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Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
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Things to do in the UK in March 2012
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MARCH 2012
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| Thu 1 Mar 2012 | St David's Day, Wales Saint David's Day is the traditional day for Welsh people. Saint David is the "patron saint" of Wales. He was a member of the Celtic church and died on 1st March 589 A.D. There will be events in many towns in Wales, and Welsh communities in other parts of the UK will also gather together in pubs, churches or other places. There is a parade in Cardiff: http://www.stdavidsday.org/stdavid. For more details, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_David's_Day. * Basic introduction to Wales: Britain/Countries/Wales * Photos of Wales: Travel/Tours/Wales |
![]() Daffodils in bloom |
![]() St David's Day: Traditional Welsh dress |
| Fri 2 Mar - Sun 4 Mar 2012 |
Tours from London If you want to join a tour this weekend (starting in London), these are some options: Fri-Sun: Paris Eurostar ; Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train ; Paris by Coach Sat-Sun: Horse Riding in Wild Wales ; Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge Sat: Cambridge ; Oxford ; Bath, Stonehenge and Secret Places Sun: Cotswolds * For more tour options, see: Travel/Tours/Dates |
| Sat 3 Mar 2012 | TNT Magazine Travel Show, London Fair in Earl's Court Exhibition Centre providing information to people who want to organise travel in the UK, Europe or around the world. You can visit the stalls of tour and travel companies (some offer competitions or special discounts), and you can attend seminars on a variety of travel-related topics. For details, see: http://www.tntmagazine.com/tnt_today/tnt_events/specialevents/tnt-events-calendar.aspx * Information about travel in/from the UK: Travel/Tours |
| Tue 6 Mar - Wed 7 Mar 2012 |
Champions League Football Second leg matches from the round of 16 stage of the Champions League For further information, see: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague or http://www.itv.com/sport/football/champions_league * Football: Life/Sport/Football |
| Thu 8 Mar - Sun 11 Mar 2012 |
Crufts, Birmingham A famous annual British dog show which started in 1928. It is held at the NEC in Birmingham (nearest train station: Birmingham International). The "Best in Show" award is presented on the final day (Sunday). See: http://www.crufts.org.uk. * Photos from this event: Ideas/Album/Crufts |
![]() Crufts dog show |
![]() Best In Show |
| Fri 9 Mar - Sun 11 Mar 2012 |
Tours from London If you want to join a tour this weekend (starting in London), these are some options: Fri-Sun: Amsterdam & Brugge Budget ; Amsterdam & Bruges coach tour ; Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train Sat-Sun: Overnight Hilton Hotel Oxford, Stonehenge & Bath ; Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge ; Wales Coast & Mountains Sat: York ; Bath and Stonehenge ; Bath, Stonehenge and Secret Places Sun: Brighton * For more tour options, see: Travel/Tours/Dates |
| Sat 10 Mar - Sun 11 Mar 2012 |
Six Nations Championship, UK/France/Italy International rugby competition (England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy). Saturday: 2:30pm Wales vs Italy ; 5:00pm Ireland vs Scotland Sunday: 3:00pm France vs England * Rugby in the UK: Life/Sport/Rugby * Photos from a visit to a Six Nations game: Ideas/Album/SixNations |
| Sun 18 Mar 2012 | London St Patrick's Day Festival, London A celebration of Irish culture in London, usually on the Sunday nearest to St Patrick's Day (17 March). There is a parade starting at 12 noon which passes down Piccadilly, Regent Street and past Trafalgar Square before finishing in Whitehall Place There is also a festival of music and cultural performances in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square and Covent Garden. To check full details of this year's event, see: http://www.london.gov.uk/stpatricksday. * Photos from this event: Ideas/Album/StPatricksDay |
| Mon 12 Mar 2012 | Commonwealth Day, UK & other Commonwealth countries Commonwealth Day is an annual event (on the second Monday of March) during which all the member countries of the Commonwealth celebrate their links with one another. People use the day to promote understanding about global issues, international co-operation and the work of the modern Commonwealth. Each year there is a different theme. There is a special multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey, usually attended by the Queen. |
| Tue 13 Mar - Wed 14 Mar 2012 |
Champions League Football Second leg matches from the round of 16 stage of the Champions League For further information, see: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague or http://www.itv.com/sport/football/champions_league * Football: Life/Sport/Football |
| Tue 13 Mar - Fri 16 Mar 2012 |
Cheltenham Festival, Cheltenham One of the main horse racing events of the year, taking place in Cheltenham (in Gloucestershire, part of the Cotswolds). This is jump racing (over fences), with many top British and Irish horses competing. The most important race is the Gold Cup on Friday. See: http://www.cheltenham.co.uk/festival/the_festival.html * Horse racing in the UK: Life/Sport/Horse |
![]() Cheltenham Festival |
| Fri 16 Mar - Sun 1 Apr 2012 |
Ideal Home Show, London The Ideal Home Show is an annual exhibition about home improvement which takes place at Earls Court. For more information, see: http://www.idealhomeshow.co.uk. |
| Fri 16 Mar - Sun 18 Mar 2012 |
Tours from London If you want to join a tour this weekend (starting in London), these are some options: Fri-Sun: Edinburgh weekend break ; Holland and Belgium ; Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train ; Paris by Coach Sat-Sun: Isle of Wight Overnight ; Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge Sat: A Day in Wales ; Brighton ; Bath, Stonehenge and Secret Places Sun: Windsor and Hampton Court * For more tour options, see: Travel/Tours/Dates |
