Cool And Quirky Events In The UK

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By Scarlett Welch Editor, DesignMyNight Scarlett has covered the UK's best restaurants, bars and events for DesignMyNight since 2023. She holds an MA in Media & Journalism, with bylines in The Crack magazine and South London News, among others. Last updated on 9th June 2026

The UK really is a funny old place, isn't it? So, naturally, we're a nation chock-full of wacky events, from wild bingo nights led by sassy drag queens to cheese crawls for all your dairy fanatics out there. To make sure you don't miss out, we've rounded up the best quirky activities in the UK, spanning Bristol, Manchester, Leicester and beyond.




Henley-on-Thames: The Lockdown Lodge '26

@ Hambleden Lock on Various dates from Saturday 18th July 2026

Breaking away from traditional restaurant formats, The Lockdown Lodge '26 stands out as one of the coolest and quirkiest events in the UK this year.

Tucked completely away from standard roads at Hambleden Lock, this hidden gem pop-up forces you to leave the car behind and embrace a slower pace of life. The quirky, secluded setup creates an instant sense of exclusivity and adventure, making it the perfect talking point for anyone tired of standard city dining.

London, Bristol, Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester: Wing Fest 2026

The world's largest chicken wing festivals; how's that for cool and quirky? Do something a little different with Wing Fest this summer, where the best traders battle it out to have their wings crowned the best across multiple categories. It'll cost you £1.50 per wing, giving plenty of chance to try your favourites and vote.

Wing-eating contests and hot wing challenges promise more opportunities to get involved, while the buzzing, three-day events also feature BBQ cooking demos, live music, DJs, water splash zones and more for entertainment.

UK-Wide: YO!

Discounts available on certain events

With locations in Birmingham, Glasgow and beyond, YO!'s sushi-making experience is one of the best events in the UK. You'll get to snack on edamame and gyozas as you learn how to craft your very own maki rolls and nigiris.

UK-Wide: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Experience

Brought to you by I'm Puzzled, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Experience is an exciting outdoor adventure that's like an escape room, but bigger. This takes place everywhere from Birmingham to Sheffield and Southampton, using just your phone to guide you across the city.

It's up to you to rescue Dorothy and her friends, working in teams of up to eight people to solve puzzles and uncover clues. You can start at any time of day as this is entirely self-guided, with prices starting from £30 for the group.

UK-Wide: ZANDERNATION BOUNCE BINGO

ZANDERNATION Bounce Bingo offers something different from the usual night out. Combining live DJ music with interactive bingo, it's a unique experience that's both social and energetic.

Events are held in familiar spaces like Mecca Bingo halls, but the vibe is more party than traditional. With fun extras like dance-offs and conga lines, it's an easy pick for anyone looking to try something a little more playful and unexpected.

Buxton: Trackside @ Buxton Brewery

Trackside has many feathers to its fantastic bow. The official taproom of Buxton Brewery, it serves up all kinds of games and entertainment alongside fresh pints straight from the source.

This place puts on every kind of event. We're talking pool nights, film screenings and tributes to amazing acts, from ABBA to Oasis. Tickets to these epic nights of entertainment start from just £5.

Nottingham: Entertainment Golf

Compete against friends and family at this quirky experience in Nottingham. Head to the Riverside Golf Centre where they've transformed the classic game to bring you a range of interactive virtual offerings that will putt your skills to the test.

UK-Wide: Sun City Bingo UK Garage

Sun City Bingo UK Garage is one of the quirkiest nights out you'll find in the UK this year. It's a wild collision of two beloved British pastimes: bingo and garage music.

Picture this: neon lights, booming basslines, a buzzing crowd, and numbers being called to the beat of '90s and 2000s bangers. With Lonyo on the decks, this event is anything but ordinary. 

Bracknell: SWEET FEMALE ATTITUDE Meets BOLLYWOOD! DJ Amit & Aki spinning Garage & Bollywood!

