From pop icons and open-air Shakespeare to classic musicals and Cuban jazz, Yorkshire is buzzing this July. Whether you’re soaking up the sounds of Sophie Ellis-Bextor at York Racecourse, diving into Shakespeare’s Macbeth under the stars, or exploring the brand-new Sound and Vision galleries in Bradford, there’s something for every kind of cultural explorer. Here’s our pick of the month’s most exciting events across the region.
Best Things to Do in Yorkshire this July
The Happiness Index
Dates: 6 July
Venue: Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
After their critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Jonny & The Baptists (Jonny Donahoe and Paddy Gervers) will take their hilarious and poignant new show The Happiness Index on a UK tour in 2025. This witty musical comedy will explore the connections between personal tragedy, government austerity, and mental health. Having already received rave reviews for its mix of comedy, post-modern absurdity, and raw emotional honesty, the show will feature the duo’s signature anthemic musical numbers.
Book tickets for The Happiness Index at Trades Club
Macbeth
Dates: 6 July
Venue: Carlton Towers
A spectacular open-air performance of Macbeth, Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, comes to the gothic splendour of Carlton Towers. Staged on the front lawns of the estate with the stately home as a backdrop, the performance promises a dynamic reimagining of the dark tale, with a contemporary twist.
Get tickets for Macbeth at Carlton Towers
Sambroso Allstars
Dates: 4 July
Venue: Picturedrome Holmfirth
The Sambroso Allstars play The Buena Vista in Holmfirth. The seven-piece band promise to mesmerise the crowd with their combination of Cuban Son, Latin Jazz and Rumba. And is there a more iconic Cuban album than Buena Vista Social Club’s eponymous debut? Winning the Grammy for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album it remains a high watermark not just for Cuban music, but world music as a whole.
Book tickets for Sambroso Allstars at the Picturedrome
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Dates: 25 July
Venue: York Racecourse
Music Nights at York Racecourse will return this summer. The historic venue is pulling out all the stops for 2025 with a blockbuster line-up of music and racing events that promise to light up the summer and bring some of the UK’s biggest pop stars to one of the country’s most iconic sporting venues. On 25th July, Sophie Elis-Bextor headlines, will Ronan Keating following on 26th July.
Buy tickets for Sophie Ellis-Bextor at York Racecourse
Supercar Sunday
Dates: 6 July
Venue: Grantley Hall
Former Top Gear presenter and motoring journalist, Chris Harris, has been announced as the guest speaker for the Supercar Sunday event at Grantley Hall. This follows the news of The Hoosiers as the headline act for this year’s prestigious automobile event. The exhilarating event, held in partnership with the UK’s premier supercar community, Supercar Driver, promises a high-energy day filled with thrilling motoring and motorsport excitement.
Plan your day at Supercar Sunday at Grantley Hall
Fiddler on the Roof
Dates: 29 July-2 August
Venue: Leeds Grand Theatre
Fiddler on the Roof is one of the greatest musicals of all time with one of the finest scores ever written, featuring If I Were A Rich Man, Tradition, Matchmaker and Sunrise, Sunset. It’s 1905 in the tiny village of Anatevka where Tevye, a Jewish milkman, lives his life by their proud traditions. For his five daughters, that means a visit from the matchmaker. As each daughter challenges his beliefs, against the backdrop of a changing world, can Tevye hold on to his roots, or must he bend to the will of his children and learn to embrace the unfamiliar?
Book Fiddler on the Roof at Leeds Grand Theatre
The Calderdale Open
Dates: 5 July
Venue: Smith Art Gallery
The Calderdale Open Art Competition is open to all amateur and professional artists who are invited to submit original artwork in any 2D format (paintings, drawings, photography, textiles, etc). Successful entries will be displayed for a five-month exhibition at Smith Art Gallery, Brighouse. The theme of this year’s competition is nature.
Explore Calderdale Open at Smith Art Gallery
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye
Dates: Until 4 October
Venue: Leeds Art Gallery
A captivating new exhibition in Leeds has brought together work by generations of artists from around the world. To Improvise A Mountain has been curated by leading contemporary artist Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. Presented in collaboration with Hayward Gallery Touring, the exhibition has seen Yiadom-Boakye select works that have influenced her own way of seeing and thinking, taking visitors on a journey across different geographies and generations.
Visit Lynette Yiadom-Boakye’s exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery
Music for Summertime
Dates: 13 July
Venue: St Andrew’s Church, Aysgarth
The Richmond Chamber Orchestra play in Wensleydale for the first time, bringing a varied programme with something for every taste. Elgar’s grand Introduction & Allegro has a Welsh folk tune at its heart; the slow movement of Bach’s E major Concerto is Philippa Mo’s ‘all-time favourite piece’, and Janacek’s Idyll Suite has breathtaking moments. The Andante Cantabile for cello was so popular that Tchaikovsky decided to arrange it for string orchestra, and Molly on the Shore is Percy Grainger’s hilarious arrangement of a rollicking Irish folk tune. Something for everyone!
Enjoy Music for Summertime in Wensleydale
Sound and Vision
Dates: From 10 July
Venue: National Science and Media Museum
The first glimpses of new galleries at the National Science and Media Museum show the installation of an extraordinary animatronic March Hare from Alice in Wonderland by Muppet creator Jim Henson, and an authentic, interactive recreation of Bradford Community Broadcasting’s radio studio.
Marking the culmination of a £6.8 million transformation, Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum’s Sound and Vision galleries – spanning two floors – showcase world class collections of photography, film, television, animation, video game and sound technologies. Following on from the museum’s 18-month closure and partial reopening in January 2025, the Sound and Vision galleries will welcome their first visitors on 10 July.
Thanks to a transformational gift from The National Lottery Heritage Fund – made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the new galleries feature over 500 exhibits, a new art commission and a range of multi-media content. Designed by award-winning AOC architecture, the galleries mark the completion of the Sound and Vision project and they explore globally significant stories of technological innovation and social change.
The displays are created in collaboration with key audiences and community groups, ensuring that they resonate with a range of visitors.
Discover Sound and Vision at the Science and Media Museum
How Absolutely Picks the Best for You
At Absolutely Magazines, we pride ourselves on curating only the finest recommendations for our refined readers. Our editors leverage their extensive expertise in lifestyle journalism to ensure that every selection meets the highest standards of quality and relevance. From scouring local insider tips to understanding trends and feedback, we leave no stone unturned in identifying the most exceptional venues for you. Guided by an appreciation for your taste, we prioritise venues and events that epitomise luxury, style, and premium experiences. You can trust us to bring you the Absolute best, every time.
