Amy McPherson rounds up the very best things to do on the UK coast and what to see close to the coastline in July.
1. Cheer on island athletes
Orkney – 12-18 July
The Orkney Island Games reach their milestone 40th anniversary this year – and with over 2,000 competitors and officials from 24 islands participating in 12 sports, this international event is sure to be an exciting way to celebrate sports and island communities (orkney2025.com).
2. Say ‘Ahoy!’ to tall ships
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire – 19-22 July
A fleet of majestic vessels with masts will descend on the Scottish city this month, as the annual international Tall Ships Races sail through from France en route to Denmark. You can visit the tall ships, and enjoy four days of festivities and global culture, including quayside concerts and parades,
a funfair, and 60 market stalls to browse (tallshipsaberdeen.com).
3. Enjoy the arts
Multiple locations, County Donegal – 12-26 July
Expect circus, street arts, spectacle and more at the Earagail Arts Festival on the Wild Atlantic Way, in County Donegal on Ireland’s north-west coast. This multi-arts and bilingual (Irish- and English-language) event offers unique cultural experiences in the most unlikely of magical places, with something to appeal to everyone (eaf.ie).
4. Listen to the classics
Multiple locations, North Yorkshire – 11-27 July
One of Europe’s leading celebrations of classical music, the Ryedale Festival, will grace more than 30 historic venues across North Yorkshire this month, from Scarborough to Skipton. The festival also features jazz, folk, poetry, talks, workshops, family-friendly and ‘come and sing’ sessions, in an extensive programme. It’s perfect for combining visits to heritage sites with enjoying beautiful music (ryedalefestival.com).
5. Free your inner artist
Galway, County Galway – 14-27 July
The Galway International Arts Festival aims to find new ways of thinking about the arts, with a programme featuring theatre, music, visual arts, opera, street spectacle, dance, discussion and comedy. Whatever inspires you, you’ll find it at this festival on the coast of Ireland (giaf.ie).
6. Feast on seafood
Lymington, Hampshire – 11-13 July
Enjoy three full days of feasting at the Lymington Seafood Festival in Bath Road Park. Culinary enthusiasts will find inspiration as local chefs showcase seafood dishes and champion regional and seasonal ingredients on the Chefs Stage, and the Cookery School hosts masterclasses to help hone your skills (lymingtonseafoodfestival.co.uk).
7. Celebrate Asian culture
Southampton, Hampshire – 12-13 July
Enjoy a fusion of music, dance and family activities at Southampton’s Mela Festival, a long-standing summer event in the coastal city. Celebrate modern and traditional Asian culture with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and markets (artasia.org.uk/mela-festival).
8. Rock up your taste buds
Rock, Cornwall – 24-27 July
Whet your appetite with a line-up of cooking demonstrations by Cornwall’s finest chefs, then enjoy alfresco dining, participate in wellbeing activities, and dance the calories away to live music. The Rock Oyster Festival is a weekend of food, concerts and happenings at Dinham House near Rock on the Camel Estuary (rockoysterfestival.co.uk).
9. Move to the beats
Gower Peninsula, Swansea – 10-13 July
Fall in love with the natural beauty of coastal Wales at the pioneering Love Trails Festival on the Gower Peninsula. It offers a combination of daytime trail running and other outdoor adventures – including SUP and coasteering – talks, wellbeing activities and workshops, plus live music, DJ sets and entertainment into the night (lovetrailsfestival.co.uk).
10. Watch the sails
Menai Strait – 21 July – 2 August
Enjoy the spectacle as sailing boats race at the Menai Strait Regattas, on the challenging narrow channel between Anglesey and mainland Wales. Dating back to the 19th century, the event is now an annual tradition and brings sailors together over two weeks (menaistraitregattas.org.uk).