@ Après Nightclub on Sat, 10th Oct 2026 @ 21:00 - 2:30

This incredible night of nostalgia fuses Bollywood magic with 90s UK garage at Apres Nightclub. Whether you're here with mates just because or celebrating something special, this night promises an epic collision of cultures.

Topping the bill is the legendary Sweet Female Attitude, performing her chart-topping hit Flowers - a track that remains a staple of the UK music scene. Grab your ticket to this epic night out for just £25.

UK-Wide: Coyote Ugly

If you're looking for the wildest parties up and down the country, Coyote Ugly is just the place for you. This Nashville-themed bar has got venues in Swansea, Blackpool and beyond, and they host fantastic events every day of the week.

Check out their hoedown-themed bottomless brunches that start from only £25 per person, including 90 minutes of unlimited pizza, prosecco and beer. Plus, they offer hour-long dance classes on Saturdays, complete with a mimosa reception.

London: Sounds Familiar Music Quiz

For quirky activities in London, Sounds Familiar is the music quiz that you need on your radar. Get your team together and prepare for banging hits from across the decades. You'll be on your feet (and maybe even the tables too) dancing to all your favourite tunes.

Not in the area? They've also got events in Hastings, Liverpool and beyond.

Middlesex: Murder Mystery Dinner

@ Red Lion Hotel Hillingdon on Fri, 31st Jul 2026 @ 19:00 - 22:30

A crime has been committed, the suspects are gathering and only you can solve the mystery. Step into a night of suspense, clues, and killer entertainment at The Red Lion, Hillingdon.

Expect twists, turns, and plenty of laughs as you uncover who did it, why and how. Tickets are just £45 and include a welcome drink and a slap up three-course dinner.

UK-Wide: Ultimate Events and Promotions

Fancy doing something a little different? Check out Ultimate Events and Promotions. These guys put on all kinds of epic entertainment across the country, from pop legend fancy dress to rock anthem discos and iconic tribute acts.

Whether you get to an event in Essex, Sheffield or somewhere in between, tickets start from just £13.08.

Southampton: Red Dog's Bottomless Country Brunch Southampton

@ Red Dog Saloon Southampton on Saturday 27th June 2026 and 4 other Saturdays

Love live music, American food and ice cold drinks? You'll want to get down to Red Dog's Bottomless Country Brunch.

Grab your cowboy hat, pull on those boots and step into Nashville music city right in the centre of Liverpool. As you tuck into burgers, BBQ sandwiches and fried chicken, there's two hours of bottomless booze to wet your whistle.

 

London: Hexmoor: Wizarding Prison

@ Hexmoor: London on Various dates from Wednesday 24th June 2026

Hexmoor is where the wizarding world's most mischievous minds are locked away - and now, you're joining them. As the world's first immersive wizarding prison bar, Hexmoor outfits you in an official inmate jumpsuit and throws you into a cell with dark wizards who thrive on chaos. With live actors guiding the story and immersive theatre unfolding around you, you'll have the chance to interact, uncover secrets, and even plan your escape.

Choose your experience level: £49.50 includes three magical cocktails, £57.50 gets you four, or for £77.50, enjoy four cocktails and receive a custom wand, hand-delivered by Willbott's Wand Shop as part of the experience.

Eastbourne: The View Hotel

Whatever you're into, The View Hotel has an event to fit the bill. We're talking bottomless brunches, 70s and 80s parties, disco nights and plenty more.

Right on the seafront in Eastbourne, its adds sensational sea views to an already epic day out. Its events calendar is packed and popular, with tickets starting from just £22.

London & Birmingham: The Big Bakes

Discounts available on certain events

With tents in South or East London and Birmingham, The Big Bakes is making sure you can get your fix of competitive baking in a fun, supportive environment. You'll get into pairs to whisk, roll and fold your way to a winning bake.

Glasgow: ARTÀ

For quirky events in the UK, ARTÀ has a top-notch lineup - perfect for fun weekends and something a little different. From cool wedding exhibitions to hilarious comedy nights and fancy cabaret meals featuring burlesque beauties, there won't be a single dull moment at this Glasgow joint.

