The What, Where, When: 1 May
WHAT: The Lady Boys of Bangkok-Beauties and the Beats. The nation's favourite cabaret returns to Brighton for a 17th season of debauchery. The Sabai also has two fully licensed bars and a resident chef serving delicious Thai food.
WHERE: The Sabai Pavilion, Victoria Gardens, Brighton, BN1 1UG www.ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk
WHEN: 1 May-30 May
WHAT: The Glass Protégé by Dylan Costello. UK première of Dylan Costello's drama depicting 1940's Hollywood and its obsession with image and power. Opening at the Park Theatre with an award winning cast.
WHERE: Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London, N4 3JP www.parktheatre.co.uk
WHEN: 14 April– 9 May
WHAT: Toby Buckland's Garden Festival at Powderham. TV gardener Toby Buckland welcomes all the family to his annual garden festival at the beautiful Powderham Castle. With talks from gardening experts, demos, a nursery and even dining, this fabulous day out is not to be missed.
WHERE: Powderham Castle, Kenton (near Exeter), EX6 8JQ www.tobygardenfest.co.uk
WHEN: 1-2 May
WHAT: The Ceramics and Glass Exhibition at RHS Harlow Carr. RHS Harlow Carr will host a first time exhibition of some of the finest examples of ceramic and glassware. There will also be the opportunity to purchase some of the pieces for your home and garden.
WHERE: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 1QB www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr
WHEN: 14 April – 10 May
Toby Buckland's Garden Festival at Powderham
WHAT: All of This Belongs to You - Friday Evenings. Luminaries from the world of art and design speak on civic life and public institutions such as the V&A. In relation to the exhibition which bears the same name, its democratic theme is perfectly in tune with the upcoming elections.
WHERE: Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL www.vam.ac.uk/whatson/
WHEN: 1 May
WHAT: Mr Turner and Mr Girtin: The Early Years. These two famed watercolourists were both commissioned to paint Harewood House early on in their careers. The exhibition invites a direct and stimulating comparison between the two artists, as well as exploring the relationship between the contemporaries.
WHERE: Harewood House Trust, Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LG www.harewood.org/visit/
WHEN: 3 April – 5 July
WHAT: Brighton Festival. Over 3 week long festival in the pretty seaside town, with appearances from Nina Conti, The Hallé Orchestra and Jeanette Winterson to name but a few. Many free events across the festival too.
WHERE: Brighton, East Sussex www.brightonfestival.org
WHEN: 2-24 May
WHAT: Kew in close-up. Two day course on how to take the best photographs of plants, hosted by nature photographer Heather Angel. Practical sessions both in the gardens and indoors, this course is open to any enthusiastic photographer whether amateur or professional.
WHERE: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB www.kew.org
WHEN: 5-6 May
The Ladyboys of Bangkok
WHAT: Clarins Luncheon at Betty's. Spoil yourself with an afternoon of Clarin's treats and tips, followed by a delicious two-course lunch in the delightful Imperial Room.
WHERE: Bettys Harrogate, 1 Parliament Street, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2QU www.bettys.co.uk
WHEN: 6 May
WHAT: St Ives May Day. This traditional festival marks the transition from winter to spring. Plentiful local attractions including harbour parades and performances of music and dance.
WHERE: St Ives, West Cornwall. www.visitcornwall.com
WHEN: 4 May
WHAT: La Fille mal gardée at the Royal Opera House. Spring screening of Fredrick Ashton's uplifting ballet. Also screening at cinemas nationwide.
WHERE: Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD www.roh.org.uk
WHEN: 5 May
WHAT: Far From the Madding Crowd at Electric Cinema Portobello. Watch director Thomas Vinterberg's interpretation of the literary classic in stylish surroundings at the Electric Cinema Portobello.
WHERE: Electric Cinema Portobello, 191 Portobello Road, London, W11 2ED www.electriccinema.co.uk
WHEN: 8-14 May
La Fille mal gardée
WHAT: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at Wigmore Hall. The Chamber Music Society returns to this world class venue with an exciting programme of music spanning the whole of the genre.
