21 reasons why Britain’s brilliant in 2021
Awe-inspiring landscapes, show-stopping culture and history at every turn. Wander the ornate halls of stately homes and trace the footsteps of clans and kings in Edinburgh. Get creative inspiration from Banksy in Bristol, Turner in Margate and the Liverpool Biennial. Roam landscapes immortalised in postcards, film and poetry for centuries, from the sparkling waters of the Lake District to Cornwall’s golden beaches and the wild Highlands of Scotland. And savour traditional dishes old and new, from piping hot fish and chips and buttery scones to Manchester’s Curry Mile.
From places you’ve dreamt of to views you’ve missed, here are 21 ways to escape the everyday Britain in 2021.
1. RHS Bridgewater, Europe’s largest gardening project springs into life, England, 11 May
Seeking a meditative stroll in a picturesque garden? Horticulture lovers can plan to explore the brand new garden, RHS Bridgewater, set to join the prestigious RHS’s portfolio on 11 May 2021. The 156-acre garden will be the first to be added in 17 years, offering a tranquil escape in the grounds of the historic Worsley New Hall, near the bustling centre of Manchester. This will be the largest gardening project in Europe and includes a kitchen garden, heritage orchard, therapeutic garden and a historic 11-acre walled garden – one of the largest in the UK at double the size of the Sydney Opera House grounds.
2. Celebrating the Welsh outdoors, year round
The 1400 kilometre Wales Coastal Path, striking countryside, coast and castles are staying in the limelight for 2021, as the country continues to celebrate its Year of Outdoors. With three National Parks, 600 castles, Dark Sky Reserves, and chances for foraging, surfing and glamping, next year is set to be bursting with mindful and revitalising experiences where visitors can discover how the outdoors has shaped Welsh culture and identity.
3. Fancy a leg stretch? England’s Coast Path has more than 4800km for you to choose from. Year round
From striking cliffs rising out of the sea to sandy coves and quaint fishing villages, England’s coastline offers a tranquil escape in the great outdoors. The nation’s coastal and marine environments are connected via the England Coast Path, providing access to incredible beauty spots and spectacular places to relax. Set to open in its entirety in 2021 – in the designated the Year of the English Coast –it will create the longest signposted trail in the world at more than 4,800 km. Discover more top English coastal walks here.
4. Looking to celebrate Scotland’s year of Coast and Waters? Year round
Why not take the plunge and try some wild swimming?For a small country, Scotland boasts some of the wildest places to swim, from deep lochs to roaring waterfalls and vast sandy beaches. For beginners, guided wild swimming adventures can be a great option to get started (offered by a number of providers across the country, for example Soak Up Skye on the Isle of Skye, SwimWild in the Highlands and Immerse Hebrides in the Outer Hebrides).
5. Fossil hunting on the Yorkshire Coast, England, year around
From historic grounds to finding evidence of the prehistoric world, 2021 is a great time to jump back to the Jurassic period on a fascinating fossil-hunting beach safari! Keen fossil hunters can discover wonderful examples of ammonites and more along the Yorkshire Coast, home to prehistoric hotbeds such as Staithes, Robin Hood’s Bay, Boggle Hole or Saltburn. From discovering the little worlds of rock pools to walking beside dinosaur footprints, visitors can book a session with a fossil-finding expert such as Hidden Horizons in North Yorkshire to see what marvels they can uncover.
6. Historic sites and romantic relics: castle trails of Britain, year round
From moated medieval fortresses to Elizabethan palaces and historic castles nestled beside romantic lochs, Britain is awash with ruins that span centuries of heritage. Dotted throughout our coast and countryside, these sites provide a glorious glimpse into the nation’s past and are a must for those dreaming of delving into Britain’s historic roots. Here are four of the best castle trails across Britain.
7, Nottingham Castle reopens, Nottingham, Early 2021
Symbolising almost 1,000 years of British history, Nottingham castle has links to Robin Hood, Richard the Lionheart and the English Civil War. After a £24m investment in what is being called the most significant current heritage project in the UK, Nottingham Castle will reopen in early 2021. The grounds have been remodelled to reveal more of the medieval site and will host a new visitor centre and year-round outdoor events programme. An interactive Robin Hood Gallery will be added to the Ducal Palace, and the public will have access to parts of the cave system which have never been open before. www.nottinghamcastle.org.uk
8. Mary Shelly's House of Frankenstein, Bath, Early 2021
Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein is a new multi-sensory, fully immersive family friendly visitor attraction proposed for the City of Bath, and the UK’s first attraction dedicated to Mary Shelley and her novel, Frankenstein, one of the world’s most famous, iconic and lauded creations. https://houseoffrankenstein.com/
9. Royal Albert Hall celebrates 150 years, March 2021
Cue the dazzling lights, marvellous costume and pitch-perfect voices as the world-famous Royal Albert Hall turns 150 on 29 March 2021 with a full season of performances and festivals to celebrate. . Theatre fans will be on the edge of their seats in 2021 with much-loved classics and must-see new shows gracing London’s West End including Monopoly, an immersive production based on the classic board game and the Broadway hit, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, an opulent jukebox production set.
