Normally, these are free events which take place in the streets and are open to the view (and, sometimes, participation) of the public.
This way we mix with the locals and get to know the area where the event takes place.
Here we have a list (not exhaustive!)of events.
Would you like to join us?
***********************JANUARY
- NEW YEAR'S DAY PARADE.
A procession of floats, marching bands, clowns, American cheerleaders... through the WEST END.
www.londonparade.co.uk
- COMMEMORATION OF CHARLES THE MARTYR. 30th January.
Trafalgar Sq-Whitehall.
To commemorate the execution of a King...back in 1649!
www.skcm.org
www.royalstuartsociety.com
**********************FEBRUARY
- THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.
In CHINATOWN. Around Gerrard St. Late January or Early February.
Parades, dance, food and fireworks...
www.chinatown-online.co.uk
www.chinatownchinese.com
-THE SOHO PANCAKE DAY RACE.
Shrove Tuesday (Late February or early March. In Carnaby Street.
- GREAT SPITALFIELDS PANCAKE DAY RACE. In the Spitalfields Market. EAST END.
Shall we adventure ourselves into the old East End?
- JOSEPH GRIMALDI MEMORIAL SERVICE. Hommage to the first clown... born in London!
Holy Trinity Church.DALSTON,HACKNEY.
www.clownsinternational.co.uk
(and click to "clowns church")
*************************MARCH
- ST PATRICK'S DAY. 17th March.
Parties in KILBURN, the Irish area in London.
In Trafalgar Sq, big party the week-end before.
www.londonstpatricksday.org.uk
- HEAD OF THE RIVER RACE.
A boat race from MORTLAKE to PUTNEY.
www.horr.co.uk
- "THE" BOAT RACE!: OXFORD v CAMBRIDGE.
From PUTNEY to MORTLAKE!
Let's find a privileged view-point! (I know one!)
www.theboatrace.org.
- HOT CROSS-BUNS SERVICE. Good Friday. Church of St.Bartholomew-the-Great, in SMITHFIELD. A hundreds of years old ceremony...
A good occasion to get to know CLERKENWELL and ISLINGTON, and the north of the CITY OF LONDON (the roman and medieval wall!)
- LONDON HARNESS HORSE PARADE,
Easter Monday, in Battersea Park. Horse-drawn vehicles in procession... the River Thames, the old village of Battersea, Chelsea on the other side, or, why not visiting de YOUNG'S BREWERY in WANDSWORTH?
- the ORANGES AND LEMONS CHILDREN SERVICE, on the 28 of March, at St, Clement's Danes Church, in the Strand.
The STRAND, COVENT GARDEN, The TEMPLE, FLEET STREET...
*************************APRIL
-the LONDON MARATHON.
A good occasion to know any of the areas though which it passes...
www.london-marathon.co.uk
- the SPITAL SERMON PROCESSION
The second Wednesday following Easter. In the CITY OF LONDON: Guildhall and St.Lawremce Jewry Church.
- JOHN STOW'S QUILL PEN CEREMONY, on 5 April, at St. Andrew's Undershaft Church, in the CITY.
Another occasion to discover the CITY OF LONDON!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
John_Stow
- THE QUEENS BIRTHDAY GUN SALUTE. 21 April. This is the real, not the official, birthday!. What would you prefer: to hear the guns in HYDE PARK or in the TOWER OF LONDON?. A new chance to explore two different areas of London...
www.army.mod.uk
(and click "ceremonials")
- 23 APRIL. ST. GEORGE'S DAY.
"National Day" of England...
The Patron's Day, whatever you want to call it...
I'm sure we will find special offers in the pubs!
William Shakespeare was born this day -back in 1564- and arguably he died on the...23rd April 1616...
www.shakespeares-globe.org
***************************MAY
- LILLIES AND ROSES, on May de 21, at the TOWER. The murder of Henry VI is commemorated... The TOWER, again, with BERMONDSEY on the other side, or WAPPING and LIMEHOUSE... lovely walks, lovely pubs...
www.camelot.intl.com/
tower_site/traditions/
lilyrose.html
- OAK APPLE DAY, on the 29 th May, at the ROYAL HOSPITAL in CHELSEA. The Chelsea Pensioners celebrate de birthday of Charles II...
