Barceló Hinckley Island Hotel

The Friends Life T20 begins with a group format in June, before quarter finals in July and Finals Day at Southampton's Rose Bowl in August. Warwickshire Royals play their home games at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Friends Life T20 Website

Aston Villa FC play their home matches at Villa Park. The Premier League runs between August and May and full fixture lists can be found on the club websites. Please note: games may be rearranged due to cup or television commitments.

Official Premier League Website

At the Leicester Comedy Festival, the laughter is guaranteed to end in tears (but only of the hilarious kind). Now the longest-running comedy festival in the UK, it always has a packed programme.

The Leicester Comedy Festival's line of past acts is hard to beat, including such favourites as Jo Brand, Jack Dee, Rory Bremner, Phil Kay, Barry Cryer, Alan Davies, Jeremy Hardy, Bill Bailey, Rhona Cameron and Ross Noble.

That's not all: the event also encompasses comedy film, poetry and spoken word, comic theatre, photographic and art exhibitions, as well as children's shows. Keep an eye on the Leicester Comedy Festival website for the latest news about this year's line-up.

Leicester Comedy Festival Website

Crufts is probably the greatest dog show on earth. More than 28,000 top pedigree canines compete at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre. A celebration of the relationship between dogs and their owners, the programme again showcases the diverse roles dogs play in society.

The competition at Crufts is divided into working and pastoral breeds, terrier and hound, toy and utility and gundog categories. Then there is the grand finale - the Best in Show - which features the champion of champions. Supporting activities include hundreds of trade stands, exhibitions of art devoted to man's best friend, celebrity speakers and demonstrations of dog agility and obedience.

Crufts was the brainchild of founder Charles Cruft. After organising the promotion of the canine section of the Paris Exhibition in the 1880s, he organised the very first Crufts in the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, in 1891.

Crufts Dog Show Website

Birmingham is smothered in green, white and gold for its annual St Patrick's Day Festival. The huge parade features floats, marching bands and walkers, and day-long activities for all ages make this a great party.

St. Patrick's Festival Birmingham Website

Plots and convoluted intrigue typify Welsh National Opera's two spring productions at the Birmingham Hippodrome. Comedy first, in John Copley's new production of Johann Strauss' effervescent Die Fledermaus, while darker forces are at work in Verdi's Il Trovatore.

Thomas Rösner conducts Die Fledermaus. Dr Falke (David Stout) seeks revenge for being stranded in a bat costume by practical joker Eisenstein (Mark Stone), whose wife Rosalinde (Nuccia Focile) happily flirts with Alfred (Paul Charles Clarke), until she finds Eisenstein flirting at Prince Orlofsky's ball (sung in English: 9 & 11 March).

Il Trovatore pitches Gwyn Hughes Jones' titular troubadour Manrico against David Kempster's Count of Luna, as rivals in love for Katia Pellegrino's Leonora. Andrea Licata conducts this revival of Peter Watson's production (10 & 12 March).

Welsh National Opera Website

Committed collectors, hobbyists and children love the Birmingham NEC's Miniatura - International Dolls' House Show exhibition. Tiny houses, perfect little shops and incredibly detailed pubs and schools are all available to buy alongside all manner of furnishings.

Miniatura Website

Coventry's St Mary's Guildhall, one of the finest surviving medieval guildhalls in England, was built in the 1340s for the merchant guild of St Mary. It became the headquarters for the mayor and corporation of Coventry until the early 1900s.

Interesting rooms include the Old Council Chamber, used as the meeting place for the City Council from 1421 to the 1860s, and the Prince's Chamber, originally a buttery or pantry, which derives its name from the 14th-century Black Prince's association with Coventry. At the top of the building is Caesar's Tower, believed to be the place where the Scottish Queen was imprisoned in 1569.

The building still occupies a central role in the civic calendar and continues to be used for civic banquets and other ceremonies and occasionally for concerts and other entertainment.

Birmingham NEC's Spring Memorabilia Show is a haven for collectors. Thousands of collectable TV, film, comic and sports items are up for grabs, and celebrities are in attendance to sign your treasures. This time round it's Britt Ekland.

Memorabilia Website

An extremely popular event for all ages, the British Open Show Jumping Championships features four days of fierce competition and impressive equestrian displays at the NEC Birmingham. There are competitions for both solo riders and teams.

British Open Show Jumping Championships Website