2020 is set to be a huge year in the UK with a host of major events happening across the length and breadth of the country. From world-class sporting tournaments to incredible music festivals, there’s plenty to fill your calendar.
If you’d like to know what’s happening in 2020, read on to discover some of the biggest UK events. And if you’re thinking of taking part in any, we’ve sourced some big beautiful houses where you and your supporters can stay nearby, full of all the facilities needed to relax and unwind in style before and after the event.
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Place your bets and hope for a winner at the Cheltenham Festival in March. This prestigious and unmissable jump racing event of the year sees around 250,000 people descend onto the beautiful Cotswold Hills for four days of scintillating action. Held at Cheltenham Racecourse, watch the finest horses, jockeys, and trainers battle it out for the highest racing honours, culminating in Gold Cup Day – the biggest event of the entire National Hunt season.
Sleeps 26 | 15.5 miles away
After a flutter at the races, this indulgent party house is the perfect place to continue the fun. An indoor swimming pool, large hot tub with river views, cinema room and games room offer the very best in entertainment – you can even make use of the concierge service and chef for an additional charge.
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The Grand National credit: Instagram @aintreeracecourse
Another of the big racing events happening in 2020 is the Aintree Grand National, which sees around 40 horses and their jockeys lining up in what is the ultimate test in British horse racing. This is one of the most popular sporting days on the calendar, full of excitement, fun and adrenaline rushes as riders race towards the finishing line to compete for some of the most sought-after titles in the region.
Sleeps 12 | 13.5 miles away
Take the weight off your feet in this gorgeous Edwardian house and unwind with your nearest and dearest in complete style. Whether you cosy up by one of the crackling fires or gather around the fire pit in the garden to toast marshmallows and chat long into the night, relaxation is an absolute given here.
Tour de Yorkshire credit: Instagram @letouryorkshire
North Yorkshire’s roads will once again play host to the Tour de Yorkshire, one of the most popular cycle races on the 2020 events calendar. Attracting the biggest names in cycling, you can join proud Yorkshire folk lining the streets to cheer on the competitors as they whizz past. There will be eight locations featuring the start or finish of each of the Tour de Yorkshire’s four stages including Leeds, Beverley, Barnsley, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leyburn, Skipton and Redcar.
Sleeps 10 | Next to one of the cycle routes
With a Tour de Yorkshire cycle route on the doorstep, this is the perfect place to set up camp for this amazing event. If you’re taking part, a bubbling hot tub and sauna will soothe any aching muscles, and there’s a friendly pub just next door where you can sit down to a hearty homecooked meal.
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Glastonbury Festival credit: Instagram @glastofest
One of the most legendary 2020 events has to be Glastonbury Festival, set within the peaceful rolling pastures of Somerset. This year, the most famous music festival in the world will be celebrating its 50th anniversary, with Taylor Swift and Paul McCartney set to headline.
Sleeps 8 | 8 miles away
Forget camping and enjoy the luxuries of this former medieval hall and 16th-century milling barn surrounded by verdant countryside. Collect eggs from the chickens for breakfast, make use of the outdoor games in the garden, and soak up the blissful peace and quiet after all the noise of the festival.
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Royal Ascot | Berkshire | 16-20 June
Royal Ascot credit: Instagram @ascotracecourse
A third date in the 2020 calendar for those with a love of horse racing, Royal Ascot is a special week, welcoming around 300,000 visitors in their finest apparel. Attended by the Queen, this unique and sophisticated event offers unparalleled racing, high fashion and fine dining. There are six world-class races on the card each afternoon - cheer your favourite horse past the post and revel in the whirlwind of excitement and atmosphere.
Sleeps 15 | 15.5 miles away
Bring the family and spend quality time enjoying the splendour and glamour of this decadent farmhouse retreat. Set within 2,000 beautiful acres, this lavish home is filled to the brim with luxury, perfectly complementing the elegance of this chic event – you can even spoil yourself with a personal chef by arrangement.
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To see the sunrise at Stonehenge summer solstice is a magical bucket-list experience. One of the most unique 2020 cultural events in the UK, thousands of people from around the world will gather here to celebrate the dawn of the longest day. This is one of the rare occasions when visitors are allowed to enter the prehistoric stone circle and feel its energy. If you stand in the right place inside the monument, you can see the sun rise above the Heel Stone and its rays will beam directly into the centre.
Sleeps 14 | 16.5 miles away
This pretty Georgian farmhouse enveloped in quintessential English gardens is an idyllic retreat to host your spiritual getaway. Set within the undulating Wiltshire countryside, there are plenty of opportunities for scenic walking while your supper cooks away in the AGA.
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Goodwood Festival of Speed credit: Instagram @fosgoodwood
When it comes to major sporting events in 2020, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is a well-established crowd-pleaser. Held in the immaculate grounds of Goodwood House in Sussex, this three-day automobile extravaganza sees a mix of classic vehicles and futuristic supercars come together to celebrate the past, present and future of car racing. The most iconic aspect of the event is spectating the high-octane thrills of the Goodwood Hillclimb - nowhere else will get you so close to the cars and bikes as they blast up the track.
Stay nearby at: Chenies
Sleeps 16 | 11 miles away
Set right on the beach, this special coastal getaway offers the ultimate in indulgence with a heated swimming pool, bubbling hot tub and games room. Only a short drive from Goodwood House, you can be soaking up the sunshine while the BBQ sizzles in no time after this riveting UK motor event.