Again, CHELSEA!:Sloane Square, King's Rd, the riverside, the Old Chuch...
www.chelsea-pensioners.org.uk
- MAY FAYRE AND PUPPET FESTIVAL. The big fair of COVENT GARDEN!
www.alternativearts.co.uk
www.coventgarden.org.uk/
www.punchandjudy.com
- CANLWAY CAVALCADE. In LITTLE VENICE.
A festival of colours for all the family! With theatre groups, puppets, music and dance, farmers' market, historic boats...
www.waterways.org.uk/
cavalcade.htm
**************************JUNE
- COIN STREET FESTIVAL. June and July. On the SOUTH BANK. A good chance to discover BANKSIDE and BOROUGH: the Shakespeare's Globe, the George Inn, Borough Market, Dickensian streets...!
www.coinstreetfestival.org
- THE KNOLLYS RED ROSE RENT.
A red rose is carried by the churchwardens from ALL HALLOWS-BY-THE TOWER Church to MANSION HOUSE as a "fine" to be paid to the Lord Mayor... Would you like to join them?
To know more about TUDOR times:
www.tudorplace.com.ar
- LONDON WILDLIFE WEEK.
First week of June. Various locations (like natural reserves, woods...)
www.wildlondon.org.uk
- DERBY DAY, at EPSOM. A carnival atmosphere... �5 minimum entry ticket.
www.epsomderby.co.uk
- LONDON GARDEN SQUARES DAY. A good chance to discover private gardens normally closed to the public.
www.londongardenstrust.org.uk
- TROOPING THE COLOUR. Celebrating the Queen's official birthday.
www.army.mod.uk (click "ceremonies")
- ROYAL ASCOT. Outside London.
Entry ticket
www.ascot-authority.co.uk
- ARCHITECTURE WEEK
Various locations.
www.architectureweek.org.uk
-WIMBLEDON LAWN TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
Wimbledon is a lovely village, inside London, near Putney, Fulham and the Thames.
A good chance to explore South-West London!
And a wonderful atmosphere around the tennis club!
www.wimbledon.org
- CITY OF LONDON FESTIVAL
www.colf.org
- COVENT GARDEN FLOWER FESTIVAL
www.cgff.co.uk
**************************JULY
- MARDI GRAS. The gay and lesbian festival!
www.pridelondon.org
- RHYTHM STICKS. A festival of all that which makes sound... music!
www.sbc.org.uk
- HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA. Outside London. Lovely village, lovely atmosphere...
www.hrr.co.uk
- GREENWICH AND DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
www.festival.org
wwp.greenwichengland.com
- SWAN UPPING on the Thames.
All the swans belong to the Queen, the Vintners and the Dyers.
And, on these days, every year, officials can be seen rowing up and down the river, registering them!
www.royal.gov.uk (click "Royal Pageantry and Traditions")
- DOGGET'S COAT AND BADGE RACE
A race (a tradition, in fact, sin 1715!)for single scull boats.
Starts at LONDON BRIDGE, ens at CHELSEA. A good chance to get to know one of these areas or... both!
- SOHO FESTTIVAL
www.thesohosociety.org.uk
************************AUGUST
- FRUITSTOCK. Regent's park.
Organised by Innocent -fruit smoothers company. Live music, food, drink, farmers market...
A good chance to admire Nash's terraces...
www.fruitstock.com
- SOUT-EAST MARINE WEEK. Various locations. A week intended to present to the urbanites (sorry, citizens of London!) the marine reality.
Beach parties or itineraries on board of pirate ships!.
www.wildlondon.org.uk
- NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL
The biggest street party in Europe. Caribbean atmosphere, Notting Hill, Portobello Road... Delightful!
A good chance to explore West London (Kensington and Chelsea, "from canal to river"...)
www.thecarnival.tv
- CART MARKING
Guidhall. This ceremony may take place in July.
www.london-footprints.co.uk/
artcartmark.htm
www.thecarmen.co.uk
********************SEPTEMBER
- THAMES BARRIER FULL TIDAL CLOSURE.
The complete test of this giant engineering work, built as a defense against the tides...
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
- THE GREAT RIVER RACE
From RICHMOND to GREENWICH...35 Km, altogether... you choose which side you want to visit!
www.greatriverrace.co.uk
- BRICK LANE FESTIVAL.
A celebration of past and present cosmopolitanism and multiculturalism of this part of London.
Shall we explore SPITALFIELD, WHITECHAPEL, STEPNEY, or the east part of the CITY?
www.bricklanefestival.com
www.visitbricklane.com
- REGENT'S STREET FESTIVAL
Music, theatre, shows...
www.regent-street.co.uk
Let's discover SOHO and MAYFAIR!