WHERE: Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP www.chambermusicsociety.org
WHEN: 8 may
WHAT: One Fine Day: An evening of Puccini highlights narrated by John Nettles. Cornwall's own Duchy Opera bring Puccini's repertoire to the stunning Minack theatre.
WHERE: The Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 6JU www.minack.com
WHEN: May 4
WHAT: Southbank Centre Market. Outdoor market at London's Southbank Centre. Wide range of fresh and quality produce, as well as tasty street food.
WHERE: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX www.southbankcentre.co.uk
WHEN: 1 May-4 May
WHAT: IWA Canalway Cavalcade. This bank holiday weekend the waterways of Little Venice will play host to the Inland Waterways Association's annual gathering. Featuring a beautiful display of around 130 narrow boats, the festival also includes music, dance and stalls selling food and drink.
WHERE: Little Venice, between Blomfield Road, Warwick Avenue and Warwick Crescent, London,
W9 2PB www.waterways.org.uk
WHEN: 2-4 May
Cellist David Finckel from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
WHAT: Pick Me Up: Graphic Arts Festival 2015. Somerset house hosts Pick Me Up for its sixth year, featuring interactive displays from the best talents in graphic design, illustration and more. Original pieces from the festival are available to purchase with prices starting from £5.
WHERE: Embankment Galleries, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA www.somersethouse.org.uk
WHEN: 23 April-4 May
WHAT: Hedgehog Awareness Week. Organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, this week helps raise awareness of the problems hedgehogs face and what we can do to help our prickly friends. Look out for all things hedgehog across the country!
WHERE: Nationwide www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk
WHEN: 3-9 May
WHAT: Pop up Vintage Fairs London at Alexandra Palace Antiques & Collectors Fair. Pop up vintage fairs London are back at Alexandra Palace and right in the Great Hall itself. Stalls selling everything from fashion and homeware to antlers and teasets.
WHERE: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London N22 7AY www.popupvintagefairs.co.uk
WHEN: 3 May
WHERE: The Sabai Pavilion, Victoria Gardens, Brighton, BN1 1UG www.ladyboysofbangkok.co.uk
WHEN: 1 May-30 May
WHAT: The Glass Protégé by Dylan Costello. UK première of Dylan Costello's drama depicting 1940's Hollywood and its obsession with image and power. Opening at the Park Theatre with an award winning cast.
WHERE: Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London, N4 3JP www.parktheatre.co.uk
WHEN: 14 April– 9 May
WHAT: Toby Buckland's Garden Festival at Powderham. TV gardener Toby Buckland welcomes all the family to his annual garden festival at the beautiful Powderham Castle. With talks from gardening experts, demos, a nursery and even dining, this fabulous day out is not to be missed.
WHERE: Powderham Castle, Kenton (near Exeter), EX6 8JQ www.tobygardenfest.co.uk
WHEN: 1-2 May
WHAT: The Ceramics and Glass Exhibition at RHS Harlow Carr. RHS Harlow Carr will host a first time exhibition of some of the finest examples of ceramic and glassware. There will also be the opportunity to purchase some of the pieces for your home and garden.
WHERE: RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 1QB www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr
WHEN: 14 April – 10 May
Toby Buckland's Garden Festival at PowderhamWHAT: All of This Belongs to You - Friday Evenings. Luminaries from the world of art and design speak on civic life and public institutions such as the V&A. In relation to the exhibition which bears the same name, its democratic theme is perfectly in tune with the upcoming elections.
WHERE: Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL www.vam.ac.uk/whatson/
WHEN: 1 May
WHAT: Mr Turner and Mr Girtin: The Early Years. These two famed watercolourists were both commissioned to paint Harewood House early on in their careers. The exhibition invites a direct and stimulating comparison between the two artists, as well as exploring the relationship between the contemporaries.
