Best British annual events in Winter 2021
DECEMBER
1. The Great Christmas Pudding Race
Date: 11th December 2021
Location: London and Brighton, South East
One of the wackiest races you’ll ever see, teams race around a 150-metre course balancing a Christmas pudding on a flimsy paper plate. They have to navigate two slippery inflatables, balloons filled with flour, jets of foam and limbo poles. To complicate things even further, they do it all in fancy dress.
2. Christmas at Kew
Date: December TBC
Location: London, South East
Learn to ice-skate against the picturesque background of Kew Gardens, which delivers a sparkling after-dark experience and a truly festive atmosphere every year.
3. Newcastle Gateshead Winter Festival and New Year’s Eve Carnival,
Date: December TBC
Location: Newcastle, North East
The annual New Year’s Eve Winter Carnival sees the Newcastle Ice Queen and her entourage of local community participants parading through the streets of Newcastle, culminating in an early-evening fireworks display.
4. Hogmanay
Date: 31st December 2021
Location: Scotland
Hogmanay is what the Scots call New Year's Eve and the arrival of the New Year is always celebrated in style across the country. Fireworks, open-air concerts and street parties make Hogmanay Scotland’s biggest party of the year.
Please note that events are subject to change, and visitors are strongly advised to check individual websites for the latest information.
JANUARY
1. New Year’s Day Parade
Date: 1st January 2021
Location: London, South East
London’s New Year’s Day Parade has evolved into one of the capital’s great traditions. Usually starting at 12pm, the parade along the capital’s West End will fill the streets with marching bands, cheerleaders, acrobats, kites and more.
2. Celtic Connections
Date: 14th –31st January 2021
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow’s annual folk, roots and world music festival, celebrating Celtic music and its connections to cultures across the globe. It’s the largest annual winter music festival of its kind and Britain’s premier celebration of Celtic music, and usually featuring concerts, ceilidhs, talks, art exhibitions, and workshops.
3. Burns’ Night
Date: 25th January 2021