Top 30 Must-Do Experiences in Ireland

A Guide to the Best Open-Air Events and Experiences in the UK This Summer

As the sun begins to shine, the UK’s outdoor entertainment scene comes alive. Parks, castles, lidos, city squares, and even historic ruins are transforming into vibrant spaces for performances, screenings, and family fun. Whether you’re looking for theatre under the stars, a film screening by the sea, or a festival that caters to all ages, there’s something happening nearly every day of the summer.

Here is a list of 30 of the best open-air events and experiences worth planning your long summer days around.

See Classics on a Cornish Clifftop

One of the most breathtaking theatre experiences in the UK is at the Minack Theatre in Cornwall. Carved into the cliffs at Porthcurno and overlooking the Atlantic, this dramatic outdoor venue stages plays throughout the summer, from Hamlet to Moby-Dick. Bring a cushion and a blanket – it can get breezy – and enjoy a view like no other.

Get Your Culture Fix at Grosvenor Park

Chester’s Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre is a must-visit during the warmer months. This leafy green space transforms into a cultural hub with theatre, outdoor cinema, walkabout shows for kids, and wood-fired pizzas. Highlights include a production of Pride and Prejudice, an Alice in Wonderland experience for under-10s, and screenings of Wicked.

Tuck In at Bolton Food and Drink Festival

The Bolton Food and Drink Festival (22–25 August) is a celebration of food and culture. With celebrity chef demos, artisan stalls, live music, and big names like James Martin and Marco Pierre White, it’s a feast worth traveling for. This year also features a Fawlty Towers tribute, Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience, along with cookery classes, craft beers, and a kids’ zone.

Experience Magic with Illyria Touring Theatre

Illyria has been bringing classic stories to parks, gardens, and castle courtyards for over three decades. Their shows blend humor and charm, making Shakespeare, fairy tales, and children’s classics fun and accessible. This year’s highlights include The Wind in the Willows at Pembroke Castle and The Merry Wives of Windsor at Arundel Castle.

Watch Shakespeare in the Forest at Sutton Hoo

Theatre in the Forest is one of Suffolk’s most magical cultural experiences. Now staged at the hauntingly beautiful Sutton Hoo site, the shows pair lively performances with a moody, ancient backdrop. A production of Hamlet runs until 23 August, and access to the National Trust site is included in tickets, so audiences are encouraged to arrive early to explore the historic landscape before a summer night under the stars.

See a Show by the Sea in Brighton

Brighton Open Air Theatre, affectionately known as BOAT, is nestled in Dyke Road Park and delivers an eclectic summer schedule of comedy, theatre, live music, and kids’ shows. This year’s line-up includes everything from Tennessee Williams’s Suddenly Last Summer to keyboard karaoke and a production of The Wild Washerwomen, ideal for families.

Enjoy Mischief in Regent’s Park

London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is known for its lush setting and bold productions. Running from 15 August to 7 September, The Enormous Crocodile returns for another season of jungle capers, based on Roald Dahl’s cheeky book. With music from Ahmed Abdullahi and colourful creatures trying to outwit a greedy reptile, it’s perfect for kids aged four and over, but the clever humour means adults will enjoy it too.

Dive into the Energy of the Edinburgh Fringe

There’s no festival quite like the Fringe. In August, every corner of Edinburgh becomes a stage — and that includes the outdoors. Expect fire-jugglers in the Meadows, stand-up sets in beer gardens, immersive street performances, and kids’ theatre in Princes Street Gardens. If you don’t have tickets, just wander. There are endless free or pay-what-you-can shows.

Feel the Epic Scale of Kynren, County Durham

Kynren is the UK’s most ambitious outdoor theatre show. Performed by a 1,000-strong cast on a stage the size of five football pitches, this night-time spectacle in Bishop Auckland covers 2,000 years of British history through battles, royal drama, stunts, horses, fire, and music. New scenes this year include a revamped Queen Victoria segment.

Find Serenity at Theatre by the Lake, Cumbria

Theatre by the Lake is located in the stunning Lake District town of Keswick, perched right on the edge of Derwentwater. This summer’s main event is Pride and Prejudice, set against mountain views and mirror-calm water. Inside, you’ll find modern facilities, including a theatre café.

See Something New at London’s GDIF

The Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is one of the most exciting free arts events in the country. From 22 August to 6 September, it fills parks, streets, and riverbanks with outdoor theatre, dance, and circus. Expect a gravity-defying, all-female, high-wire walk, a floating climate-change drama, and a blend of tech, spectacle, and arts that turns public space into playground.

Catch a Free Canalside Flick in King’s Cross, London

Everyman Cinema has returned to King’s Cross with its much-loved free open-air screenings next to the canal. This summer’s programme includes Cruella, Shrek, Despicable Me 4, and more. With food trucks nearby and a romantic waterside setting, it’s one of London’s most relaxed outdoor cinemas.

Ride the Thrills at CarFest, Hampshire

Started by Chris Evans to raise funds for children’s charities, CarFest is part-car show, part-music fest, part-foodie extravaganza. This year includes music from The Boomtown Rats, comedy from Chris McCausland, food demos, funfairs, and Horrible Histories Live on Stage. You’ll find family zones, vintage cars, and appearances by TV and sports stars.