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Silverstone circuit credit: Instagram @silverstonecircuit
With the British Grand Prix renowned for its amazing Formula 1 atmosphere, this is one of the major events in 2020 not to miss. An adrenaline-fuelled, entertainment-packed racing weekend awaits at super-slick Silverstone, one of the fastest circuits in the F1 calendar. As well as watching the drama unfold on the track, there is a thrilling line-up of concerts and activities across the weekend.
Sleeps 12 | 17.5 miles away
Perfect for summer staycations, this peaceful country house enjoys wonderful views over rolling fields which you can admire from the comfort of the private heated swimming pool. As the sun begins to set, throw some food on the BBQ while the kids play a frame of snooker in the games room.
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Boardmasters credit: Instagram @boardmasters
Boardmasters is the ultimate surfers weekend held in Newquay at Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach. This surf, sea and sun festival brings together the world’s best surfers, skateboarders and BMX riders, and offers a whopping 12 stages of music from international headliners through to breaking acts. As well as catching live sets, festivalgoers can enjoy comedy shows, yoga classes, workshops and film sessions.
Sleeps 8 | 9 miles away
Boasting far-reaching sea views and within walking distance of Perranporth Beach, a premier surfing spot, this boutique retreat is sure to set the mood for the festivities ahead. When you need a break from the surf, a swim spa, steam room and cinema room offer the perfect spaces to rest and rejuvenate.
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Attracting over 130 hot air balloons of all shapes, colours and sizes from across the globe, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is Europe’s largest annual meeting of hot air balloons. One of the big events happening in 2020 and perfect for families, this spectacular sight must be seen to believed. Join one of the mass ascensions at dawn or dusk, an incredible way to start or end your day, and witness the famous Night Glows, when the balloons light up the sky in time to music followed by a huge fireworks display.
Sleeps 10 | 20.5 miles away
When your feet have landed back on solid ground, head back to this cosy Cotswold cottage and relax in front of the fire. A local village inn is within walking distance where you can make a toast to your brilliant day, before sinking into the soft sheets of one of the sumptuous bedrooms.
Cowes Week | Isle of Wight | 8-15 August
A huge highlight of the 2020 sailing calendar is Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight. The oldest and largest annual sailing regatta in the world, around 1,000 yachts, 8,000 competitors and over 100,000 excited spectators come together to enjoy this iconic event. Up to 40 races are staged each day, with some of the world's finest sailors competing - visitors can watch from the shore or opt to get out on the water aboard a spectator boat. Plus, there is a fantastic line-up of shoreside entertainment including live music, delicious food, open-air bars and the renowned firework display on the final Friday of the event.
Stay nearby at: Lucerne
Sleeps 12 | Walking distance
Enjoy sunshine and sailing with a holiday in this period townhouse, right in the heart of Cowes. All the action is just a short stroll away, so you can easily pick and choose what you want to see and make the most of all the restaurants, cafes and bars on offer.
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Great North Run | Newcastle upon Tyne | 13 September
Great North Run credit: Instagram @great_run
One of the most popular 2020 events in the sporting calendar is likely to be the Great North Run, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Attracting world-class athletes like Mo Farah and Haile Gebrselassie, this landmark half marathon takes around 57,000 runners on a 13.1-mile route from Newcastle's city centre to the coast in South Shields. With an electric atmosphere from start to finish, plus a display from the Red Arrows over the finish line, this is one half marathon that every runner should experience.
Sleeps 10 | 9 miles away
Newcastle city centre is a just a short metro ride away from this seaside pad, making it super easy to get to the starting point of the run. There are plenty of places to eat nearby so you don’t need to worry about cooking after the event, and Tynemouth Longsands Beach is just a short walk away where you can refresh your aching feet in the cool waters of the sea afterwards.
Mayflower400 | Plymouth | 14-20 September
2020 is the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage, one of the most influential journeys in global history which saw the Pilgrims sail to America, seeking religious freedom. Did you know that more than 30 million people can trace their ancestry back to the 102 passengers and 30 crew that were on board? Plymouth’s Mayflower Week will provide the culmination of the festival programme where you can look forward to boating events, a visit from the Matthew, a replica 15th-century tall ship, daily fly-bys, live music and two special headline events: the Mayflower Ceremony and the Mayflower Muster.
Sleeps 8 | 4 miles away
Wake up to spectacular waterside views at this spacious former coastguard cottage. Overlooking the sparkling blue sea and just a short stroll to a sandy bay, families are sure to be blown away by its enviable location. And if you’re bringing children, there’s plenty of entertainment to keep them happy in the games room too.
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Hogmanay | Scotland | 31 December
Hogmanay is Scotland’s biggest party of the year, an enormous celebration that engulfs the country to mark New Year’s Eve. Fireworks, open-air concerts and street parties can be found across the land. From the midnight dram to the sound of Auld Lang Syne ringing through the streets, this passionate night is legendary the world over, so be sure to check out our collection of large cottages in Scotland to join in the fun and have an unforgettable start to the new year.
Sleeps 10 | Walking distance from Inverness
Just a short walk to Inverness, the cultural capital of the Highlands, there’s no need to worry about driving here. Start your evening with an indulgent dip in the hot tub before joining the rest of the partygoers in the city and starting your new year with a bang!
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Have any of these top 2020 events in the UK caught your eye? If so, have a browse of our large cottages across the country to find the perfect base to stay nearby. From sprawling country manor houses to chic seaside retreats, you’re sure to find the perfect setting for your UK break within our collection.