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Despite the usual rainy weather and frequent gloomy forecast, there is summer in Britain and The Season is a big, enjoyable deal.

Traced back to the 18^th century when people of society followed the movements of the Royal Family in and around London during spring and summer, The Season no longer is a select affair for the few but part of Britain’s cultural identity and gives people an excuse to dress up, bet a little money, get together, drink some bubbly, and enjoy the great outdoors.

The Season kicks off around the end of March with the Cheltenham Festival (a horse race) and the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race along the Thames and it includes the likes of the Grand National, another horse race that calls for mass betting, both formally in betting houses and informally among friends and family, and the Lords Test Match, which is, well, a cricket match.

The most colourful and pompous events of the season are Trooping the Colour, the official celebration of the Queen’s birthday, and Royal Ascot, another horse race, whose watchers dress to the till, top hats and all, especially for Ladies Day.

My favourite, perhaps, is Wimbledon, the world-famous tennis championship, maybe because I live in the area and, for two weeks, the whole neighbourhood feels like a summer holiday destination. It does not hurt either that it is a great excuse to enjoy copious amounts of Pimms #1 and strawberries with cream.

The Season ends in September with The Last Night of the Proms, which calls for a separate post coming up at the end of the summer.

Useful Resources

• Debrett’s and Bicester Village Guide to British Style