Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
Things to do in the UK in February 2015
|
|
Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
Things to do in the UK in February 2015
|
||||
|
FEBRUARY
2015
|
||||||
|
Sun
|
Mon
|
Tue
|
Wed
|
Thu
|
Fri
|
Sat
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
 Snowdrops |
|
Sun 1 Feb 2015
|
Clown Service, London
Each year, on the first Sunday in February, clowns gather for a church service in East London in memory of the British clown Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837). The church service usually starts at 3pm at Holy Trinity Church in Dalston (Tube: Liverpool Street, then bus 149 or 242; nearest train station: Dalston Kingsland; map). Afterwards there is normally a performance by the clowns in a nearby school, and a chance to visit the Clowns Gallery and Museum. * Photos from this event: Ideas/Album/ClownService |
|
Fri 6 Feb 2015
|
Waitangi Day
New Zealand's national day, commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 Feb 1840. New Zealanders may celebrate with a meal, drink or party. * New Zealand links: Links/NewZealand |
|
Fri 6 Feb 2015
|
Queen's Accession: gun salutes, London/Windsor
Queen Elizabeth came to the throne (aged 25) on 6 February 1952, the date when her father King George the Sixth died. To mark this event, cannons will be fired in the following locations: - A 41-gun salute at 12 noon fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park, London (opposite the Dorchester Hotel: map ; nearest Tube: Hyde Park Corner or Marble Arch) - A 62-gun salute at 1pm fired by the Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London (from the gunpark at the western end of London Wharf: map ; nearest Tube: Tower Hill). Guns have been fired from this location since the time of Henry the Eighth - A 21-gun salute at 12 noon at The Long Walk in the grounds of Windsor Castle, Windsor (near the Brook Street entrance: map) For background information about the gun salutes, see: http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandCeremonies/GunSalutes/Gunsalutes.aspx or https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/green-park/things-to-see-and-do/events-in-green-park/royal-gun-salutes * Royal traditions: Britain/Countries/Royalty. |
|
Fri 6 Feb -
Sat 7 Feb 2015 |
Six Nations Championship, UK/France/Italy
International rugby competition (England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy). See: http://www.rbs6nations.com This weekend's games are (UK kick-off times are shown): Friday: 8:05pm Wales vs England Saturday: 2:30pm Italy vs Ireland; 5:00pm France vs Scotland * Rugby in the UK: Life/Sport/Rugby * Photos from a visit to a Six Nations game: Ideas/Album/SixNations |
 Six Nations rugby |
 Twickenham rugby stadium |
|
Sun 8 Feb 2015
|
British Academy Film Awards, London
Annual awards ceremony honouring the best British films of the last 12 months. See: http://www.bafta.org/film/awards * British films: Britain/Films |
|
Thu 12 Feb -
Sun 15 Feb 2015 |
Outdoor Adventure & Travel Show, London
Event at ExCeL in Docklands for people who are interested in outdoor activities or cycling (nearest station: Custom House on the DLR; map). For details, see: http://telegraphoutdoorshow.co.uk |
|
Sat 14 Feb -
Sun 15 Feb 2015 |
Six Nations Championship, UK/France/Italy
International rugby competition (England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy). See: http://www.rbs6nations.com This weekend's games are (UK kick-off times are shown): Saturday: 2:30pm England vs Italy; 5:00pm Ireland vs France Sunday: 3:00pm Scotland vs Wales * Rugby in the UK: Life/Sport/Rugby * Photos from a visit to a Six Nations game: Ideas/Album/SixNations |
| Sat 14 Feb 2015 | Valentine's Day, UK A time to tell someone that you love him/her. Both men and women can send cards or give presents. Traditionally, you do not write your name on the card or present (but you may add a clue so that he or she can guess it is from you). They are often sent by post, delivered by someone else or are hidden: they are not normally given directly to the person. Among the most common presents are chocolates, teddy bears and flowers. Couples sometimes go out for a meal: reserve a table early if you want to go to a restaurant on this day. * Ideas for Valentine's Day presents: Ideas/Gifts/Valentine |
 Valentine's Day |
|
Sat 14 Feb -
Sun 22 Feb 2015 |
Jorvik Viking Festival, York
A Viking festival in York, including a battle re-enactment on the final Saturday. For full details, see: http://www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/viking-festival * Guide to York: Travel/Tours/England/York |
 Battle re-enactment during the Jorvik Viking Festival |
| Sun 15 Feb 2015 | Maslenitsa, London A free event based on the Russian spring festival, featuring Russian music, dance, theatre and food/drink. It takes place in Trafalgar Square. See: http://www.maslenitsa.co.uk |
 Lady Maslenitsa (mascot of the Maslenitsa celebration) |
 Russian folk singers |
| Tue 17 Feb - Wed 18 Feb 2015 |
Champions League Football First leg matches from the round of 16 stage of the Champions League The following match is shown live on ITV1: Tuesday 17 Feb: PSG v Chelsea For further information, see: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague or http://www.itv.com/sport/football/champions-league * Football: Life/Sport/Football |
