August Highlights
- The Edinburgh Festivals How can you even begin to describe the world's biggest performing arts festival - plus an art festival, a film festival, a huge fringe festival and more? The population of Scotland's capital actually doubles during this world-shaking, month-long arty party.
- The Big Chill A very cool music festival with a great blend of styles. Grown up, laid back and lots of people in the British music business consider it the best of the bunch.
- Cowes Week This fabulous sailing regatta turns the waters of the Solent white for a week. At least 1,000 yachts compete in an event that's been going on for about 200 years. Beautiful.
- England's Medieval Festival Knights, battles, siege engines, jousting. A colorful event for medieval re-enactors with a castle for a backdrop.
- Brighton Pride Summer Festival and Parade Britain's gay capital goes wild for a week in August, with parades, events and parties in the parks and pubs all over town. It's a celebration of alternative lifestyles for gays, lesbians and transsexuals. Colorful and fun.
August Weather View: It Could Be a Scorcher…or Not
Hours of sunshine have a profound impact on UK temperatures and, by August, the longest day of the year is a receding memory. The month is one of the warmest in the UK but the higher temperatures are usually concentrated in the first half of the month. The autumn change caused by shortening days becomes more pronounced at the end. August can also be slightly wetter than July, particularly in Scotland and Wales.Having said that, the one thing you need to be prepared for is the unexpected. In recent memory, we have had blazing hot Augusts; dull cool Augusts and very wet Augusts. By all means, pack for a temperate summer but make sure to include a few things that are warm and waterproof. Meanwhile, here are the Met Office's 20 year averages:
England:- High - 69°F (20.5°C)
- Low - 52°F (11.2°C)
- Average daily hours of sunshine - 5.95
- Average monthly rainfall - 2.6" (66.8mm)
- High - 61.8°F (16.6°C)
- Low - 49°F (9.2°C)
- Average daily hours of sunshine - 4.50 139.6
- Average monthly rainfall - 4.23" (107.5mm)
- High - 66°F (18.8°C)
- Low - 51°F (10.7°C)
- Average daily hours of sunshine - 5.5 172
- Average monthly rainfall - 4.2" (106 mm)
Check out average temperatures and rainfall throughout the year, all around the UK.
August Daylight
In the UK's northern latitudes, the shortening of daylight hours is pronounced. At the beginning of the month days are between 15.5 and 16.5 hours, with sunrise between 5 and 5:30 a.m. and sunset between 9 and 9:30 p.m. depending upon how far north or south you are. By the end of the month, days have shortened by 2.5 hours at the top of Scotland and around 2 hours on the South Coast of England - ranging from 13.5 to 14 hours long. Still, with sunset at between 8 and 8:15 p.m., there are still plenty of daylight hours for touring and outdoor activities.Music and Performing Arts
- Family Friendly Film Festival End of July - beginning of August, two weeks plus of films and events, in Greater Manchester.
- WOW Festival -Isle of Wight Jazz Festival as was. World class performers. Cool Jazz in England's Deep South.
- V Festival
- Billingham International Folklore Festival
- The Three Choirs Festival
- The Green Man Festival
- The National Eisteddfod
- The Leeds & Reading Festivals
- Whitby Folk Week
- The Cambridge Folk Festival
- Royal Windsor Beer & Jazz Festival
- Mathew Street Music Festival, Liverpool
- Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival
Sports
- The Ebor Festival, racing in York
- The British Open Crabbing Championship
- World Bog Snorkelling Championship
- The Festival of British Eventing, aka The Gatcombe Horsetrials
- Blair Castle International Horse Trials
Spectacles
Food and Drink
- Royal Windsor Beer & Jazz Festival
- Great British Beer Festival
- West Dean Chilli Fiesta
- Newlyn Fish Festival
- Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show
- Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
