With anniversaries for garden lovers, classical music fans and steam train enthusiasts; a feast of festivals and events from a Peter Pan picnic to medieval-style revels, 2004 promises to be an action-packed year in Britain. Here's a month-by-month guide to some of the highlights.
May: Britain celebrates 200 years of steam railways in 2004 (Cornish engineer Richard Trevithick's 'Penydarren' engine puffed along a line in South Wales in 1804). To mark the event, the National Railway Museum in York plans its first ever "Railfest". The nine-day festival (May 29 - June 6), on a special site next to the museum, will include rides behind record-breaking engine "City of Truro" and the replica Stephenson's "Rocket"; displays of other great locomotives; the latest rail vehicles; a vintage fair; theatre and live music.
In South Wales, a replica of the world's first engine will be on display on the Brecon Mountain Railway (June-October); while the main celebratory events, including a vintage transport festival, will be staged during the Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Festival (July 1-11). Website: www.rail200.com
June: A bumper month for anniversaries! The 60th anniversary of the D-Day (June 6) landings in Normandy, in occupied France during World War Two, will be commemorated with a variety of events in Southern England. Troops from the USA, Britain, Canada and many other allied nations set off from England at the start of Operation Overlord.
The naval port of Portsmouth is focal point for many of the events, including exhibitions in the city's D-Day and Royal Naval museums (until Sept. 30); a Veterans\' March Past (June 3) and Beating Retreat in the city centre, and further events in and around the D-Day Museum (June 4-6). Website: www.ddaymuseum.co.uk.
The 70th anniversary of the death of England's greatest composer - Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) - will be marked with a festival in his home county. His "Dream of Gerontius" and "Land of Hope and Glory" will feature in the English Symphony Orchestra's concerts in the former spa town of Great Malvern, 120 miles west of London, and in Worcester Cathedral (June 2-5). Website: www.elgar-festival.com. The composer's birthplace, now a museum, at nearby Lower Broadheath will also mark the anniversary. Website: www.elgar.org
The Channel Island of Jersey will be celebrating the 800th anniversary of its allegiance to the British crown. Highlight is the Jersey Revels (June 25-27), in and around the medieval castle at Gorey. Jousting tournaments, falconry displays, soldiers and other costumed characters - and lots more - will re-create the flavour of the Middle Ages. Website: www.1204-2004.je/resourcecentre
July: About 100 costumed 'Romans' in full regalia will march into York for the city's second Eboracum Roman Festival (July 24-25, 2004). Inspired by Constantine the Great, who was proclaimed Emperor in the city on July 25, 306 AD, it features a re-enactment along with displays, dancing, cookery and period craft demonstrations. Website: www.visityork.org
Golf lovers will be heading for Scotland, to Royal Troon where the Open Championship is staged (July 11-18). In Wales it's a big year for the premier agricultural event - the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd - marking its centenary with 7,000 livestock entries (July 19-22).
January: The British love of gardening will be celebrated throughout the year as the Royal Horticultural Society marks its bicentenary with the "Year of Gardening". Events begin in January with lectures in London and continue through the following months with exhibitions and shows around the country, notably the RHS's 18 annual flower shows including those at Chelsea (May 25-28), Hampton Court Palace (July 6-11) and Tatton Park (July 21-25). Website: www.rhs.org.uk
February: With St. Valentine's Day (February 14) on the horizon, a couple's thoughts turn naturally to romance. Where could be more romantic than Britain, especially in a Leap Year? A variety of events, from special hotel breaks to a stately home celebration - plus a Festival of Romance (in Chester, North-West England, Jan. 31 - Feb. 14) are planned. Website: www.chestertourism.com.
Castle Howard, a Yorkshire stately home, will let its visitors experience courtship rituals, romance and bridal finery from the Victorian era as part of its 2004 opening celebrations (Feb. 14-15). Website: www.castlehoward.co.uk
In London, "Orchids Exposed" is the title of Kew Gardens\' 10th annual orchid festival (Feb.14-Mar.14): the Royal Botanical Garden will be adorned with a quarter of a million orchids. Website www.kew.org.
March: Two hundred year-old graffiti in Edinburgh Castle's prison vaults has provided the inspiration for a new exhibition in this historic fortress. It explores the castle's connections with the American War of Independence and the French Revolution - told through the stories of men who were actually jailed there. The castle is home to the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny. Website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk.
In London, the ornate private rooms of the Royal Academy's residence, Burlington House, open in Piccadilly, restored to their 18th century glory. The Neo-Palladian rooms will provide free access to a suite of exhibition galleries displaying 1,000 paintings and 350 sculptures, including masterpieces by Turner, Constable, Reynolds and Hockney.
