Festivals and Events



Thames Festival
Arts, sport and river events, mid-Sep, Westminster Bridge : SE1, to Southwark Cathedral, SE1
Lord Mayor’s Show
Celebratory parade, 10 Nov, City of London, EC1
Remembrance Sunday
Procession in honour of British service men and women, 10 Nov, Whitehall, SW1
New Year’s Eve Celebrations
31 Dec-Jan 1 2003, throughout the city
New Year’s Day Parade
1 Jan 2003, Parliament Square, SW1, to Berkeley Square, W1
London International Boat Show
3-13 Jan, Earls Court Exhibition Centre, SW5
Chinese New Year Celebrations
27 Jan, Gerrard Street, WC2, and Leicester Square, WC2
Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race
Late Mar, River Thames from Mortlake, SW14, to Putney, SW15
Flora London Marathon
Mid-Apr, Blackheath, SE3, to the Mall, SW1
Chelsea Flower Show
Late May, Royal Hospital Chelsea, SW1
The Queen’s Birthday parade
15 Jun, Buckingham Palace : The Mall and Horse Guards’ Parade, SW1
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
Late Jun-early Jul, All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, SW19
International Henley Royal Regatta
Early Jul, Henley-on-Thames
Notting Hill Carnival
August bank holiday weekend, Notting Hill, W8

Glastonbury (End of June; www.glastonbury-festival.co.uk): A rock 'n' roll extravaganza hosting 200,000 fans, Glastonbury is the most diverse of the summer jams. The festival features music ranging from indie rock to jazz to reggae on nine stages. Other attractions include food stalls, a kids' area, and acres of muddy English farmland.

Big Day Out (Second week of July; Milton Keynes): While heavy metal may have suffered a severe loss of popularity in the States, English fans still turn out in droves to feel the noise. Located 45 minutes outside of London, Big Day Out books big names like Metallica and Marilyn Manson alongside their English counterparts.

Womad (End of July; realworld.on.net/womad): Started by Peter Gabriel, Womad is a multiday world-music smorgasbord. In addition to performers from across the globe, the festival features international food and art displays. More family-friendly than most, Womad features a children's area and swimming pool.

The Bishopstock Blues Festival (Last week of May) is billed as the UK's premier blues festival and is set in the grounds of an 850-year-old Gothic Revival palace. Last year's highlight was John Lee Hooker, and the organisers set a limit on allowing only 5,000 people in per day, so this is a fairly sought-after event. The relaxing vibe comes catered and with full bar facilities.
 

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