The What, Where, When: 17 May
WHAT: The Country Craft and Food Fair The annual event hosts a wide range of features to entertain the children whilst catering to the more mature visitor at the same time. Additionally, the farm has an interactive Hop Story Museum, its long and illustrious history spanning five centuries.
Eat and Drink: Olive Stores cafe cooks and bakes fresh food every day, using as many local ingredients as possible from Kent and Sussex.
WHERE: Hop Farm Family Park, Paddock Wood, TN12 6PY, Kent.
WHEN: 18 – 19 May. www.thehopfarm.co.uk
WHAT: TATE Liverpool is 25 It has been 25 years since the TATE Liverpool opened its doors as the first museum outside of London to showcase modern and contemporary art. The display features memorabilia from the gallery's past including scrapbooks, posters and exhibition catalogues alongside exhibition highlights.
Eat and Drink: The Cafe at Tate Liverpool provides a fantastic view of the historic Albert Dock whilst serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.
WHERE: Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4BB, Merseyside.
WHEN: 17 – 27 May. www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-liverpool/display/tate-liverpool-25
WHAT: The Chelsea Fringe Attended by The Duchess of Cornwall in 2012, the Fringe includes a range of exhibitions, avant-garde art installations, garden open days, dinners, demonstrations and pop-up community spaces.
WHERE: Across the Royal London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
WHEN: 18 May – 9 June. www.chelseafringe.com
WHAT: Royal Welsh Smallholder & Garden Festival Featuring floral art and horticultural stands, display gardens, a farmers market alongside dance displays, a Motocross Stunt Display Team and a wide variety of acts. Panic Circus will be on hand to entertain the children, providing puppet shows, storytelling and game sessions.
Don't Miss: The various talks and lectures throughout the show, as well as a Gardeners Question Time!
Eat and Drink: Foodstalls will be selling local produce amidst the 320 trade stands.
WHERE: Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, LD2 3SY, Powys.
WHEN: 18 – 19 May. www.rwas.co.uk/spring-festival
WHAT: Nigel Haworth's Fantastic Food Show The Michelin star chef hosts the food event featuring a cookery theatre, exhibitions and a children's zone.
Don't Miss: Valentine Warner in The Cookery Theatre at 13:00 and Nigel Haworth at 16:30
WHERE: Ewood Park, Blackburn, BB2 4JF.
WHEN: 19 May www.fantasticfoodshow.com
WHAT: Filmphonics: The Lucky Dog Picturehouse Sit through a unique and authentic 1920's silent film experience, the event will be screening a variety of movies featuring a live piano soundtrack.
Don't Miss: The screening of Laurel & Hardy in 'The Pawn Shop', where they team up for the first time.
WHERE: Hackney Attic, Hackney Picturehouse 270 Mare Street, Hackney, London, E8 1HE.
WHEN: 19 May www.picturehouses.co.uk
WHAT: The RAW Fair Featuring talks from world leading wine experts, a variety of food from renowned artisan food restaurants whilst offering visitors the chance to sample over 800 different wines.
Eat and Drink: Elliot's Cafe, from Borough Market, will be hosting a pop-up wood-fired grill or head over to Neal's Yard Dairy to taste farm cheeses from the British Isles!
WHERE: The Old Truman Brewery, 91-95 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL.
WHEN: 19 - 20 May. www.rawfair.com
WHAT: The London Literature Festival Back with a host of best-selling authors, featuring the author of bestselling novel 'The Time Travellers Wife' Audrey Niffenegger, alongside other recognisable figures such as Barbara Kingsolver, Lionel Shriver and William Darymple who will be reading and discussing their work. There will be five lectures held by biographer Claire Tomalin on literary icons such as Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy, alongside live poetry readings and short plays.
Don't Miss: Melvyn Bragg launching his new novel 'Grace and Mary'.
WHERE: Southbank Centre, South Bank, Waterloo, London, SE1 8XX.
WHEN: 20 May- 5 June. www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/festivals-series/london-literature-festival
WHAT: Swinderby Antique & Collectors Fair The largest event of its kind featuring over 600 specialist stalls from fine antique furniture to stunning vintage clothing and jewellery.
WHERE: RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire, LN6 9QG.
WHEN: 20 May. www.iacf.co.uk/swinderby
WHAT: RHS Chelsea Flower Show Celebrating its centenary year, the highlight of the horticulture calendar returns with 700 exhibitors, over 100 flower displays, 20 show gardens alongside a spell-binding display of the shows transformation since 1913.
Don't Miss: Gnomes painted by celebrities such as Elton John and Maggie Smith in a bid to raise money for the RHS Chelsea Centenary Appeal.
WHERE: Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, SW3 4SL.
WHEN: 21 – 25 May. www.rhs.org.uk
WHAT: Bath International Music Festival Returning for the 65th year, the musicians featured range from international stars to new, emerging artists showcasing jazz giants, folk and classical virtuosos. The programmes events include musical theatre productions, films, talks and multi media events.
