St. Patrick's Day (Lá Fhéile Pádraig as Gaeilge) is observed annually on the 17th March, celebrating Ireland's patron saint. In the 5th century, St Patrick was an influential missionary and bishop. Today, the celebrations in his honour ripple across the globe, from the Irish diaspora in the USA, where festivities include the famous, green-dyed Chicago River, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, home to South America’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Closer to home, there are plenty of places to celebrate Irish heritage and culture across the CrossCountry network. Explore the best St. Patrick’s Day events in Britain.
Fleadh Cheoil, Bristol
If you’re in Bristol for St. Patrick’s Day, head to the Trinity Centre for the West of England Irish celebration. On St. Patrick's Day, there will be an exciting hum of activity taking place throughout the space. You can dance at a céilí, listen to live music, try your hand at a new craft, or join in on a number of cultural workshops.
The Fleadh Cheoil, means ‘music festival’ and occurs annually in Ireland. It has sought to increase the representation of traditional Irish music and dance since its establishment in 1951. There are hundreds of competitions held throughout the day, from solo fiddle playing to céilí bands and sean-nós dancing. In Bristol, you too can enjoy a thrilling celebration inspired by this traditional Irish festival.
Everyone is welcome, even if you’ve never had the pleasure of hearing a button accordion. You reach the Trinity Centre from Bristol Temple Meads by walking for twenty minutes or catching a bus to Easton Road and walking for three minutes.
St Patrick’s at Nortons, Birmingham
Nortons in Digbeth, Birmingham, has an entire week of Irish music in store, culminating in a parade day on Sunday, overflowing with 14 hours of music. Throughout the week, there will also be talks about the history of Irish people in Birmingham, a sophisticated green tie ball with a three-course meal accompanied by music, and a selection of high-energy acoustic sets. On Monday, there are limited spaces for an intimate whisky tasting session, where participants can learn about the history of whisky and try rare samples.
On St. Patrick’s Day, the grand celebration will take place, opening early with an all-day full Irish breakfast, complete with Clonakilty black and white pudding, homemade soda bread, and Lashford sausages. Live music will be heard all through the day and night, and there will be plenty of dancing and celebration.
You can reach Nortons from Birmingham New Street, it’s a ten-minute walk.
Manchester Irish Festival
The Manchester Irish Festival is one of the best places to be for St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Britain. In 2026, the Manchester St. Patrick’s Day Parade will start at the Irish World Heritage Centre and will wind its way through the city to Deansgate. The parade will uplift local groups, like pipe bands and dance classes, and see representation from every county in Ireland.
The Irish Festival Village can be found on St Ann’s Square and will be screening Ireland’s Six Nations games, showcasing live music, and of course, pulling pints of Guinness to be proud of. You’ll also get to try a range of delicious Irish-themed food.
The Irish World Heritage Centre is around twenty minutes by tram from Manchester Piccadilly. You can catch the yellow line to Queens Road, and it’s a four-minute walk from there.
St. Patrick’s Day Festival, Nottingham
Nottingham is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day the right way, with a compelling line-up of celebrations, talks, and workshops. During the two-week Festival of Irish Culture, you can learn about the history of Ireland through cinema, enjoy live traditional Irish music and attend an expert-led concertina workshop.
On St. Patrick’s Day, there will be a free concert in the Market Square, as well as a range of food vendors and fairground rides. It’s the place to be in Nottingham and a fabulous opportunity to learn about and celebrate Irish heritage and culture. The Market Square is a nine-minute walk from Nottingham station.
If you’re planning St. Patrick’s Day activities, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.
Info
At the time of publishing, all information given is correct. Details of events, businesses, and locations included may be subject to change by third parties. Please make sure to check any details with organisers before you travel.
Discover quirky things to do in Manchester. The fun never ends when there’s something new to try, so find the best hidden gems in Manchester with CrossCountry.
Have an adventure at the best theme parks in the UK.
Show your mum or mother figure how much you appreciate them this Mother’s Day. Find the best things to do for Mother’s Day with CrossCountry.
There are lots of museums to visit in Cambridge. Whether you’re into science, technology, archaeology, or design, catch a train to Cambridge with CrossCountry.
Take a look at the laugh-a-minute comedy clubs in Newcastle
Wander through the museums and galleries of Bristol with CrossCountry.
