The What, Where, When: 26 September

The Lady pick of the best events over the coming days
WHAT: Soho Literary Festival. Intimate London literary festival with speakers including Stephen fry, Rachel Johnson and Tom Parker Bowles.
WHERE: Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London www.soholitfest.com
WHEN: 24-28 September


WHAT: Warwick Words Festival of Literature and Spoken Word. A regional literary delight with performances from the country's bestloved authors and poets.
WHERE: Various venues around Wariwck www.wawrickwords.co.uk
WHEN: 01-05 October


WHAT: Malvern Autumn Show. Features a flower show by the Royal Horticultural Society and the National Horse Boarding Championships.
WHERE: The Three Counties Showground, Great Malvern, Worcestshire www.threecounties.co.uk
WHEN: 27-28 September


WHAT: The Generous Georgian: Dr Richard Mead. The Foundling Museum celebrates the legacy of public health pioneer Dr Richard Mead.
WHERE: The Foundling Museum, 40 Brunswick Square, London www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk
WHEN: 26 September – 04 January 2015


WHAT: Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival. Innovative festival showcasing just why Suffolk has become a food destination.
WHERE: Snape Maltings, Saxmundham, Suffolk www.aldeburghfoodanddrink.co.uk
WHEN: 27-28 September

www-Aldeburgh-Food--Drink-Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival

WHAT: The Country Life Fair. Event aims to stimulate interest in everything rural.
WHERE: Fulham Palace, Bishop's Avenue, Fulham, London www.countrylife.co.uk
WHEN: 27-28 September


WHAT: Empty Suits: A Solo Exhibition of Past and New Works. Event aims to stimulate interest in everything rural.
WHERE: Hoxton Arches, Arch 402, Cremer Street, London E2 8HD www.hoxtonarches.com
WHEN: 27 September – 11October


WHAT: Somerset Arts Week: Laundry Cottage Sculpture Garden. Encompassing nature-inspired metal and wood sculpture in a beautiful garden setting
WHERE: Various venues around Somerset www.somersetartworks.org.uk
WHEN: 20 September -05 October


WHAT: National Art Open. Annual open art competition that aims to nurture creativity in professional and amateur artists alike.
WHERE: Somerset House, London www.thenationalopenartcompetition.com
WHEN: 18 September – 22 October


WHAT: Coatwalk. A fabulous fashion day and charity walk out in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.
WHERE: Route around London www.coatwalk.co.uk
WHEN: 04 October


WHAT: Graham Greene Festival. Held in the late author's home town, featuring lectures, screenings and discussions to mark Graham Greene's birthday.
WHERE: Various venues around Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire www.grahamgreenefestival.com
WHEN: 24-28 September


WHAT: The Forward Prizes for Poetry. Celebrating the best of the year's poetry, honoring exciting new voices and established stars.
WHERE: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre www.southbankcentre.co.uk
WHEN: 30 September


WHAT: The Big Draw. A day of creative fun inspiring the next generation of artists.
WHERE: V&A Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green, London www.thebigdraw.org
WHEN: 28 September


WHAT: CHEFstock Foodie Experience. Alyn Williams will be joined in the kitchen of his eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant at The Westbury by internationally renowned chefs, Peter & Jonray Sanchez Iglesias
WHERE: Alyn Williams at The Westbury, London www.alynwilliams.com
WHEN: 30 September


WHAT: Go Sober for October. Encouraging people to abstain from alcohol for a month and be sponsored by their friends and family in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
WHERE: Across the UK www.gosober.org.uk
WHEN: Throughout October

WWW-NEC-CYCLECycle Show

WHAT: Shine Night Walk London. Fundraising event across London sees people walk through the night to complete a marathon or half marathon.
WHERE: Various venues across London www.shinewalk.org
WHEN: 27 September


WHAT: Galway International Oyster Festival. Highlights include the World Oyster Opening Championship, at which 100,000 Galway oysters are consumed.
WHERE: Galway, Ireland www.galwayoysterfest.com
WHEN: 25 -28 September


WHAT: Cycle Show. UK cycling's number one event showcasing everything bicycle.
WHERE: The NEC, Birmingham www.cycleshow.co.uk
WHEN: 25 -28 September


WHAT: Small Wonder Short Story Festival. A perfect mix of literature, workshops and creativity for all.
WHERE: Charleston, Firle, East Sussex www.charleston.org.uk
WHEN: 25 September – 01 October