| Tue 17 Feb 2015 | Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day), UK Historically, on Shrove Tuesday Christians confessed their sins and asked to be forgiven for them (this was known as "shriving"). It is the day before the period known as Lent, when Christians traditionally did not eat fatty foods (for example: meat, fish, eggs and milk) for 40 days until Palm Sunday, which is a week before Easter Sunday. Families had a feast on this day to eat those foods which could not be kept for 40 days: eggs and milk were used by adding flour and frying them to make pancakes. This tradition is still kept by many families. The popular name for Shrove Tuesday is Pancake Day. In France the day is called Mardi Gras, which means "Fat Tuesday". For more information, see here. |
| Tue 17 Feb 2015 | Pancake Races, UK About 500 years ago, a woman in the town on Olney in Buckinghamshire was cooking her pancakes at home when she heard the bell calling her to church to make her confessions. She ran out of her house and rushed to church, still holding her frying pan and wearing her apron, tossing the pancakes into the air to stop them from burning. This became famous, starting a tradition known as pancake racing - people dress up with aprons, hold frying pans and race against each other. Pancake races are usually small events organised by local communities, and are often used to raise money for charity. A race still takes place each year in Olney - since 1950 there has been a friendly competition with the town of Liberal in Kansas, USA to see which of the towns can produce the fastest racer. * Photos from the Olney Pancake Race: Ideas/Album/Olney-Pancake-Race Some of the pancake races in London are as follows: - Parliamentary Pancake Race: Pancake races at about 10am - 10:30am between teams from the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Press. The location is in Victoria Tower Gardens, on the south side of the Houses of Parliament (nearest Tube: Westminster; map). See: http://golondon.about.com/od/februaryannualevents/ss/pancake_day_5.htm - Poulters’ Company Pancake Race: races from about 11:30am - 1pm in Guildhall Yard (in front of London's Guildhall in the City of London; nearest Tube: St Paul's, Bank or Mansion House; map). The contest is between teams representing each of the traditional livery companies (trade associations) and raises money for the Lord Mayor's chosen charity. See: http://www.poulters.org.uk - Better Bankside Pancake Race: event from 12 noon - 2pm (races start at 12:30pm), including races between teams from Bankside businesses. The location is Borough Market (nearest Tube: London Bridge). See: http://www.betterbankside.co.uk/events/4th-march-better-bankside-annual-charity-pancake-day-race - Great Spitalfields Pancake Race: race along Dray Walk at the Old Truman Brewery, 91-95 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL starting at 12:30pm (Tube: Aldgate East or Shoreditch; map). For details, see: http://www.alternativearts.co.uk/events * Photos from pancake races in London: Ideas/Album/PancakeRace |
 Pancake Races |
 Tossing a pancake |
| Wed 18 Feb 2015 | Ash Wednesday, UK Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the 40-day period known as Lent (the 40 days - excluding Sundays - before Easter Sunday). In Christian churches there are services in which ashes are used to mark a cross on people's foreheads. Some Christians stop eating some type of food during Lent, and use the period for religious thought. For more information, see here. |
|
Thu 19 Feb 2015
|
Chinese New Year
Start of the Chinese New Year. 2015 is the "year of the sheep". |
|
Fri 20 Feb -
Tue 24 Feb 2015 |
London Fashion Week, London
A showcase for some of the world’s leading fashion talent, based on autumn/winter collections. There are public events as well as events for members of the fashion trade. See: http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk |
|
Sun 22 Feb 2015
|
Chinese New Year: Chinatown event, London
Celebration of the Chinese New Year in the Chinatown area of London (around Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Chinatown and Shaftesbury Avenue). A parade starts at 10:15am in Trafalgar Square and returns there at 12 noon. Entertainment continues from 12-6pm. 2015 is the "year of the sheep". Note that the narrow streets of Soho can get very crowded: be careful to look after your belongings. Meals inside local Chinese restaurants should be pre-booked. For more information, see: http://www.chinatownlondon.org * Photos: Ideas/Album/ChineseNewYear |
 Chinese New Year |
 Chinese dragon dancing |
|
Tue 24 Feb -
Wed 25 Feb 2015 |
Champions League Football
First leg matches from the round of 16 stage of the Champions League The following match is shown live on ITV1: Tuesday 24 Feb: Man City v Barcelona For further information, see: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague or http://www.itv.com/sport/football/champions-league * Football: Life/Sport/Football |
|
Wed 25 Feb 2015
|
Brits Awards, UK
Awards ceremony for British and international pop, shown on ITV1. For details, see: http://www.brits.co.uk. * British pop music: Britain/Music/Pop |
|
Sat 28 Feb -
Sun 1 Mar 2015 |
Six Nations Championship, UK/France/Italy
International rugby competition (England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy). See: http://www.rbs6nations.com This weekend's games are (UK kick-off times are shown): Saturday: 2:30pm Scotland vs Italy ; 5:00pm France vs Wales Sunday: 3:00pm Ireland vs England * Rugby in the UK: Life/Sport/Rugby * Photos from a visit to a Six Nations game: Ideas/Album/SixNations |
| Sat 28 Feb 2015 | UK University Fair, London University fair for international students in London. See: http://www.ukunifair.co.uk |
|
|
|