8 UK EVENTS

EXPLORING BELIZE London, 5 September www.wanderlust.co.uk /exploring belize Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, SW7 2AR. See online for more details and to register for tickets.

Join Wanderlust and the Belize Tourism Board for a fun and informative evening. Belize has something for every modern-day explorer; the compact country not only boasts the world’s second-largest reef but also magical Maya ruins, exceptional wildlife and a melting pot of cultures. Learn more about beautiful Belize with us over a glass of wine and some snacks.

AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL PALIN London, 20 September www.rgs.org Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, SW7 2AR. 7.30pm. Tickets from £30 (plus booking fee and VAT). Book online.

The telly globetrotter explores the fascinating history and stories behind HMS Erebus, a ship that became famous for several expeditions to the polar regions during the 19th century. Palin’s research took him to Tasmania, the Falkland Islands and the Canadian Arctic, where he experienced the harsh conditions that the crew would have faced. Plus, the ticket price includes a signed copy of his resulting book, Erebus: The Story of a Ship.

WILDLIFE AND SAFARI TRAVEL SHOW Harrogate, 29–30 September www.wildlifesafarishow.com Harrogate Convention Centre, Kings Road, Harrogate, HG1 5LA. Day tickets from £8; weekend tickets from £12. Evening events cost extra. Book online, or see p3 for how to get a 25% discount on tickets.

Meet a wealth of expert travel companies, with conservationists on hand to chat about green initiatives and tours, and a host of free talks. There’s even a Virtual Reality Theatre for nose-to-snout encounters without leaving the building. Extra evening talks with Monty Halls (28 Sep) and A Really Wild Evening In Conversation With… (29 Sept) cost extra.

WANDERLUST WORLD GUIDE AWARDS London, 4 October www.worldguideawards.com Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, SW7 2AR. Doors open 6.30pm; ceremony from 7.15pm. £5 (including a drink). Book online.

Meet with the planet’s best guides and hang out with the judges – including the lovely Bill Bryson – and the Wanderlust team at our annual World Guide Awards. Find out who has won the coveted Gold award – receiving a bursary of £5,000 – and enjoy a free drink afterwards (covered in the cheap-as-chips ticket price). This year, we’ll also be celebrating Wanderlust’s 25th birthday, with a peek back at the last quarter of a century of our history.