England's World Cup dreams were dashed by a 92nd-minute winner from Argentina's Lautaro Martínez, but there are plenty of cheerful diversions to lift the national mood. From newborn cheetah cubs to a historic pelican birth and a Victorian tapestry replica, here are five suggestions for taking your mind off the football.
Cheetah Cubs at Whipsnade Zoo
Seven cheetah cubs have been born at Whipsnade Zoo in two litters. Four cubs, now eight weeks old, were born to first-time mother Amira on 18 May, while three cubs were born to her sibling Zara five days later. The magnificent seven have been spotted exploring their habitat at the Bedfordshire attraction. Additionally, in St James's Park, London, pelicans have bred for the first time in 360 years, and at West Midlands Safari Park, an endangered red panda named Mei Lin has given birth to a cub.
Bayeux Tapestry Without the Queues
Securing tickets to see the actual Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum from September has been notoriously difficult. Instead, Reading Museum offers a painstakingly made Victorian replica of the entire tapestry, always on display. Parents can tell children it is the real thing without guilt. The original is not a tapestry but a 70-metre-long piece of embroidery.
Dress as Kate Bush in Folkestone
On 26 July, the latest edition of the Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever takes place in Folkestone, Kent, aiming to gather the most people dressed as Kate Bush from her groundbreaking debut music video—think floaty red dress and esoteric choreography. Alternatively, Lina Lapelytė's Serendipity Island at Tate Modern, opening 25 July, is a free maze-like installation where visitors' actions and noises become part of the art.
Wholesome Binge-Watching
Streaming offers comfort with original Wallace and Gromit features on iPlayer, including the iconic Feathers McGraw chase. Until September, the Cracking Exhibition, Gromit! – 50 Years of Aardman at Bristol's M Shed is also on display.
Uplifting Summer Sports
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow start on 23 July, featuring 10 sports and six para sports, followed by the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham from 10 to 16 August. The Hundred cricket tournament begins on 21 July. For football fans, the next men's European Championship in 2028 will be held across England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland.
