May Holidays in the UK

One of the most naturally beautiful regions in the country, the Cotswolds is filled with wildflower meadows, rolling hills, stately homes, and quaint villages, where thatched cottages are built from local yellow stone. Visitors can relax and enjoy the glorious scenery or visit famous big houses such as Snowhill Manor, which overlooks the Vale of Evesham. Spend a day at the races at Cheltenham Festival, or watch competitors roll 7-pound Double Gloucester cheese wheels down Cooper's Hill on the Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May.

From soaring mountain peaks to unspoiled beaches, walkers, cyclists, and climbers will be in their element. If you aren't as keen on the great outdoors at the start of spring, Wales is still one of the best May holidays in the UK. Literature fans from across the globe descend on Wales each year for the Hay Book Festival at the end of the month. The event attracts authors and writers from every genre, and previous participants have included Helen Fielding, Peter James, and Eddie Izzard.

Two bank holidays mean that there are lots of events in the capital during May. Open-air theatre productions herald the onset of spring at Shakespeare's Globe and Regent's Park, while the world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show is in full bloom from around mid-May. Celebrate Eid in Trafalgar Square, where stalls serve delicious street food, or take the kids along to the Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival.