Sara Pascoe. Photo courtesy of the artist. Festival on the Close, Rugby, from: 20 – 25 June 2026. Preview Rugby, the much-loved Festival on The Close returns to Rugby this year with an exciting programme packed with headline performances, unforgettable music, comedy, and live theatre. As the festival approaches its ten-year anniversary, organisers promise a spectacular celebration of live performance for audiences of all ages, and all in support of Rugby’s Bradby Club, the lo

Meet Shaun the Sheep! Photo courtesy of the BMM. Gaydon Land Rover Show 2 & 3 May at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire. Shaun the Sheep and Lara Croft Land Rovers join adventure winners and unique historic vehicles at one of the UK’s largest and most exciting shows for the iconic British vehicles. There's also the chance to win a VIP day out at the museum for your family. Adventure in motorsport and films takes the spotlight at the hugely popular Gaydon Land R

Butterfly Owner Clive Farrell (centre) with David Bellamy (L) and Sir David Attenborough (R). Photo courtesy of the Stratford Butterfly Farm. Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm is delighted to announce a very special celebration on Friday 8 May, marking the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough, one of the world’s most treasured naturalists. Sir David Attenborough, who has previously visited the Butterfly Farm, has long been an inspiration to the team and to millions aroun

Portrait Print and Best in Show: Angles and Extensions by Ester Riordan. Fittingly, a new trophy awarded for the judge’s choice of Best in Show at Leamington Spa Photographic Society’s end-of-season competition has been won by an arts-related image. It is presented in memory of long-standing LSPS member Keith Roberts, who was the LSPS membership secretary for many years and was also chairman of the Leamington Spa Arts Society. The Best in Show trophy, chosen by judge John Hai

Sam Evans of the Shakespeare Distillery. Photo by the company. Gin and rum lovers are in for a treat as the popular Stratford Gin & Rum Festival returns in 2026 with an exciting new riverside home at the Crowne Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon, on 19 July from 12 to 5pm. Taking place beside the River Avon, the festival will bring together a hand-picked line-up of craft gin and rum distilleries, offering visitors the chance to sample, discover and purchase a wide variety of premium

Gorgeous dogs enjoying the attention. Photos by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. As life gets back to normal for all the canine competitors and their owners and handlers who were involved in Crufts, Elementary WhatsOn looks back on our visit to this world famous dog show held over the four-day period of 5-8 March at the Birmingham NEC. We’ve put together a roundup of dogs and events that caught our eye, including some gorgeous dogs who may not have achieved Best in Show, but were

The Blue Morpho Butterfly. Photo courtesy of The Butterfly Farm. Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm is proud to support its sister conservation and breeding project, ‘Fallen Stones Butterfly Farm’ in Belize this Easter. During the holidays from 28 March – 12 April, visitors can experience the breathtaking beauty of hundreds of Blue Morpho butterflies, which have been sourced directly from the project. Known for their iridescent, shimmering wings, the Blue Morpho is one of t

Ampleforth Abbey. Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. It’s always good to discover new places, so if you’re travelling to York, you might want to take a trip to Ampleforth Abbey, situated in the foothills of the North York Moors National Park, just 19 miles from York. Ampleforth Abbey is set within 1,200 acres of peaceful countryside, with stunning views of the Yorkshire countryside. It’s a perfect place for those who enjoy being outdoors and there are routes and nature tra

A previous Rustival. Photo courtesy of the BMM. Rustival returns for its fourth event at the British Motor Museum on Saturday 18 April. Known by many as the ‘UK’s friendliest car show’, this family friendly event is a celebration of all vehicles, from car, commercial, bus and bike, and their enthusiasts! From clapped out to Concours - if it’s got wheels, it is welcome at Rustival! The show, which is hosted by YouTubers Ian and Carly from HubNut, Matt from Furious Driving a

Food by Wyrd World. Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. The Miniatura Show takes place in Hall 3, Stoneleigh National Agricultural Exhibition Centre (NAEC) on 14-15 March 2026. Doors open from 10am-4pm. Preview The hobby of miniatures has never been bigger! With TV programmes such as the BBC’s The Marvellous Miniature Workshop, presented by Sara Cox, and The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge presented by Sandi Toksvig in 2022, there’s lots of interest in dolls house miniatu

