1. Rugby World Cup 2015, countrywide (18 September – 31 October 2015)
The world's third largest sporting event, Rugby World Cup, is coming to England in 2015, giving fans the perfect excuse to take a road-trip around the country. The tournament lasts six weeks, allowing visitors to discover and explore the best of the ten host cities including: London, Brighton, Gloucester, Leeds, Leicester, Newcastle, Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Exeter and Manchester. Fans can also watch every scrum, kick and try at one of the specially created 'fanzones', before celebrating their team's victory (or commiserating their failure!) with some live entertainment post-matches.www.visitengland.com/rugby
www.rugbyworldcup.com
2. 40th Anniversary of the inaugural Cricket World Cup (7 June 2015)
It doesn't get more English than a genteel game of cricket unfolding on a village lawn. Invented in England, in the 16th century, the game's first World Cup was hosted in England in 1975. The inaugural tournament started on 7 June and eight teams participated, including Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the West Indies (the six Test nations at the time), together with Sri Lanka and a composite team from East Africa. The tournament is a key milestone in the evolution of the sport and was won by the West Indies, who defeated Australia by 17 runs in the final at Lord's.Today, get to the heart of the game on a tour of Lords cricket ground in north London where fans can visit the MCC Museum and have tea and cucumber sandwiches in the historic Long Room. The Museum's collection, which began in 1864, spans the full history of cricket from its emergence as a major sport in the early 18th century, to the modern age of Twenty20 and the IPL. Its most famous exhibit is the original Ashes urn, a personal gift to then England captain the Hon. Ivo Bligh.
www.lords.org
3. Women's and Men's Boat Races Combined, Henley-on-Thames and London (11 April 2015)
In a revolutionary move that breaks with 183 years of history, the Women's Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge will achieve equal billing with the more famous men's event in 2015 as the two events are combined. The women's event, which has previously taken place at Henley-on-Thames, will move to the traditional race location of Tideway in 2015.www.theboatrace.org
4. Magna Carta 800th Anniversary, Countrywide (15 June 2015 / year-round)
Next year marks the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta by King John and his barons. Although this iconic document has undergone a number of revisions over the centuries, it is famous for outlining the ideas of freedom, democracy and rule of law. Both the US Bill of Rights and the European Convention of Human Rights echo the principles of The Great Charter. For the first time next year, the four original copies of the Magna Carta will be reunified at the British Library and there will be a host of activity across the country revealing England rich historical heritage and showcasing how so many destinations play a part in Magna Carta's history.From 13 March–1 September 2015, the British Library is hosting the Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy exhibition, which will explore the history and legacy of this globally-recognised document. Special Magna Carta trails (each two to three days in length) have been created to highlight significant destinations that weave the stories of this important period of medieval history. Destinations featured include Lincoln where the Lincoln Castle Revealed project will be unveiled in April. The renovation has included a new vault to house its original copy of Magna Carta with state-of-the-art interactive interpretation. In addition, Salisbury Cathedral – home to arguably the finest of the four surviving original Magna Carta – has been awarded support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to re-present the Cathedral's Magna Carta in the Chapter using the latest interpretation techniques to communicate the documents historic background and modern significance to the many extra visitors expected in 2015 and beyond.
