A Guide to Events & Festivals in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Surrey & Sussex
South East England March Events in South East England
2-8: The National Butchers Week
See our detailed butchers guides: Sussex butchers I Kent butchers I London Butchers.
6: Walpole Bay Hotel, Fifth Avenue, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent, CT9 2JJ map
Classic Edwardian Hotel reopens for the season (March-October). A favourite of Tracy Emin. Ideal for the shops, bars and cafes in uber-trendy Northdown Road.
28-29: Brogdale Blossom, Brogdale Road, Faversham. Kent, ME13 8XZ map
As home to 400 cherries plus thousands of other flowering fruit trees, Brogdale Collections is one of the best places in the UK to enjoy blossom displays (can vary).
April Events in South East England
1: Great Dixter, Northiam, East Sussex, TN31 6PH map
Medieval house and its famous gardens reopens to the public. 329 bus from Hastings.
3-6: Easter
Gardens in the south east re-open to the public.
16: Towner Contemporary, Rendezvous, Margate, Kent, CT9 1HG map
Today is the 15th anniversary of the opening of the gallery in Margate. The gallery is built on the exact site of the boarding house run by Sophia Booth, the landlady and companion of artist J.M.W. Turner (1775 -1851).
18: Record Shop Day
The first Record Store Day took place on April 19, 2008 to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding independently owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally.
18-19/25-26: Brogdale Blossom, Brogdale Road, Faversham. Kent, ME13 8XZ map
As home to 400 cherries plus thousands of other flowering fruit trees, Brogdale Collections is one of the best places in the UK to enjoy blossom displays (can vary).
Cider:
New cider batches are being produced now after their autumn & winter fermentation.
See our detailed cider guides: Sussex cider I Kent cider.
Most are stocked at the cider barn at Middle Farm Shop near Eastbourne.
We have produced a History of English Cider.
May Events in South East England
Camping @ Chilley Farm, Rickney Lane, Hailsham BN27 1SE map
Chilley Farm offer traditional camping, luxury glamping, or private field event hire. Here are some other recommended camping sites:
Hampshire: Hampshire Hills, near Winchester
Kent: Romney Meadows
Surrey: Embers, Polesden Lacey
9: Beltane Fire Gathering at Wild Heart, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 0RJ map
21: Glyndebourne Festival, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 5UU map
The start of their summer season. Glyndebourne began when founder John Christie (1882-1962) married soprano Audrey Mildmay (1900-1953) in 1931. The Opera Theatre was opened in 1934. On the first night there was an audience of fifty-four, (1961 film). Today it has became one of the most celebrated opera houses in the world with seating for 1,200 (2011 film).
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June Events in South East England
5-7: South of England Show, Selsfield Road, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6TL map
Founded in 1967 by the South of England Agricultural Society to promote agriculture and countryside education. A traditional country show, it offers popular livestock and equestrian competitions, country sport displays, fairground rides, horticulture and rural industry displays.
18-21: Isle of Wight Festival, Seaclose Park, Newport, PO30 2EL map
19-21: Surrey Country Craft & Food Show, Loseley Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 1HS map
Champions local craftsmanship and bring together food producers and makers from across the region.
20-27: Lexus Eastbourne Open, Devonshire Park, College Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4JJ map
The first courts were laid in 1879 and in 1919 the first professional Lawn Tennis Championships of Great Britain commenced. In 1974 the first Women’s International Tennis Tournament was hosted there. In 1921 the first stands were built and by 1998 the tennis centre as a whole was completed.
20-28: English Wine Week (est. 2006)
Originally launched in 2006 by master sommelier Laura Rhys, to raise awareness of English wine quality, spotlighting vineyards and retailers. English Wine Week (EWW) begins on the summer solstice.
See our detailed wine guides: Hampshire wine I Kent wine I Sussex Wine.
The Hampshire Guide
The Surrey Guide
Hampshire Guide
Surrey Guide
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