Shakespeare at Straford upon Avon - special deals
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is offering short spring and summer breaks in Stratford-upon-Avon, which include a top-price theatre ticket, accommodation, a meal, and a complimentary programme for the play of their choice.

Top English Restaurants Named
Accolades from the world’s top chefs and food writers are giving fresh momentum to the growing reputation of Britain’s creative and innovative restaurateurs. Now, according to an international survey conducted by Restaurant Magazine, more than a quarter of the world’s top 50 restaurants can be found in England.

London Double Decker Bus Celebrates Anniversary
It is London’s favourite vehicle – the red, double-deck Routemaster bus – and it marks its 50th anniversary in September. The London Transport Museum has organized a variety of public events to mark the historic anniversary.

Borde Hill Summer Events
Borde Hill, one of Southern England's finest gardens, has a succession of events this summer. The events include open air productions of Shakespeare's "As You Like It", and "Taming of the Shrew" plus a proms concert and firework display.

Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races welcome Tall Ships
Two very different forms of transport will be in the spotlight on the Isle of Man from June 4-10, when up to ten Tall Ships will be based there at the time of the world-famous Tourist Trophy motorcycle race.

Roman legionnaire tour of York
York’s first Roman Legionnaire tour will be launched this Sunday, 25th April, with a charity walk around the Bar Walls by three Roman soldiers in full battle armour………and sandals!

Local History Month in London
May is Local History Month in London, and to celebrate the theme, London's Metropolitan Archives, the LMA, is hosting a variety of events aimed at encouraging awareness of local heritage., including a look at the world of London's Music Halls, and a peek behind some of the LMA's ongoing heritage conservation projects.

Lancashire Weekend Contest
The Lancashire Tourism Board is giving away a free weekend break for two. This superb prize includes two nights dinner, bed & breakfast at the Elms Hotel Morecambe, leaving you plenty of time to explore the surrounding sights.

Northumberland Art Tour 2004
In the county of castles and spectacular coastline, huge skies and Hadrian’s Wall, ninety artists across the whole of Northumberland will be welcoming the public into their potteries, studios, workshops and even spare rooms on eight summer Sundays for a celebration of the region’s finest art. (June 6, 13, 20, 27 and July 4, 11,18 and 25 - FREE!)

Join an Archaeology Excavation in York
Every summer the York Archaeological Trust invites the public to join them on a dig. Archaeology Live! offers a program of one to fifteen day dig experiences, and can be suited to all ages and abilities, with special activities available for under-16s.

Amateur Historian's Guide: The Heart of England
A new book in the Amateur Historian series, by Sarah Valente Kettler and Carole Trimble, explores the Heart of England, covering over 200 Tudor and Medieval sites within two hours travel of London.

Taunton 1100 Festival
Throughout May, Taunton, the county town of Somerset, celebrates the 1,100th anniversary of the granting of its town charter by King Edward the Elder to the Bishop of Winchester.

British Cheese Making Headlines
A new Stilton Trail allows visitors to explore and taste the world famous Stilton cheese, only produced in three English Midland counties: Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. Known as the king of English cheese, its production is entrusted to six specialist dairies. The trail booklet is available free from local tourist offices.

Glyndebourne Marks Anniversary
The 2004 season at Glyndebourne (May 20 - Aug.29) marks the 70th anniversary of the unique opera festival in the East Sussex countryside, and the 10th anniversary of the new opera house.

Easter Egg Hunts Highlight April at National Trust Properties
Children up and down the UK are invited to join the National Trust Easter Egg Trails this year. 145 properties will be joining in the Easter holiday fun by organising quiz trails, egg hunts and other egg-citing activities.

UK Budget Bus Travel Service Launches
Britain's first low-cost bus service - MegaBus - has been launched, allowing passengers to travel between many major cities for as little as £1.

New Walking Festivals in England
Walking festivals are becoming increasingly popular in Britain, combining healthy exercise with the chance to explore rural areas, and enjoy related events and entertainments. One new festival this year is in South Somerset (May 29 - June 6)

Ashmolean Museum Exhibits Treasures from Oxford University Colleges
This summer, the colleges comprising Oxford University are to reveal some of their finest possessions, including many which have never been on public display. "A Treasured Inheritance: 600 Years of Oxford College Silver" will be on view at the city's Ashmolean Museum from June 16 to September 19 - the free exhibition is described as one of the most important the museum has held.

Canal Boating in London
The Easter opening of a canal-boat rental base on the outskirts of London opens up the possibility of self-drive cruises through London for the first time. Comfortable and fully-equipped narrow-boats have been available for self-catering rental for many years all over the country, but the opening of the new base at Cowley Peachey on the Grand Union Canal near Uxbridge provides several new possibilities.

New Forest Cycling Holiday
There is a new way of seeing the New Forest: on a luxury cycling break. Though it sounds a contradiction in terms, cycling tour operator Country Lanes has combined leisurely pedalling on leafy forest trails, using the latest Trek bikes, with a two-night stay at the Rhinefield House Hotel, a former hunting lodge known as “the jewel in the forest”.

English Model Villages
The world’s oldest model village will mark its 75th anniversary this summer, a few weeks after the newest one opens its gates for the first time. The old is at Bekonscott, in the Chiltern Hills north-west of London, the new opens at Lydney, in the Royal Forest of Dean.