So, before we surrender ourselves entirely to Christmas shopping, endless lists and the annual debate over when it's acceptable to put up the tree, here are ten lovely ways to spend a November weekend. Coats on, off we go.
Spend An Afternoon With The Bloomsbury Set: Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant: Inside Bloomsbury, Tate Britain, London
From 12 November
Image: Vanessa Bell Interior with the Artist’s Daughter c.1935-36. The Charleston Trust. © 2026 Estate of Vanessa Bell. All rights reserved
If your idea of a blissful afternoon involves art, beautiful interiors and a healthy dose of unconventional domestic arrangements, this is one for you. Tate Britain's new exhibition explores the extraordinary creative partnership between Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, bringing together more than 250 works spanning painting, textiles, ceramics and decorative arts. There's even a reconstruction of Grant's studio at Charleston, that wonderfully idiosyncratic Sussex farmhouse where the Bloomsbury set made a fine art of living, loving and generally ignoring what respectable society thought of them.
Book tickets.
Lose Yourself In A Literary Weekend: Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival, Somerset
13 – 16 November
Book lovers, here's an excellent excuse for a weekend on Exmoor. The pretty little town of Dulverton plays host to four days of literary conversation this November, with a line-up that includes Michael Morpurgo, Patrick Gale, Cathy Rentzenbrink, Jonathan Dimbleby and gardening doyenne, Mary Keen. What we especially love is that this one is intimate enough to feel like a gathering of fellow enthusiasts, and thus it features none of the frantic dashing between vast auditoriums that can accompany the bigger affairs. Throw in moorland walks, pub suppers and a night somewhere cosy, and we'd call that a weekend well spent.
Book tickets.
Get Into The Swing Of Things: EFG London Jazz Festival, London
13 – 22 November
Devoted jazz aficionado? Partial to an evening of good music and a cocktail? London's annual jazz festival is a splendid excuse to get out and toe-tapping after dark. For ten days, venues across the capital play host to musicians from around the world and, with everything from intimate gigs and experimental performances to big-name concerts and free events on the bill, it’s an excellent way to get to grips with a spot of jazz without needing to know your bebop from your bossa nova.
Discover more.
Uncover The Secrets Of The Queen Of Crime: Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery, British Library, London
30 October 2026 – 20 June 2027
A country house full of secrets, a suspicious death and a cast of characters among whom almost anyone might be the murderer. The great Agatha Christie not only made an art form of the dastardly deed, but also gave us not one but two of the most enduring sleuths ever written. This fantastic new exhibition at the British Library celebrates the extraordinary life and imagination of the undisputed Queen of Crime, 50 years after her death. There are personal letters, photographs, notebooks, early manuscripts and her trusty Remington typewriter to pore over, but it’s also brilliantly immersive, with recreations of an Orient Express carriage, a First World War dispensary (where Christie acquired her famously extensive knowledge of poisons) and an archaeological dig, reflecting the adventures that inspired so many of her stories. Ideal for a dark November afternoon. After which, there’ll be tea in proper pots, scones and much humming of the 1980s Joan Hickson-starring Miss Marple theme tune (the only one that counts in our book).
Book tickets.
Get Creative: Knit + Stitch, Harrogate
19 – 22 November
Anyone who has ever bought a beautiful skein of wool with absolutely no idea what to do with it will feel right at home here. Formerly the Knitting & Stitching Show, Harrogate's Knit + Stitch is a four-day celebration of all things handmade, with more than 150 specialist suppliers, workshops, demonstrations and textile art displays. Better still, Harrogate itself makes a lovely base for a weekend, with its handsome Victorian architecture, independent shops and the ever-reliable prospect of afternoon tea at Bettys. Looking further afield? Here are 12 lovely ideas for a November weekend across Devon and Cornwall.
Book tickets.
Fishy Business: Clovelly Herring Festival, Devon
15 November
Back for our annual reminder of the romance of Britain's fishing villages (and never more so than in winter) is Clovelly, with its steep cobbled streets, whitewashed cottages, achingly pretty little harbour, and yes, its herring festival. On 15 November, the village once again celebrates the humble herring – once the lifeblood of its fishing industry – with a festival dedicated to the so-called 'silver darlings'. There will be traditional smoking demonstrations, seafood specialities, local crafts and music on the quay, all against a backdrop so exquisitely atmospheric it looks like a stray from the pages of a Victorian novel.