London: Faulty Towers The Dining Experience

@ President Hotel on Various dates from Thursday 25th June 2026

This hilarious immersive dining experience in London sees you being waited on by the likes of Basil, Sybil and Manual from the hit show Faulty Towers. They'll not only serve you a tasty three-course meal, but also a platter of witty one-liners, a spoonful of improvisation and a few scoops of comedy.

Sheffield and Chesterfield: Thirsty Work Sip and Paint Parties

From Paint Your Pet to Mamma Mia-themed madness, Thirsty Work's Sip and Paint events are the most fun you can have with a paintbrush in Chesterfield or Sheffield.

Whether it's a Wine Wednesday at Bottle and Thyme or a full-on cowgirl takeover at Apartment, every session is packed with personality, music, and drinks. You don't need to be an artist - just bring your mates, your vibe, and your best attempt at a masterpiece.

Dover: Maison Dieu

Travel through time at Maison Dieu, Dover's newly restored gem, where guided tours uncover centuries of stories from medieval medicine to Victorian grandeur - all for just £8. Kids will love the Dragons, Ghosts and Gargoyles adventure, packed with quirky games, dress-up fun, and even a whiff of the past in a fun medieval smells game.

With live sports and tribute nights also on the calendar, it's a lively mix of history and entertainment for all ages, including live wrestling (from £12) and a Frankie Valli tribute act (from £20) - although expect even more on the cards soon. 

York: York Ghost Bus

@ York Ghost Bus Pickup on Various dates from Wednesday 24th June 2026

For those with a taste for adventure (and a touch of the macabre), the York Ghost Bus offers the perfect combination of comedy and chills. Jump on the legendary Necrobus for a theatrical ghost tour through York's haunted streets.

As you pass iconic sights like York Minster and the infamous Dick Turpin grave, a creepy guide will entertain you with tales of ghosts, gruesome events, and the darker side of York's past. It's a unique way to see the city - just don't expect to sleep soundly afterwards.

Hull: Sounds Familiar Music Quiz

@ The Welly Club on Friday 23rd October 2026 and 2 other Fridays

Looking for a novel night out? Get on down to Sounds Familiar. 

Much more than a music quiz, this epic club night has sold out The Roundhouse and played Glasto more times than Bowie. Expect to hear a little of everything, from chart classics and power ballads to guilty pleasures and old skool anthems.

Dorset: Summer Lodge

Summer Lodge serves up a whole lot of luxury with a side of the unusual in the stunning Dorset countryside. Whether you swing by for a day or book into is elegant rooms, there's plenty to keep you entertained. 

Sign up for a Fermentation Masterclass and you'll learn how to turn common ingredients into all kinds of drinks, from keffir and kombucha to apple cider vinegar and intriguing cocktails. For something little more classic, take on its whisky or gin tasting experiences to sip on some of the country's finest tipples as you learn to master the art of distillation.

UK-Wide: Garage Brunch

Supplying some of the best party events in the UK, Garage Brunch is showcasing boat excursions, garden parties and sumptuous meals. You can expect the likes of bottomless cocktails, chart-topping tunes and clubbing vibes aplenty.

UK-Wide: See Your City

See Your City is definitely a great shout if you're looking for quirkier events in Liverpool, Bristol and beyond. From kooky cheese tours to royal boat tours and a Jack The Ripper-themed stroll, there won't be a dull moment in your diaries.

Hampshire: ROCOCO REVERIE: The Grand Assemblée

@ Somerley Estate on Fri, 25th Sep 2026 @ 18:00 - 23:00

Step back to a time of candlelight, corsets and Versailles-style decadence at ROCOCO REVERIE in the sensational grounds of the Grade II listed Somerley Estate. 

After a champagne reception and refined sit down dinner, you're invited to make your way through a series of salons - some lively and some intimate, but each alive with music, sketch artists, games and whispered conversations. Grab your tickets to this elegant evening from just £185.