www.magnacarta800th.com
www.bl.uk/whatson/exhibitions/magna-carta
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lincoln-castle-revealed
www.salisburycathedral.org.uk
5. 50th Anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill's Death, Countrywide (24 January 2015 / year-round)
To recognise the 50th anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill's death, a programme of exciting events will be on offer across the country showcasing Churchill's England. Born on 30 November 1874 at Blenheim Palace, just outside Oxford, Churchill enthusiasts can visit the room in which he was born, the romantic gardens in which he proposed to Clementine and pore over letters and photographs of Sir Winston and family in an exhibit devoted to him. In addition,Chartwell, in south east England, was the Churchill family home and the rooms in the house are much as they were when Churchill lived there in the interwar period. Finally, the Churchill War Rooms in London make for a fascinating trip, where visitors can explore the Cabinet War Rooms, the bunker that sheltered Churchill and his government during the Blitz and played a key role in the Second World War. The Churchill War Rooms also incorporates the Churchill Museum where visitors can listen to some of his rousing speeches including the famous lines, 'I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.'www.blenheimpalace.com
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell
www.iwm.org.uk/visits/churchill-war-rooms
www.churchillcentral.com
6. 50th Anniversary of The Landmark Trust, Countrywide (year-round)
To celebrate 50 years of rescuing extraordinary buildings for future generations and allowing people to stay in them for holidays, The Landmark Trust is celebrating with a ground-breaking collaboration with sculptor Antony Gormley. The installation, called LAND, will see Gormley create five sculptures to be installed in May 2015 at five Landmarks. The artworks celebrate the very special relationship between people, places and time that the Landmark Trust has embodied over the past five decades. Five life-size standing sculptures, conceived in direct response to the individuality of each location will be installed at the following English locations: Martello Tower in Suffolk, Clavell Tower in Dorset, Lundy Island and Lengthsman's Cottage in Warwickshire. LAND is Gormley's only solo external installation in the UK in 2015 and will be in place until May 2016 for the public to enjoy.www.landmarktrust.org.uk
www.antonygormley.com
7. Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, London and Kent (18 June 2015 / year-round)
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday, 18 June 1815, near Waterloo in present-day Belgium. In England, the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo will be marked throughout the year, with English Heritage celebrations at Wellington Arch, Apsley House (the home of the Dukes of Wellington) and Walmer Castle. Objects on show in these locations include the famous Wellington boots and the Iron Duke's campaign bed.www.english-heritage.org.uk
8. 150 years since publication of Alice in Wonderland, Oxford (26 November 2015 / year-round)
Lewis Carroll's enchanting tale with unforgettable characters such as the White Rabbit and Mad Hatter is celebrating 150 years since its publication in 2015. The University City of Oxford is the birthplace of Alice in Wonderland and The Story Museum is holding a special Alice Day on 4 July 2015 to mark the 150th anniversary of the first telling of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Oxford is where the author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, first outlined his story to the 10-year-old Alice Liddell, the real Alice in Wonderland. The Alice Day will include a Mad Hatter's tea party, exhibitions, storytelling, promenade theatre and Alice-themed walks and talks. In addition, Alice's Shop Oxford runs Alice in Wonderland-themed tours year-round, taking in many places of significance to Alice and Lewis Carroll in Oxford and highlighting the many ways in which Oxford influenced and inspired Carroll's writings.www.storymuseum.org.uk
www.aliceinwonderlandshop.co.uk/tours
9. 125th anniversary of Agatha Christie's birth, the English Riviera, Devon (15 September 2015)
From the intricately plotted storylines, beautiful settings of a bygone England and her two colourful detective characters – Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot – Christie's writing has captured the imaginations of readers and TV and film viewers over the years. The true story of Agatha Christie's life is every bit as intriguing and fascinating as her books and her legacy is best discovered on the English Riviera, South Devon's beautiful bay. Christie was born in the Riviera town of Torquay, and spent many of the most important chapters of her life here, as well as using real places in the area as the backdrop for her murder mysteries. From the Agatha Christie Mile to September's International Agatha Christie Festival and visits to her beloved estate at the National Trust's Greenway, the English Riviera is the place to discover the real Agatha Christie.www.englishriviera.co.uk/agathachristie
