This year marks the 700th anniversary of the death of Scottish hero William Wallace: immortalised as ‘Braveheart’ on film and in legend.

There’s plenty to tempt sport fans to Britain before the 2012 Olympics – London is one of the candidate cities – and there are few countries that can match it for famous sporting venues.

Get inspiration, and be creative with flower bulbs in your home and garden. The Keukenhof, Holland’s world-famous spring gardens, will be open again from March 24 to May 20.

The [17th] Easter Festival Tirol 05 “Life. Be | Asia’s Smile” is dedicated to the mystifying Far East. The main focus is on China, India, and Japan which is also spotlighted in the 2005 Culture Program of the European Union.

Towns and cities, villages, stately homes, attractions and open spaces all over the country are holding festivals and events with a watery theme this year.

A mere glance at the long list of Mozart events currently planned for 2006 — a total of 50 so far, to be seen on 2,600 dates — would be enough to fill any calendar and crash any palmtop.

Avanti! Summer Sounds will be 20 years old this summer. The programme for this milestone year will be planned by conductor Hannu Lintu and will include concerts of orchestral and chamber music, events for children and various happenings.

A farm shop, café and chocolate shop are new additions to the 18th century Stable Courtyard at one of England’s finest stately homes. Castle Howard in Yorkshire has been home to the Howard family for 300 years and is set in a 10,000 acre country estate.