This being June, there are lots of top events coming up in and around the capital over the next few weekends. So I thought I'd make a list of some, before I forget. And in case you were interested. Almost all of them are free.
Weekend of 12/13 June Sat 12: London World Naked Bike Ride - More than 1000 cyclists (weather permitting) parade their saddlesore bits around the heart of town Sun 13: Marylebone Summer Fayre - Activities and relaxation, set out across various coloured zones (in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust) Sun 13: Twickenham Carnival - Song and dance by the river (starts at 1pm) Sun 13: 19 Princelet Street - rare opening of a crumbling Huguenot house/synagogue in Spitalfields, a monument to diversity and tolerance through the ages (also open Thursday and next Sunday, then closed until 2011) » all weekend: Open Garden Squares Weekend - 200 London Gardens, most not normally open to the public, are open to the public (green-fingered nosiness encouraged) [Ian shows you what you missed] » all weekend: Blackheath Bike and Kite Festival Keep fit and active up on the heath (or just stand around with a bit of string in your hand)
Weekend of 19/20 June Sat 19: Tottenham Carnival - Parade starts at 11am, festival kicks off at noon (football not obligatory) Sat 19: Croxley Green Revels - A Metro-land tradition that stretches back to 1952 (as immortalised by Betjeman) (I went last year) Sun 20: Exhibition Road Music Day - Over 100 free musical performances as part of London's contribution to European Music Day » all weekend: London Festival of Architecture - Nash Ramblas Every two years, different bits of London celebrate architecture old and new. On this opening weekend it's Nash's Regent's Park/Regent's Street axis under scrutiny, with walks and talks and workshops, and a lot of standing around and admiring things. Some of the best tours are already sold out, but there's always something worth attending. » all weekend: Paradise Gardens - annual arty pleasure garden in Victoria Park, featuring circus big top, tea dances, a shed-sized nightclub, live music, Carter's Steam Fair, a village fete, Pearly Queens, street theatre, sideshows, beer and the Ken Fox Wall of Death (always delightfully diverse) » all weekend: Covent Garden Street Party - Celebrating a 180th birthday smacks slightly more of PR than a genuine event, but hey, you might love the chance to have fun in an old fruit and veg market.
Weekend of 26/27 June Sat 26: Bank of England Open Door Twice a year the Old Lady throws open her doors for a half-hour interior tour. See the Governor's Office, and the room where they decide mortgage rates, and explore the museum afterwards. Also open next Saturday, 3rd July, in case the queues get too bad (part of the City of London Festival, which lasts until 9th July) Sun 27: London Bikeathon - Charity cycle ride, all places already taken. » all weekend: both: London Festival of Architecture - High Street 2012 For the festival's second weekend, the emphasis shifts to the road where I live. Out east, from Aldgate to Stratford, including two well-pretentiousartworks almost on my doorstep. I'm looking forward to this one (and next weekend, Bankside Urban Forest) » all weekend: Elephant Parade - Herd Viewing See (almost) all of London's 300 artistic elephants gathered together at the Royal Hospital Chelsea (before they're auctioned off on Wednesday) » all weekend: Biggin Hill Air Show - Lots of big planes (and long traffic jams) down Bromley way. The aerial action's free if you can find a pub or a grassy patch somewhere outside the perimeter. » all weekend: Greenwich+Docklands International Festival - Unparalleled spectacular artiness, always amazing. This weekend's big events are in Greenwich and Woolwich(while next weekend, Millwall Dock and Canary Wharf get a look in)