WHERE: Various venues in Bath City Centre, Somerset.
WHEN: 22 May- 2 June. www.bathfestivals.org.uk/music
Eat and Drink: Olive Stores cafe cooks and bakes fresh food every day, using as many local ingredients as possible from Kent and Sussex.
WHERE: Hop Farm Family Park, Paddock Wood, TN12 6PY, Kent.
WHEN: 18 – 19 May. www.thehopfarm.co.uk
WHAT: TATE Liverpool is 25 It has been 25 years since the TATE Liverpool opened its doors as the first museum outside of London to showcase modern and contemporary art. The display features memorabilia from the gallery's past including scrapbooks, posters and exhibition catalogues alongside exhibition highlights.
Eat and Drink: The Cafe at Tate Liverpool provides a fantastic view of the historic Albert Dock whilst serving breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.
WHERE: Tate Liverpool, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4BB, Merseyside.
WHEN: 17 – 27 May. www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-liverpool/display/tate-liverpool-25
WHAT: The Chelsea Fringe Attended by The Duchess of Cornwall in 2012, the Fringe includes a range of exhibitions, avant-garde art installations, garden open days, dinners, demonstrations and pop-up community spaces.
WHERE: Across the Royal London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
WHEN: 18 May – 9 June. www.chelseafringe.com
WHAT: Royal Welsh Smallholder & Garden Festival Featuring floral art and horticultural stands, display gardens, a farmers market alongside dance displays, a Motocross Stunt Display Team and a wide variety of acts. Panic Circus will be on hand to entertain the children, providing puppet shows, storytelling and game sessions.
Don't Miss: The various talks and lectures throughout the show, as well as a Gardeners Question Time!
Eat and Drink: Foodstalls will be selling local produce amidst the 320 trade stands.
WHERE: Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, LD2 3SY, Powys.
WHEN: 18 – 19 May. www.rwas.co.uk/spring-festival
WHAT: Nigel Haworth's Fantastic Food Show The Michelin star chef hosts the food event featuring a cookery theatre, exhibitions and a children's zone.
Don't Miss: Valentine Warner in The Cookery Theatre at 13:00 and Nigel Haworth at 16:30
WHERE: Ewood Park, Blackburn, BB2 4JF.
WHEN: 19 May www.fantasticfoodshow.com
WHAT: Filmphonics: The Lucky Dog Picturehouse Sit through a unique and authentic 1920's silent film experience, the event will be screening a variety of movies featuring a live piano soundtrack.
Don't Miss: The screening of Laurel & Hardy in 'The Pawn Shop', where they team up for the first time.
WHERE: Hackney Attic, Hackney Picturehouse 270 Mare Street, Hackney, London, E8 1HE.
WHEN: 19 May www.picturehouses.co.uk
WHAT: The RAW Fair Featuring talks from world leading wine experts, a variety of food from renowned artisan food restaurants whilst offering visitors the chance to sample over 800 different wines.
Eat and Drink: Elliot's Cafe, from Borough Market, will be hosting a pop-up wood-fired grill or head over to Neal's Yard Dairy to taste farm cheeses from the British Isles!
WHERE: The Old Truman Brewery, 91-95 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL.
WHEN: 19 - 20 May. www.rawfair.com
WHAT: The London Literature Festival Back with a host of best-selling authors, featuring the author of bestselling novel 'The Time Travellers Wife' Audrey Niffenegger, alongside other recognisable figures such as Barbara Kingsolver, Lionel Shriver and William Darymple who will be reading and discussing their work. There will be five lectures held by biographer Claire Tomalin on literary icons such as Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy, alongside live poetry readings and short plays.
Don't Miss: Melvyn Bragg launching his new novel 'Grace and Mary'.
WHERE: Southbank Centre, South Bank, Waterloo, London, SE1 8XX.
WHEN: 20 May- 5 June. www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/festivals-series/london-literature-festival
WHAT: Swinderby Antique & Collectors Fair The largest event of its kind featuring over 600 specialist stalls from fine antique furniture to stunning vintage clothing and jewellery.
WHERE: RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire, LN6 9QG.
WHEN: 20 May. www.iacf.co.uk/swinderby
WHAT: RHS Chelsea Flower Show Celebrating its centenary year, the highlight of the horticulture calendar returns with 700 exhibitors, over 100 flower displays, 20 show gardens alongside a spell-binding display of the shows transformation since 1913.
Don't Miss: Gnomes painted by celebrities such as Elton John and Maggie Smith in a bid to raise money for the RHS Chelsea Centenary Appeal.
WHERE: Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, SW3 4SL.
WHEN: 21 – 25 May. www.rhs.org.uk
WHAT: Bath International Music Festival Returning for the 65th year, the musicians featured range from international stars to new, emerging artists showcasing jazz giants, folk and classical virtuosos. The programmes events include musical theatre productions, films, talks and multi media events.
WHERE: Various venues in Bath City Centre, Somerset.
WHEN: 22 May- 2 June. www.bathfestivals.org.uk/music