New exhibitions and cultural happenings
From brand new attractions in Manchester, London and the Cotswolds, to must-see exhibitions featuring Banksy, Turner, William Morris and more.
Bayeux Tapestry & England’s Norman heritage, Nationwide
With the Bayeux Tapestry on display in Britain – at London’s British Museum (10 Sept 2026 – 11 July 2027) – for the first time in more than 900 years, this is a landmark moment for England’s Norman heritage. There are also plenty of other ways to discover the story of 1066, starting in Berkshire where Reading Museum is home to Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry, the only full-scale replica of the famous embroidery. Created by Victorian women more than 140 years ago, the meticulous recreation has been housed in Reading for over a century, offering the chance to study every scene of the Norman Conquest without the crowds. In Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury Abbey will unveil From Conquest to Kingdom (7 Oct 2026 – 11 Jul 2027), displaying its own full-size Bayeux Tapestry replica in one of Britain’s finest surviving Norman buildings. For Bayeux Around Britain, hand-painted casts of details from the Bayeux Tapestry will go on display at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery before touring to Norwich Castle Museum and four other venues around the UK (from Sept). In East Sussex, the Battle of Hastings reenactment (10–11 Oct) returns bigger than ever to mark the 960th anniversary of 1066 with hundreds of costumed participants, cavalry displays and living history camps. Looking ahead, 2027 will be the Year of the Normans, an international celebration marking the 1,000th anniversary of William the Conqueror’s birth.
New Chinese garden: Yangzho Scholars’ Garden at RHS Garden Bridgewater, Salford, Manchester
Opening 25 September 2026
The UK’s first authentic classical Chinese garden will be unveiled at RHS Garden Bridgewater. Created in collaboration with the Chinese community in Greater Manchester, the Chinese-inspired garden will feature four pavilions, each dedicated to the traditional arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting.
125th anniversary of Brighton & Hove Albion FC, Sussex
Autumn 2026
Having just kicked off their 10th consecutive season in the Premier League, Brighton continues celebrating the 125th anniversary of its beloved Brighton & Hove Albion FC – one of football’s greatest success stories. Theatre Royal Brighton’s production of Stand or Fall (23–26 Sept) will follow a group of fans from the club’s last days at the Goldstone via Withdean to Wembley, to playing in Europe. Meanwhile, a new gallery at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery has just opened a permanent exhibition bringing the team’s colourful history to life through immersive storytelling and treasured memorabilia.
New exhibition: Horrockses Fashions at The Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston, Lancashire
From 18 September 2026
Horrockses Fashions was born in the 1940s from a Lancashire cotton mill and designed in Preston – and its fashions were sold at Harrods and Selfridges, and worn by Queen Elizabeth II. Marking the brand’s 80th anniversary, this will be the largest Horrockses exhibition ever in the UK. Her late Majesty had the first pick of every collection, wearing the pieces privately before they went on sale.
New exhibition: In Turner’s Wake at The Historic Dockyard Chatham, Kent
19 September – 15 November 2026
The largest display of works by J.M.W. Turner shown at The Historic Dockyard Chatham will pair
his 19th Century pieces with oil paintings by contemporary artist Jake Wood-Evans. This powerful exhibition of British maritime art is a rare opportunity to view Turner’s Medway Sketchbook and his oil painting, Second Sketch for ‘The Battle of Trafalgar’ – on loan from national collections.
Reopening: King George’s Hall, Blackburn, Lancashire
From 26 September 2026
Once host to the likes of The Beatles, Queen and David Bowie, this iconic venue will reopen with a jam-packed programme: from musical sets with Jason Donovan and David Essex, to talks by astronaut Tim Peake and cricketer Jimmy Anderson. The 105-year-old, Grade II Listed Hall has been closed for extensive renovation since January 2025.
World Town Crier Tournament, Cheshire
22 – 26 September 2026
Chester will host the free World Town Crier Tournament bringing together 25 town criers from eight nations to compete for the title of the world’s best. Set against the backdrop of one of England’s most historic cities, the colourful week-long event celebrates a tradition that has been part of Chester’s heritage since 1554, with competitors judged on their vocal power, showmanship and audience engagement.
Major William Morris exhibitions: Cambridge & Manchester
From 23 October & from 5 December 2026
William Morris, the 19th Century’s most famous textile designer, social reformer and forerunner of the modern green movement, will be the focal point for two major exhibitions: A Call to Art: William Morris & the Pre-Raphaelites (from 23 October at The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge) and William Morris: Common Paradise (from 5 December at Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester).
New exhibition: Out of Line: Banksy and the Art of Dissent at The Minories, Colchester, Essex
10 October 2026 – 28 February 2027
A landmark exhibition of street art featuring 28 original artworks by Banksy, alongside significant pieces by more than 20 leading figures from the global street art and urban contemporary art scene. This major show of authenticated works will include pieces rarely seen on public display.
