Arts and culture highlights 

Bradford takes centre stage as the 2025 UK City of Culture, with an extensive programme of over 1,000 events. The city also celebrates the re-opening of the National Science and Media Museum, following a significant transformation. 

In the south of England, literary enthusiasts can celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth. The renowned author’s life and work will be remembered in the places she so loved, like Bath and Hampshire.    

Part-museum, part-research centre, V&A East opens in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with ‘The Music Is Black: A British Story’. Other major exhibitions in the capital include ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ at the Natural History Museum and ‘Turner and Constable’ at Tate Britain, celebrating the 250th birthday of the pivotal British painters, J.M.W. Turner and John Constable.   

History and heritage brought to life 

Britain will celebrate 200 years since the birth of the modern railway with the nationwide Railway 200 programme. A key event is the opening of the New Hall at the Locomotion museum in County Durham, which will display 47 additional locomotives from its impressive collection. The National Railway Museum in York will also re-open its newly transformed Station Hall after a three-year renovation. 

In south-east London, the Greenwich Royal Observatory will mark its 350th anniversary with a series of special events, including the launch of the First Light project. 

New for 2025 is the Inverness Castle Experience, offering visitors an immersive journey through the historic building while weaving in Scotland’s rich cultural heritage. Reopening this year is Leicester’s Jewry Wall Museum which charts the city’s Roman past, and Hull Maritime Museum, complete with a raft of new exhibits.

Enchanting gardens and outdoors adventures 

The North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival marks its 10th anniversary in spring 2025 with stargazing talks, night-time fell running and astrophotography sessions. Similar events will take place during Welsh Dark Skies Week and the Cumbrian Dark Skies Festival, offering further opportunities to explore Britain’s night skies. 

The New Forest celebrates 20 years as a National Park too, with a farm stay just one of the ways to experience this scenic region. Adventure-seekers can also celebrate 60 years of the Pennine Way, a long-distance trail along the rugged landscapes of northern England. 

Britain’s gardens provide natural beauty all year-round, from urban green spaces to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)’s five major gardens. RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2025, and the RHS’s garden festivals will be in full bloom, including the northern show, which moves to Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire from Tatton Park.

Sporting highlights 

In August 2025, England will host the Women’s Rugby World Cup, with matches taking place in host cities Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Exeter, London, Manchester, Northampton, Sunderland and York. 

The Premier League season also kicks off in August, offering the chance to experience the excitement of English football. For those not visiting on match days, a variety of stadium tours and football experiences are also available. Additionally, fans of Welcome to Wrexham can visit The Racecourse Ground to see The Red Dragons in action.   

Britain’s sporting calendar is packed with other major events, including horse racing at Royal Ascot, the Henley Royal Regatta, the Great North Run, the Formula 1 British Grand Prix and the Boat Race.

Relax in style 

In 2025, Britain offers a range of new accommodation options for a calming getaway. Highlights include the opening of Hotel Gotham in both Bristol and Newcastle, The PIG on the Farm near Stratford-upon-Avon and The Gallivant at Littlestone Beach in East Sussex. In Scotland, the 300-room Ruby Hotel will provide a prime location near Edinburgh’s Princes Street, while in North Wales, Ty Gwyn Hotel will offer luxury stays in the coastal town of Abersoch on the Llyn Peninsula. 

Britain’s spa scene also promises plenty of relaxation. Visitors can take the waters in the historic surroundings of Bath or explore more unique experiences, such as Glasgow’s Gin Spa, the UK’s first beer spa in Norfolk, or a seaweed soak in a whisky barrel at Halen Môn on Anglesey. 

Visitors will soon be able to enjoy a Roman bathhouse experience in the heart of London. In late 2025, Auberge Resorts Collection will open its first UK property, Cambridge House, a Georgian mansion in Mayfair. The 102-room spa hotel inspired will feature a double-level spa inspired by the architecture of Roman bathhouses, offering hydrotherapy facilities, heated pools, and seven treatment rooms.   

Indulge in new dining experiences 

Britain’s diverse dining scene continues to thrive, with new food halls adding to the mix. White Cloth Hall in Leeds recently welcomed its first diners, and in 2025, Market Place St Paul’s in London will join the growing trend. Opening in spring 2025, Darley Street Market in Bradford is set to become a top foodie destination, offering three floors of all-day entertainment and a food hall with 13 street food vendors. Visitors will be able to enjoy dining on an outdoor balcony overlooking the city square. 

For fine dining, Gordon Ramsay is set to launch his biggest venture yet at 22 Bishopsgate in London, featuring five new restaurants, including the capital’s highest eatery. Additionally, the latest Michelin-starred restaurants will be announced in the spring, providing a handy companion for gourmet adventures around Britain.

Go set-jetting 

Britain’s landscapes have long served as the backdrop for popular films and TV shows. New releases in 2025 starring Great Britain include Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part II, the Peaky Blinders movie and The Salt Path. 

Embark on a guided tour of Bridgerton’s Bath or Peaky Blinders’ Liverpool, or enter the magical worlds of Harry Potter and Paddington. In Bristol, follow in the pawprints of Gromit, of Wallace and Gromit fame, on Aardman’s Gromit Unleashed sculpture trail.   

To celebrate the new release of the latest Mission: Impossible film, follow in the footsteps of Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt on The Mission: Impossible Tour of London. The tour takes fans through over 15 key filming locations from the blockbuster franchise, including famous landmarks, hidden alleyways and the 17th-century pub where Ethan enjoys a pint in Mission: Impossible I. 

A summer of festivals 

Britain is known for its vibrant festival culture, with major music events taking place across the country. Key highlights include the Reading and Leeds Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, and Glasgow’s TRNSMT. For an eco-conscious experience, look no further than the Green Man Festival, while Northumberland’s Lindisfarne Festival marks its 10th anniversary in 2025. With Oasis returning to the stage, it is also a good time to explore what’s on at Britain’s top music venues.