10 Best Annual Sports Events in the UK

Wimbledon is quite simply the oldest tennis tournament in the world, perhaps also the most famous. Held in London in June–July every year, it’s the only Grand Slam tournament still played on grass. It’s traditional to enjoy strawberries and cream as you watch the best of the best compete.

A rare feature of Wimbledon’s is the option to buy match tickets on the day of play. Everyone can join the infamous Queue – some dedicated fans even camp out the night before – but note that you can only buy 1 non-transferable ticket per person. The earlier you arrive the better your chances are of getting in but arriving by 9 am at the latest should secure you a ticket.

The FA Cup Final at London’s Wembley Stadium is as traditional as football events come, being over 150 years old. A competition where lower-league clubs can meet Premier League giants (and sometimes topple them too), winning the FA Cup final brings a historic trophy along with prize money and all-important bragging rights.

Tickets to this huge event are limited but you can grab them from the 2 competing clubs or the Wembley Stadium tickets portal. Football is arguably the most popular sport in the UK, so you can expect huge crowds and an electric atmosphere as fans cheer on their favourite teams, celebrate wins and commiserate losses.

The Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire is the traditional location for the British Grand Prix, a race considered to be a crown jewels of Formula 1, having been part of the championship season every year since 1950. The track goes around the 3 runways of a former Royal Air Force base and features 18 thrilling high-speed corners.

Tickets to see the British Grand Prix sell out fast and can be pricey depending on type, so you should be prepared to act fast if you want to watch racing stars such as Britain’s own Lewis Hamilton, who has currently won the competition more often than any other racer.

The Six Nations Championship, usually known simply as the Six Nations, is a long-running rugby tournament featuring England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy. Each country plays the other teams once in stadiums located in all participating countries. For England, that means London’s massive Twickenham Stadium – the world’s biggest Rugby Union stadium and known as “the Home of Rugby.”

The majority of tickets are sold to members and supporters from all over the world, with some available to the general public if they’re quick to act. All games are hotly contested, especially as there’s also the prestigious Triple Crown trophy to be won by the team who defeats the other Home Nation teams.

Known to many as The Open, The Open Golf Championship or the British Open has a rich and storied history that goes back to 1860. The tournament takes place in mid-July and is played on challenging coastal links courses across the UK. Winning the Open on the Old Course at St Andrews can be a career-defining achievement, as shown by golfing legend Tiger Woods.

As the oldest golfing tournament in the world, tickets are in high demand, but coverage is offered for free online for those unlucky enough to miss out. If you attend a game, we suggest bringing along a small radio and binoculars to help you follow the action don’t forget to dress for inclement weather.

The London Marathon follows a course that passes some of London’s most iconic landmarks such as The Tower Bridge, the London Eye and Big Ben. The race is famous for raising money for charitable causes, and over £1 billion has been obtained since the first London Marathon in 1981. The hugely popular event features tens of thousands of runners, from the world’s best to enthusiastic amateurs.

London’s streets and tube stations get very busy on the day of the race with fans flocking to the capital to witness records being made. If you want to cheer on the runners with music and confetti cannons, head to the Mile 21 marker. You can also track the race using the official app.

The Boat Race is a famous rowing competition between crews from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Approaching its 200-year milestone, the event is steeped in tradition. Originating in 1829, the race takes place along the River Thames in London, from Putney to Mortlake. Both men and women compete, and their races are held on the same day.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators line the riverbanks to cheer on their favoured university, so it’s a great spot to picnic with friends – if you can find space. For a true taste of luxury, opt for a hospitality experience with prime viewing spots, champagne and canapes.

The World Snooker Championship, the longest-running professional competition, takes place annually at the “spiritual home of snooker”, the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. One of the 3 major tournaments that make up snooker’s Triple Crown, the event uses a knock-out format, with 32 players going head to head until only 2 are left in a gruelling best-of-35-frames final.

Spectators can find free entertainment in the Cue Zone area, including live BBC coverage and coaching sessions. Tickets sell quickly for the games themselves, with thousands of people eager to know if first-time champions can break the notorious “Crucible Curse” and successfully defend their title.

Cowes Week is one of the world’s largest and oldest sailing regattas. The town of Cowes is on the Isle of Wight, and the sailing action happens on the Solent, the strait between the island and the English mainland. Several different trophies are up for grabs, and the strong, tricky tides make for challenging contests.

You can watch the racing from many points along the shore, or you can hop on a spectator boat to watch the action up close. Cowes Week is also a vibrant social experience, with onshore festivities including live music, food stalls and parties. It can be hard to keep track of events, so we recommend downloading the official app for the latest guides and info.

Scotland’s Highland games, held annually across the country, celebrate Scottish culture and athleticism. From May to August, you can witness traditional Highland sports like the famous caber toss, feats of strength like tug of war and challenging hill races.

If you want to test your mettle you can attend training courses tailored to you and try your hand at stone-throwing and other iconic events. The Highland games are not just about sports, either. Look out for other competitions such as bagpiping and Highland dancing. You might even witness the truly unique game of haggis hurling.