London

July | August | September and beyond

July

City of London Festival (continues)
June 20-July 10
This Square Mile-based jamboree of highbrow culture features a wide-ranging programme of events including literature, visual arts, film screenings and architecture walks and talks. The opening procession is lead by the Bombay Baja Brass Band and children from the London Youth Circus. See website for a full program of events.
City of London Festival, various venues (www.colf.org).

Lift festival (continues)
June 26-July 6
Lift (London International Festival of Theatre) promises an eclectic and engaging program of international premieres, talks, screenings and participatory events. The Lift itself – an eco-friendly portable venue that can morph from a theatre into an exhibition space or cinema – is set to visit London three times this summer: Stratford (June 12-21) features the UK premier of Indian production 'Dangalnam'; Southbank Centre (June 26-July 6) sees new drama from Australia, New Zealand, China and Canada; Shoreditch (August 16-24), where the emphasis is on body and soul, includes contemporary French dance and various spoken word events.
Lift festival, various venues (www.liftfest.org.uk) Stratford June 12-21, Southbank Centre June 26-July 6, Shoreditch August 16-24. Feature continues

Wireless Festival
July 3-6
Jay-Z, Mark Ronson, Roisin Murphy, and Morrissey headline four days of Hyde Park revellery. See listing for more details.
Wireless Festival, The Bandstand, Hyde Park (www.o2wirelessfestival.co.uk) Marble Arch or Hyde Park Corner tube. £40 ‘early bird’ for Thursday; £45 Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Made in Deptford
July 5-6
FREE
Fourth annual festival of cultural events, live music, child-friendly fun and general feelgood community activities liable to be marred only by Goldsmiths students and people banging on about pirates.
Made in Deptford, Various venues throughout SE8 (www.madeindeptford.com) Deptford Bridge DLR/Deptford rail.

London Literature Festival
July 5-19
The Southbank Centre hosts this wide-ranging fest of all things writerly, with highlights including Simon Armitage, Alan Moore, George Monbiot, Josie Long, TO's Paul Burston and a possibly ill-conceived in camera interview with Mark E Smith.
London Literature Festival, Southbank Centre SE1 (0871 663 2500/www.southbankcentre.co.uk/literaturefestival) Waterloo tube/rail.

Watch This Space Festival
July 6-September 1
FREE
Free program of outdoor entertainment on the National Theatre’s newly installed front garden. This year features over 150 events including international street theatre, bands, club nights, dance, and cabaret as well as the chance to see some world premieres of specially commissioned new drama. See website for a full program of events.
Watch This Space Festival, National Theatre Square, South Bank, SE1 (020 7452 3400/www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) Waterloo tube/rail.

Somerset House Summer Series
July 10-19
This established series of outdoor gigs returns to the Palladian splendour of Somerset House this year with a hit-and-miss line-up of headliners including Justice, Adele, Lupe Fiasco, The Blue Nile and We Are Scientists. Whatever, the surroundings always make shows here enjoyable, and it's bang in the middle of town.
Somerset House, Strand, WC2R (020 7845 4600/www.somersethouse.org.uk) Temple tube or Charing Cross tube/rail. 7.30pm; £25.

Rise Festival
July 13
FREE
The free Mayor of London-organised anti-racism music festival celebrates diversity in the capital taking in performances by musicians and DJs from the worlds of hip hop, indie, pop, jazz and reggae. This year’s headliners are yet to be announced, but judging by 2007’s line-up – Kelis, Jamelia and Bill Bailey – you're in safe hands here. We’re holding out for Chaka Demus and Pliers.
Rise Festival, Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters Road, N4 (0800 123456/www.risefestival.org) Finsbury Park tube/rail. 12noon-8.30pm.

Lovebox Weekender
July 19-20
Groove Armada (live), Goldfrapp, The Flaming Lips and Human League headline the main stage while other treats include a special Strangelove stage, arranged like the Pentagon War Room. See listing for more details.
Victoria Park, Hackney (www.lovebox.net) Mile End tube/Hackney Wick rail. £65 weekend, £38.50 day.

Film4 Summer Screen
July 31-August 9
Slightly odd selection of films (does 'Léon' really merit the state-of-the-art outdoor cinematic technology used here?) that, like all events at Somerset House, is transformed by the spectacular surroundings. Chief draw is the Soviet-sounding 'People's Premiere' of 'Hellboy II', and serious cushioning is recommended for the 'Elephant Man'/'Wild at Heart' double bill.
Somerset House, Strand, WC2R (020 7845 4600/www.somersethouse.org.uk) Temple tube or Charing Cross tube/rail.

July | August | September and beyond

August

Lift festival (continues)
August 16-August 24
Lift (London International Festival of Theatre) promises an eclectic and engaging program of international premieres, talks, screenings and participatory events. The Lift itself – an eco-friendly portable venue that can morph from a theatre into an exhibition space or cinema – is set to visit London three times this summer: Stratford (June 12-21) features the UK premier of Indian production 'Dangalnam'; Southbank Centre (June 26-July 6) sees new drama from Australia, New Zealand, China and Canada; Shoreditch (August 16-24), where the emphasis is on body and soul, includes contemporary French dance and various spoken word events.
Lift festival, various venues (www.liftfest.org.uk) Stratford June 12-21, Southbank Centre June 26-July 6, Shoreditch August 16-24.