10. Coventry City of Culture, England, May 2021
Coventry, just 35kms from Birmingham, is set for a bumper year of art, theatre, dance and literature as it becomes Britain’s next official City of Culture. Kicking off the year-long programme in May, a stand-out event will be Coventry Moves the city-wide installation, showcasing Coventry’s united energy through breathtaking installations, performance, and digital works. September to December will see the city host the world renowned Turner Prize, while the Coventry Biennial promises a fourth-month long programme of groundbreaking visual art and culture hosted across the region. Add to that a range of music, dance, comedy and theatre productions from companies as illustrious as OiBokkeShi and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and 2021 promises to be a landmark year forCoventry and the West Midlands. www.coventry2021.co.uk
11. The Great British Car Journey, England spring 2021
A new vintage car museum charting the history of British car manufacturing from the 1920s to the 1970s will open in spring 2021 at the heart of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site – famous for its industrial heritage. Discover the best ways to see Britain by car here.
12. Liverpool Biennial, spring 2021
The UK’s largest contemporary art festival, returns to Liverpool from March - June 2021 with a roster of artists from around the world. www.biennial.com
13. Illuminating the River Thames, spring 2021
Lighting up Britain in spring 2021 will be the Illuminated River project, which is transforming some of London’s iconic bridges. The ambitious art commission aims to add gloriously colourful lighting to the cities bridges, with displays along Blackfriars Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, the Golden Jubilee Footbridges, Westminster Bridge and Lambeth Bridge all due to completed in the spring – adding a brand new dimension to an already iconic riverside walk in the capital.
14. Art on the Estuary, England, spring 2021
The famous waterway of England will see another cultural injection in May, as the second edition of the Estuary arts festival is primed to inspire. Aiming to shine a light on the landscape and rich history of the Thames Estuary, spanning 133km of South Essex and North Kent coastlines, it will highlight stories from its port towns, seafronts, marshlands and significant heritage sites through art, music and literature.
15. A world first for England’s Creative Coast, summer 2021
Art buffs can embark on a brand new type of cultural treasure hunt along England’s south coast come 2021, with England’s Creative Coast. Developed in collaboration with galleries and arts organisations, the world’s first art GeoTour trail will connect the area’s exceptional galleries via geocaching on a global positioning system, creating a map of seven coastal artworks for visitors to discover – all by leading contemporary artists. Highlights include Margate’s Turner Contemporary, Bexhill’s De La Warr Pavilion and Hastings Contemporary.
16. Glasgow’s The Burrell Collection reopens in Spring 2021
For culture vultures, 2021 brings some big openings in Glasgow.The Burrell Collection will reopen in spring after an extended restoration project, putting its five millennia of art and history, gifted to the city in 1944, back on display. Celebrating Glasgow’s favourite son will be a new walking tour with Walking Tours in…Glasgow with a focus on Charles Rennie Macintosh or enjoy their mural art walk which features many works by Australian artist Smug.
17. Extreme camping cliffside, Lake District, spring 2021
Honister Cliff Camping is a new extreme experience taking a ‘Room with a View’ to a whole new level in the heart of the Lake District. Visitors will be able to camp-out for the night in style, sleeping under the stars while suspended 150m above the valley floor – with the only way to reach their bed for the night, being by abseiling down the cliff face.
18. Rest your head in a Pullman carriage. England, early 2021
Make tracks in 2021 and stay in a Pullman Carriage at The Old Railway Station, Petworth, in the heart of The South Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Originally built in in 1892 you can stay in colonial splendour in one of the railway carriages or the station house itself. https://www.old-station.co.uk/
19. Buxton Crescent hotel, thermal spa and visitor attraction, Derbyshire, year round
Originally opened in 1789 and designed by John Carr of York, Buxton Crescent is steeped in history and remains one of England’s most architecturally important buildings. Now, following a £50m investment project, the Grade I-listed site has reopened as a five-star luxury accommodation. With 81 newly renovated rooms and suites, the contemporary Dining Room Restaurant and a stylish café and bar, the hotel offers an elegant escape from city living in the heart of Buxton. However it’s the thermal mineral water spa that is its crowning glory. Offering a range of rejuvenating treatments including a salt cave, wave balance therapy and purification facials, it’s an excellent spot for some pampering after 2020. www.buxtoncrescent.com
20. The Londoner, England, March 2021
London is getting set to open its first purpose-built hotel, The Londoner, billed as the world’s first ‘super boutique hotel’. The landmark development near Leicester Square embraces the heritage of its West End setting, offering five-star luxury facilities spread over 16 storeys. With 350 guest rooms, including 35 suites and a tower penthouse, plus a subterranean gym and spa, the hotel also features two private screening rooms, six restaurants and a state-of-the-art ballroom, and has been developed with sustainability in mind. Indeed, it will be one of the greenest hotels in the world when it opens its doors next year. https://www.thelondoner.com
21. Bodmin Jail to become a hotel, England, February 2021
Bodmin Jail in Cornwall is undergoing a £40m redevelopment and preservation project to become a brand new immersive visitor attraction (which opened on 1 October 2020) alongside a four-star boutique hotel and restaurant, Bodmin Jail Hotel. Scheduled to open on 12 February 2021, the project will retain and enhance the unique atmosphere and sense of history that exists in the jail ruins. Expect to see bars on the windows, stonewalls and the original guard tower. Holdings that date back to the 18th century are being used to create 70 spacious bedrooms with three cells to a room in the original civil, naval and women’s wings. https://www.bodminjailhotel.com
Visitors are advised to always check individual websites for the latest information, as events and openings are subject to change.