamorgan coast — gloves and bags provided, data collected feeds national marine research.

Tileyard North & The Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield£2 entry (free for Hepworth members and under-18s)

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Wakefield

The Hepworth Wakefield Harvest Festival

An autumn artisan market at Tileyard North with 70+ UK makers and producers, plus family activities across the Hepworth's galleries.

Seasonal👋 Meet people

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Sept · Nottingham

Autumn Festival at the Walled Garden

A weekend of plant sales, bric-a-brac and home bakes in Wollaton Park's recently restored Victorian walled garden.

Wollaton Hall Walled Garden, Wollaton Park, Nottingham NG8 2AE£2 donation per adult; children free

Chiswick House and Gardens, Staveley Road entrance, Burlington Lane, Chiswick, London W4 3ESFree to watch; £6 per dog per class to enter

Sun 20 Sept · London

Chiswick House Dog Show

London's biggest dog show returns to Chiswick House Gardens with 17 daft, lovable classes and a Traitors-themed fancy dress round.

The Briggait, 141 Bridgegate, Glasgow G1 5HZFree entry

Sun 20 Sept · Glasgow

Glasgow's Craft & Flea Makers Market

A one-day makers' market at The Briggait — ceramics, jewellery, vintage, plants and artisan produce from small Scottish businesses.

Cambridge Street, Harrogate, HG1 1RSFree entry

Sun 20 Sept · Harrogate

Harrogate Makers Market

A free monthly street market on Cambridge Street — local makers, jewellers and small food producers, third Sunday of the month.

Briggate, Leeds LS1 6BGFree entry

Sun 20 Sept · Leeds

Leeds Briggate Monthly Artisan Market

A monthly artisan market on Leeds's grandest shopping street, with local makers selling craft, jewellery, art and food.

Backyard Comedy Club, 231 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 0ELFrom £20 (early bird) to £27.50

Sun 20 Sept · London

Sober Is Fun: The London Alcohol-Free Comedy Club

A proper stand-up club night with an alcohol-free bar — table tennis and pool before four professional acts.

Market Square, outside The Creative Place, NorthamptonFree entry

Sun 20 Sept · Northampton

Northants Makers Market

An outdoor craft market of Northamptonshire makers — jewellery, ceramics and more — outside The Creative Place on Northampton's Market Square, with live performances alongside.

Painshill, Portsmouth Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1JE£15 adult / £7.50 child (5–16) / under-5s free

Sun 20 Sept · Cobham

Family Fun Day at Painshill

A day of lawn games, sketching stations and self-guided trails through Painshill's 18th-century landscape garden and follies near Cobham.

Oakham Castle grounds, Market Place & High Street, Oakham, RutlandFree entry

Sun 20 Sept · Oakham

Rutland Food & Drink Festival

A free open-air food festival filling Oakham's Market Place, High Street and castle grounds with around 80 artisan food, drink and craft stalls.

School Road, Sale Town Centre, Sale, Greater Manchester M33 7XYFree entry

Sun 20 Sept · Sale

Sale Makers Market

A monthly open-air market of 120-plus independent stalls filling Sale town centre with craft, art, plants and street food.

Backyard Comedy Club, 231-233 Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 0EL£20–£25

Sun 20 Sept · London

Sober Comedy London

An alcohol-free stand-up comedy afternoon at Bethnal Green's Backyard Comedy Club, raising money for The Forward Trust's addiction work.

Seckford Theatre, Burkitt Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4JH (opening event; further events at reserves across Suffolk)Opening event ticketed; most festival events free or low-cost

Until 11 Oct · Woodbridge

Festival of Nature

Three weeks of talks, walks and art events across Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserves, opening with printmaker Angela Harding on nature and craft.

Resident Music, 27-28 Kensington Gardens, North Laine, Brighton BN1 4ALFrom £20 (ticket includes the new album)

Sun 20 Sept · Brighton

Sylvan Esso: Ow ∞ Album Launch In-Store

An intimate in-store performance from electronic duo Sylvan Esso marking the release of their new album, on the shop floor of Brighton's Resident Music.

Big Penny Social, 1 Priestley Way, London E17 6ALAround £2–£3 on the door, free for under-12s

Sun 20 Sept · London

Walthamstow's Craft & Flea Market

A dog-friendly, step-free Sunday market of local makers, vintage finds and ceramics in a converted social club.

Sand Bay, Kewstoke, Weston-super-MareFree

Sun 20 Sept · Weston Super Mare

Great British Beach Clean, Sand Bay

Join Marine Conservation Society volunteers for a litter-pick and citizen-science survey on Somerset's wide, wild Sand Bay.

The Broadway, Winchester, HampshireFree to browse

Sun 20 Sept · Winchester

Winchester Art & Design Market

A monthly street market of original art and craft — jewellery, ceramics, textiles, prints — sold by the makers themselves through Winchester's old town.

York Museum Gardens, YorkTickets on sale soon — see yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk

Sun 20 Sept · York

York Dog Show

A new dog-lovers' day in York Museum Gardens — agility demos, dog classes, pet photography and a shopping village, in aid of local charities.

Music

Mon 21 Sept · Gateshead

Death Cab for Cutie

US indie-rock veterans play the Glasshouse's main hall on their 'I Built You A Tower' tour.

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, St Mary's Square, Gateshead NE8 2JRFrom around £41

Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SRFree, non-ticketed

Tue 22 Sept · Edinburgh

Café Ceilidh

A free, drop-in afternoon of traditional Scottish song, tunes and stories in the Storytelling Court on Edinburgh's Royal Mile.