8 of the best events of the English Season?
The English social season starts in March with the wonderful Cheltenham Festival and usually finishes with the Goodwood Revival in September. We are going to share some of the fabulous events that we look forward to at the start of each year.
Tennis
For tennis fans, there is a veritable feast of excitement during the summer with the Fever Tree Championships at Queens Club and the Boodles Tournament featuring the worlds top players as they kick start the warm up to Wimbledon, starting at the beginning of July.
Opera
Opera lovers are also offered a plethora of choices over the summer months. Glyndebourne Opera and Garsington Opera stage stunning performances in quintessential English settings throughout the summer months and on a smaller scale, Grange Park Opera in Surrey and Nevill Holt Opera in Leicestershire create magical environments in which you can enjoy incredible productions.
Flower Shows
Chelsea Flower show is held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London every year since 1913, (apart from gaps during the two World Wars and 2020) and is the world’s greatest flower show. It is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society and is the pinnacle of garden design. During your time at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, you can expect to see specialist nurseries revealing new plants for the first time, witness cutting-edge garden design and most importantly finding new ideas to take home to your garden.
As well as Chelsea Flower Show, many other stately homes and palaces host incredible floral displays. Hampton Court Palace also host a tulip festival between April & May, which is seriously worth a visit.
Henley Royal Regatta & Henley Festival
We may be a little biased, but being based in Henley-on-Thames, Henley Regatta and Henley Festival are two of our favourites.
During the first week of July we have 5 days of world class rowing. While the champagne and Pimm’s flow, the whole town, and everyone who visits, dress in brightly coloured summer dresses, chinos and ties to represent and support their rowing teams. The days are filled with laughter and cheers as the single sculls, fours and eights race down the River Thames. Henley Regatta is an event you wont want to miss in the English Season.
The following week, the riverside is transformed into the stunning Henley Festival site which will welcome thousands of visitors, all in black tie, for to watch incredible performances on the floating stage.
The line up for 2024 is:
Wednesday 10th July – Nicole Scherzinger
Thurs 11th July – Dave Stewart
Fri 12th July – Gladys Knight
Sat 13th July – Ministry of sound with Ellie Sax
Sun 14th July – Nigel Kennedy and Sam Ryder
Polo
Horse lovers are thoroughly spoilt throughout the English season. You can enjoy the thrills of the polo season with the Cartier Cup at Guards Polo Club through to the Warwickshire Cup played in Cirencester in Gloucestershire.
Horse Racing
As well as polo, there are a huge number of Horse Racing events.
One of the most known horse racing events in the English season is Royal Ascot. Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne and now hosts the most famous racing meet of the year in June. The Queens Procession has been a highlight for many years as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and members of her family arrive in horse drawn carriages, the spectacle of which is followed by the thrills of the races each day. We wonder what Royal Ascot will be like this year!
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The Royal Procession has been a highlight for many years as His Majesty King Charles and members of his family and inner circle arrive in horse drawn carriages, the spectacle of which is followed by the thrills of the races each day. We wonder what Royal Ascot will be like this year!
Goodwood
A little further south, Goodwood hosts three of the absolute highlights of the English Season. First off in the month of July you have the Festival of Speed; The world’s greatest celebration of motorsport and car culture! Held in the beautiful parkland surrounding Goodwood House, the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard is motorsport’s ultimate summer garden party, an intoxicating celebration of the world’s most glamorous sport.
In September you then have the Goodwood Revival during which you will be forgiven for thinking that you have been transported back in time by several decades – the costumes are magnificent!
Finally, the Goodwood Qatar Festival, hosted in September, which is an undisputed highlights of the English racing season and packed full of exceptional racing action and socialising.
And if that wasn’t enough, throughout the year the Goodwood Estate host a number of track days, shoots and other traditionally English country sport and activities.
Concierge Tip
From music to sport, fast cars to sailing in Cowes Week, the English Season is a wonderful combination of English eccentricity and world class sporting prowess. To stay up to date with the events happening in the English season, check out our calendar