Notting Hill Carnival This
three-day Caribbean festival is Europe’s largest carnival, with steel
bands and DJ’s playing all imaginable kinds of music, street food,
brilliant costumes and lively dancers. Children’s parades on Sunday,
grown-ups’ on Monday. Notting Hill W11 Last Sat–Mon in Aug
Extravagant costume, Notting Hill Carnival
Chelsea Flower Show As
much a society outing as a horticultural event, this is the Royal
Horticultural Society’s prestigious annual show. Beautiful and
imaginative gardens are created especially for the event.
Chelsea Flower Show
Trooping the Colour The
Queen celebrates her official birthday on Horse Guards Parade where
troops of the Household Division, in their famous red tunics and
bearskin hats, put on an immaculate display of marching and drilling
before escorting her to Buckingham Palace. Horse Guards Parade SW1 Sat closest to 10 Jun
Trooping the Colour, Horse Gaurds Parade
BBC Promenade Concerts The most extensive concert series in the world. The famous last concert is relayed live to adjacent Hyde Park, when Land of Hope and Glory rocks the Royal Albert Hall to its foundations. Royal Albert Hall SW1 Mid-Jul–mid-Sep
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition Around
1,000 works are selected from the public and academicians for the art
world’s most eclectic summer show. Works sell for as little as £100. Piccadilly W1 Jun–Aug Admission charge
Lord Mayor’s Show Every
year, the City of London elects a Lord Mayor who processes through the
Square Mile in a gilded coach. Military bands, floats and city guildsmen
in traditional costume go from Guildhall to the Law Courts. Evening
fireworks. City of London
Lord Mayor’s Show
Lord Mayor’s Show fireworks
Guy Fawkes Night Effigies
of Guy Fawkes, who attempted to blow up Parliament in 1605, are burned
on bonfires across the country, with accompanying firework
extravaganzas. Children make dummy Guys and ask for pennies to pay for
their little arsenals.
Chinese New Year Chinatown
is taken over by dancing dragons breathing fire during this vibrant,
colourful festival. Food and craft stalls are authentically oriental. Soho W1 Late Jan–early Feb
London Film Festival Scores
of international films are shown in this three-week festival when
cinemas, including the National Film Theatre, reduce prices. A booth is
set up in Leicester Square to take bookings and distribute programmes. Great British Beer Festival Organized
by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), this annual festival in a major
London exhibition hall is a chance to sample the best beers and ciders
produced in Britain. Earls Court SW5 Aug Admission charge
Top 10 Sports Events
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship The world’s top grass-court championships. London Marathon 26.2-mile (42-km) road race from Greenwich Park to The Mall. Friends Provident Trophy The climax of the cricket season. Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race The two universities’ annual rowing race covers some 6.5 km (4 miles) on the Thames. The London International Horse Show Family fun at this Christmas show. Varsity Match The Oxford-Cambridge rugby union duel. Twickenham Rugby Ground Dec
Head of the River Race A day-long event in which some 400 rowing boats struggle for supremacy. Six Nations Rugby Annual rugby union contest with England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Twickenham Rugby Ground Feb/Mar/Apr
Royal Ascot All London Society goes to the races in top hats and other glamorous creations. Doggett’s Coat and Badge Wager Guildsmen from the Company of Watermen compete in a single sculls race.
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