ART: Wylye Valley Art Trail, 73 venues across Wiltshire, 29 April – 8 May  

We’re excited to see this celebration of Wiltshire-based artists return for 2023. This is a boom year for the festival, with over 240 exhibitors throwing open their doors. They range from artists of international repute to some seriously impressive new kids on the block, and you’ll find everything from open studios to workshops, demos and talks. There are 73 venues, at locations across south west Wilts, including Warminster, Mere, Tisbury, Hindon and the Chalke Valley. No need to book, entry is free. 

OUTDOORS: Night in the Trees, Glove Factory Studios, Holt, 28 May 

Fancy spending the night under the stars? Into the Wilds are running this nocturnal adventure, which promises to be pretty magical. You’ll head off on a torch-lit trail run or wild swim in the nearby lake, before dining round the camp fire and nodding off in a hammock. The next morning, wake up to a dawn stretching session and the smell of sizzling sausages. Sounds heavenly, just remember your woollies! 

WORKSHOP: Candle making, True Grace, Warminster, 12, 13, 19 May

Keen to know your top notes from your base notes? This two-hour workshop at True Grace’s Warminster HQ takes you through the candle-making process, from fragrance families through to the impact scent has on our mood. You’ll make your own candle, learn candle care tips and come away with a goodie bag worth £42. Tickets cost £65, book here. 

ACTIVE: Teen workouts, RUSTIQ Fitness, Bradford on Avon, Tuesdays and Fridays 

Keen to get your tweens and teens moving more? The team at Rustiq Fitness are running strength and cardio classes, specifically tailored to 12-16-year-olds. Sessions are based on a beautiful farm in Winsley and designed to be fun – gym bunny status is not required. Classes cost £7 and run on Tuesdays and Fridays, at 4:45pm. 

DRINK: Cocktail masterclass, Lucknam Park Hotel, 13 May

Shaken or stirred? Unleash your inner mixologist and learn how to make signature and seasonal cocktails at this glam masterclass. Things kick off with a champagne cocktail, before you watch the resident expert in action, and then get to have a go yourself. Canapes are included and sessions take a max of 10 people. Book here, tickets cost £50. 

FOOD: Coronation supper club, Iford Manor, 5 May 

Crowns at the ready! The talented team at Iford are hosting a right royal supper club, with seven-course tasting menu inspired by Charles III’s favourite food. Feast like a King (or Queen) on pan roasted salmon with salsa verde, lamb from the estate and lemon and Laphroaig whiskey tart. Tickets cost £75, book here.

THEATRE: Johannes Radebe and Anton Du Beke, Wyvern Theatre, dates in May

It’s all go at the Wyvern this month. If you’re a fan of Strictly, get your sequins on and shimmy down there on 11 or 12 May, when Johannes Radebe lets loose on the dancefloor in Freedom Unleashed (above) – voted one of the top ten dance shows in the UK. Hot on his heels is ballroom legend Anton Du Beke, who is set to perform some of his favourite dances and divulge anecdotes from life behind the scenes on the hit show. Tickets start at £42. Fab-u-lous! 

THEATRE: Zog, Wyvern Theatre, 2-4 May 

And one for the small peeps. The smash-hit theatre production of Julia Donaldson’s Zog is set to hit the Swindon stage in May. With lively songs, it promises to be more roar-some than ever before. Tickets cost £16.50 for adults, £14.50 for children. 

WORKSHOP: Marbling on paper, Compton Marbling, 20 May 

Fancy getting creative? Learn how to become a marbling marvel, at this half day course. After an introduction to the tools and techniques, you’ll create your own beautiful patterned papers. You can even choose to have them turned into a journal too. Courses are popular and only happen a few times a year, so snap up your space here. Don’t forget to take a mooch around Clem’s Shop while you’re there, it’s a veritable treasure trove of marbled delights, from photo albums to candles and lampshades. 

ART: The Hidden, Messums, Tisbury, 6 May – 9 July 

In need of an art fix? Messums launches The Hidden, a sound and film installation, on 6 May. The collaboration – between Aussie filmmaker Tim Georgeson and composer William Barton – transports us to the Bundanon, a vast wildlife sanctuary New South Wales. Expect striking images of shadow and light, as well as didgeridoo. 

OUTDOORS: Woodland Gardens tour, Bowood, dates throughout May 

Skip into spring, with a trip around Bowood’s spectacular woodland gardens, now open until 4 June. With swathes of bluebells, magnolias and rhododendrons, it’s a pretty impressive sight. Adult tickets cost £9, kids go free and pooches are invited too. A bonus for the green-fingered among us – there are guided tours available on selected dates for £24. 

CINEMA: The Coronation Live, Parade Cinema, Marlborough, 6 May  

Not sure where to watch the Coronation? See it on the silver screen at Marlborough’s Parade Cinema. Entry will set you back a fiver, which bags you a hot drink. Tickets are going fast, so book yours pronto, here. 

THEATRE: The Verdict, Salisbury Playhouse, 9-13 May 

Jason Merrells (Happy Valley, Agatha Raisin) stars as a washed-up lawyer in this powerful courtroom drama. Expect simmering tension and compelling performances. Bravo! Tickets from £15, book here. 

ACTIVE: Stourhead Trust 10K, May 28

Trainers at the ready! If you fancy trying your hand at a 10K, this monthly event is far from your average plod. It takes in the woodlands around Stourhead, King Alfred’s Tower and an Iron Age hillfort. Best of all, it’s free – just bring your National Trust card if you fancy heading to the house or gardens afterwards. 

OUTDOORS: Badminton Horse Trials, 4-8 May 

Take a hop over the Wilts/Glos border and head to Badminton Horse Trials. Expect high-octane equine adventures, alongside some fabulous shopping to fill your (riding) boots. The event is normally a firm favourite with royals Zara Tindall and Princess Anne, but as it’s Coronation weekend they will likely be otherwise engaged…  

CINEMA: National Theatre Live, Marlborough and Tisbury, 18 and 19 May 

In the mood for a blistering political thriller? Watch stage sensation The Best of Enemies at the Parade Cinema on 18 May or at Tisbury’s Victoria Hall on 19 May. Filmed live at the West End, it stars David Harewood (Homeland) and Zachary Quinto (Star Trek). 

FOOD: Garden Gathering Lunch, Pythouse Kitchen Garden, 21 May

The spring/summer season is in full swing at Pythouse Kitchen Garden. May sees the start of their idyllic monthly garden parties – expect live music, games and slap-up sharing platters, served on trestle tables. The locally-sourced menu includes New Forest Asparagus and Old Herdwick lamb, slow cooked over fire. Tickets cost £60 per adult, £25 per child and include a steady flow of wine and non-boozy drinks. 

WORKSHOP: Cold water experience, RUSTIQ Fitness, Winsley, 21 May 

Embrace the chill, with this guided cold water experience. Learn the skills to help you control your body and mind, then put them to the test when you submerge your body in a gigantic ice bath. The workshop is led by lifestyle coach Arron Collins-Thomas, who previously spent a decade as the personal trainer for Babington House. 

NIGHT OUT: Evening racing and Massaoke, Salisbury Racecourse, 27 May

How’s this for a two-for-one? Head to Salisbury Racecourse for a thrilling evening of races, kicking off at 5.35pm until 8.40pm, followed by a night of Massaoke (think ‘mass karaoke’), a live band sing-along. Tickets start at just £12 – I’ll start warming up my voice now…