New attraction: Absurd City by Wake The Tiger, London
15 October 2026
Wake the Tiger will open its second outpost at Westfield in White City, London. Launching in autumn, Absurd City will span over 80,000 sq. ft making it the largest of its kind in Europe, and will feature installations that engage all the senses. As with the original Wake The Tiger Dream Factory in Bristol, visitors can expect to spend several hours exploring the otherworldly industrial spaces on a self-guided tour.
New museum wing: The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum, Cheltenham, Cotswolds
Opening 23 October 2026
The museum has been closed for six-years so this exciting project provides a unique opportunity to redisplay Cheltenham’s treasures from over 250,000 amazing objects from art, craft, history, nature, science, costume, and contemporary life. Part of this renovation work is the launch of a new self-guided trail and exhibition celebrating the town’s rich and diverse cultural history.
New exhibition: Secret Life of Colour at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
24 October 2026 – 31 January 2027
Discover works by Andy Warhol, Wassily Kandinsky and Bridget Riley, fascinating colourful objects, and the surprising ways colour shapes nature, culture, emotions and our world. The gallery will also host special evening events for adults on selected dates featuring DJs, drinks and sip-and-sketch.
Celebrate Purple Tuesday with Pride & Prejudice (*sort of) at Nottingham Playhouse
2 – 7 November 2026
Coinciding with Purple Tuesday (3 November), the global movement championing accessibility for disabled people and their families, Nottingham Playhouse’s upcoming production of Pride & Prejudice (*sort of) highlights the theatre’s ongoing commitment to making theatre accessible to all. After its triumph in the West End, where it won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy, Pride & Prejudice (*sort of) will run for five nights at Nottingham Playhouse, which received the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026 Accessible Tourism Silver Award this summer. The production will also feature a Touch Tour (4 Nov), giving blind and partially sighted visitors the opportunity to explore the set, costumes and props ahead of the performance.
New opening: London Museum, Smithfield
28 November 2026
Opening in November, the new London Museum will explore the capital in vibrant detail, with highlights including a six-metre viewing window with live trains running past – a world museum first.
Autumn on a plate: new foodie experiences
Fresh ways to savour local flavours: from a wine walk and honey trail, to a new Clarkson’s Farm tour.
Fans of Clarkson’s Farm can join Active England’s new series-inspired walking tour, combining classic Cotswolds villages and heritage with Jeremy Clarkson’s pub and Hawkstone Brewery (11–16 Oct). Meanwhile, Suffolk’s Wine Trail showcases its prolific vineyards, and West Sussex’s Honey Trail links its sweetest producers, farm shops and beekeeping experiences – both recently launched. On the coast, Kent’s Whitstable Rocks Oyster Festival (11–13 Sept) celebrates the native mollusc’s cultural significance with live music, tastings and the historic “Landing of the Oysters Ceremony”.
Looking north, Ad Gefrin recently launched the first single malt whisky to be distilled in Northumberland for more than 200 years, and its new Illicit Whisky Walk will explore the region’s whisky-smuggling history on a guided trail through the Coquetdale Valley (27 Sept & 8 Nov). Near Manchester, Northern Roots – the UK’s largest eco-park and urban farm – will unveil a new visitor centre and café celebrating slow food and farming (19 Sept). County Durham’s Rockliffe Hall reopens after a multi-million-pound redevelopment as a gastronomy-led luxury hotel (Sept). And Leeds is feasting on two major recent openings: Indian favourite Dishoom, and Moods, a new all-day eatery led by acclaimed chef Craig Rogan.
In Northamptonshire, Revival Rum now offers distillery tours and tastings, with hands-on rum-making experiences on the horizon. In Somerset, Thornfalcon Winery & Press – a new vineyard, press and farm stay – will debut its programme of vineyard tours, tastings, farm-to-table supper clubs, cooking masterclasses and wellness retreats (from Sept). In Lancashire, you can tuck into Blackpool’s new South Beach Street Food hub (opening in Sept, next to the Pleasure Beach), while Derby’s recently launched Bustler Derby unites independent food vendors, bars and shops in a vibrant shipping-container venue.
In Herefordshire, a new multi-day wine tour (departures in Sept & Oct) will feature wine tastings and cellar visits at three family-run vineyards, whilst the county’s expanded ‘Cider Sleepovers’ collection now includes Woodside Lodges with its restored cider mill, onsite swimming lake and sauna. In Surrey, The Walled Garden’s Fire Club hosts its first autumn season (Sept – Nov) bringing together intimate supper clubs and long-table feasts, set against the glow of roaring fires and accompanied by live music. In Berkshire, Binfield welcomes The Jack O’Newbury, a characterful new pub with rooms by Michelin-starred chef Dominic Chapman featuring an open fire, craft ales and seasonal dishes (2 Sept). And if you missed the launch of the Michelin-starred Fat Duck’s new immersive dining experiences earlier this year – including a chef’s table at the pass and a back-to-front tasting menu – it’s time to catch up.
