Speaking for the UK (assuming you were including us in “Europe” ?)  late June to early September is the busiest time for cultural and heritage attractions, and all will be opening their longest hours with a very few exceptions.  Parliament and the media tend to wind down in August (the silly season) and that’s peak time for families with children to take holidays, but armies of student summer workers are drafted in to fill the gaps to keep things going.

 

Far from being shut down, it can all get rather busy!  If you had a choice as to when to come to (northern) Europe/the UK then my favourite time for a holiday is May/June.  The late spring weather is warming up by then, all attractions are open, but all the schools and colleges are in the middle of exam season, so there are relatively few families on holiday, accommodation prices are cheaper and public transport less crowded. 

 

Also, to echo Sharon Butcher, you can take advantage of the short nights.  The UK is roughly on the same latitude as Hudson’s Bay, but thanks to the Gulf Stream is a bit more temperate.  Here in Yorkshire at this time of year it’s still light past 10:00pm, and you get even more daylight if you travel up into Scotland.  In the Far North it hardly gets dark at all.

 

Richard Taylor

 

 

 

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From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of a miller
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 6:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: European Archives and Museums in August

 

Someone just told me that Europe "closes" for the entire month of August every year. While grocery stores remain open, businesses, museums, tourist attarctions all sort of close up shop.

 

Is this true? If yes, what about archives? and why?

 

I know we have some European archivists on the list and probably some savvy travelers. Care to enlighten me?

 

Thanks,

 

Althea