Discover more.
Escape To The Mountains: Kendal Mountain Festival, Cumbria
19 – 22 November
You don't, thank ye gods, have to be the sort who considers dangling from a sheer rock face a perfectly reasonable way to spend an afternoon to enjoy Kendal Mountain Festival. For those of us whose idea of adventure involves a bracing walk followed by a good lunch, there's plenty here for the armchair explorer, too. The four-day celebration of the great outdoors brings together films, talks, literature and extraordinary stories of human endeavour, with adventurers, writers and filmmakers descending on the Cumbrian town. And with the Lake District on the doorstep, why not extend your visit into a proper weekend away?
Book tickets.
Step Inside An Arts & Crafts Masterpiece: Winter Craft Fair at Blackwell, Bowness-on-Windermere
13 – 15 & 20 – 22 November
Not all Christmas fairs are created equal. Some are exercises in resisting scented candles and novelty decorations. Others, like Blackwell's Winter Craft Fair, are held in one of Britain's loveliest Arts & Crafts houses – this particular one designed by M H Baillie Scott – and bring together makers working across ceramics, textiles, jewellery, wood and other traditional crafts. The house itself is reason enough to visit, with its beautifully preserved interiors and glorious views towards Windermere. And this year there's also an exhibition celebrating its architect, making it an especially tempting outing for anyone with an interest in design. Who knows, you may even get a head start on the Christmas shopping. A win all round.
Book tickets.
Well Read: Cambridge Literary Festival, Cambridge
21–22 November
Ah, the prospect of a weekend spent listening to clever people discussing interesting things – is there anything to make one feel quite so virtuous, inspired, or, well, clever by osmosis? We think not, most particularly when it's accompanied by good coffee, bookshop browsing and a beautiful city to explore between events. Cambridge Literary Festival returns this November with a programme that includes Elif Shafak, Deborah Levy, Hermione Lee, Jonathan Bate and Michael Morpurgo, among many others. And, of course, Cambridge itself is a joy at this time of year, when the college courts are strewn with leaves and the tourists have thinned out. Just the excuse we need for a literary little escape. For more bookish outings, discover our guide to what to do with a weekend in November.
Book tickets.
A Different Light: Christmas at Kew, London
From 13 November
Yes, we know. Christmas in November can feel a touch premature, not least when the supermarkets have been flogging mince pies since September. But there's something undeniably magical about Kew Gardens after dark, when its magnificent trees, glasshouses and winding paths are transformed by thousands of twinkling lights. The annual illuminated trail returns this month, offering a lovely way to spend an evening outdoors before the full festive frenzy gets under way. Even the most determined Christmas sceptic might find themselves feeling the magic by the end.
Book tickets.
November Weekends
What are the best things to do in the UK in November 2026?
November's cultural calendar is packed with exhibitions, festivals and seasonal events. Highlights include Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant: Inside Bloomsbury at Tate Britain, Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery at the British Library, the EFG London Jazz Festival, Kendal Mountain Festival and the Cambridge Literary Festival.
What exhibitions are on in London in November 2026?
Two particularly tempting exhibitions are Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant: Inside Bloomsbury, opening at Tate Britain on 12 November, and Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery at the British Library, which runs from 30 October 2026 to 20 June 2027.
Are there any literary festivals in November 2026?
Yes. The Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival takes place from 13–16 November, with authors including Michael Morpurgo, Patrick Gale and Cathy Rentzenbrink. Cambridge Literary Festival follows on 21–22 November, with a programme spanning fiction, biography, poetry and more.
Where can I go for a weekend away in November?
Cambridge is a lovely choice for a literary weekend, while Harrogate combines its Knit + Stitch event with beautiful Victorian architecture and excellent shopping. For something outdoorsy, head to Cumbria for Kendal Mountain Festival, or to Exmoor for its literary festival and glorious countryside.
What Christmas events start in November 2026?
Christmas at Kew begins on 13 November, transforming the gardens into an illuminated wonderland. Blackwell's Winter Craft Fair in the Lake District takes place over two weekends, 13–15 and 20–22 November, with handmade gifts and traditional crafts in a beautiful Arts & Crafts setting.
