And if you fancy putting on your evening wear, here’s a classic idea...
FOR those who enjoy classical music, open air opera is a natural choice.
Glyndebourne in East Sussex is one of the most celebrated venues, famed for its glorious stately home garden setting and picnic grounds.
Highlights this year include Madama Butterfly by Puccini until July 18 and Giulio Cesare by Handel running until July 28. Tickets sell out fast but are not cheap – they can be £260 for the stalls. You will also need a dinner jacket or evening dress.
Another great open-air option is Opera Holland Park, in West London. Cosi Fan Tutte by Mozart runs until Friday. Seats cost between £20 and £80 and you need not dress up.
Other favourites include Garsington Opera in Oxfordshire. This year Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte will be playing until July 21. You can expect to pay £165 to £215 for a seat.
The Grange Festival in Hampshire is hosting Rossini’s The Barber Of Seville until the end of the month. Although the best seats in the house cost £180, a ‘perch seat’ will only set you back £10.
Alternatively, you could book a flight to Northern Italy to visit the Roman amphitheatre Arena di Verona built in about 30AD. Bizet’s Carmen and Aida by Verdi are among the star attractions this summer – running until August 31 and September 1 respectively. Turn up and sit on a stone seat for €25 (£22) or spend almost £200 for an upholstered seat closer to the stage. Return flights to Verona from the UK can be picked up for £100 and a basic bed-and-breakfast should cost around £60.