From the legendary ‘Cheltenham roar’ that will build among the crowd as the tapes rise for today’s first race to the final championship on Friday – otherwise known as Gold Cup Day – the Cheltenham races are some of the biggest on the calendar, second only to the Grand National itself.

The 26 races will bring many of the world’s finest horse racers to South West England (along with their trusty steeds), and according to the event’s website, over half a million pounds will be bet on the outcome by hopeful punters.

I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest horse racing fan, but any excuse to bask outdoors in the English countryside at the start of spring sounds good to me! As well as taking in world-class horse racing, festival-goers heading to Cheltenham on Wednesday can enjoy the double celebration of it being Saint Patrick’s Day, which always attracts racing fans from Ireland eager to see some excellent displays of one of the country’s national sports.

With tomorrow’s races also offering the possibility of a hat trick – something that’s never happened in the races before – you could even try to channel some of the luck of the Irish when having a flutter!

If you want to know what’s happening on each packed day of the Cheltenham Festival, check out the events calendar to help plan the best day for your visit. Bear in mind that Friday is sure to be the most popular day to visit, as the winning horses go head to head in one of the biggest championships of the sporting year, so don’t delay in booking your tickets and Cheltenham hotels!

One of the many prestigious festivals that take place in Edinburgh each year, the 22nd Edinburgh International Science Festival looks to be bigger than ever, with a huge programme of events catering for budding Einsteins and casual audiences alike!

Edinburgh’s science festival is one of the biggest in the world, taking place over two weeks from 3 to 17 April and including more than 220 events, according to its official website. It attracts the biggest names in popular science like Richard Dawkins and Ben Goldacre to give fascinating talks on a range of groundbreaking topics, while also providing much for the casual attendee – like comedy shows and plays that aim to make difficult scientific concepts easier to understand.

Now I wouldn’t claim to be a scientific genius, but I’m always fascinated by learning how the world works, so I’m very much looking forward to heading up and taking part in the events this year. I didn’t really know about the science festival last year, but now it might become another essential item on my itinerary of annual breaks in Edinburgh – along with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August of course!

The science festival really takes over Scotland’s capital in April, with events at 35 venues including the Royal Botanic Gardens and National Museum of Scotland, while younger boffins can find a huge range of activities taking place at the festival’s own dedicated venue, the City Art Centre, which has given over all seven floors to host a variety of activities.

As well as demonstrating the wonders of science, the festival is also a unique opportunity to get involved in real scientific research, and one of this year’s big projects is the development of a brand new Sonic Dreams sound system, described as a fusion between art and science.

But out of all these diverse and fantastic events, there’s one that’s got people’s tongues wagging the most – and that’s an all-android football game that kicks off at Edinburgh University! With two teams of androids looking to bend it like Beckham and take home the Robocup trophy, it’s easy to see why the Edinburgh International Science Festival is so popular for bringing science to life in an entertaining way.

This high-profile event has been running in Scotland for six years now, and has firmly established itself on the international festival scene. But not content with being one of the best places to see a huge range of fantastic independent films from across the globe, this year’s Glasgow Film Festival has spawned a number of mini festivals running alongside the main events that look every bit as fascinating to me.

Probably the most unique of these is the Glasgow Music and Film Festival – that’s music and film, with a number of documentaries and performances exploring the close relationship between what audiences see and hear when they go to the movies.

According to STV, the main events of the music and film festival are live performances from Zombie Zombie, Thomas Truax and Pere Ube who will all be giving their own interpretation of cinematic greats, while the film side of things focuses on groups as diverse as the White Stripes, Nick Cave and Glasgow’s own art rockers Mogwai – who are also scheduled to play a DJ set to follow their latest concert film Burning.

Film fans across the spectrum are sure to find something that appeals to them in the various film festivals, particularly the Glasgow Youth Film Festival which always proves popular with children of all ages and includes workshops where kids can script and film their own movies. This sounds like the perfect place to take your children if they’re interested in learning more about the art of filmmaking.

As well as featuring a large number of international films, the Glasgow Film Festival is also true to its roots and celebrates the cream of home-grown Scottish talent. One of the most talked-about Scottish films getting its premiere at this year’s festival is American: The Bill Hicks Story, which aims to bring the laughter of the late comedian to new audiences. Check out the official events programme to see just what’s happening around the city throughout the month and you’re sure to find something to get excited about!

The Viking horde is preparing to invade York once again, as the 25th annual Jorvik Viking Festival brings Scandinavian mayhem to the historic city for the whole of next week.

I always look forward to this event, it’s always fun when things happen on your doorstep after all – it’s celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and showing no signs of losing momentum. The Viking festival truly offers something for everyone and isn’t just for kids or history buffs – if you don’t believe me, check out the packed events calendar and you’ll see the huge variety of events taking place across the city every day, from Monday 15 to Sunday 21 February.

There are craft and memorabilia stalls for the casual Viking fan as well as detailed demonstrations of how the people of the past built their houses and boats, but it’s the battle re-enactments and longboat burnings that everyone is really waiting for, and trust me when I say it’s a sight you don’t want to miss! Pre-booking is essential for the grand finale beginning at 5pm on Saturday night, and it always proves to be a popular event, whether the weather holds up or not.