Watch This Space Festival (continues)
July 6-September 1
FREE
Free program of outdoor entertainment on the National Theatre’s newly installed front garden. This year features over 150 events including international street theatre, bands, club nights, dance, and cabaret as well as the chance to see some world premieres of specially commissioned new drama. See website for a full program of events.
Watch This Space Festival, National Theatre Square, South Bank, SE1 (020 7452 3400/www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) Waterloo tube/rail.

Film4 Summer Screen (continues)
July 31-August 9
Slightly odd selection of films (does 'Léon' really merit the state-of-the-art outdoor cinematic technology used here?) that, like all events at Somerset House, is transformed by the spectacular surroundings. Chief draw is the Soviet-sounding 'People's Premiere' of 'Hellboy II', and serious cushioning is recommended for the 'Elephant Man'/'Wild at Heart' double bill.
Somerset House, Strand, WC2R (020 7845 4600/www.somersethouse.org.uk) Temple tube or Charing Cross tube/rail.

Innocent Village Fete
August 2-3
'Better than staying home and watching Columbo' says the ubiquitous smoothie brand who take over Regent’s Park for the fifth year running with another two-day family-friendly mini-fest. James Taylor Quartet heads up the live music action, there's a large farmers’ market (stalls from Borough Market) and plenty of activities for kids including funfair rides, welly wanging and an arts and crafts area.
Innocent Village Fete, Regent's Park, (www.innocentvillagefete.com) Great Portland Street or Baker Street tube. 11am-7pm; adults £7.50, kids £3.50.

Trafalgar Square Festival
August 7-23
FREE
Fourth year for this annual outdoor bash. 2007 had an Indian theme, but details of 2008 remain sketchy, presumably as it's arranged by the mayor's office.

Underage Festival
August 8
Second year in the authentic East End for this 14-under-19s, booze-free festival. Top draws this year are Foals, Gallows, The Horrors, Operator Please and a host of like-minded New Era-toting types.
Underage Festival, Victoria Park, E9 (www.underagefestivals.com) Mile End tube/Hackney Wick rail. Doors 11am; £23, 14-18s only (including 18-year-olds).

Free Time
August 15-18
Four days of circus-inspired events with performances,participatory activities, galleries and trails tailor-made for children and their families.
Somerset House, Strand, WC2R (020 7845 4600/www.somersethouse.org.uk) Temple tube or Charing Cross tube/rail.

Shoreditch Festival
August 16-24
FREE
Highlights of this year's festival includes the first ever Tour de Shoreditch, a cycling bonanza that features cycling stalls, extreme cycling displays and guided bike rides of the borough; the English National Ballet perform on the main stage in Shoreditch Park on the Friday followed by an open air concert by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on the Saturday. The climax of this nine-day shindig is a '40s-themed party on Hoxton Street while the BBC Big Band will play a spectacular finale back at the park.
Shoreditch Festival, Shoreditch Park, N1 (020 7324 5117/www.shoreditchfestival.org.uk) Old St tube/rail.

July | August | September and beyond

September and beyond

Watch This Space Festival (continues)
July 6-September 1
FREE
Free program of outdoor entertainment on the National Theatre’s newly installed front garden. This year features over 150 events including international street theatre, bands, club nights, dance, and cabaret as well as the chance to see some world premieres of specially commissioned new drama. See website for a full program of events.
Watch This Space Festival, National Theatre Square, South Bank, SE1 (020 7452 3400/www.nationaltheatre.org.uk) Waterloo tube/rail.

Thames Festival
September 13-14
FREE
Now in its tenth year, this two-day riverside bash boasts open-air arts, pyrotechnics, illuminations, street theatre, massed choirs and world food stalls. The highlights, as always, are the mid-river concerts on a floating boat and the spectacular night carnival and fireworks display.
Thames Festival, between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge (www.thamesfestival.org). 12noon-10pm.

Regent Street Festival
FREE
The summer shopping spree takes place on a Sunday in early September and sees the street pedestrianised for the day. Shops offer free food and wine tastings, as well as exhibitions and makeovers. Dates to be confirmed.
Regent Street (www.regentstreetonline.com)

London Design Festival 2008
September 13-23
FREE
Gargantuan installations of various technological persuasions are set to pepper the capital’s landscape this September for the sixth annual London Design Festival. British architectural heavyweight David Adjaye is aiming to create a walk-in pavilion made of American tulipwood at the Southbank Centre; but Spanish designer Jamie Hayón’s dramatic Trafalgar Square installation is tipped to be the year’s biggest hit with design pros and punters alike. Other promising highlights include ‘Cut & Paste’, where some of London’s top design nodes go head to head in a digital design battle.
London Design Festival 2008, various venues citywide (www.londondesignfestival.com).

Lord Mayor's Show
November 8
FREE
Every year the new Lord Mayor of London is presented to the monarch for approval. The three-mile-long parade leaves Mansion House at 11am arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand before returning to Mansion house for 2.30pm. The parade involves thousands of people, hundreds of horses and scores of floats. A fireworks display from a barge moored between Waterloo and Blackfriars bridges rounds the whole thing off.
Lord Mayor’s Show, through the streets of the City (www.lordmayorshow.org) St Paul’s tube.

July | August | September and beyond