Trevithick Steam Engine Restored for York's Railfest
Restoration has begun on the only working replica of the world’s first steam locomotive, Penydarren. In a six-month operation at the National Railway Museum in York, the history-making locomotive will be put back into running order ready for the 200th anniversary of the first ever journey by steam-hauled train in February 2004.

Castle Howard Group Tours
The stately home of Castle Howard, near York, has put together a most remarkable set of days out for pre-booked groups. The new range of exclusive themed days cover Architecture, to Garden History (Castle Howard has every major period of gardening represented across its 1,000 acre site), restoration and renovation, to archaeology, and each are led by a dedicated and zealous guide.

Burghead's Burning of the Clavie Celebrates New Year
One of the few fire festivals commemorating the old new year is the Burning of the Clavie, which takes place every year in Burghead, Grampian, Scotland. The clavie (a traditionally - built barrel filled with tar) is lit and carried by a group of ten local men - traditionally fishermen - whose ancestors have passed on the honour of being part of the Clavie crew.

Special Offer on top English attractions
VisitBritain is offering special 2 for 1 admission specials to top attractions throughout England. Heading the list of special fares is the World Heritage site of Stonehenge and Tintagel Castle, reputed home of King Arthur.

New website for Theatre Museum
London's Theatre Museum has a new "virtual face". A new website, for the museum launched in December at www.peopleplayuk.org.uk.

BritRail photo contest
Win a 15 day BritRail FlexiPass for 2 to everywhere and anywhere that BritRail travels as well as 2 free 15 day Great British Heritage Passes that allow you access to over 600 castles, gardens and historic sites around Britain.

Wales Adventure Tours
An exciting outdoor activity called ‘coasteering’ has been the favourite pursuit this year on adventure tours of Wales run by a company with the intriguing name Shaggy Sheep. Coasteering, which involves traversing and jumping low-level cliffs and exploring caves on some of Wales’s spectacular coastline, is just one activity on the mini-bus tours.

London Events for the new year
The first retrospective exhibition of Vuillard to be held in the UK; a new contemporary art fair; a major show of Henry Moore sculptures; Cecil Beaton photographic portraits; and how technology has revolutionised newspapers...these are among London's highlights this winter and next spring.

Chinese New Year at the Victoria and Albert Museum
Visitors of all ages are invited to join in with events in celebration of Chinese New Year at London's Victoria and Albert Museum on January 24. Watch the auspicious lion dance and try traditional Chinese tea and fortune cookies. Children can enjoy having their faces painted in Chinese opera style and all visitors are encouraged to participate in a game of Chinese chess.

RHS Year of Gardening in Britain
The British love of gardening will be celebrated next year as the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) – the UK’s leading gardening charity – marks its bicentenary with a "Year of Gardening" - a full year of celebrations and activities, including special exhibitions at the Chelsea Flower Show and Hampton Court.

National Storytelling Week 2004
The fourth annual ‘extravaganza’ of storytelling (January 31 – February 7) will be held in theatres, halls, bookshops, libraries, school, museums, arts centres and pubs throughout Britain. Organised by groups linked to the Society for Storytelling, some 350 events are expected to take place, with most of the stories being told rather than read, maintaining an oral tradition that goes back thousands of years and predates the written word.

National Trust Christmas walks and events
Christmas walks - come for a walk with the National Trust over the festive season. The Trust has planned a variety of wonderful organised walks and you have access to Trust land across the country if you'd like to plan your own expedition. Go behind the scenes at National Trust gardens and historic houses, or find Father Christmas in the Wicken Fen - there's something for everyone to see and do.

London Guildhall Showcases early maps of London
The earliest surviving printed map of London is one of the highlights of an exhibition at the Guildhall Library, which depicts how maps of the capital have evolved over four centuries. Mapping the Metropolis is currently running at the Guildhall Library until 28 February 2004 and displays printed maps of the capital spanning four centuries.

Scotland's Wildlife Adventures
Two new brochures from VisitScotland will inspire all lovers of Scottish wildlife and arm them with the practical information needed to experience it for themselves. “Wildlife Scotland” details guided walks, treks, and "Scottish safaris" aimed at getting you close to some of Scotlands most colourful and intriguing animals, birds, and sea-life.

London's Christmas Lights
London is lighting up for the Christmas holiday season. Between 4 December and 6 January, Trafalgar Square will be graced with the traditional Christmas tree donated by the City of Oslo in gratitude for British help and friendship during the Second World War. The large tree, decorated with white lights, will be the focus of carol singing by various groups in aid of charity between 1700 and 2100 on most evenings until 24 December.

A Tudor Christmas at the Weald and Downland Museum
Food and drinks from Elizabethan times can be sampled at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum near Chichester, West Sussex. Tastes of a Tudor Christmas (Dec.26 - Jan.1) offers visitors a chance to visit Bayleaf farmhouse, decorated for Christmas as it may have been 400 years ago, and enjoy festive sweetmeats, warm hypocras (Tudor mulled wine) and an open fire in the hall.

Edinburgh Christmas and New Years Events
In Edinburgh, the run-up to Christmas, and the New Year celebrations, are on a big scale, and attract visitors from many lands to the Scottish capital. First comes Capital Christmas (Nov. 27 - Dec. 24), with lights along Princes Street and the adjoining gardens switched on from the first day, and a huge ferris wheel turning until Jan.4.

Victorian Warship on display in Chatham Historic Dockyard
HMS Gannet, the last sloop of Queen Victoria's Royal Navy, has been refloated at the Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent, after a 24-month restoration. The 190-foot vessel, built in 1878, can be viewed from the dockside: she is due to open to the public next April, joining the dockyard's other two historic warships, HMS Cavalier and the submarine Ocelot.

Tower Bridge Engineering Tours
Tower Bridge Exhibition will be offering the unique opportunity to take a trip behind the scenes and discover the workings of one of the most famous engineering feats in the World. From 12 until 23 January, Monday to Friday, Tower Bridge engineering tours will take place every evening.

Rotherham Countryside Events - January - February
The area around Rotherham (Yorkshire) provides excellent opportunities for exploring nature - even in winter! A variety of family events showcase the countryside, including guided walks, New Years rambles, and birding outings.

Elgar Festival 2004
The 70th anniversary of the death of England’s greatest composer – Sir Edward Elgar - will be marked in 2004 with a festival in his home county and special events at his birthplace museum near Worcester.