If you’ve ever visited the excellent Jorvik Viking Centre in York, you should have some idea what to expect from many of these activities, which bring Britain’s historic Viking past to life without holding anything back. While this Yorkshire city’s other famous invaders – the noble Romans – are also celebrated at places across York, it seems to be the Vikings that people are most eternally fascinated by – and who can blame them?

York’s Viking Festival seems to get bigger every year and always has something new to offer, with a number of this year’s events being dedicated to the Viking-based book How to Train Your Dragon, which is soon to be released as an animated film by Pixar. Young readers can meet the book’s author and get their copies signed, as well as design their own dragon in a competition that will be judged as part of Saturday night’s event, which includes fireworks, special effects and a real Viking funeral and is guaranteed to be a smash event for all the family.

If you’re determined to make this February 14th a Valentine’s Day to remember, how can you choose the perfect destination for you and that special someone when there are so many enticing Valentine’s Day breaks out there?

As the romantic weekend comes ever closer, it always seems that travel writers everywhere are giving their heartfelt opinions on which destinations around the UK make for the ideal Valentine’s break. And while I’m sure each opinion is perfectly valid, it doesn’t help that many of these are contradictory – and you can’t be in two places at once!

With so many great offers and experiences to enjoy around the country, it really does depend on you! That’s not to say that I won’t put in my own tuppence worth and tell you about some of the romantic breaks we’re offering here at Superbreak to help that special weekend go down in history.

If you’re looking to splash out on a luxury Valentine’s getaway for you and your partner, there’s still time to find low prices on top four- and five-star hotels around the nation. Treat yourselves to a little pampering in opulent surroundings – or better still, get your other half to treat you to it!

Whether you’re looking to get away from it all on a country escape to the beautiful Lake District or Cornwall, or even if a Valentine’s city break is more appealing, you’ll find that love is in the air everywhere you go.

To get even more out of your Valentine’s break, you can even look into what’s playing in your area – those of you visiting London might want to combine your hotel with a theatre package or event booking to see Eric Clapton at the O2 or Phantom of the Opera to make it a truly unforgettable night!

Of course, you don’t have to stay in the UK, and what better reason than the Valentine’s weekend to take that trip to Europe? If you’re an old romantic who goes weak in the knees at the thought of a weekend in Paris, you’ll find they really know how to celebrate the event in the world’s romantic capital. But you might also want to check out up-and-coming Switzerland – chosen as this year’s top Valentine’s spot by popular travel blogger Adventure Girl for its beautiful hotels and awe-inspiring scenery.

No one celebrates like the Scots, which is why I’m heading to Edinburgh to celebrate the occasion with friends. I wasn’t able to come up last year, but the Burns Supper I held at home was a great success – I even got my friends to eat haggis, which was no small achievement!

The excitement doesn’t all have to be indoors though, and as a national holiday you can always find plenty of opportunities to celebrate in public – especially in the big cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, where pubs and restaurants bring out special menus and live performances abound.

As for the food and drink themselves, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Scotland’s national holiday is celebrated with traditional cuisine and Scotch whisky. Haggis is available everywhere in Scotland, but even in the rest of the UK it’s easy enough to find it online. And if you’re a little put off by the idea of what you’re eating, you’ll be glad to hear that veggie haggis is just as readily available and many people actually prefer the taste.

Some companies have gone even further to cash in on the holiday, with haggis producers MacSween introducing the ‘One Minute Haggis’ this year – two slices of haggis that can be microwaved in 60 seconds and put in a bun. Sounds tasty enough, but I don’t think MacDonalds will be losing sleep over it somehow!

Even though I admit I’m not so much into the poetry that often forms a part of the celebrations (Robert Burns, whose birthday the event commemorates, was a poet after all!), Burns Night is a great occasion to eat, drink and be merry in great company. After all, Christmas and New Year were a long time ago… right?

If you’re the kind of person that gets goosebumps watching TV talent shows then you’ll be blown away by the spectacular musical event coming to the O2 next Thursday. Voice in a Million is an exciting new project that’s been devised to raise awareness of abandoned and orphaned children who need a new life, and it involves the aspiring vocal talents of 5,000 children. This means you’ll have the chance to enjoy a musical fix but also know that it’s happening to raise money for some of the world’s most deserving causes.

This record-breaking event was organised by the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) and is certainly worth making the trip to London to experience first-hand. The O2 show is the beginning of an epic project that will involve a staggering one million children lending their voices to support the worthy cause all across the world.

Each singer on stage represents one child in the UK who is in need of a loving home, which gives you a real idea of how important this issue is. Not only orphans, but children who’ve suffered abuse, neglect and abandonment will also be helped by the event. Singers were auditioned at Shepperton Film Studios, and the most talented performers will even be given a chance to sing solo in front of the gathered crowd – make sure you’re a part of it!

