Make the most of the August Bank Holiday with our exciting list of activities and events across South East England. It's the perfect time to holiday in the UK and create lasting memories with family and friends, whether you're seeking a relaxing getaway, thrilling family day out, or the chance to dive right into one of the many cultural festivities on offer.
Delve into our featured bank holiday events below and discover thrilling medieval jousts, fantastic family fun, magical live performances, delicious food and drink, and some great festivals to soak up the last of the summer sunshine. In case the weather takes a turn, you will also find some fantastic indoor adventures to keep everyone busy no matter what the UK bank holiday weather brings plus some cost-effective ways to keep the kids entertained and out of the house.
The next bank holiday is Monday 25th August, which means the August bank holiday weekend runs from Saturday 23rd August to Monday 25th August. This three-day long weekend makes it an ideal opportunity to get away for a city break, or to head out for a day trip, or to enjoy one of many events on your doorstep. This upcoming bank holiday is the last one before Christmas and is a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends outdoors before the winter months start to draw in again.
You can find hundreds more events and things to do this August bank holiday 2025 in our events guide below, we cover those in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Dorset including the August Bank Holiday Monday.
If you are travelling to a part of South East England for a short break or day trip, use the 'map view' button to find something local.
Number of results: 130
, currently showing 21 to 40.
Arts
Compton, Guildford
Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Pre-Raphaelite art through the evocative power of scent at Watts Gallery. Engage your sense of smell and gain a new appreciation for the artists' intentions and the cultural context in which they created…
Outdoor Event / Activities
Titmus Drive, Crawley
Based in the heart of Tilgate Park, just two miles from the centre of Crawley,
adventure awaits. Whether you're a thrill-seeker looking for a unique activity or simply
after some quality time with friends and family, Go Ape have you covered.…
Theatre
Waterperry
From the company who brought you The Little Mermaid, Hercules, Beauty and the Beast and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the classic fairytale of magic, true love and custom-made shoes is brought to life in this brand new show for all ages.
Embark on…
Exhibitions
New Forest
Experience the thrill of speed at Beaulieu as special display Icons of Formula 1 takes to the National Motor Museum stage.
From 24th May to 2nd November, a new special display in the National Motor Museum will mark 75 years since the inaugural…
Participatory Event
Little Horwood, Milton Keynes
Designed to pamper you from head to toe, come and experience the Instant Radiance Spa Day at Horwood House Hotel
Festival
Portsmouth
Victorious Festival returns for 2025 - bringing some of the biggest bands and artists to Southsea Common.
Carnival
RYDE
Join Ryde Carnival for some free family fun as we celebrate Children's Carnival Day. Lots of activities and entertainment will take place in different locations around Ryde town centre. Activities will include story time, junk modelling competition,…
Childrens Events
Chipping Norton
Let the magic begin…
Fairytale Festival returns this summer!
Fairytale Farm | ️23rd July – 1st September | ⏰10am–5pm daily
Join us for a magical summer of storytelling, animal encounters, games, and brand new attractions including:
Mad…
Childrens Events
Bedgebury Road, Goudhurst
Come along to meet Stick Man himself at our fun day!
Stick Man will be appearing at various times throughout the day and there will be lots of Stick Man-themed activities on offer at Bedgebury.
Appearance times: Watch our Forestry England…
Festival
Reading
One of the biggest musical festivals in the world, every year over 90,000 people flock to the Richfield Avenue site to experience the iconic event.
Heritage & History
HAVENSTREET
The family friendly Bank Holiday event of 2025! The Island Steam Show celebrates 50 glorious years.
Enjoy a vast collection of vintage transport, traditional fairground, live entertainment, plus majestic steam trains running along the line.
…
Arts
Bedgebury Road, Goudhurst
Established in 2018 by Forestry England, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) and Parker Harris, Earth Photo is a world-leading international programme dedicated to engaging with still and moving image makers.
It's main objective is to reveal…
Special Events
Brighton Marina, Brighton
Looking for a unique and budget-friendly Valentine's Day date?
Glow crazy in love with the GLOBALLS Date Night Package! ️♀️ Choose from any of our stunning UV light mini golf courses or Carnival games for a night full of fun and unforgettable…
Food
Dorking
A relaxed tour, tasting and lunch is the perfect way to immerse yourself in a complete winery experience at Denbies Vineyard in Dorking.
Exhibitions
Chichester
Acclaimed visual artist Rana Begum RA transforms our historic staircase with No.1367 Mesh, her iconic suspended, colourful mesh clusters, creating a vibrant blend of history and contemporary art.
Outdoor Event / Activities
Hart Street, Henley on Thames
Have fun (re-)discovering Henley on Thames, spotting things you've never noticed before, with two quirky treasure hunt style heritage walks - a fun and affordable way to get some fresh air, whilst finding out about this lovely Thames town. Curious…
Arts
Nr Wadhurst
The Sussex Guild is exhibiting over the August Bank Holiday weekend at Pashley Manor Gardens, described as one of the finest gardens in England.
Guild designers will be showing their work in a large marquee in front of the Grade I listed oak…
Childrens Events
Aylesbury
This summer holiday, blast off into a world of space, science, and sci-fi fun for the whole family.
Join us for themed crafts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, explore the incredible Beyond the Stars exhibition, Space Descent VR – narrated by Tim…
Tour
Titsey, Oxted
Step back in time with a visit to Titsey Place and Gardens, located in the Surrey North Downs, a short drive from Limpsfield High Street.
Still occupied as a family home, this beautiful house is only open for selected days during the year from…
Walking
The Hard, Portsmouth
Have fun (re-)discovering Portsmouth, spotting things you've never noticed before, with two quirky treasure hunt style heritage walks - a fun and affordable way to get some fresh air, whilst finding out about this fascinating port. Curious About…