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August 2008
Social Programme
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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.
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Monday 28th July
- Saturday 27th 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.
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Thursday 31st July
- Monday 29th 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.
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Friday 1st -
Saturday 23rd
Edinburgh Military
Tattoo, Scotland
A daily show outside the walls of Edinburgh Castle - a mixture of
marching bands, dance and spectacle.
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*Saturday 2nd
Day Trip to Lille (in
France)
Lille, which is close to the French border with Belgium, used to be
part of Belgium, and the town’s architecture reflects both styles.
Travel by coach and ferry and discover the delights of the town for
yourself.
£36, which includes return coach travel and a guided walk.

Meet at Ealing Town Hall
at 06:00am, or in front of McDonald’s in Shepherd’s Bush at 06:20
am. Return to London at about 10:30 pm.
Please
note: you may need a visa for this trip.
Please check with Mike if you are unsure.
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Saturday 2nd - Sunday 3rd
Innocent
Village Fete, London
An even in Regent's Park involving many of the
aspects of a traditional village fete: homemade cakes, a big farmers
market, welly-throwing, coconut shies, fruit and veg competitions,
Morris dancers, fancy dress, arts and crafts, places to rest and
relax, a knitting tent, space to put down a rug and enjoy a family
picnic. Entertainment will be provided by unplugged bands (there
will be no big stage), comedians and local theatre groups.
For further details of how to register to buy tickets, see:
http://www.innocentvillagefete.com
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Sunday 3rd
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
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Sunday 3rd - Monday
25th
The Edinburgh Fringe
Festival, Scotland
Entertainers perform shows in hundreds
of venues across Edinburgh.
For details, see:
http://www.edfringe.com
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Tuesday 5th -
Saturday 9th
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)
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Friday 8th - Sunday 31st
The Edinburgh International
Festival, Scotland
A major annual festival of
classical music, theatre, opera and dance in Edinburgh.
For details, see:
http://www.eif.co.uk
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Friday 8th -
Sunday 24th
Olympic Games, Beijing,
China
International amateur sports
championship in China. For details see the official website:
http://en.beijing2008.cn |
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*Saturday 9th
- Sunday 10th
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.
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Sunday 10th
London Mela, West London
A free celebration of Indian subcontinent cultures
in Gunnersbury Park, Ealing (nearest Tube: Acton Town;). There is music
and dancing on several stages around the park. There are hundreds of
stalls selling food and other goods. See:
http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/asian_london or
http://www.londonmela.org or
http://www.ealing.gov.uk
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*Saturday 16th
Day Trip to Stonehenge and
SalisburySpend
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.
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Wednesday 20th -
Tuesday 26th
International Beatle Week, Liverpool
An annual Beatles music festival in Liverpool.
See:
http://www.cavern-liverpool.co.uk/beatleweek/BWprogramme.htm
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*Saturday 23rd
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.
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Sunday 24th - Monday 25th
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.
For more information, see:
http://www.nottinghillcarnival.biz
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Monday 25th
Summer Bank Holiday
A public holiday in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland (but not in Scotland). Transport
services often run to a timetable similar to those on Sundays.
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*Tuesday 26th
River & City Walk
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.
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*Thursday 28th
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).
See notice board for more details.
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Saturday 30th
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
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*Saturday 30th
Day Trip to Cambridge &
ElyEnjoy 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.
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Events marked with an asterisk (*) will be accompanied by a member of
Language Link Staff |
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