| Sat 17 Mar 2012 | Head of the River Race, London A boat race on the river Thames in London for "eights", which each have eight people who row and one person (the "cox") who directs the boat. There are several hundred boats competing, setting off at 10-second intervals (the strongest teams row first), and the times to finish the course are recorded. In 2012 it is expected to start at 11am and end at about 12:15pm; the fastest boats can complete the 4.25 mile (7 kilometre) course in about 20 minutes. The race starts at Chiswick Bridge and ends at Putney Bridge. You can watch it from any accessible point along the river, but the best views are probably on the east bank of the Thames (the side which is in Surrey) just north of Chiswick Bridge (near the railway station Mortlake; see: map). Poor weather or strong tides may stop the race, so check before on the website: http://www.horr.co.uk. |
| Sat 17 Mar 2012 | Six Nations Championship, UK/France/Italy Final day of the international rugby competition (England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy). The games are: 12:30pm Italy vs Scotland ; 2:45pm Wales vs France ; 5:00pm England vs Ireland * Rugby in the UK: Life/Sport/Rugby * Photos from a visit to a Six Nations game: Ideas/Album/SixNations |
![]() St Patrick's Day |
![]() Final matches of the Six Nations competition |
| Sun 18 Mar 2012 | Mother's Day (also called "Mothering Sunday"),
UK A time for people living in the UK to think about their mothers. People often give flowers or chocolates or organise a special day out for their mothers at this time, and may send a special "Mother's Day" card. Note that Mother's Day is celebrated on a different date outside the UK. * Ideas for Mother's Day presents: Ideas/Gifts/MothersDay |
| Sun 18 Mar 2012 | St Patrick's Day, Ireland A public holiday in Ireland. Saint Patrick was born in north England or southern Scotland at the time when the country was occupied by the Romans. He was captured and made into a slave, and was taken to Ireland, where he worked as a shepherd. He escaped on a boat, but later came back to Ireland and worked to convert the Irish people to become Christians (previously the main religion was paganism). Saint Patrick died on 17th March 461 AD, and has become the "patron saint" of Ireland. St Patrick's Festival in Dublin: http://www.stpatricksfestival.ie If you want to celebrate St Patrick's Day in London, suggestions include the Irish Cultural Centre, the London Irish Centre, or St Martin-in-the-Fields * Guide to Dublin: Travel/Tours/Ireland/Dublin |
| Tue 20 Mar 2012 | Spring Equinox, UK The day and night are each 12 hours (this is known as the spring or vernal "equinox"). Pagans celebrate this natural event. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/springequinox.shtml. |
| Wed 21 Mar - Sun 25 Mar 2012 |
Country Living Fair (Spring), London British crafts and small businesses display their products. A good place to find unusual gifts. There is an entrance charge. The event is held at the Business Design Centre in London (near Angel underground station; map). For details, or to buy tickets in advance, see: http://www.countrylivingfair.com. |
| Fri 23 Mar - Sun 1 Apr 2012 |
London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, London A festival of gay and lesbian films, shown at the National Film Theatre in London. For details, see: http://www.bfi.org.uk/llgff * Information for lesbians in the UK: Personal/Relationships/Lesbian * Information for gay men in the UK: Personal/Relationships/Gay * British films: Britain/Films |
| Fri 23 Mar - Sun 25 Mar 2012 |
Sport Relief, UK There are fun sporting events across the UK to raise money for Comic Relief, which supports UK and African charities. Some of the ways you can help are by giving a donation at the counter of any bank or building society, or by taking part in or organising a fund-raising event such as running the Sport Relief Mile. For full details about the event and to make a donation, see: http://www.sportrelief.com. |
| Fri 23 Mar - Sun 25 Mar 2012 |
Tours from London If you want to join a tour this weekend (starting in London), these are some options: Fri-Sun: Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train Sat-Sun: Overnight Hilton - Northern England Peaks and York ; Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge Sat: Wales daytrip Sun: Cotswolds * For more tour options, see: Travel/Tours/Dates |
| Sat 24 Mar / Sun 25 Mar 2012 |
British Summer Time (BST) starts, UK If you are in the UK, change all clocks forward 1 hour. You lose one hour's sleep. The time change is actually during the night: at 1am on Sunday morning the time is changed to 2am. Before going to bed you should change at least your watch and alarm clock, and the clock for your heating system - you can make other changes on Sunday morning if you prefer. Note that some computers and electronic equipment automatically change their clocks during the night. Mornings become darker, and afternoons/evenings brighter. If you are calling abroad note that the time difference may have changed (for example: Japan/Korea change from 9 hours ahead of the UK to 8 hours ahead). For the next 6 months the time in the UK is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1). When you change your clocks, you can check the exact time from the speaking clock by phoning 123. Do not always believe the clocks which you may see in public places - sometimes there is a delay before they are changed. More information is available on the website: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/info/timeuk.htm. |
| Tue 27 Mar - Wed 28 Mar 2012 |
Champions League Football First leg matches from the quarter-finals stage of the Champions League For further information, see: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague or http://www.itv.com/sport/football/champions_league * Football: Life/Sport/Football |
| Wed 28 Mar - Fri 30 Mar 2012 |
UCAS Higher Education Convention, London A free education fair in London for people who are thinking of applying for a course at a British university or college. You can pick up the prospectus and ask questions, and attend short talks about university life (book a ticket for the ones you want soon after you have arrived). There are similar fairs in other cities in the UK on different dates, organised by UCAS. For details, see: http://www.ucasevents.com/conventions |
| Fri 30 Mar - Sun 1 Apr 2012 |
Tours from London If you want to join a tour this weekend (starting in London), these are some options: Fri-Sun: Edinburgh, Loch Ness and Highlands by train Sat-Sun: Oxford, Cotswolds, Bath, Lacock & Stonehenge Sat: Bath and Stonehenge Sun: * For more tour options, see: Travel/Tours/Dates |
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