WHAT: Bournemouth Arts by the Sea 2014. Featuring over a hundred events including music, cinema and sculpture.
WHERE: Various venues across Bournemouth www.artsbournemouth.org.uk
WHEN: 26 September – 12 October


WHAT: King's Lynn Poetry Festival. Contemporary writers come together to read and speak in friendly surroundings.
WHERE: Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn, Norfolk www.lynnlitfests.com
WHEN: 26 – 28 September


WHAT: The Threadneedle Prize: Figurative Art Today. Showcases best entries from the Threadneedle Prize for Painting and Sculpture.
WHERE: Mall Galleries, The Mall, London www.threadneedleprize.com
WHEN: 25 September – 11 October


WHAT: London Literature Festival. A tour de force of literature across all forms.
WHERE: Southbank Centre, London www.southbankcentre.co.uk
WHEN: 30 September – 13 October

www-poetry-festLondon Literature Festival

WHAT: The Great River Race. Up to 300 traditional rowing and paddle boats race along 22 miles of the Thames.
WHERE: River Thames, London www.greatriverrace.co.uk
WHEN: 27 September


WHAT: The Poppy Run - Begins. The first of 20 5k runs raising money for the Royal British Legion.
WHERE: Nationwide www.poppy-run.com
WHEN: 01 October


WHAT: The Porthcawl Elvis Festival. Features over 100 Elvis inspired events in 25 venues.
WHERE: Various venues, Porthcawl, Bridgend www.elvies.co.uk
WHEN: 26-28 September


WHAT: World Stone Skimming Championships. Tiny Scottish island welcomes over 200 international competitors who battle it out for the World Stone Skimming Cup.
WHERE: Easdale Island, Easdale Island, Argyll & Bute www.stoneskimming.com
WHEN: 28 September


WHAT: Malborough Literature Festival. Literary event celebrating new and established authors including Louis de Bernières, Lynne Truss and Nina Stibbe.
WHERE: Various venues, Marlborough, Wiltshire www.marlboroughlitfest.org
WHEN: 25-29 September


WHAT: Scarborough Jazz Festival. North Yorkshire Jazz event filled with music, workshops and local produce.
WHERE: Spa Complex, Scarborough, North Yorkshire www.jazz.scarboroughspa.co.uk
WHEN: 26-28 September


WHAT: Stitching Sewing and Hobbycrafts Show. An event filled with workshops and card making, cross-stitch, stenciling and glass painting.
WHERE: Westpoint Exhibition Centre, Exeter painting. www.ichf.co.uk
WHEN: 26-28 September


WHAT: London African Music Festival. JoyfulNoise brings African music to London.
WHERE: Various venues across London www.joyfulnoise.co.uk
WHEN: Until 28 September


WHAT: BBC National Short Story Award. Literary event celebrates homegrown talent in short story writing.
WHERE: BBC Radio Theatre, Portland Place, London www.booktrust.org.uk
WHEN: 30 September


WHAT: Chiddingly Festival. A festival of the arts featuring music, poetry, dance, literature and comedy. Also features a beer festival.
WHERE: Various venues across Chiddingly www.chiddinglyfestival.co.uk
WHEN: Until 05 October

www-real-foodReal Food Harvest Festival

WHAT: Real Food Harvest Festival
. The only event on this scale that promotes, shows-off and supports ethically produced food and drink.
WHERE: Southbank Centre, London www.realfoodfestival.co.uk
WHEN: Until 29 September


WHAT: Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival. Whisky-filled fun including tutored tastings, distillery tours, ceilidh, whisky memorabilia and a collectors' fair.
WHERE: Dufftown, Moray, Highland www.dufftown.co.uk
WHEN: Until 29 September


WHAT: Wigtown Book Festival. One of the largest arts festivals in Scotland celebrating the written word through film, books, theatre and art.
WHERE: Wigtown & Bladnoch, Newton Stewart, Wigtown, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland www.wigtownbookfestival.com
WHEN: 26 September – 05 October


WHAT: Shakespeare Shorditch. Festival connecting the place where the young Shakespeare made his work with the vibrant Shoreditch of today.
WHERE: Various venues in Shoreditch, London www.tickets.newdiorama.com
WHEN: 01-12 October


WHAT: Bridgend Festival. Wales' alternative food festival promoting locally sourced and produced products.
WHERE: Bridgend Town Centre www.bridgendfeastival.com
WHEN: 26-27 September