August is one of the hottest months in the UK. Crops in the fields are starting to become ready to be harvested. It is a good time to travel in the UK or Europe. If the weather is fine, enjoy a walk in the countryside or go to the seaside (if you swim in the sea, note that the water is not very warm (!) and that the currents can be strong). The Edinburgh Festival is a famous event in Scotland, including music, theatre and comedy; if you are going to this festival, try to arrange your accommodation early. There is a public holiday on the last Monday of August: this is also the last day of the Notting Hill Carnival, a colourful celebration on the streets of London involving processions, music and dancing.
 

Monday 28^th July - Saturday 27^th September
Houses of Parliament Summer Opening, Central London

During the summer break for Parliament it is possible to buy a ticket for a 75-minute guided tour of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
 

Thursday 31^st July - Monday 29^th September
Summer opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, Central London

While the Queen visits Scotland each summer, it is possible to buy a ticket to see the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace.
 

Sunday 3^rd
Carnaval del Pueblo, South London

Free Latin American festival. The event starts with a street procession from City Hall (nearest Tube: London Bridge) to Burgess Park (nearest Tube: Elephant & Castle;) from noon to 3pm (the route followed is: Potters Field - Tooley Street - Borough High Street - Newington Causeway - Walworth Road - Camberwell Road - Albany Road - Burgess Park). This is followed by concerts from 3pm-9pm in Burgess Park, where there will also be food and craft stalls.
See: http://www.carnavaldelpueblo.co.uk
 

Tuesday 5^th - Saturday 9^th
Great British Beer Festival, West London

Drink, music and other entertainment. This is held at Earls Court (nearest tube station: Earls Court on the District line). See: http://www.gbbf.org (or  http://www.camra.org.uk)
 

*Saturday 9^th - Sunday 10^th
Weekend Trip to the Isle of Wight

Enjoy 2 days and 1 night on this charming island off the south coast of England, where you can visit typical villages, castles and spend time on the beach. We will be staying in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in the town of Shanklin, on the east coast of the island, and there will be the chance to visit other parts of the island as well.

£87, which includes return travel by train and one night’s accommodation. Meet at 06:00 am at Waterloo train station on Saturday morning; return to London at about 9:00 pm. Register in Reception.
 

Sunday 10^th
London Mela, West London

Spend the morning at the world-famous monument of Stonehenge, then travel to the historical city of Salisbury, with its magnificent cathedral, in the afternoon.

£24, which includes return coach travel, entry to Stonehenge and a guided walk with local, professional guides in Salisbury.

Meet at Earls Court Underground Station (Warwick Road entrance) at 7:30am, or in front of Ealing Broadway Station at 8:00am. Return to London at about 7:40pm.
 

*Saturday 23^rd
Day Trip to Brighton

Enjoy a day out in one of England’s most famous seaside resorts, where you can visit the beach and pier, wander around ‘The Lanes’, Brighton’s famous shopping area and visit the Royal Pavilion.

£22, which includes return travel by train, a guided walk and entry to the Royal Pavilion.
 

Sunday 24^th - Monday 25^th
Notting Hill Carnival

A free colourful street festival in London, from 12 noon to 7pm both on Sunday and on Monday (a public holiday in the UK). This is one of Europe's largest carnivals, attended by up to a million people each year. Sunday is known as Children's Day. This day is less crowded, so you may be able to get a better view of the procession and find it easier to leave afterwards. The main event is on Monday: it can get extremely crowded.

The procession route is along Great Western Road, Chepstow Road, Westbourne Grove and Ladbroke Grove.
Bus and Tube services in the area will be disrupted on Sunday and Monday. For details, check the Transport for London website: http://www.tfl.gov.uk

Some hints:
- Take a map of the area, so that you can go there and get back easily (note that many of the bus and Tube services in the area will not stop in the carnival area). - Check the maps on the carnival websites for the route of the march and for the location of toilets (these will be quite basic; take your own toilet paper).

- Be very careful with your belongings, as there will be pickpockets there. If possible, just carry a small amount of cash and your travel tickets. Leave credit cards and mobile phones at home.

- When it is crowded, the police may need to direct you in a certain direction.
- Allow plenty of time to leave the area. It may be slow moving through the crowds, some exit routes may be closed, and you may need to walk quite a long way to get to a Tube or bus station which is open.

Join Mike for a stroll along the Thames and through the City of London, and learn about turkeys, prisons, Shakespeare, wobbly bridges, a London bridge in the USA, and lots more! Leave school at 4:15 pm.
 

*Thursday 28^th
Party at the ‘Walkabout’

Tickets £4 (in advance) for this party at the Walkabout club in Shaftesbury Avenue.  Cheap drinks all night (8pm to 3am).

Saturday 30^th
Liberty - London's Disability Rights festival, London

Free event in Trafalgar Square featuring performances by disabled artists, musicians and dancers plus a variety of stalls and displays.

For details, see: http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/equalities/liberty/index.jsp
 

Enjoy a day out in Ely, with its magnificent cathedral, Oliver Cromwell’s House and market, then it’s on to Cambridge, Britain’s most famous university city.

£23, which includes return travel by coach, 2 guided walks and entry to Cromwell’s House in Ely.
 

Events marked with an asterisk (*) will be accompanied by a member of Language Link Staff