London City Guide - Special Events

New Year’s Day Parade, 1 Jan, Parliament Square, SW1, to Berkeley Square, W1 (website: www.londonparade.co.uk)
Chinese New Year Celebrations, late Jan-early Feb, Gerrard Street, Chinatown, WC2 (website: www.chinatownchinese.com or www.london.gov.uk/mayor/chinese_ny/index.jsp)
The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, late Mar-early Apr, River Thames from Mortlake, SW14, to Putney, SW15 (website: www.theboatrace.org)
Flora London Marathon, Apr, Blackheath, SE3, to the Mall, SW1 (website: www.london-marathon.co.uk)
Chelsea Flower Show, May, show gardens and flowers aplenty at this popular spring show, Royal Hospital Chelsea, SW1 (website: www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea)
Meltdown, Jun, music festival with a different famous curator choosing the line-up each year, Royal Festival Hall, South Bank, SE1 (website: www.rfh.org.uk/meltdown)
Trooping the Colour, Queen’s Birthday parade, Sat mid Jun, Buckingham Palace, the Mall and Horse Guards’ Parade, SW1 (website: www.royal.gov.uk)
Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, Jun, East London (website: www.festival.org)
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, two weeks late Jun-early Jul, All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Church Road, Wimbledon, SW19 (website: www.wimbledon.org)
City of London Festival, Jun-Jul, outdoor performances, gardens of Kenwood House, on Hampstead Heath, NW3 (website: www.colf.org)
Cadogan Opera Holland Park, Jun-Aug, outdoor opera, Holland Park theatre (website: www.operahollandpark.com)
Coin Street Festival, Jul, Gabriel’s Wharf, SE1 (website: www.coinstreetfestival.org)
Greenwich and Docklands Festival, Jul, various venues (website: www.festival.org)
London Pride, Jul, gay and lesbian Pride Parade and festival, Hyde Park and central London (website: www.pridelondon.org)
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, Jul, Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey BBC (website: www.rhs.org.uk)
Promenade Concerts (The Proms), mid Jul-mid Sep, Royal Albert Hall, SW7 (website: www.bbc.co.uk/proms)
Mela, Aug, a one-day festival aimed at celebrating south Asian culture and creativity, Gunnersbury Park, Ealing (website: www.london.gov.uk/mayor/asian_london/index.jsp)
Trafalgar Square Festival, Aug, free outdoor programme with some stunning performances, Trafalgar Square (website: www.london.gov.uk/trafalgarsquare/)
Notting Hill Carnival, Aug Bank Holiday Weekend, last weekend Aug, Notting Hill, W8 (website: www.lnhc.org.uk)
Regent Street Festival, early Sep, food from around the world, international fashion and entertainment, plus special children's activities, Regent Street (website: www.regentstreetonline.com)
Thames Festival, mid Sep, arts, sport and river events, Westminster Bridge, SE1, to Southwark Cathedral, SE1 (website: www.thamesfestival.org)
London Open House, Sep, London’s architectural gems open to public, throughout the city (website: www.londonopenhouse.org)
London Fashion Week, Sep (website: www.londonfashionweek.co.uk)
Bonfire Night, 5 Nov and nearest Sat night, firework displays commemorating the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot and the arrest of Guy Fawkes in 1605, throughout the city
Remembrance Sunday, nearest Sunday to 11 Nov, procession in honour of British service men and women, Whitehall, SW1
Lord Mayor’s Show, celebratory parade, Nov, City of London, EC1
London Film Festival, late Oct-early Nov, National Film Theatre, South Bank, SE1, and other cinemas around London (website: www.lff.org.uk)
Christmas Lights, mid Nov-6 Jan, Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street
Somerset House Ice Rink, Nov-Jan, annual temporary outdoor ice rink, Somerset House, Strand, WC2
New Year’s Eve Celebrations, 31 Dec, Trafalgar Square, WC2, and all over the city