www.agathachristiefestival.com
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greenway
10. Far From The Madding Crowd (film release, 1 May 2015)
On 1 May 2015, 141 years since the publication of Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd, a Hollywood film adaptation of the book will be released with a stellar British cast featuring, Carey Mulligan, Michael Sheen and Tom Sturridge. However, the film's starring role is played by Dorset with locations includingBeaminster, Bridport and Mapperton House which became Everdene for the duration of the shoot.www.visit-dorset.com
www.mapperton.com
11. London's West End Debuts (various dates, TBA)
London's West End will see a slew of new shows opening in 2015. First up, a full 30 years after the original Back To The Future film debuted; the time-traveling adventure is set to return, this time as a stage musical. Robert Zemeckis, who co-wrote and directed the 1985 Michael J Fox film, will reunite with co-writer Bob Gale to pen the book for the stage adaptation. On a more magical note, the early years of wizard Harry Potter will be explored in a new stage play, to be co-produced by author, JK Rowling. The play will be staged in the UK and will explore the previously untold story of Harry's early years as an orphan and outcast. It will feature favourite characters from the Harry Potter books and offer insight into the heart and mind of the now legendary young wizard. Finally, Broadway's high-heeled musical, Kinky Boots, will be staged in the UK next year. With music by Cyndi Lauper, the show tells the story of a struggling British shoe factory's young, straitlaced owner, Charlie, who forms an unlikely partnership with Lola, a drag queen, to save the business.www.visitlondon.com
12. Dreamland, Margate (Phase One opening spring 2015)
Described, time and again, as the heartbeat of Margate, Dreamland was one of the UK's best-loved amusement parks and in 2015, Dreamland is set to come alive again. Award-winning, multi-disciplinary designer, Wayne Hemingway OBE, has been appointed to deliver the feel, look, smell and sound of the new Dreamland – the world's first amusement park of thrilling historic rides and classic side shows, eateries and evocative spaces, set within a landscape capable of hosting national festivals, major events and visiting attractions. The new Dreamland will be a visual and sensual delight, created by forward-thinkers and creative designers – a concept not only evocative of Dreamland's past, but with an eye firmly on its future. From the large-scale Historic Rides Collection carefully-sourced from leading amusement parks around Britain, to classic stalls, amusement park artefacts and all manner of fairground paraphernalia, there will be a brining-together of evocative content that will create a fully immersive and timeless environment for generations to come.www.dreamlandmargate.com
13. The Gainsborough Bath Spa (opening spring 2015)
A UNESCO World Heritage City, Bath has been a much-loved leisure and wellness destination for over 2,000 years. Its archaeological and architectural heritage is among the finest in the world and in 2015, the city will be home to a beautiful new hotel and spa. Set to open in spring, The Gainsborough Bath Spa occupies three listed and historic buildings, The Gainsborough, Bellotts, Hetling House, with distinguished Grade II Georgian facades and the one remaining Elizabethan building in the heart of Bath. The property has the unique privilege of being the only hotel in the United Kingdom to house a natural thermal spa. Created by award-winning Champalimaud Design, the rooms and suites at the hotel will be custom furnished, subtly referencing period details combined with contemporary forms.www.thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk
www.visit-dorset.com
www.mapperton.com
14. Magic Garden, Hampton Court Palace (spring 2015)
Set to be an innovative and sensory experience, Hampton Court Palace has teamed up with a Chelsea-winning gardener to create the new Magic Garden. The Magic Garden project will engage, inspire, excite and surprise young visitors and their families. It will provide a fun and exciting experience that the whole family can explore together. It will also provide a venue for special evening events, such as plays, concerts and light installations.http://www.hrp.org.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/magicgarden
15. Bristol's year as European Green Capital (year-round)
Bristol has long been one of the UK's leading green cities and now also has the international accolade of European Capital 2015. A lively programme of 'green' themed events makes Bristol stand apart as an environmentally-focused and sustainable city, including Bristol's Big Green Week, Festival of Nature,Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride, Bristol Green Doors and Bristol Cycle Festival. Those looking for an eco-chic getaway should check out The Greenhouse, a temple to all things eco-friendly.www.visitbristol.co.uk/european-green-capital
www.thegreenhousebristol.co.uk
For more information, visit www.visitengland.com.
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