The concert will be recorded for a documentary and for the upcoming One Million Voices album, to commemorate the fantastic event. Events like this are the perfect way to show your support and to recognise young talent, and better still, 1,000 tickets have been donated to members of the British Armed Forces and their families, to show support for all the children who are still losing their fathers in the current conflict in Afghanistan.

Voice in a Million comes to the O2 in London Docklands on Thursday 28 January. Later this year, the event will head to Nottingham’s Trent Arena on 1 July and Newcastle’s Metro Arena on 8 July, so clear your diaries now!

Up Helly Aa takes over on the last Tuesday of every January all across Shetland, but if you want to see the festival in all its glory, you have to visit Lerwick, the island group’s main city. There, a packed itinerary sees the Jarl Squad visiting museums, schools, hospitals and other public buildings before the night falls and the torches begin to blaze. The torchbearers sing the traditional songs and put on a dazzling performance, but you’d be forgiven for being a little distracted from the impressive choreography when the event climaxes in the torching of a full-scale Viking longboat.

…And then the fun really begins! As the torchbearers and revellers head to local halls after the main event, each squad takes to the stage to perform a dedicated set piece to entertain the crowds, and it would probably be fair to say that more than a little mead is drunk as the night goes on!

It seems that Up Helly Aa is much more than a pagan celebration of the changing of seasons – not that there would be anything wrong with that. After all, I’m planning on partying with the best of ‘em later this year at the Beltane Fire Festival in Edinburgh! But there’s a more modern twist to Up Helly Aa, where squads of torchbearers choose to dress (or ‘guise’) in satirical outfits, with a healthy smattering of men kitted out in drag – leading to the festival’s affectionate local nickname of ‘Transvestite Tuesday!’

If you can’t make it to Shetland for this year’s festival, Lerwick displays suits used in the festival, alongside information and photos of the event’s fiery history, in a dedicated Up Helly Aa exhibition that’s open in the warmer summer months. But if any of you plan to attend, don your best Viking armour and be sure to tell me all about it when you get back. May Odin be with you!

The magnificent 17th-century palace in Kensington has been the official home to many illustrious members of the royal family over the centuries, including the late Lady Diana. With so many conflicting emotions being conjured by the residence, it does seem like the fitting place for this upcoming exhibition, which the Historic Royal Palaces website promises will “reveal tales of love and hate, surprise and sadness, secrets and jealousy” – who said the monarchy wasn’t exciting!

It’s these fascinating royal characters that the exhibition is looking to celebrate in a distinctive and original way – using a mix of installations, soundscapes, interactive theatre, intimate storytelling, film and fashion. Struggling to get your head around the idea? You’re not the only one! It certainly sounds like this is one exhibition that has to be experienced first-hand.

Ground-breaking modern designs will be displayed alongside priceless artefacts from the Royal Collection in the palace’s State Apartments, and with the likes of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and set designer Echo Morgan at the helm, it promises to be a worthy addition to the top attraction. And as the cost of the exhibition will be included in the usual ticket price, there’s really no excuse for delaying your visit to Kensington Palace any longer.

It’s creative exhibitions like this one that are helping to make Kensington Palace more accessible and enticing as a visitor destination in the capital. The Enchanted Palace exhibition is set to run from 26 March 2010 through to June 2012, when the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games will no doubt find the organisers hard pressed to usher in something even more impressive. Stay tuned for that one!

Don’t think ‘Celtic’ music is really your cup of tea? Well don’t despair, as the organisers of the Celtic Connections festival are taking a fairly loose interpretation of the term… as well as the term ‘Scottish!’ Rather than simply being a two-week-long ceilidh, the festival aims to celebrate the influence Scotland has had on music across the world – meaning a huge assortment of acts from blues guitarist Ry Cooder to 10-time Grammy winner Bobby McFerrin, best known for his cheery 1988 hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

Checking out the official programme of events, revellers have a lot to be excited about, with a packed schedule involving about 1,500 artists in more than 300 events taking place across the city throughout the month. It all kicks off with today’s torchlight parade through the streets of Glasgow city centre (let’s hope the ice has melted) and ends in fittingly explosive style with the final night party on Friday 31st at Glasgow Art School.

While the Celtic Connections festival is sure to appeal most to those with a love for traditional folk music, you may be surprised by just how much is on offer – this year even sees the festival launching its first club night, the incredibly diverse Balkanarama. This event will be held at the Old Fruitmarket tavern this Saturday, and features belly-dancing, DJs, house bands and Hungarian delicacies – how’s that for a night of variety?

The festival isn’t restricted to Scottish acts after all, though it does offer a great chance for local talent to get time in the spotlight too. It’s not too easy to dismiss the event as being just for folk fans either – after all, how many groups, from the Chieftains to the Corrs, have gone on to great success through bringing the traditional folk style to a wider audience?

No wonder the festival has grown so much in popularity over its 17 year history, with more than 100,000 people attending last year. With so many events taking place over the next two weeks, it’s a great chance to see some fantastic live performances in Scotland’s second city. And seen as I’ll be heading across the border for Burns Night next week, I think it’s worth giving a look!