Sing Along at Cardigan Castle, Pembrokeshire

Few venues offer open-air film screenings with more atmosphere than Cardigan Castle. Set above the River Teifi, the medieval courtyard becomes a cinema under the stars, with deckchairs and drinks. This summer’s line-up includes Saturday Night Fever, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, and Elvis. The castle itself is worth arriving early to explore, and there’s food and drink on site.

Experience Immersive Cinema in Bradford

Bradford, the UK’s City of Culture 2025, is turning two local landmarks into cinematic backdrops this summer: Ilkley Lido and Thornton Viaduct. Expect screenings of cult favourites like The Grand Budapest Hotel, Sexy Beast, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie in immersive settings.

Smell the Roses at Southport Flower Show

From 14–17 August, the UK’s biggest independent flower show returns, blooming with colour, design, and entertainment. Beyond the show gardens and floral displays, you’ll find celeb guests like Toyah Willcox and Justin Fletcher, a live cookery stage, music, food stalls, and even an alpaca zone for kids.

Discover Cult Films in Norwich’s Secret Garden

Tucked behind a wall on Earlham Road, Norwich’s Plantation Garden is a lush, hidden Victorian gem. During summer, this three-acre site transforms into a magical outdoor cinema. This year’s screenings include Twin Peaks, Hot Fuzz, Dirty Dancing, and School of Rock.

Try Something Sporty at Liverpool ONE

Chavasse Park in central Liverpool becomes a giant summer playground during Summer on the Park. Free outdoor sports activities are held every Thursday–Sunday, including tennis, dodgeball, gymnastics, rowing, and accessible games. It’s hands-on, inclusive, and full of fresh-air energy for families and kids.

Settle in for Movies in Exeter’s City Centre

Exeter’s Big Screen in the City is a community staple, now in its 22nd year and bigger than ever. Held in Princesshay shopping district from 25–29 August, it brings five days of free, open-air film screenings — this year’s line-up includes Pretty Woman, Matilda the Musical, and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

Full-Throttle Fun in Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Bay’s Roald Dahl Plass is packed with entertainment for kids and thrill-seeking grown-ups. Enjoy funfair rides and stalls, as well as magic shows, character meet-and-greets, and sing-alongs. There are cafés and picnic areas nearby to chill out.

Watch Riverside Films at The Taybank, Scotland

The Taybank in Dunkeld is famous for riverside views, music, and hospitality — and now, for its outdoor cinema. This summer, they’re screening When Harry Met Sally, Inside Out, Hitchcock thrillers, and others on a giant screen in their garden.

See Fairies at Kew Gardens

Theatre on Kew is back with a brilliant outdoor bill: whimsical children’s theatre (Alice in Wonderland and The Dream Fairies) during the day, and an atmospheric production of Macbeth in the evening. Set across the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens, the experience is as much about wandering through the grounds as the shows themselves.

Groove at Summer Nights in Glasgow

Held in Kelvingrove Park’s historic bandstand, Summer Nights at the Bandstand is one of Glasgow’s most anticipated music series. For its 10th year, the line-up includes Elbow, Billy Ocean, Hue and Cry, and Teenage Fanclub. The leafy park setting is a stunner, with the university and art gallery framing the skyline.

Step Back in Time at the Roman Theatre in St Albans

The Roman Theatre Open Air Festival is staged in the oldest working theatre in the country, dating to AD140. This summer’s headliner is a new adaptation of The Great Gatsby, blending the Roaring Twenties with ancient stone seating and torchlit ambience. There are also live music nights, Shakespeare, and community shows.

Wind Down at Found Festival, Buckinghamshire

Found Festival offers a low-key, high-quality alternative to big-ticket events. Designed for families and first-timers looking to dip into festival life without the chaos, and set in the open countryside, it features world and folk music, comedy sets, cabaret, and circus acts.

Eat, Drink and Watch at Folkestone Harbour

The Goods Yard in Folkestone Harbour is home to Kent’s glorious street food scene — and this summer, it’s paired with outdoor cinema and live sports on a giant screen. Expect films like Barbie and Cruella, live music, craft beers, and tasty bites.

Chill by the Thames at Summer by the River

Running from Tower Bridge to London Bridge, Summer by the River is an urban oasis filled with free entertainment. At its heart is the new Glasshouse Terrace — a two-storey pop-up with panoramic views — as well as the usual open-air movie nights, live sports, music, and dance.

Dance and Dine at The Big Feastival, Cotswolds

Held on Blur bassist Alex James’s idyllic Cotswolds farm, The Big Feastival is where music, food, and family collide. This year’s line-up includes Nelly Furtado, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Scouting for Girls, alongside Michelin-starred chefs and local producers.

Celebrate Caribbean Culture in Nottingham

On 17 August, Nottingham Carnival will transform the city with colour and Caribbean rhythm. The parade starts on Victoria Embankment and loops through the streets with elaborate costumes, beats, bands, and dancers. With three stages, five DJs, and a dedicated kids’ zone, there’s over seven hours of family entertainment.

Catch Music and More on Belfast’s Maritime Mile

Every Sunday through summer, Belfast’s Maritime Mile hosts a rotating programme of live music — from jazz to DJ sessions — as well as family-friendly science demos, mini-golf, and more. It’s free, and a great way to explore the waterfront and make the most of summer evenings.