The Social Calendar: Dates For Your Diary
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The Social Calendar: Dates For Your Diary

What to do and where to go this season

Wondering where to see and be seen this social season? Check out our full guide to the British social calendar 2024.

Main image from Favourbrook, an Official Licensee of Royal Ascot.

The British Social Calendar 2024

Picnickers soak up the sun at Glyndebourne. © Glyndebourne Productions Ltd/ James Bellorini

Events in March 2024

Cheltenham Festival, 12-15 March

The most anticipated event in the jump racing calendar, Cheltenham Festival is where legends are made. Held over four days every March, it’s home to the Gold Cup (sponsored by Boodles), a fiercely fought, 22-fence race whose winners become household names. thejockeyclub.co.uk/cheltenham-festival

Events in May 2024

Royal Windsor Horse Show, 1-5 May

From dressage to show jumping to the Pony Club mounted games, the Royal Windsor Horse Show is every hippophile’s dream long weekend. rwhs.co.uk

Glyndebourne Festival, 16 May to 25 August 

An unmissable summer programme of opera, which takes place in the gardens of quintessential English country house Glyndebourne, in East Sussex. Don’t forget your picnic. glyndebourne.com

RHS Chelsea Flower Show, 21-25 May

The annual Chelsea Flower Show is simply a must-visit – whether you’re green-fingered or not. Cutting-edge garden design, fabulous floral displays and the latest horticultural research will all be on display. rhs.org.uk

Hay Festival, 23 May to 2 June 

Every year, authors and readers descend on the tiny Welsh village of Hay-on-Wye for the annual literature festival. This year it’s digital, with a packed programme of talks, readings and workshops from the literary world’s biggest names. hayfestival.com

The Derby Festival, 31 May-1 June

Known as ‘the greatest flat race in the world’, the Derby has been held in Epsom, Surrey since 4 May 1780. Dressing up is encouraged, with some enclosures requiring full morning dress. thejockeyclub.co.uk

Events in June 2024

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Camp/Flickr

Isle of Man TT, 1-8 June

Returning after two years’ hiatus due to the pandemic, the Isle of Man TT is an unmissable festival of speed. For over 100 years, it has attracted the world’s greatest – and most daring – road racers to test themselves against the island’s infamous ‘Mountain Course’ – a challenging 37.73 mile track carved out of the island’s public roads. iomtt.com

Chestertons Polo in the Park, 7-9 June

Head to Hurlingham Park in Fulham for three days of polo fun, with a faced-paced format that makes it exciting for fans old and new. And it’s not just sport to look forward to: there’s also fabulous shopping, delicious street food stands, and the buzzing Mahiki tent with live DJs. Not to be missed. polointheparklondon.com

Cartier Queen’s Cup, 12-16 June

Three weeks of prime polo action, all in the rarefied surrounds of Guards Polo Club in Windsor. The final day is open to non-members, with dress codes ranging from smart casual to formal, depending on the enclosure. guardspoloclub.com

Trooping the Colour, 15 June

The Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British sovereign for over 260 years. Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together for a display at Horse Guard’s Parade. royal.uk/trooping-colour

Daylesford Summer Festival, dates TBC

A two-day event packed with live music, delicious organic food and drink, cooking demos and creative workshops. All in honour of Daylesford’s 20th anniversary as an organic farm. daylesford.com

Royal Ascot, 18-22 June

The world’s premier flat racing meeting, when horses, trainers and jockeys from all over the world compete for more than £6m in prize money. A key date on the social calendar, it’s also a chance to dress up and show off your best hat. ascot.co.uk

Ascot

The Boodles Tennis, 25-29 June

An international five-day tennis exhibition held at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, featuring some of the sport’s biggest names, plus up and coming stars. theboodles.com

henley regatta

Crowds cheer on the rowers at Henley Royal Regatta

Events in July 2024

Wimbledon, 1-14 July

Tennis whites, ball boys, strawberries and cream… You know the drill. Wimbledon is as quintessentially British as it gets, and is a real highlight of the social calendar. wimbledon.com

Henley Royal Regatta, 2-7 July

Attracting thousands of spectators to one short stretch of idyllic Henley-on-Thames, Henley Regatta is five days of high-octane excitement on the social calendar, as rowers – from Olympic standard to school teams – compete in over 300 races. hrr.co.uk

British Grand Prix, 5-7 July

Silverstone is Britain’s only Grand Prix date; watch the fastest cars in the world take on its 52 laps. silverstone.co.uk

Goodwood Festival of Speed, 11-14 July

A summer garden party – with added cars. Held in the beautiful parkland surrounding Goodwood House, the festival features F1 superstars, classic cars and motorsport legends, all in one place. goodwood.com

The Cowdray Gold Cup, 13-21 July

The Gold Cup is the culmination of the British Open Polo Championship, the tournament that’s held on Cowdray Park’s famous lawns every summer. cowdraypolo.co.uk

BBC Proms, 19 July to 14 September

The BBC’s eight-week musical extravaganza, held at the Royal Albert Hall, runs all summer long, and is always closed by the Last Night at the Proms, marked by rousing renditions of Land Of Hope And Glory and Rule Britannia! There’s nothing like being there in person. bbc.co.uk

Federer with Wimbledon Cup

Roger Federer with the Wimbledon Cup

The Game Fair, 26-28 July

The annual celebration of country pursuits comes to Ragley Hall in Warwickshire in July. Yes, there’s hunting, fishing and shooting aplenty, but also live cookery demonstrations, an open air cinema and the LAPADA Pavilion of arts and antiques. thegamefair.org

Cowes Week, 27 July to 2 August

Head to the Isle of Wight for a week-long celebration of sailing, at one of the oldest regattas in the world. cowesweek.co.uk

Qatar Goodwood Festival, 30 July to 3 August

Otherwise known as Glorious Goodwood, there are 14 races to enjoy across five days, plus prime eating and drinking opportunities. Summer dresses for women, and linen suits and panama hats for men are the order of the day. goodwood.com

Plays and Musicals to Book Now

Events in August 2024

Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance, 28-31 August

This September, Blenheim Palace will welcome more than 100 of the rarest and most desirable cars and motorcycles to its lawns, as well as debuts from the world’s most luxurious marques. Champagne and shopping will also be on the cards, with brands like Boodles, Roche Bobois and Piston Gin in attendance. salonpriveconcours.com

Events in September 2024

Goodwood Revival, 6-8 September

Step back in time at Goodwood Revival, the world’s only sporting event that celebrates historical cars. It brings to life the years from 1948-66 when the Goodwood Motor Circuit was first in use, so expect an unbeatable variety of classic cars, plus glamorous outfits galore. goodwood.com

Events in October 2024

Frieze London, 9-13 October

The annual art fair presents the best of international contemporary art by emerging and established artists, alongside a programme of newly commissioned artworks, films and talks. frieze.com

Main image:
(Man) Favourbrook Hampton Morning Coat, £690; Coral Linen Waistcoat, £260; Ivy Shirt, £145; Westminster Stripe Cavalry Trousers, £250; Coral Culcross Linen Pocket Square, £35. (Woman) Favourbrook Eton Coat, £1,450. favourbrook.com

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