11 Best Things to Do in England in March
March is a great time to explore England – there are so many events and days out to enjoy! Spring is also on it’s way (with any luck) so take a look at these great March events to plan your month around.
If you’re planning on exploring England in March, here’s where you need to be. The milder temperatures and longer days mean we can finally emerge from our spot next to the radiator at home, and soak up some new sights.
March in England, here goes…
1. Enjoy a pub day out for St Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick’s Day is one of the best days out in England for March, and also one of the booziest.
Pubs and restaurants will also have a selection of St Patricks’ Day food and drink offerings, especially if you can find an Irish bar and try out the country’s traditions for yourself. Guinness is a good place to start!
Find the right bar in England and enjoy some local music performances – always join in when people start dancing to the traditional Irish folk songs.
2. Watch the Head of the River Boat Race
Anywhere along the journey from Mortlake to Putney during the famous Head of the River boat race has to be one of the best places to visit in UK in March, offering a fantastic view of all the action. Every year rowing crews from around the world take part in the Head of the River race, and if you can claim a spot along the Thames Championship Course where the race will be taking place, you’re in for an excellent day of cheering.
You’ll watch the Cambridge University and Oxford University rowing crews race towards the finish on the River Thames – pretty exciting once you get into it!
3. Celebrate Mother’s Day in style
March means Mother’s Day in England, so book your spas, afternoon teas, and walks in the countryside in now. Mums need to be celebrated (Reggie!) so plan your third weekend of March around that.
Few Mother’s Day ideas for you…
- Take mum out for a nature walk somewhere she’ll love, and make some memories.
- Hop on a train to London and book into one of the best afternoon teas in the city, followed by a spot of shopping. Or go and see some shows, like me and mum did for her special birthday this year.
- Visit a museum or get lost in an art gallery.
- Book a weekend away somewhere like Sandy Balls in the New Forest. Spend some quality time together without distraction.
Whatever you decide to do, as long as you are giving her the gift of your time it’s sure to be a day she won’t soon forget!
4. Look around The Other Art Fair
The Other Art Fair is organised by Saatchi Art, and it’s a great way to discover some of the most exciting emerging artists in the country.
Held in the Truman Brewery in East London, this is your chance to immerse yourself in a huge collection of artwork by professional and amateur artists alike, with the chance to take part in engaging workshops and attend talks with the artists to find out more about their work. Oh, and there are also plenty of food stalls to fuel you as you get lost in all the amazing art on display.
This is an absolute must-do if you’re a fan of art, but also, it’s well worth going along to this fair to see the eclectic range of work on display. The Truman Brewery is in a very cool location too, so you’ll have a great time exploring the locale.
5. See the beautiful cherry blossom trees
If you’re looking for a picturesque day out, then March has all the Instagrammable nature you need this month. London is bursting with cherry blossom trees, and you can take a beautiful walk through St James’s Park, Hyde Park and Regent’s Park to take in the beauty of these trees. You can snap some early spring photos in there (this is Matlock below btw).
Even the cherry blossoms in Portsmouth are pretty impressive, so you don’t have to travel far – check out your locale to hunt out the best ones. This is also a good one for mum’s special day if you need more ideas!
6. Cheer on runners at Cambridge Half Marathon
Get involved with the electric atmosphere at the Cambridge Half Marathon – it’s a brilliant day out for the whole family where you can cheer, wave, and shout encouragement to the strangers tackling the 13.1 mile course.
The TTP Cambridge Half Marathon will see around 12,000 runners take on the challenge. Make a fun sign with your kids or friends and head to this exciting event to show support to runners.
7. Dress up for World Book Day
World Book Day is our yearly reminder of how wonderful books can be. From theatre performances to author visits to story-reading sessions and more, events take place all over the country.
World Book Day is one of the most wholesome days there is, so find an event near you to celebrate.
8. Sing along at the C2C: Country to Country Festival in London
Country fans… gather!
If you love country music, March is YOUR MONTH. Every year the C2C Festival tours the country and stops off in London, bringing with it a whole host of country acts, both hugely famous and newcomers to the scene.
You’ll see some of America’s best country superstars and the UK’s budding country artists under one roof — the O2.
9. Hold your breath at Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Racecourse is a must-see if you’re interested in horse racing – it’s one of the most well-known places in British racing history. The Cheltenham Festival is a great day out for friends to get together and celebrate the wins and losses with the bubbles flowing.
10. Celebrate books again, at the York Literature Festival
The York Literature Festival began in 2007, and remains a key part of the city’s culture – bringing literature and literary events to the city of York.
The festival hosts its events in venues all across the city such as York Theatre Royal, York St John University, York Explore Library and more. In the past many authors have graced the stages there, including Tracy Chevalier, Carol Ann Duffy, Germaine Greer, Kate Mosse and Michael Palin – this year promises lots more, with events like their Folk Horror Day, a workshop on Writing the Future, and an International Women’s Day Poetry Showcase.
Keep an eye on the York Literature Festival website for events and ticket information.
11. Start booking your UK holidays in!
We’ve had February half term so now we’re looking to Easter, England days out and cheeky weekends away. How about some time enjoying the epic pool at Butlin’s, or road tripping in the Cotswolds, or wandering the beautiful Southsea Beach?
Best days out in England in March
Spring is definitely the best time to get out and start exploring all that England has to offer this time of year. From cherry blossom trees to country music festivals to literature festivals, there are so many options to have the best day out in England for March. Get something booked in your calendar!
Quicklist: Best Days Out in March
- Enjoy a pub day out for St Patrick’s Day
- Watch the Head of the River Boat Race
- Celebrate Mother’s Day in style
- Look around The Other Art Fair
- See the beautiful Cherry Blossom trees
- Cheer on runners at Cambridge Half Marathon
- Dress up for World Book Day
- Sing along at the C2C: Country to Country Festival in London
- Hold your breath at Cheltenham Festival
- Celebrate books at the York Literature Festival