Aldwark Manor Hotel. Photo Rob Tysall Pro Photography. Tucked away in the heart of the Yorkshire countryside just 13 miles West of York, sits the hidden gem of Aldwark Manor Estate. Mentioned in the Domesday Book and with links to William the Conqueror, this 200-acre estate is steeped in history – not to mention its links to local folklore with its connection to the Witch of Aldwark. This impressive Victorian Manor was c ommissioned by Lord Walsingham in 1865; during the S

The beer tent, Warwick Festival 2025. Photo John Wright Photography. The 2025 Warwick Folk Festival brought in just under £1million to the town in terms of additional economic benefit which has been revealed in an ‘Economic Impact Analysis’ report. It has also been revealed that the festival days in 2023, 2024 and 2025 averaged a footfall uplift of +46% in the town centre, compared to the average footfall on the same non-festival days. Data also showed that 2025 had the large

Follow the York Ice Trail. Photo courtesy of Make It York. York Ice Trail returned this morning with the Enchanted City theme bringing 36 mystical and magical ice sculptures, interactive experiences and photo opportunities leading you across the city. The York Ice Trail is a free event open to all from 10.30am to 4pm over the weekend on 7 and 8 February. Pick up the official trail map from the Visit York Visitor Information Centre to tick off all the sculptures and, upon

The Glasswing Butterfly. Photo courtesy of Stratford Butterfly Farm. As the half term holiday (14 – 22 February) falls over Valentine’s weekend, Stratford Butterfly Farm is inviting families to enjoy the magical experience of wandering through the tropical rainforest filled with colourful butterflies. With fish-filled pools, waterfalls and lush plants and blooms, the popular family attraction is the perfect place to share a moment of wonder. Being one of the most romantic set

Full casting has been announced for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s forthcoming touring production of Hamlet. The production, originally directed by Rupert Goold and directed on tour by Sophie Drake , visits eight venues in England in 2026 with a new cast, after originally opening in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon in 2025. These are: Truro, Bradford, Norwich, Nottingham, Blackpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, York and Canterbury between 24 February – 25 April

Dead Ringers. Photo by Steve Ullathorne. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, BBC Radio 4’s legendary, multi-award-winning topical satire show Dead Ringers is hitting the road with a full UK tour for the first time. Due to phenomenal demand, extra shows have been added from 27 January, including an extra date in London, at the Palladium. Featuring much-loved long-standing cast members Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis Macleod, and Duncan Wisbey, the live show promises a hilarious

Playbox celebrate their 40th Anniversary Season. Photo courtesy of Playbox Theatre. Playbox Theatre celebrate their 40th Anniversary Season — A Year of Unmissable, Live-Only Events at The Dream Factory in Warwick. Playbox Theatre — long recognised as one of Europe’s most adventurous and imaginative theatres for young people — launches its 40th Anniversary Season with a bold promise: every production will be a one-off theatrical event that can only be experienced live. What be

Utility and Toy will be highlighted on the Saturday. Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. Tickets are now on sale for the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, brought to us by The Royal Kennel Club, and taking place at the Birmingham NEC from Thursday 5 March to Sunday 8 March 2026. You may have noticed the ‘Royal’ prefix to the Kennel Club’s name. This is because King Charles recognised The Kennel Club’s 150 years of dedicated service to dogs back in April 2023. In November 20

Anansi The Spider. Photo by Helen Murray. Anansi The Spider, Presented by the Birmingham REP and Unicorn Theatre, at The Door, Birmingham Rep until 11 January 2026. Suitable for 4 – 8 years and their families. Created by Justin Audibert, Directed by Robin Belfield. Preview. The greatest tales ever spun… Sit under the canopy of the banyan tree and experience the laugh-out-loud West African and Caribbean tales of the infamous Anansi! People say that in a time long, long ago,

Barry Potter will be welcoming toy collectors today. Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. The Barry Potter Toy Fair takes place today 27 December 2025 at The Birmingham NEC Preview Whether you’re a serious toy collector, or you’re in a nostalgic mood and want to look back at the toys from your childhood, then the Barry Potter Toy Fair today at the Birmingham NEC is an event you won’t want to miss. Collector Barry has been running his toy fair shows since the early 2000s, br

