Bath’s flagship festival consists of 17 days of music and literature in the city’s most beautiful venues. With many events having been rescheduled from May 2020 to dates throughout 2020 and early 2021, the highly anticipated Finale Weekend will include performances from McFly, Billy Ocean and Scouting for Girls, among others. While it's known for its electric atmosphere, this event is still just about small enough to retain a boutique feel despite being the closet camping festival to London. 2022 saw Primal Scream take to the stage alongside Madness, Anne-Marie and Loyle Carner, while 2023's line-up is set to be one of the most eclectic yet. Alongside a wide-ranging arts, theatre and comedy programme, acts this year include Years & Years, Bloc Party, Anastacia and The Human League. Dalkey Book Festival Jun 15-18: Stellar line-up of writers and thinkers from across the world descend on the pretty little seaside town, just 30 minutes from Dublin city. dalkeybookfestival.org Dublin Festival of History Sep 25-Oct 15: Irish and international historians talk and debate in free Dublin City Council festival shining a fresh perspective on history and its importance in our everyday lives. In libraries and other venues, including Big Weekend at Dublin Castle’s Printworks. Organised by Dublin City Libraries and Dublin City Council Culture Company. dublinfestivalofhistory.ie

What is it: Celebrating the best of the 80s, Rewind Festival pops up in three different locations throughout the summer: Rewind Scotland, Rewind North and Rewind South, with mostly the same (albeit slightly varied) musical line-up, but all are an absolute blast. Another particularly family-friendly affair, there’s also a fun fair and kidzone – and 80s dress up is definitely encouraged.The Walled City Music Festival hosts talented classical musicians of wide-ranging genres and styles.

Dublin Book Festival Nov 8-12: Author discussions, book launches, walking tours, a family and schools programme. dublinbookfestival.com The town of Caerphilly comes to life as people of all ages come to The Big Cheese, a free extravaganza including street entertainers, living history encampments, music, dance, traditional funfair, folk dancing, falconry, fire eating, minstrels, troubadours and much more.

UK summer festivals 2023

Tulca festival of visual arts Nov 3-19 (provisional): For the 21st year of Tulca, and the festival plans to bring 15 artists and two collectives to exhibit in multiple Galway city venues. tulca.ie Finding a Voice Mar 8-12: Róisín and Clíona Maher’s festival of music by women for women, in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, including Irish debut of concert pianist Antonio Oyarzabel performing from his album The Female Muse, and world premiere of newly commissioned work by Irish composer Gráinne Mulvey. findingavoice.ie

Bestival consists of four family-friendly days of live music and premier DJs and is one of Britain's most colourful festivals, with dressing up encouraged and even a Roller Disco. Previous years have seen headliners such as The Cure, Rudimental and Hot Chip take the stage.

Forbidden Forest

This is the longest-running competitive short film and animation festival in the UK. Based at Watershed in Bristol’s historic floating harbour, the week-long programme pulls together some of the best short films from around the world alongside a series of special big screen events, a comprehensive industry programme and free public screenings. This is a chance to see films from 90 seconds to 20 minutes, across all film-making genres and made by film-makers and animators from across the world. Every summer, the Roman Baths opens its doors until 10pm every evening, giving visitors the chance to explore the awe-inspiring attraction by torchlight. One of the UK’s greatest free celebrations of the natural world, the Festival of Nature features hundreds of free events, usually including lectures, tours and film screenings on the subjects of science, natural history and the environment. This day is in honour of Wales’ patron saint of lovers, the Welsh version of St Valentine’s Day. The day exists due to St Dwynwen’s own experiences with lost love and her later commitment to becoming a nun. Every year, Cheltenham Jazz Festival represents the start of the summer in Cheltenham and is a great way to spend the long weekend over May Bank Holiday. This year’s event will be held as a non-stop live stream of jazz on Cheltenham Jazz Festivals’ YouTube channel.

A series of professional and junior athletics activities for the Great North Run weekend has been developed over the last few years, using NewcastleGateshead Quaysides as a 'virtual arena'. The run starts in the city centre, winds past several iconic sights, and ends at the sea.Supporting this campaign will be our permanent #Jab4Tourism drive which is focused on our frontline tourism and hospitality staff to increase the province’s vaccination numbers and to save existing jobs in the sector. Earagail Arts Festival Jul 8-23: Immersive and participatory experiences in circus, music, spoken word, theatre, from the western islands of the Gaeltacht to the lowlands of east Donegal, celebrating people, language and landscape. Including Home with The Henry Girls, five days of songwriting, pub sessions and concerts. eaf.ie The Virgin Money London Marathon is a phenomenal event to be a part of, as a participant and a spectator. It’s not just a monumental physical challenge, but also the world's largest fundraising event - and one of the six top marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors. Cruinniú na nÓg Jun 10: Creative Ireland’s national day of creativity with free events and activities for children and young people all over Ireland. cruinniu.creativeireland.gov.ie