If it’s August in the UK then it’s officially holiday festival time. For international students beginning their courses at universities and colleges in the autumn, August can mainly involve having to organise their move into new term time accommodation, exploring their new neighbourhood, perhaps even head off to one of the many festival events being held around the country. Even if you’re only in the UK for a short time, you’re still going to be spoilt for choice! Here’s just a few …
Undoubtedly, one of the most well known events at the present moment is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which runs every year for three weeks through August. Starting with just eight productions in 1947, the Fringe has grown to become one of the world’s largest arts festival, putting on nearly 3,000 shows of music, theatre, comedy, and art from 47 countries in 279 venues and public spaces across the capital.
Dance music fans, live music fans…
As the UK’s traditional Bank Holiday weekend approaches (22nd – 25th), dance music fans could be making a beeline for Creamfields, featuring among their headlining acts, Avicii and Deadmau5, as well as sets from Eric Prydz and Skream.
South West Four (SW4) at Clapham Common is touted as being one of London’s premier electronic music festivals, which this year features the likes of New World Punx, Sasha, Josh Wink, Laurent Garnier and MJ Cole. Those looking for live music may be drawn to this year’s line up at the Reading and Leeds Festival, which includes Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys and Blink 182.
No August Bank Holiday would be complete without mentioning the Notting Hill Festival, held every year since it began in 1964. Now one of the biggest festivals in Europe, more than a million people flock to the streets of West London to join in with the Afro-Caribbean community as they celebrate their culture and traditions with an energetic mix of costume parades, reggae sound systems, steel band floats, jerk chicken and fried plantain food stalls.
Historical attractions and events…
Not everyone may feel like straying too far from home – especially if the bank holiday weather doesn’t look promising! In the great university cities such as in Oxford or Cambridge for example, there are always bound to be a huge variety of historical attractions and events. At Oxford’s Ashmolean Musuem is a presentation entitled “Tutankhamun’s Curse”, while in Cambridge, students might be interested to see jousting with the Knight of Middel England live in the grounds of Hedingham Castle.
Students happy to just chill in the days before the hectic days of term begin might simply decide to explore their local area. There’s always something going on you might not expect, especially in a university town when Fresher’s week begins!