The Archers: Live at 75. Photo courtesy of the BBC. BBC Radio 4’s long-running drama ‘The Archers’ celebrates 75th anniversary and steps out of the studio for a new live theatrical experience. The Archers: Live at 75 will be touring the UK from June–November 2026. Preview First airing on 1st January 1951, BBC Radio 4’s The Archers is the world’s longest-running drama. Today Fane is delighted to announce that the programme will mark its 75th anniversary in 2026 with a national

Goldilocks and the Four Bears community pantomime presented by The Henley in Arden Drama Society (HADS) at Henley Memorial Hall from 18 – 21 December 2025. Directed by Laurence Marshall. Review by Ashley Hayward This was my first visit to the annual Henley in Arden pantomime and on arrival you could tell from the warm welcoming atmosphere that it was eagerly awaited by the local community. It was a complete sell out and HADS had even laid on an additional performance to meet

Fantastic line up coming to Warwick Arts Centre in 2026. Warwick Arts Centre has announced its expansive Spring/Summer 2026 season line-up which includes Mo Gilligan, Ruby Wax, Vitamin String Quartet, Haircut 100, Zog, Hamza Yassin and many more... Preview Amongst those heading to the popular Coventry arts space are such familiar faces as Mo Gilligan (7 Feb 2026), I'm A Celebrity... disruptor Ruby Wax (21 Jun 2026), No Such Thing As A Fish co-host Dan Schreiber (15 Mar 2026

Noor and Jeed of Lime Meadows Catering tell of the benefits of Matcha. Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. The recent Winter Good Food Show at the Birmingham NEC certainly drew in the crowds. Around 127,000 visitors packed the halls for the four-day shopping extravaganza, finding inspiration with new products, top brands and award-winning food and drinks. As always there was a great line up of well-known chefs giving talks and demonstrations in the live theatre and signing t

Father and daughter get dressed up for the show. Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photographer. If you went along to the MCM Comic Con show at the Birmingham NEC last weekend (28 – 30 November) I think you will agree that it was an outstanding event. This year was the biggest MCM Birmingham ever, with the show’s footprint at the NEC almost doubling and 55,000 attendees coming through the doors over the three days! Saw this fella! Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photographer. The show was a r

The Blue Morpho Butterfly. Photo courtesy of Stratford Butterfly Farm. This festive season, Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm is set to sparkle with an extraordinary sight, an abundance of dazzling ‘Blue Morpho’ butterflies. Known for their iridescent, shimmering wings, the Blue Morpho is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful butterfly species in the world! Visitors will be able to experience them in greater numbers than ever throughout the Christmas period. From mid-Dec

See amazing Cosplay characters. Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. This weekend it’s the MCM Comic Con show at Birmingham NEC and once again it promises to be packed full of all manner of entertainment. With guests from the world of film, television, gaming, comics, anime. Amongst the line-up will be four Dr Who’s: Peter Davison, Paul McGann, Sylvester McCoy and Colin Baker. Other famous names include Doug Naylor, writer, director and co-creator of Red Dwarf (Friday/Saturd

People's Day. Photo courtesy of Warwick Arts Centre. The People’s Takeover at Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7FD On Saturday 29 November 2025, 11.30am – 4.30pm. Admission free. Preview The people of Coventry will take over Warwick Arts Centre for a day of discovery. Visitors of all ages can enjoy a series of workshops, performances, readings and more from some of Coventry's most talented creatives from 11.30am to 4.30pm. Expect music, dance, storyt

Some of the Summer Show's Cosplay winners. Photo courtesy of London Comic Con. London Comic Con, Winter, at Olympia London on 15-16 November from 9am – 6pm each day. Preview The UK's favourite Comic Con takes place at Olympia, London on 15-16 November, bringing you a fabulous line-up of stars from TV and film, unique merchandise, a spectacular Cosplay line-up of superheros, comic and film characters, and so much more! The Olympia 2-day show has some big names this winter so w

This Christmas, a brand new creative team brings a dazzling festive production to The Albany Theatre: Beauty And The Beast from Saturday 6 December 2025 - Sunday 4 January 2026. Preview Inspired by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve’s original 18th-century fairy tale and newly adapted by award winning writer Theresa Heskins, this enchanting production promises to be bigger, bolder, and more magical than ever before. The show runs from Saturday 6 December 2025 - Sunday

