Medway Maritime Festival
This summer, the dockyard in Chatham, Kent, hosts the Medway Maritime Festival (August 28-29). Over thirty acres will come alive with nautical activities and fun for all age groups. As well as the specially displays, the regular attractions and galleries of the Historic Dockyard will also be open.

English Gardens Highlights in 2005
England’s gardens are always a feast for the senses, but this year they are blooming in more ways than ever, with a host of exhibitions, sculpture trails and other events – plus some of Europe’s most popular flower shows are eagerly awaited. Here are some of the 2005 highlights.

Suffolk Historic Houses and Gardens open
More than 30 historic houses and gardens – rarely open to the public -- will welcome visitors during privileged special openings this summer. They include a 15th century moated hall, a Palladian house from the 1790s and Newmarket’s Jockey Club, the home of horse-racing in Britain.

London Marks Anniversary of WWII
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and Britain's Ministry of Defence has announced that the principal commemoration will take place in London on July 10. The date falls between the anniversaries of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) and Victory against Japan Day (VJ Day).

Portsmouth International Festival of the Sea and Fleet Review
As part of the nationwide 'SeaBritain' celebrations in 2005, one of the largest international gatherings of ships, and an International Festival of the Sea, combine to make six days of Trafalgar bicentennial celebrations a treat for visitors to the south of England this summer (June 28-July 3).

Free London Shopping Guide
The latest cutting edge stores and designer boutiques are featured in a new guide from Visit London. “Shop London” is a free, pocket sized guide giving a breakdown of London’s shopping regions and helping shoppers to navigate London’s diverse shopping opportunities.

Jorvik Viking Festival
Vikings will invade historic York once again, as the Jorvik Viking Festival enters its second week. From 12th – 16th February, York celebrates its Viking heritage with a variety of events including a reenactment of the Battle of Stamford Bridge, a Viking Trading Fair, and Viking ships sailing up the River Ouse.

Straford upon Avon Guided Walks
Stratford Town Walks offer daily guided walks around Stratford upon Avon to see the Shakespeare Houses, Royal Shakespeare Theatres and Holy Trinity Church. The tour guide will entertain you with tales of flood, fires, plague, mediaeval cures and the origin of old fashioned sayings. Very entertaining and informative - and save money at Stratford attractions, shops, pubs, restaurants and tearooms.

London Theatre by River Cruise
Theatre lovers have a new way to experience the best of London’s West End on board London’s luxurious floating hotel, the Magna Carta. Combined with a week-long cruise along the River Thames, guests are hosted by a specialist from the world of theatre and will have the opportunity to see several top West End shows.

Wordsworth and Watercolours in the Lake District
This year marks the 200th anniversary of William Wordsworth’s great autobiographical poem “The Prelude”. The manuscript is on display in the Wordsworth Museum, adjacent to his picturesque home Dove Cottage at Grasmere in the English Lake District. Spring 2005 also sees the opening of the new Collections centre, the Jerwood Centre.

Churchill Museum opens in London
The 40th anniversary of statesman and wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill’s death is being marked with the opening of a new London museum devoted to him. The Churchill Museum, which opens on February 11, is the world’s first dedicated to the life, achievements and legacy of “the greatest Briton who ever lived,” according to a BBC poll.

Battling Knights for Festival of History Honours
Teams of 15th century knights will battle it out this year at six historic sites in England and demonstrate their skills at jousting, archery, foot combat and falconry. The first of these events, organised by English Heritage, will take place at Porchester Castle near Portsmouth in the south of England (May 14-15), first used by the Romans and later used as a depository for Treasury bullion by King Henry I.

Barley Hall, York, offers hands-on History Experience
Barley Hall in historic York has launched a Handy History Gallery and School Room, bringing history to life in York’s unique recreation of a medieval town house. Unlike the traditional museum, noise and mess are part of the agenda!