Light up autumn: stargazing, Diwali and after-dark fun
As the nights draw in, experience England’s Diwali parades, illuminated festivals and stargazing.
Autumn is the ideal season to explore England’s dark skies. In Northumberland, The Tempus at Charlton Hall Estate will launch stargazing stays (from Sept 2026 to March 2027) in partnership with Kielder Observatory (located within Kielder Forest which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year), alongside new wellness and foraging experiences (19 Sept). Meanwhile, the Lake District’s Grizedale Observatory unveils its new Space Museum – packed with unique artefacts collected from space. Near Bath, The Bird of Prey Project will debut its Owl Evenings, featuring sunset flying displays and the chance to fly two of its owls (19 & 20 Sept, 21 & 22 Nov).
Did you know that Leicester is home to one of the world’s largest Diwali celebrations outside India? On 8 November it will light up its Diwali Village, with live music, street food and illuminations including its iconic Big Wheel. Meanwhile in Northamptonshire, Wellingborough will revive its Festival of Lights (31 Oct) with Bollywood dancing and Dhol drummers to honour Diwali and the changing seasons. For a more indulgent celebration, Farlam Hall near Carlisle will host a lavish Diwali weekend (6–8 Nov), pairing traditional diya lighting and fireworks with Michelin-starred dining.
Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire will extend its visiting hours for dawn and twilight viewings of its poignant Standing with Giants installation, with 1,476 life-sized silhouettes commemorating the lives lost on D-Day in 1944 – a new chance to see them as night turns to day, or day turns to night (selected dates in Nov). And Blackpool Illuminations will premiere new light-up artworks by three acclaimed female artists, including Toyah Willcox’s Wishing Star – an illumination and accompanying song, inspired by her childhood memories of visiting Blackpool (4 Sept 2026 – 3 Jan 2027).
Spooks and sparklers: Halloween and Bonfire Night events
A spine-tingling season of epic fireworks, pumpkin picking and things that go bump in the night…
Northumberland Haunted Museum opened this summer, and it’s embracing its first Halloween with activities including a past life regression workshop, spell bottle-making and a paranormal investigation. In Suffolk, Moyse’s Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds will open a major new Witch Trials exhibition (from 31 Oct), exploring East Anglia’s infamous witch persecutions through rare artefacts and a new partnership with Salem Witch Museum in Massachusetts. For more witchcraft, Practical Magic 2 (in cinemas 11 Sept) sees the Owens sisters, played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, journey to England in search of the origins of their magic, drawing inspiration from our atmospheric landscapes and rich folklore.
Face your fears at Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein in Bath, whose horror-filled After Dark Nights to Die For experience will unfold in total darkness – featuring dead ends, confined spaces and labyrinths galore (23–31 Oct). Bath’s No.1 Royal Crescent will also host its first Paranormal Evening of séances and interactive ghost-hunting experiments (24 Oct). In Yorkshire it’s all-aboard Spooquay: The Ghost Ship at Hartlepool’s National Museum of the Royal Navy, an immersive after-dark experience featuring a “ghost” crew, spooky soundscapes and chilling tales from the past (30–31 Oct). Manchester will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Halloween in the City featuring the rooftop MCR Monsters, the Monster Party Procession and family entertainment, plus its fan-favourite Walk the Plank Monster Party Procession (24–31 Oct). At Tees Valley’s notoriously haunted North Road Station Museum Brave souls can join the Spectre Detectors for a night of ghost hunting, or play it safe with a pick-your-own pumpkin and carving session at nearby Darlington Market (both 29 Oct).
Near Carlisle, Walby Farm Park’s adults-only Pumpkin Picking After Dark will combine live music, seasonal food and pumpkin picking by moonlight (16–30 Oct). For woodland magic, Northamptonshire’s Kelmarsh Hall will open its new Forest of Secrets lantern-lit trail, for an enchanting evening of light, sound and storytelling (31 Oct – 2 Jan). And in Cornwall, Halloweden is back at the Eden Project (24 Oct – 1 Nov), bringing autumnal magic to the gardens and Biomes from a miniature mushroom trail to an immersive UV Hidden Glow Room.
Black History Month: reflection, recognition & celebration
Throughout October, destinations across England will celebrate Black History Month, shining a spotlight on Black heritage, culture and creativity through art, music, food, comedy and community events.
