LONDON: It is that time of year again when many Middle Easterners swap the desert heat of home for the cooler climes of the UK. This year, the start of the Arab tourist season in the UK coincides with Eid Al-Fitr and there is no shortage of festivities to attend.
With a population of roughly 3 million British Muslims in the country, cities across the UK are set to host an array of events for the weeklong celebrations that mark the end of Ramadan. Here are a few of the attractions and events not to be missed if you have booked yourself a summer trip to the country.
Festival fun
The much-loved Eid in the Square festival is back. Since being launched in 2006, it has become one of London’s key cultural highlights in the capital’s events calendar. The event will be held on July 2 in Trafalgar Square and is free to attend.
Thousands are expected to descend on the square as an exciting line-up of events has been scheduled. UK-based nasheed artist Saif Adam, famous for his Islamic songs, as well as contemporary and traditional acts from across the world, will be performing on the main stage. There will also be a global food market offering cuisines from Malaysia, Turkey, South Asia and Lebanon, as well as calligraphy activities and henna services.
Mass prayer gatherings
Several outdoor locations have become sites for thousands of congregants to take part in Eid prayers. Both Birmingham and London host Eid in the Park events which see many Muslims take part in mass prayers. If you want to head to what is commonly described as the largest Eid celebration in Europe, Birmingham’s Small Heath Park is expected to host more than 60,000 people during its Eid festivities.
With prayers commencing at 9:30 a.m., the day of activities includes a funfair, bazaar and minigolf, as well as laser clay pigeon shooting.
If the weather does not permit outdoor prayers to take place, there’s always the option of attending Eid in Excel. A new event added to the array of festivities taking place during the week of celebrations, London’s largest exhibition center will be hosting an Eid prayer event alongside family-friendly activities.
Itching to explore?
If the idea of exploring locations of historical significance is more up your street, you can always book yourself onto a guided tour hosted by Muslim History Tours, which will be running a special Eid tour on July 2. The tour will showcase famous landmarks in London and reveal the often-untold history of Muslims in the city. The special Eid tour will be co-led by spoken-word artist Liam Abdul-Raheem Spencer.
Retail therapy
While London may be a favorite of Arab tourists because of Harrods and the glittering diamond stores in Mayfair, the city of Manchester is fast becoming a popular destination for shoppers from the Middle East.
Manchester’s intu shopping center at Old Trafford is inviting customers to celebrate Eid from June 23 to June 25 with sitar players, tabla drummers and harp musicians set to entertain the crowds while younger family members can enjoy henna services and bhangra dance shows.
Retail tourism in the UK continues to benefit from buyers from the Middle East spending on luxury items.
The spike in Arab shoppers during the summer months has become a noticeable feature in the UK, especially boosted by the weaker rate of the pound. City A.M. newspaper recently reported that “travelers from Middle Eastern nations spend more per transaction than other tourists with an average spend of £1,101 ($1397).”
With big spenders from the Middle East taking retail therapy to a whole new level, Shiraz Ahmad from Unitas Communications, a cross cultural communications agency, explains how this is encouraging retailers to be more cognizant of festivals like Eid.
“While Eid may not be an official holiday in the UK, the boom in cultural events taking place up and down the country (means it is) increasingly becoming more like an annual British festival.
“With the holy festival coinciding with the summer months in the UK, the wealthy Arab tourists flocking to the UK at this time of year are increasing pressure on brands to further develop their understanding of the Muslim market’s needs,” he said.
This year’s Eid celebrations not only mark a joyous occasion for families and friends across the country, they will also serve to encourage unity and community cohesion in the face of a recent wave of terror attacks that have hit the UK.
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Celebrating Eid Al-Fitr in London? There is no shortage of things to do
Celebrating Eid Al-Fitr in London? There is no shortage of things to do
Russian cyclist finds warm welcome on Saudi Arabia’s roads
- Anna Rodnishcheva’s ride through Kingdom is defining chapter in solo expedition
- Rodnishcheva cycled to Aqaba, crossed the border into Saudi Arabia, and has since traveled through Tabuk, AlUla, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif on her way to Riyadh
MAKKAH: Solo adventurer Anna Rodnishcheva, 27, has undertaken an ambitious journey that spans countries, climates and cultures — on a bicycle.
Born and raised in Moscow and trained as a biologist before becoming an event photographer, she now finds herself pedaling thousands of kilometers across unfamiliar landscapes in pursuit of discovery, connection, and the simple joy of movement.
In her conversation with Arab News, Rodnishcheva offered a detailed account of her ongoing route in Saudi Arabia, describing how the expedition is her third major cycling adventure.
After previously riding from Moscow to Sochi and later from Vladivostok to Sochi — a route that stretches across the entirety of Russia — she felt compelled to explore foreign lands by bicycle.
She set off from Moscow heading south last June, passing through Russia, Georgia, and Turkiye before flying from Antalya to Amman. She cycled to Aqaba, crossed the border into Saudi Arabia, and has since traveled through Tabuk, AlUla, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif on her way to Riyadh.
Rodnishcheva explained that physical preparation played only a small role in her planning. She began slowly and allowed her body to adapt naturally over the first month.
The true challenge, she said, was in the mental and financial preparation. She spent a year and a half planning the journey, even though she originally intended to postpone it for several more years.
Ultimately, her belief that “life is short” convinced her to start with the resources she already had. Although she sought medical evaluations and additional vaccinations, she was unable to complete them all and decided to continue regardless.
Her journey through Georgia and Turkiye presented unexpected difficulties. Simple tasks such as finding groceries or locating bicycle repair shops became more challenging outside of Russia, where she knew how to navigate on a budget.
She also encountered language barriers, though the situation improved when a local cyclist joined her in Georgia. The intense midsummer heat added another layer of difficulty, but she had prepared herself for such conditions.
One of the most striking moments of her trip occurred as she crossed from Jordan into Saudi Arabia. She described the experience as surreal and emotionally overwhelming, likening it to the adventures of a literary hero traveling across the Arabian Peninsula.
Her anxiety eased unexpectedly when she got a flat tire at the border, bringing her back to the present.
Despite being warned that crossing by bicycle would be prohibited, the process went smoothly, and she was struck by the friendliness of both Jordanian and Saudi officials. She expressed particular surprise at meeting a female Saudi passport officer, an encounter that challenged her previous assumptions about women’s roles in the Kingdom.
Rodnishcheva said the hospitality she had experienced in Saudi Arabia surpassed anything she had encountered on previous journeys. Drivers frequently stop to offer her water, fruit, or sweets, and several families have generously hosted her in their homes or guest flats.
She emphasized that she feels completely safe traveling across the Kingdom, especially on the open roads between cities, noting the strong and visible security presence.
She has also observed significant differences in weather. While the stretch from the border to Jeddah was hot despite being winter, the climate changed dramatically after climbing Al-Hada in Taif, turning cooler and windier — a climate she compared to Russian summers.
Rodnishcheva documents her travels primarily through Russian-language platforms such as VK and Telegram. Although she maintains YouTube and Instagram accounts, she explained that her schedule left little time for frequent updates.
Offering a message to women around the world who dream of embarking on similar adventures, she said such journeys were “not as scary as they seem before you start,” though they may not suit everyone.
Her closing advice? “Listen to your heart.”