- MAYOR'S THAMES FESTIVAL
From Waterloo Bridge to Blackfriars Br. Food and artcrafts in a market all along the river!
The SOUTHH BANK and BANKSIDE... the Globe, Shakespeare's theatre, Borogh Market, the George Inn... are some of the attractions of the area!
www.thamesfestival.org
- HORSEMAN'S SUNDAY
Church of St.John and St.Michael. Hyde Park Crescent.
A vicar on horseback blessing the horses... an old tradition?
- OPEN HOUSE
www.openhouselondon.org
**********************OCTOBER
- PUNCH AND JUDY FESTIVAL
In COVENT GARDEN... again!
www.coventgardenmarket.co.uk
- PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS HARVEST FESTIVAL
At St.Martin-on-the-Fields, Trafalgar Sq.
The aristocracy of street vendors, born in Victorian London, on display...
Shall we explore this day the whole of the WEST END?
www.pearlysociety.co.uk
- TRAFALGAR DAY PARADE
To commemorate the great naval victory... over the French.Today is a big day for Britain... 2005...TWO centuries after NELSON's victory!
www.seabritain2005.com
- OFFICIAL OPENING OF PARLIAMENT
Shall we join the crowd to see the queen arriving in his Irish State Coach, in Parliament Sq?
www.parliament.uk/faq/lords-stateopening.cfm
After all the ceremonial shall we discover the whole of WESTMISNTER?
*********************NOVEMBER********************************
- GUY FAWKES BONFIRE NIGHT
Weekend closest to the November 5. Fireworks!
BATTERSEA PARK, HAMPSTEAD HEATH (PARLIAMENT HILL), PARIMROSE HILL and other locations.
A terrorist attack on the day of the State Opening of the English Parliament, 5 November 1605...!
www.guy-fawkes.com
www.gunpowder-plot.org
- LONDON TO BRIGHTON VETERAN CAR RUN
First Sunday of November.
Only open for cars built between 1894 an 1905... and to commemmorate the repeal of the "Red Flags Laws". Would you like to know about those laws...?
www.vccofgb.co.uk/lontobri/
www.lbvcr.com
- LORD MAYOR'S SHOW
Ceremonial rpocession after the investiture of the newly appointed Lord Mayor of the City.
Shall we find a good place to view the 1756 State coach and the train of floats, along Fleet St?
Later in the day, fireworks by the river!
www.lordmayorshow.org
- INSTALLATION OF THE LORD MAYOR. CITY OF LONDON.
We can presenciate the procession fron Mansion House to Guidhall for the official transfer of office... after the old and the new Lord Mayors (and we) have had lunch...
- FESTIVAL OF ST. CECILIA
Church of St.Sepulchre.HOLBORN
Organ an Choral music to commemmorate the patron of music...
www.mbf.org.uk (click "Festival" to see other locations)
www.cityoflondonchurches.com
www.hiddenlondon.com/
st_sepulchre.htm (interestig links for Americans!
- REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY CEREMONY
At the Cenotaph, in WHITEHALL.. The nearest Sunday to November 11. The Queen and various royals and the prime minister attend the principal ceremony to honour the dead and wounded of the wars...
A good chance to get to know the main political institutions of the Kingdom...
www.army.mod.uk/
ceremonialandheritage/
ceremonia_events.htm
- LET'S SWITCH ON THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!
Assorted celebrities flick the switches and BOND ST, REGENT ST and OXFORD ST are bathed in festive illumination until January 6.
www.oxfordestreet.co.uk
www.regent-street.co.uk
www.bondstreetassociation.com
Again...a good chance to explore THE SHOPPING AREAS of the West End! (ah!... bring your... credit card!)
*********************DECEMBER*******************************
- NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS TREE and CAROL SINGING
Early December appears in TRAFALGAR SQ a mighty spruce tree, decorated with lights... and around it, until Christmas Eve, carols are sung every evening...
Would you like to join the singers (an us)?
www.oslointernationalschool/no/xmastree.htm/
- NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS
Would you like to join us (I mean thousands of inebriated rebellers) in TRAFALGAR SQUARE? (don't forget the champagne!). But, before, that, it is going to be an ALL DAY TOUR WITH WALKS IN LONDON, somewhere in the capital, isn't it?. Well... you choose!
www.londontown.com/London/
New_Year_In_London/