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Spring is in full bloom and between London and Bristol, there are plenty of family-fun things to do, with a range of activities and events taking place throughout the season.
Embark on an exciting journey along the Great West Way as you explore colourful countryside and vibrant towns. Stretch your legs on a warm nature walk or meet adorable wildlife at the several animal parks across the route. Discover rich heritage as you meander along the famous River Thames or Kennet and Avon Canal before stopping by one of the pretty villages for a taste of local treats!
From annual festivals to outdoor exhibitions, take a look at what’s happening along the Great West Way below:
Marking the celebration of new beginnings, Easter takes place toward the end of April and, between London and Bristol, there are a range of family-fun events taking place!
Taking place on Easter Bank Holiday Monday is Bradford on Avon’s annual Duck Race. Every year, join the hundreds that take part or simply watch the spectacle that is the towns tradition. There will also be plenty of fun games and food and drink to enjoy throughout the day.
Open from Good Friday to Easter Monday is St Giles Church in the historic village of Imber. Evacuated during World War II in 1943, Imber is still deserted to this day, providing a unique and memorable experiences for visitors each year.
Spend the evening amongst the iconic Roman Baths as they stay open throughout the Easter weekend. Enjoy a drink with friends from a pop-up bar beside the Great Bath as it illuminates by flickering torchlight into the early evening.
Explore iconic attractions and destinations along the Great West Way route as you experience a range of exciting festivals this season.
Taking place from April 11th to May 5th is Hampton Court Palace’s annual Tulip Festival. With over 100,000 tulip bulbs erupting in colour, this is one of the UK’s biggest displays of planted tulips and is the perfect way to welcome the Spring season with family and friends.
Recognised as Britain’s Largest and Greatest Tulip Heritage Garden at the prestigious World Tulip Summit last year, this Tulip Festival promises a floral spectacle like no other!
The annual Cheltenham Jazz Festival returns from April 30th to May 5th, attracting over 20,000 music fans annually. This festival celebrates all genres of jazz with a carefully curated mixture of international jazz icons, up-and-coming new artists and unique Festival performances to ensure the programme has something for everyone!
Head down to the Medieval City of Salisbury, within easy reach of the Great West Way, for the return of Salisbury Cathedral’s Flower Festival! This years’ festival, The Spirit of Water, is a companion piece to the Cathedral’s summer art exhibition, Living Water.
Just as the art show explores the power of water, its ability to hold memories and shape the identity of a place, as well as our need to live in balance with this life sustaining force, the Flower Festival takes its inspiration from water in all its different forms – rain, water, ice and more.
Celebrate the past 200 years and future of modern railway as you explore the Great West Way’s rich locomotive history, passing through stunning countryside and quaint villages travelling on the iconic Great Western Railway line from London to Bristol. There are plenty of ways you can learn about the heritage of rail across this route, with a variety of museums, exhibitions and iconic railway destinations stretching in and around the Great West Way.
Cotswold Festival of Steam
Taking place during May’s second bank holiday is Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway’s Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala. Get ready to embark on a journey through time, where the past comes alive and the heritage of steam locomotives is celebrated in all its glory.
The Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala is a spectacular event that brings together railway enthusiasts, families, and adventure seekers. Held amidst the charming Cotswold countryside, this gala showcases the elegance and power of steam locomotives, offering a unique experience for visitors of all ages.
Make the most of the warmer weather by venturing outside this season! The Great West Way offers plenty of reasons to enjoy the great outdoors, with stunning National Landscapes stretching across the route, featuring an array of intriguing walking and cycling paths. As well as this, there are also a range of walking festivals and tours taking place this Spring!
This years’ Reading Walks Festival, taking place between May 10th-18th, is more diverse than ever and includes 50 walks in and around the historic town. Each walk is led by local volunteers and is designed to bring to life the stories, heritage, wildlife and landscapes of Reading and its surrounding countryside.
The 2025 Reading Walks Festival programme is more diverse than ever, with most walks being new for this year’s event. Be sure to look out for new walks focusing on the wonderful trees of Redlands in East Reading, Reading’s literary connections in the town centre, walk in George Orwell’s footsteps north of the river, or learn about bats, wildflowers or Reading’s nature reserves.
Head to the far western part of the Great West Way for this years’ Bristol Walk Fest. This month-long festival offers a choice of ways to explore the city and its surroundings on foot. Including heritage tours, nature walks, explorations of street art and statues, woodland story times an much more!
Most of the festivals’ events are free and there’s something in the programme for all ages, interests, backgrounds and fitness levels, including those in wheelchairs or with children in buggies.
This year marks 250 years since Jane Austen was born and the Great West Way is lucky enough to have been apart of her life through places she had travelled, lived, studied and written in. To mark the occasion, there are plenty events taking place between London and Bristol, as well as surrounding areas.
Open from the beginning of May to the end of June is Jane Austen’s old schoolroom. Reading Museum cares for the historic Abbey Gateway where the author and her sister attended the Reading Ladies Boarding School in 1785-1786. Join others for 2 months of talks, tours, open days, displays, special events and more.
Be sure to start your adventure along the Great West Way this season.
© Great West Way 2025.
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