Some of the BMM team with their awards. Photo courtesy of the BMM. The British Motor Museum has scooped two awards in the Famtastic Awards 2025 which were announced on 31 October at The Village Hotel in Blackpool. Judged by a panel of events industry specialists, the awards celebrate and recognise the top agents and venues nationwide. The Museum has been awarded Independent Venue of the Year and Unique Venue of the Year. Home to the world’s largest collection of historic Brit

Santa Express at NYMR. Photo courtesy of North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has announced an array of festive experiences for a magical winter along the heritage line as the Railway 200 celebration year comes to an end, marking the bicentenary of the birth of the modern railway in the UK. From history lovers and railway enthusiasts to families looking for something special this Christmas, this season promises something exciting for all vi

The British Motor Museum has been selected as one of three finalists in the Museums & Collections category in this year’s Royal Automobile Club Historic Awards. The annual Awards recognise outstanding achievements within the British historic motoring and motorsport world. The judges had an impressive and diverse list of candidates across all 8 categories to scrutinise and will announce the results at a glittering Historic Awards dinner and ceremony on 20 November at the Royal

Museum Curator Cat Boxall with the Harry Potter Ford Anglia. Photo courtesy of the BMM. This Halloween the British Motor Museum is inviting visitors to hop in the Ford Anglia from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for an unforgettable ride around the Museum grounds! On 31 October dressing up as a favourite, witch, wizard or magical character is highly encouraged for visitors to get fully immersed in this magical experience. What’s more, Museum staff will be handing out

Cotswolds Distillery Visitors' Centre. Photo courtesy of Margaret Mather. ‘If you build it, they will come,’ and they have, by their thousands. Whisky lovers from all over the world descend on a small village called Stourton, near Shipston-on-Stour in the picturesque Cotswold countryside to marvel at, and taste, the delightful whisky and gin. Driving through the Cotswolds, you can’t help but admire the quaint stone cottages and wonder at the beauty of the honey-coloured stone

Currently on at Warwick Arts Centre. In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats, Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, from Monday 29 September to...

See impressive layouts. Photo courtesy of the BMM. The British Motor Museum will host the Great British Model Railway Show on Saturday 25...

Brainiac Live! at the Palace Theatre. Photo courtesy of Brainiac. Brainiac Live! At Birmingham Town Hall from 27 – 30 December 2025....

Stephen, Charlotte and Alex with OWL. Photo courtesy of the BMM. Racing driver and broadcaster, Alex Brundle, and presenter Charlotte...

Tower by Petite Properties. Photo by Rob Tysall. This weekend – 13 and 14 September 2025 there's a fabulous celebration of all things...

Jags at Gaydon. Photo courtesy of BMM. This year ‘Jaguars at Gaydon’ will celebrate 50 years of the Jaguar XJS when it takes place at the...

At the Priory Theatre in September. Our Day Out, by Willy Russell, at the Priory Theatre, Kenilworth from 5-13 September. Directed by Bev...

Enjoy the DR1VR Show. Photo courtesy of BMM. The DR1VR show is returning to the British Motor Museum on Sunday 14 September for its...

Hush Hush cast, (L-R) Catherine Warnock, James McLean, Georgina Liley, Robert Took. Photo © Robling Photography. Hush Hush! Written by...

Exciting tank displays. Photo by Rob Tysall. Tanks, Trucks & Firepower Show, taking place on 23, 24 and 25 August, 10am-5pm daily,...

A line up of retro trucks. Photo courtesy of British Motor Museum. On Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 September the British Motor Museum will...

Introductions. Photo courtesy of Playbox Theatre. Warwickshire’s internationally renowned Playbox Theatre recently returned from a...

A Fleet of Knowles Transport. Photo by Rob Tysall. The Gaydon show held at the British Motor Museum over the weekend of 14-15 June saw...

Richard Thompson OBE. Photo courtesy of Warwick Folk Festival. Singer, songwriter, guitarist Richard Thompson OBE opened the main Warwick...

Square by Helen Ashbourne. How many ways can a one-word subject be interpreted by a group of individual photographers? That is the...