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Lonely Planet Travel GuidesRydges and Lonely Planet guides for travellers |
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Events in London
Information brought to you by Lonely Planet
Most businesses close on public holidays such as New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day Bank Holiday (the first Monday in May), Spring Bank Holiday (the last Monday in May), Summer Bank Holiday (the last Monday in August), Christmas Day and Boxing Day (26 December).
There are countless festivals and events in London. It all kicks off with the New Year's Eve fireworks and street party in Trafalgar Square, followed by the New Year's Day Parade. On Shrove Tuesday pancake races are held in Covent Garden, and in early May more serious racers take part in the London Marathon.
All London gets its colours on for the FA Cup Final in mid-May. There's even more colour at the Chelsea Flower Show, held in the last week of May.
Trooping the Colour, the Queen's birthday parade, is held in June; Wimbledon runs for two weeks in the same month and London Pride, Europe's biggest gay and lesbian festival, also hits the streets. In July the world's biggest military tattoo, the Royal Tournament, is held in Earl's Court, and the raucous Notting Hill Carnival takes over the streets in August.
Horsy folks can't resist late-September's Horseman's Sunday in Hyde Park, with more than 100 horses receiving the blessing from a vicar on horseback, followed by show jumping in Kensington Gardens.
Things wind down as the weather gets colder, though there are plenty of bonfires on Guy Fawkes Night, on the 5th of November. The Lord Mayor's Show is held in late November, complete with floats, bands and fireworks. Trafalgar Square lights up in December with the Lighting of the Christmas Tree.
New Year's Day official holiday 1 Jan
Good Friday official holiday Mar/Apr
Easter Monday official holiday Mar/Apr
May Day Bank Holiday official holiday first Monday in May
Spring Bank Holiday official holiday last Monday in May
Summer Bank Holiday official holiday last Monday in Aug
Christmas Day official holiday 25 Dec
Boxing Day official holiday 26 Dec
London Parade festival/event 1 Jan
Shrove Tuesday festival/event Feb/Mar
London Marathon festival/event Apr
FA Cup Final festival/event May
Chelsea Flower Show festival/event May
Trooping of the Colour festival/event Jun
Wimbledon festival/event Jun
London Pride festival/event Jun
Royal Tournament festival/event Jul
Notting Hill Carnival festival/event Aug
Horseman's Sunday festival/event Sep
Guy Fawkes Night festival/event Nov
Lord Mayor's Show festival/event Nov
Lighting of the Christmas Tree festival/event Dec
New Year's Day official holiday 1 Jan
Good Friday official holiday Mar/Apr
Easter Monday official holiday Mar/Apr
Spring Bank Holiday official holiday last Monday in May
Summer Bank Holiday official holiday last Monday in Aug
Christmas Day official holiday 25 Dec
Boxing Day official holiday 26 Dec
Oxford/Cambridge University Boat Race festival/event late Mar/early Apr
Grand National festival/event first Saturday in Apr
FA Cup festival/event May
Wimbledon festival/event late Jun
Henley Royal Regatta festival/event Jun
Cowes Week festival/event late Jul/early Aug
Chelsea Flower Show festival/event May
Trooping of the Colour festival/event mid-Jun
Glastonbury Festival festival/event Jun
Notting Hill Carnival festival/event late Aug
© 2007 Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
We and our content providers ('we') have tried to make the information on this website as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs, and transportations) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
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