April: Peter Pan, Wendy and Captain Hook are among the characters running this year's London Marathon (Apr. 18). "Peter Pan", Scottish author J.M. Barrie's story of the little boy who would not grow up, is 100 years old in 2004 and among this year's other centenary events is a treasure hunt and picnic (June 12-13) in London's Kensington Gardens, transformed into Neverland, complete with mermaids and pirate ships. Website: www.gosh.org
The capital's Victoria & Albert Museum launches a major exhibition on the work of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood (April 1 - July 11), featuring more than 150 of her most imaginative designs. Website: www.vam.ac.uk. In Belfast, there's the World Irish Dancing Championships at the Waterfront Hall (Apr. 4-11) - it is only the second time the city has hosted this event.
May: Britain celebrates 200 years of steam railways in 2004 (Cornish engineer Richard Trevithick's 'Penydarren' engine puffed along a line in South Wales in 1804). To mark the event, the National Railway Museum in York plans its first ever "Railfest". The nine-day festival (May 29 - June 6), on a special site next to the museum, will include rides behind record-breaking engine "City of Truro" and the replica Stephenson's "Rocket"; displays of other great locomotives; the latest rail vehicles; a vintage fair; theatre and live music.
In South Wales, a replica of the world's first engine will be on display on the Brecon Mountain Railway (June-October); while the main celebratory events, including a vintage transport festival, will be staged during the Merthyr Tydfil Heritage Festival (July 1-11). Website: www.rail200.com
June: A bumper month for anniversaries! The 60th anniversary of the D-Day (June 6) landings in Normandy, in occupied France during World War Two, will be commemorated with a variety of events in Southern England. Troops from the USA, Britain, Canada and many other allied nations set off from England at the start of Operation Overlord.
The naval port of Portsmouth is focal point for many of the events, including exhibitions in the city's D-Day and Royal Naval museums (until Sept. 30); a Veterans\' March Past (June 3) and Beating Retreat in the city centre, and further events in and around the D-Day Museum (June 4-6). Website: www.ddaymuseum.co.uk.
The 70th anniversary of the death of England's greatest composer - Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) - will be marked with a festival in his home county. His "Dream of Gerontius" and "Land of Hope and Glory" will feature in the English Symphony Orchestra's concerts in the former spa town of Great Malvern, 120 miles west of London, and in Worcester Cathedral (June 2-5). Website: www.elgar-festival.com. The composer's birthplace, now a museum, at nearby Lower Broadheath will also mark the anniversary. Website: www.elgar.org
The Channel Island of Jersey will be celebrating the 800th anniversary of its allegiance to the British crown. Highlight is the Jersey Revels (June 25-27), in and around the medieval castle at Gorey. Jousting tournaments, falconry displays, soldiers and other costumed characters - and lots more - will re-create the flavour of the Middle Ages. Website: www.1204-2004.je/resourcecentre
July: About 100 costumed 'Romans' in full regalia will march into York for the city's second Eboracum Roman Festival (July 24-25, 2004). Inspired by Constantine the Great, who was proclaimed Emperor in the city on July 25, 306 AD, it features a re-enactment along with displays, dancing, cookery and period craft demonstrations. Website: www.visityork.org
Golf lovers will be heading for Scotland, to Royal Troon where the Open Championship is staged (July 11-18). In Wales it's a big year for the premier agricultural event - the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd - marking its centenary with 7,000 livestock entries (July 19-22).
August: Bagpipes will be a-wailing and pipers marching at a brand new event in Glasgow, Scotland: the International Piping Festival (Aug. 7-15). It's also the month of the Edinburgh Festivals and, in London, the lively Notting Hill Carnival (Aug. 29-30).
September: Throughout England, about 2,000 historic or unusual buildings rarely open to tourists will admit the public free of charge during Heritage Open Days (Sept. 10-13). Everything from grand government headquarters to cemetery catacombs throw open their doors - a chance to peep 'behind the scenes'. Website: www.heritageopendays.org
October: The National Gallery in London's new-look Trafalgar Square features its first major exhibition of paintings by Renaissance master Raphael (from Oct. 20). In Cardiff, the Welsh capital, there's the International Festival of Musical Theatre (Oct. 10-31), covering a wide range of musical theatre, from rock and pop to opera.
November: A new flagship arts centre for Wales, the Wales Millennium Centre, opens beside Cardiff Bay. After the opening spectacular (Nov. 26) directed by opera singer Bryn Terfel, fills the 1,900 seat auditorium, there'll be a year-round programme of shows featuring big-name stars - and it's the new home of the acclaimed Welsh National Opera. Website: www.wmc.org.uk
December: Preparations for Christmas are in full swing, with festive markets, colourful illuminations, pantomimes and performances of "The Nutcracker" ballet just a few of the attractions that make this season so magical.
For information on planning a trip to Britain, see VisitBritain's website www.visitbritain.com. As event dates are liable to change it is advisable to check before travelling.