Festivals in London

Each year, London is graced and enlivened by an extensive spectrum of colourful and elating festivals, exhibitions, major events, shows, parades and carnivals. Below are some of the breathing events and festivals that usually occur in London:

The City of London Festival is a formidable fair held in June and July, which celebrates music, art, architecture and film. The Festival promotes a broad array of musical styles performed by some of the world’s leading artists. World music, jazz, classical, contemporary music all blossom during this vivacious festival.

London Art Fair is held each year in January at the Business Design Centre, Islington. Provides an opportunity to see and buy the best in modern and contemporary British art. Comprising 100 galleries and over 1,500 artists, works on display are priced between £100 and £500,000. The fair also offers a stimulating series of events, talks and discussions.

London parade is the greatest street festival in Europe on New Year’s Day, featuring more than 10,000 performers, representing over a dozen countries worldwide, who assemble in the heart of London, bringing music, merriment and laughter to the waiting crowds. The Parade starts as Big Ben strikes 12 Noon on New Year's Day in Parliament Square, and finishes on Piccadilly, Berkeley Street, at approximately 3pm.

Lord Mayor’s Show - In 1215, when King John granted a Charter allowing the city's citizens to elect their own mayor, the Lord Mayor's Show came into being. The Charter stipulated that the new Mayor must be presented to the Sovereign for approval and to swear fealty to the Crown. Therefore, each year, the newly elected Mayor had to travel from the City to Westminster to pledge allegiance. Today, the Lord Mayor's Show winds through nearly 800 years of London's history with a wonderful mixture of past, present and future. The procession takes place annually on the second Saturday in November, watched by half a million people with approximately 5,500 participants, 2,000 military personnel, 200 horses, 220 motor vehicles, 65 floats, 20 marching bands, 22 carriages and the glorious State Coach.

Rise Festival-London United is an annual open-air free event. Rise is for all Londoners, celebrating our great multicultural city and making a stand against racism. The day-long festival features rock, pop and world music, as well as a range of family entertainment. Following the London bombings, the Rise festival was renamed London United.

The Great River Race - The race is a 22 mile course down the Thames from Ham to the Isle of Dogs, with the finish line opposite the Cutty Sark at Greenwich. The Great River Race attracts both the true racer and the leisure rower with usually around 300 boats taking part, carrying approximately 2,000 competitors.

Carnaval del Pueblo - The largest Latin American Festival in the UK, which features the very best in Latin American music, held in Burgess Park, SE5 in August. With artists flown in from South America, this massive event is attended by over 60,000 people.