WHERE: Harewood House Trust, Harewood House, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LG www.harewood.org/visit/
WHEN: 3 April – 5 July
WHAT: Brighton Festival. Over 3 week long festival in the pretty seaside town, with appearances from Nina Conti, The Hallé Orchestra and Jeanette Winterson to name but a few. Many free events across the festival too.
WHERE: Brighton, East Sussex www.brightonfestival.org
WHEN: 2-24 May
WHAT: Kew in close-up. Two day course on how to take the best photographs of plants, hosted by nature photographer Heather Angel. Practical sessions both in the gardens and indoors, this course is open to any enthusiastic photographer whether amateur or professional.
WHERE: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB www.kew.org
WHEN: 5-6 May
The Ladyboys of BangkokWHAT: Clarins Luncheon at Betty's. Spoil yourself with an afternoon of Clarin's treats and tips, followed by a delicious two-course lunch in the delightful Imperial Room.
WHERE: Bettys Harrogate, 1 Parliament Street, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 2QU www.bettys.co.uk
WHEN: 6 May
WHAT: St Ives May Day. This traditional festival marks the transition from winter to spring. Plentiful local attractions including harbour parades and performances of music and dance.
WHERE: St Ives, West Cornwall. www.visitcornwall.com
WHEN: 4 May
WHAT: La Fille mal gardée at the Royal Opera House. Spring screening of Fredrick Ashton's uplifting ballet. Also screening at cinemas nationwide.
WHERE: Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD www.roh.org.uk
WHEN: 5 May
WHAT: Far From the Madding Crowd at Electric Cinema Portobello. Watch director Thomas Vinterberg's interpretation of the literary classic in stylish surroundings at the Electric Cinema Portobello.
WHERE: Electric Cinema Portobello, 191 Portobello Road, London, W11 2ED www.electriccinema.co.uk
WHEN: 8-14 May
La Fille mal gardéeWHAT: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at Wigmore Hall. The Chamber Music Society returns to this world class venue with an exciting programme of music spanning the whole of the genre.
WHERE: Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP www.chambermusicsociety.org
WHEN: 8 may
WHAT: One Fine Day: An evening of Puccini highlights narrated by John Nettles. Cornwall's own Duchy Opera bring Puccini's repertoire to the stunning Minack theatre.
WHERE: The Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, Penzance, Cornwall, TR19 6JU www.minack.com
WHEN: May 4
WHAT: Southbank Centre Market. Outdoor market at London's Southbank Centre. Wide range of fresh and quality produce, as well as tasty street food.
WHERE: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX www.southbankcentre.co.uk
WHEN: 1 May-4 May
WHAT: IWA Canalway Cavalcade. This bank holiday weekend the waterways of Little Venice will play host to the Inland Waterways Association's annual gathering. Featuring a beautiful display of around 130 narrow boats, the festival also includes music, dance and stalls selling food and drink.
WHERE: Little Venice, between Blomfield Road, Warwick Avenue and Warwick Crescent, London,
W9 2PB www.waterways.org.uk
WHEN: 2-4 May
Cellist David Finckel from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln CenterWHAT: Pick Me Up: Graphic Arts Festival 2015. Somerset house hosts Pick Me Up for its sixth year, featuring interactive displays from the best talents in graphic design, illustration and more. Original pieces from the festival are available to purchase with prices starting from £5.
WHERE: Embankment Galleries, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA www.somersethouse.org.uk
WHEN: 23 April-4 May
WHAT: Hedgehog Awareness Week. Organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, this week helps raise awareness of the problems hedgehogs face and what we can do to help our prickly friends. Look out for all things hedgehog across the country!
WHERE: Nationwide www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk
WHEN: 3-9 May
WHAT: Pop up Vintage Fairs London at Alexandra Palace Antiques & Collectors Fair. Pop up vintage fairs London are back at Alexandra Palace and right in the Great Hall itself. Stalls selling everything from fashion and homeware to antlers and teasets.
WHERE: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London N22 7AY www.popupvintagefairs.co.uk
WHEN: 3 May