Highlights for 2026 include Portrait of Black Britain (1–31 Oct) at Manchester’s Aviva Studios, celebrating Black British lives and identities, and An Evening with President Barack Obama (15 Oct) at Manchester’s Co-op Live, where the former US President will discuss leadership, democracy and social change. In Birmingham, visitors can enjoy MOBBO: Music of Black British Origin (2–3 Oct), celebrating the influence of Black British music and culture, while Benjamin Zephaniah Day: A Festival of Rhythm, Unity and Revolution (18 Oct) will honour the late poet’s legacy through music, performance and activism. In Liverpool, the British Music Experience will host 50 Years of Rock Against Racism exhibition (10 Sept – 3 Jan) revisiting a pivotal moment in British music and social history with a special film screening and Q&A on 1 October. Leicester will host a Black History Month Cookery Course series (throughout Oct), exploring global Black culinary traditions, while audiences in Hastings can discover the stories woven into the Tapestry of Black Britons (1–31 Oct). Throughout October, COBO: Comedy Shutdown Black History Month Special will tour English cities, including London, Luton and Leicester, bringing together leading Black comedians for evenings of laughter and celebration.
Set-jetting: new releases starring England
The major new films and TV series filmed throughout England, and featuring homegrown talents.
New film: Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom
18 September 2026
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Bristol-based Aardman animation studio, and to celebrate it will release a new film starring one of its best-loved characters: Shaun the Sheep. The Halloween-themed tale will screen in cinemas and on Sky and will follow the woolly hero’s race to save the pumpkin patch at Mossy Bottom Farm. To join in the fun, Bristol Zoo Project has launched a Shaun the Sheep Wildlife Mission (until 31 Oct) encouraging visitors to explore a brand new trail and solve wildlife conservation challenges. In September 2025, Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park opened the renovated Harris Museum in his birthplace of Preston, which includes a life-size version of the duo’s living room.
New film: Sense and Sensibility, filmed in Dartmoor and Devon
26 September 2026
After the nationwide celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday in 2025, a new film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility will star Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood and George MacKay as Edward Ferrars. Production commenced in summer 2025, it was filmed throughout Dartmoor and Devon – including Kingston Russell House, Long Bredy and Parnham Park.
New DC Universe film: Clayface, filmed in Liverpool
22 October 2026
Liverpool was transformed into Gotham City last summer, with filming for the horror-thriller Clayface taking place across the city. Shooting locations reportedly included Liverpool Crown Court, Derby Square in the city centre, St. George’s Hall, the Cunard Building and Water Street. Directed by James Watkins, the movie will star Tom Rhys Harries as Clayface and Naomi Ackie as Elizabeth Holmes.
New series: Celebrity Traitors UK 2026
Autumn 2026
As excitement builds around the new series of Celebrity Traitors UK, England’s castle stays offer the perfect opportunity to step beyond the fortified walls and into a world of mystery, regal décor and views fit for a VIP. From the regal suites hidden within Warwick Castle’s Caesar’s Tower and the clock tower apartment of Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, to the Royal Chamber of Hedingham Castle and the Tudor intrigue of Thornbury Castle, visitors can enjoy their own Traitors-style escape. For those looking to take it a step further, Middleton Castle in Norfolk offers Traitors-style weekend experiences allowing guests to put their powers of deduction to the test in the moated castle.
30th anniversary of Tomb Raider and Lara Croft, Derby
Autumn 2026
2026 marks 30 years since the creation of Tomb Raider and its heroine, Lara Croft, by Derby-based games studio Core Design. And as anticipation grows for the new live-action Lara Croft TV series created for Amazon Prime Video by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Pickfords’ House Tomb Raider exhibition will continue until 28 November, and the annual major fans’ gathering Tomb Raider Day will take place on 24 October. Fundraising has also started to bring a 9ft statue of Lara Croft to the city.
New Series: Pride and Prejudice, filmed in London, the Peak District and East Sussex
Autumn 2026
Starring Golden Globe winner Emma Corrin as Elizabeth Bennet, BAFTA winner Jack Lowden as Mr Darcy and Academy Award winner Olivia Colman as Mrs Bennet, Netflix’s forthcoming adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is truly star-studded. It was written by bestselling British author Dolly Alderton, and will feature locations including Spitalfields in London’s East End, the Peak District in Derbyshire and Rye in East Sussex.
New movie location app: Visit Bristol partners with SetJetters
Autumn 2026
Bristol’s screen credits are impressive: it has featured in everything from Rivals and Skins, to Doctor Who, The Outlaws and Young Sherlock. This autumn, Visit Bristol will partner with SetJetters, a free movie scene location app featuring interactive maps, gamification and ShotSync to help users discover more than 50 filming locations, recreate iconic scenes and explore the surrounding area. Just in time for the second batch of Rivals season two episodes out on Disney+ in November.