Exciting things to do close to the capital in August 2024, all easily accessible in a day trip.
SUNFLOWERS: August heralds the start of sunflower season here in the UK. If you want to get a dose of the towering yellow flowers, and pluck some to take home, check out our picks of the best sunflower fields near London. Instagram at the ready...
FLOWER SHOW: Specialist nurseries and gardening suppliers, including many RHS Chelsea gold medal winners, pitch up at RHS Hyde Hall near Chelmsford for its annual flower show. As well as shopping, there are horticultural and cookery talks and demos, and a chance to ask RHS experts your gardening questions. 31 July-4 August (Essex)
1950s FESTIVAL: Head to the Kent coast for the Sandwich '50s Festival, a one-day event in a medieval town square, featuring classic cars, live music, dancing, food and drink stalls, and an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia which belonged to rock 'n' roll musician Eddie Cochran. 3 August (Kent)
BRIGHTON PRIDE: If you think London goes big for Pride, wait until you see Brighton's. The Pride Parade is the centrepiece of Pride Weekend, but there are also various smaller festivals, performances and parties taking place across Brighton & Hove. Girls Aloud, Mika and Sophie Ellis Bextor are among the headliners at Fabuloso Party in the Park in the city's Preston Park. 3-4 August (East Sussex)
GREAT COMP SUMMER SHOW: The little-known Great Comp Garden is worth a visit anytime in the summer, but it's extra special in the middle of August when the Great Comp Summer Show is in full flow. Green-fingered visitors can browse and buy plants from a range of nurseries, and there are also art and craft stalls, live jazz music, and refreshments in the tea room. 10-11 August (Kent)
BRIGHTON COFFEE FESTIVAL: Get your caffeine dose with an added waft of sea air at the Brighton Coffee Festival, which celebrates the artisan coffee scene in Sussex. Taste samples from a variety of brands, watch latte art and tasting demos, and chat to experts from the coffee industry, before stocking up on supplies and equipment to up your home coffee game. While you're in town check out these unusual things to do in Brighton. 10-11 August (East Sussex)
EASTBOURNE AIR SHOW: Bagsy your spot on the beach early to watch the Eastbourne Air Show displays in the skies above, featuring military and civilian flying teams. Wing walkers, an aerial acrobatics team, the Red Arrows and RAF Typhoon are all expected to make an appearance this year. Down on the ground, meet members of the Army and RAF, ride flight simulators, and browse the many stalls. 15-18 August (East Sussex)
IMBERBUS 2024: Honestly, if we only left London once this year, it'd probably be for Imberbus. Sure, you have to travel a bit further than for any of the other events on this list, but once you get there you can spend the day riding vintage Routemasters across Salisbury Plain via a deserted village. Double-decker delight. 17 August (Wiltshire)
SMOKE AND FIRE FESTIVAL: Celebrate the glory of barbecue cooking at Maldon Smoke & Fire Festival, where various food producers showcase new products and recipes, and you can watch the British Open BBQ Championships. Meanwhile, a plethora of street food traders keeps everyone fed, there are extreme chilli and hot wing eating challenges and fairground rides (best do that before you eat). 27-28 August (Essex)
CLACTON AIR SHOW: Another reason to cast your eyes to the skies this month, Clacton Airshow puts RAF planes, the Red Devils Parachute Team and myriad other aircraft on show above the seafront across two days, with twilight displays on Thursday evening too. 22-23 August (Essex)
BURNHAM WEEK: The Essex coastal town of Burnham-on-Crouch hosts Burnham Week, a sailing regatta with events for national champions and beginner sailors alike. Even if you're not graced with sea legs, there's plenty of shore-based entertainment, not least watching the races out in the Thames Estuary, and there's a firework finale show on Saturday evening. 24-31 August (Essex)
CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW: Hundreds of classic and collectible vehicles, including saloons, sports, American, commercial, military and classic motorcycles, descend on the grounds of Knebworth House for the Classic Motor Show. Wander around static displays, or see the vehicles in action in the show arena, with parades going on throughout the day. There's children's entertainment too. 25-26 August (Hertfordshire)
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FIREWORKS AND BALLOON FESTIVAL: Fingers crossed the Fireworks and Hot Air Balloon Festival at Abingdon Airfield has better luck getting off the ground than London's own balloon regatta. See dozens of hot air balloons on display, in daylight or glowing by night, or catch daylight or darkness firework displays. Other entertainment includes helicopter rides, stilt performers, fire walkers and a funfair. 31 August (Oxfordshire)
BRIDGERTON FILM TRAIL: Fan of the Bridgerton/Queen Charlotte TV series? Get thee to Blenheim Palace, which has a trail through the building and grounds visiting some of the locations used for filming the shows, the setting for grand banquets, candlelit balls... and the odd piece of scandalous gossip too. Until 30 September (Oxfordshire)
For further ideas for escaping London, take a look at our guide to day trips from the capital — there's even a map to help you plan.
