Here are presented important features of the British Social Season and other important dates. You may find the calculator here useful in determining the date of Easter, Whitsunday, etc.

• January 1st: New Year’s Honours List (of newly-created peers, knights, etc.) announced.
• January 6th: Epiphany; the Twelfth Night Cake is cut at the Drury Lane Theatre, London.
• January 5th: start of the Lent term at Cambridge University.
• January 12th: the salmon fishing season begins.
• Every Monday in winter, the National Sporting Club sponsors boxing matches in London, either at 'The Ring' or other large halls.
• Early February: Opening of Parliament with the Queen's Speech (the monarch will also open Parliament soon after a general election). Parliament generally sits: Monday at 4 p.m.; Tuesday 2 p.m.; Wed. noon; Thursday 4 p.m.; Friday 2 p.m.; they often break for a meal from 7 - 9 p.m.
• Ten days before Easter: the Amateur Boxing Association championship.
• Second Saturday before Easter: the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race is held on the Thames.
• Easter recess of Parliament, about 7 - 10 days.
• March 25th: end of the Lent term at Cambridge University.
• Last week of March: the "flat racing" season begins with 2 days race meeting (the Epsom Spring Races) at Epsom (2nd day is the popular City & Suburban Handicap).
• April 10th: beginning of the Easter term at Cambridge University.
• Last week of April: the Football Association Cup is awarded. Hunting season ends; aristocracy drift towards London.
• May: the beginning of the London Season. The Court and aristocracy are in residence; opening of Parliament; dinners, balls, and receptions occur incessantly, the chief sporting events and flower shows are held.
• May 1st: cricket play begins at Lord’s.
• First Monday in May: opening of the Royal Academy. The Boston May Fair begins, Lincolnshire's biggest fair; established 1125.
• May 24th: the Queen's Birthday; Birthday Honour’s List (of newly-created peers, knights, etc.) is announced.
• end of May: the Royal Tournament is held for a fortnight at the Islington Agricultural Hall. (actually began 1880)
• starting on Whitsunday: Whitsun Recess of Parliament, about 7 - 10 days.
• the week after Whitsunday: the Epsom Summer Races (aka Derby Week) -- the "Derby" (Wednesday) and "Oaks" (following Friday) races.
• Two weeks after Derby Week: Royal Ascot Week. Thursday is the 'Gold Cup Day', famous for its display of new wardrobes by the ladies; but Tuesday is considered better racing. On opening day (Monday) and Gold Cup Day, the Queen and guests drive up to the course in semi-state.
• June: several rowing regattas are held on the Thames over the next three months. The best of these are the Marlow (held in Marlow on odd-numbered years, Maidenhead on even-numbered years), Staines, Kingston, Molesey, Metropolitan (at Putney), and Walton regattas. The Coaching Club meets two or three times this month, driving from Hyde Park to locations in the nearby countryside.
• June 18th: usual date for the end of the Easter term at Cambridge University.
• late June: The Military Tattoo is held at the Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot. The "General Admission" ceremonies (awarding degrees) are held at Cambridge University.
• Summer: Other fashionable racing places: Windsor, Egham, Sandown Park, Goodwood Park (owned by the Duke of Richmond, considered THE fashionable place to be seen during the racing season).
• First Wednesday in July: beginning of the Henley Regatta, an important social function over a period of four days.
• early July: Wingfield Sculls is the amateur "championship of the Thames and Great Britain", over the University course.
• July: Shooting matches at Bisley and other grounds. Various university and private school cricket matches.
• End of July: end of the London Season, just after the Goodwood Races. The aristocracy and society begin to abandon London.
• August 1st: the Thames watermen compete in a sculling race for "Doggett's Coat and Badge", on a course from the Old Swan Pier (near London Bridge) to the Old Swan Tavern in Chelsea.
• August 5th: the Brigg Horse Fair, in Lincolnshire; chartered in 1204.
• Early August: the Sailing Regatta at Cowes, a week of expensive pleasures on the Isle of Wight.
• August 12th: last day of the Parliamentary session (the Commons are 'prorogued' to the end of October). First day of grouse season.
• End of August: cricket play ends at Lord's.
• August 31st: end of the salmon season.
• September 1st: beginning of partidge season; beginning of the football season.
• September 29th: Michaelmas Day, election of the Lord Mayor of London. Traditional dinner today: goose.
• October 1st: beginning of pheasant season. Michaelmas term begins at Cambridge University.
• early October: the Corby Glen Fair, in Lincolnshire; chartered in 1238.
• October 9th: end of the stag season.
• October 12th: the Law Courts open in London.
• October: various bird seasons begin all over England.
• End of October: House of Commons prorogued again to early December.
• November 5th: Guy Fawkes Day.
• 1st Monday in November: beginning of the fox-hunting season.
• November 9th: installation of the new Lord Mayor in the "Lord Mayor's Show", an ancient procession; banquet at the guildhall.
• End of November: end of the 'flat-racing' season.
• early December: Winter session of Parliament opens.
• December: major international and collegiate rugby matches held at Twickenham.
• December 19th: end of the Michaelmas term at Cambridge University.
• December 25th: Christmas.
• December 26th: Boxing Day.