What is steampunk?

Section VII of 9

Steampunk events in the UK

Four guides to where steampunks gather: the events around the country, the weekends at Whitby and Lincoln, and what to wear to your first. Every date comes from the organiser's own site, so check it there before you travel.

4 guides About 51 minutes of reading

Two smiling steampunks in goggles and decorated hats at an outdoor gathering

The kit bag

Pack for your first event

Ten things from our guide to what to wear to your first steampunk event. Tick each one as it goes in, and the satchel fills.

of 10 packed

All packed. Read the organiser's rules on props before you set off.

The full guide: what to wear to your first event

Section VII

Every steampunk events in the uk guide

In the order they are best read. Each one is long enough to answer the question properly, with every fact checked and its source listed at the foot.

  1. 41Steampunk Events in the UKSteampunk events in the UK: what happens at a steampunk fair or weekend, the larger regular events, finding events near you, what to bring, events for families and starting a meet-up.About 12 min
  2. 42The Whitby Steampunk WeekendThe Whitby Steampunk Weekend: what it is, why Whitby suits steampunk, who runs it and where to check the dates, what happens, getting there, what to wear and Whitby's other weekends.About 12 min
  3. 43Lincoln's Weekend at the AsylumLincoln's Weekend at the Asylum: what the steampunk festival is, who runs it, the castle and cathedral, what happens, tea duelling, getting there, and what to wear and bring.About 14 min
  4. 44What to Wear to Your First Steampunk EventWhat to wear to your first steampunk event: whether you need to dress up, a simple first outfit, the weather and a long day, shoes, what to carry, props and the rules, and photographs.About 13 min
Two steampunks in a bamboo grove: a man in a gauge-covered top hat and goggles, a woman in a riveted top hat and red round glasses
Brown leather boots and belts with brass buckles on a wooden table
An open pocket watch on its chain beside a pile of small brass gears

Before you go

Dressed for the day

The guides that get an outfit ready for its first outing.

A costume on a budgetWhat you already own, charity shop finds and home-made goggles. A Steampunk Costume on a BudgetBootsLace-up, button and buckle boots, and comfort on a long day. Steampunk BootsThe finishing touchesGauntlets, belts, parasols and what UK law says about props. The Finishing Touches: Gauntlets, Wings and Other AccessoriesMaking props safelyMaterials, tools, paint and the law on imitation firearms. Making Steampunk Props Safely
A modern airship moored on a grass airfield The next section, VIII Airships and machines Steampunk airships, and the real ones that went before them. Go to the section

Everything on Steampunks

The contents

Nine sections and fifty-three guides.

  1. IWhat steampunk isThe meaning, the look, where it came from, and how it differs from Gothic and Victorian.
  2. IIFashion and costumeWomen's and men's outfits, a costume on a budget, Halloween, a steampunk wedding.
  3. IIIHats, goggles and accessoriesGoggles, top hats, masks, corsets, waistcoats, coats, watches, jewellery, boots.
  4. IVHome and decorLamps and lighting, clocks, furniture and ornaments, and a whole room in the style.
  5. VArt and makingSteampunk art and artists, how to draw it, robots and creatures, cogs and gears, props.
  6. VIFilms, TV, games, books and musicThe films, the animation, the games, Minecraft builds, the books and the music.
  7. VIISteampunk events in the UKYou are here. Where steampunks gather, with the dates from each organiser's own site.
  8. VIIIAirships and machinesSteampunk airships, and the real ones that went before them.
  9. IXThe Victorian world behind itVictorian fashion, London, architecture and the Gothic Revival.
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