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Londoners head out to open spaces in July, with flower shows, festivals and fun runs all hitting the streets and the suburbs. Indoors, there's the start of London's best classical music series, and the summer opening of Buckingham Palace.
 Henley Royal Regatta 2008 Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2LY 2nd July 2008 - 6th July 2008 Henley Regatta is set in a riverside village that has hardly changed in the last two centuries, bringing some serious competition to the water in one of the world's most physically challenging sports. It has been running since 1839, and has grown from a local event into one of the biggest meetings in rowing, attracting crews of international quality to an array of Challenge Trophies. The draw is still conducted on a knock-out basis with only two boats racing in each heat. Nineteen events take place over the five days including six classes of races for Eights and aces for Coxless Pairs and Double Sculls. Come and admire one of the country's loveliest areas and some of the toughest sports stars in the world. Venue: Henley-on-Thames Address: Oxfordshire, RG9 2LY Phone: 01491 572 153 Date: 2nd July 2008 - 6th July 2008 Time: To be confirmed Pricing: To be confirmed Nearest Station: Henley-on-Thames Rail Henley Royal Regatta 2008 - Information   GuilfestStoke Park, GU1 1HB 4th July 2008 - 6th July 2008 We're not absolutely sure when this happened, but at some point this sleepy jazz and folk festival in London's least fashionable suburb turned into an absolutely kicking live event. For one weekend every summer Guilfest takes over Stoke Park as music fans set up camp. In spite of some pleasingly naff sponsors (Radio 2 and The Surrey Advertiser both hosted stages in 2007) and performers (Uriah Heep anyone?), they now also attract some brilliant musicians and DJs. This festival is most famous for its role in showcasing all the best of the past rather than the latest craze - though it's always very varied don't expect much ground-breaking stuff. Venue: Stoke Park Address: Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1HB Phone: 0871 424 0050 Date: 4th July 2008 - 6th July 2008 Time: To be confirmed Pricing: To be confirmed Nearest Station: Guildford Rail Guilfest - Information  Big Dance 2008Various, 5th July 2008 - 13th July 2008 Dance is the fastest-growing artform in the capital, and the reason is visible everywhere you look. London is perhaps the most multi-cultural city in the world, and the traditional, popular, artistic and religious dances of dozens of cultures have made our city a paradise for anyone who loves to tap their toes, shake their bootie, or just stroke their chins (in the case of 'contemporary dance' fans). The scale of Big Dance is huge. Suffice to say that you should not be surprised if - when venturing into any public space in London during this period - it turns out to have a troupe of female Morris dancers, a posse of head-spinning hip-hoppers, or a whirlwind of spinning capoeiristas girating around. More than half the events offer participation or free classes, so if you're a closet groover this is your chance to strut your stuff. Venue: Various Phone: To be confirmed Date: 5th July 2008 - 13th July 2008 Time: Various Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Various Big Dance 2008 - Information  Dolly PartonThe O2 Arena, SE10 0AX 5th July 2008 - 6th July 2008 Country music goddess and cosmetic surgery supremo Dolly Parton arrives in London as part of a rare UK tour. She is so big in the US that the singer-cum-songwriter-cum-actress has her fingers in just about every pie, with her own restaurant, theme park and even a literacy programme. But you don't manage four decades in the music business without a bag of talent and she'll wow the crowds with highlights from her broad repertoire. Hits like 'Nine to Five', 'Jolene' and 'I Will Always Love You' have survived the test of time nearly as well as Dolly's body. Venue: The O2 Arena Address: Greenwich, SE10 0AX Phone: 0871 984 0002 Date: 5th July 2008 - 6th July 2008 Time: Doors 18:30 Pricing: £50-£75 Nearest Station: North Greenwich Tube Dolly Parton - Information  Pride London 2008Trafalgar Square, WC2H 7BP 5th July 2008 For the past few years London's Pride Parade has been growing in scale and ambition. Now increasing numbers of straight folk are also turning up to join in the heady mix of fun and politics in what has become one of Britain's biggest street parties. This year around half a million gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight people will flood into Oxford Street and Regent Street for the parade. Entertainment is provided by 80 floats and more than 200 costume groups and walking bands. The serious stuff takes place in Trafalgar Square, where community stalls and music support a rally, with major speakers celebrating a year of successes for the Gay Rights movement. Soho and Leicester Square host more frivolous activities, with cabaret and bands in the square, and a huge market and food festival in Soho. The hundreds of lesbian and gay bars and clubs in the area will, of course, keep the celebrations going all night long. Venue: Trafalgar Square Address: Westminster, WC2H 7BP Phone: 020 7437 4370 Date: 5th July 2008 Time: Parade from Marble Arch 12:00 Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus Tube Pride London 2008 - Information  The British 10K London RunStart - Hyde Park Corner | Finish - Whitehall, SW1X 7TA 6th July 2008 Now in its seventh year this huge annual fundraiser has made the first Sunday in July all its own. Thousands of participants gather together at Hyde Park Corner to run the course which heads down Piccadilly and Pall Mall to Trafalgar Square, along the Embankment to the City, taking in St. Paul's and Tower Bridge, and finally back to Whitehall, looping around the London Eye on the way. The runners are joined by a bunch of celebrities and athletics champions. Both Steve Cram and Haile Gebrselassie have participated in previous races. Ten kilometres is a fair old click but by no means impossible even if you're not really in shape. If you fancy the challenge of racing against 35,000 fellow Londoners, drop them a line or visit www.theBritish10klondon.co.uk. Venue: Start - Hyde Park Corner | Finish - Whitehall Date: 6th July 2008 Time: Race starts 9:35 Pricing: £29.50 (participants) Nearest Station: Hyde Park Corner Tube The British 10K London Run - Information  Hampton Court Palace Flower ShowHampton Court Palace, KT8 9AU 8th July 2008 - 13th July 2008 Henry VIII built one of the finest gardens in the world at Hampton Court Palace, so it is only fitting that the world's largest horticultural show should take place there. The show includes displays from over 150 specialist nurseries. Some are beautiful, complex works of living art, filled with rare blooms and water features. However, many are on a smaller, more English scale, and should give you ideas for improving your own garden. The Festival of Roses is Britain's largest annual display of roses in full bloom; the sweet scent is overwhelming, as is the sight of thousands of stunning roses blooming all under one roof. The Inspiring Spaces show gives visitors tips on how best to utilise those difficult spaces and tricky corners. Water gardens reflect the event's beautiful location beside the River Thames. During the final afternoon many of the exhibitors sell off their plants at bargain prices - you can bet the gardening gloves come off for this free-for-all. Venue: Hampton Court Palace Address: Kingston-Upon-Thames, KT8 9AU Phone: 0870 906 3790 Date: 8th July 2008 - 13th July 2008 Time: 10:00 - 19:30 | Sun 10:00 - 17:30, sell-off of display plants starts Sun 16.30 Pricing: Day tickets (10:00 - 19:30) Tue 8th £31, Wed 9th £26, Thu 10th - Sun 13th £21 | Afternoon Tickets (15:00 - 19:30) Tue 8th £19.50, Wed 9th £16.50, Thu 10th - Sun 13th £13.50 | Children £5 (5-15 except Tue £31), Free (Under 5) Nearest Station: Hampton Court Rail Hampton Court Palace Flower Show - Information  The Chap OlympicsBedford Square Gardens, WC1B 3DP 12th July 2008 Not so much a sporting occasion as a celebration of buffoonery and sporting ineptitude, orchestrated by The Chap magazine, for gentlemen of good taste. Bedford Square, one of the best preserved set pieces of Georgian architecture in London, is a fitting backdrop for such a spiffing sporting event. The ten Olympic races can all be entered by members of the public - as long as they're not wearing sportswear. Sporting events include Umbrella Hockey, using brollies and a bowler hat instead of sticks and a ball and The Hendrick's Steeplechase: the first stallion (guy) to carry their jockey (girl) over the hurdles of beer cans wins. Hilarious fun - and the two free gin and tonics will go down well too. To find out more and to register as a competitor email olympics@thechap.net. Venue: Bedford Square Gardens Address: Bloomsbury, WC1B 3DP Date: 12th July 2008 Time: 13:00 - 18:00 Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Tottenham Court Road Tube The Chap Olympics - Information  Rise 2008Finsbury Park, N4 1EE 13th July 2008 Last year's Rise Festival in Finsbury Park was truly one of the most magical days of the summer, with 100,000 Londoners of all colours and creeds gathering to take a stand against racism. They tend to finalise the music line-up at the last minute, so keep checking nearer the time for details. Alongside big names, there is usually an entertaining mixture of credible London musicians and hilariously sketchy local acts. Because it's free, safe and friendly, there's an enormously varied crowd taking time to chill in the sun, munch on some jerk chicken and celebrate everything that is best about our multi-cultural capital. Kids are very welcome and will love the costume and dance acts, the funfair and the general carnival atmosphere. Venue: Finsbury Park Phone: To be confirmed Date: 13th July 2008 Time: To be confirmed Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Finsbury Park Tube Rise 2008 - Information  The Proms 2008Royal Albert Hall, SW7 2AP 18th July 2008 - 13th September 2008 The most popular season of classical music in England goes from strength-to-strength each year. A varied but accessible programme regularly draws huge audiences, concluding on the last night with seas of Union Jack-waving Brits belting out their national anthem. The aim, for the past 100 years, has been to mix the popular and familiar with the surprising and innovative, so if you go to a concert to hear some favourite piece, you may leave having discovered a whole new composer. Five hundred standing tickets for each concert are available on the door for just five pounds, so top international orchestras and soloists, programmes that mix the adventurous and the accessible, and a real sense of fun can all be had for less than the price of a cinema ticket. There are also chamber music concerts in Cadogan Hall, and outdoor events throughout the country. You should turn up early for the biggest stars - and queue overnight if you want to get into the Last Night. Venue: Royal Albert Hall Address: Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP Phone: 020 7589 8212 Date: 18th July 2008 - 13th September 2008 Time: Various Pricing: Seat prices vary. Standing tickets are available on the door for £5. Nearest Station: South Kensington Tube The Proms 2008 - Information  WOMADCharlton Park, SN16 9DG 24th July 2008 - 27th July 2008 The world music explosion has turned Peter Gabriel's WOMAD into a massive international event. The crowd, who once consisted largely of ageing prog-rockers with ponytails, are now among the most diverse of any festival, covering all ages, races and backgrounds. WOMAD is the most kid-friendly of all the festivals and has a really warm atmosphere as a result. Every paying adult is entitled to bring two children free of charge, so the festival site is teeming with face-painted young ones. They won't get bored either, with a huge array of workshops, games and a funfair for them to enjoy. The festival is just as participatory for adults too - get involved in the brilliant workshops aimed at helping you learn to drum, dance and sing. Line-up to be confirmed. Venue: Charlton Park Address: Wiltshire, SN16 9DG Phone: 0845 146 1735 Date: 24th July 2008 - 27th July 2008 Time: Campsite opens Fri 8:00, Thu camping available for an extra £10 Pricing: £120 Nearest Station: Kemble or Chippenham Rail WOMAD - Information  The State Rooms, Buckingham Palace Summer OpeningBuckingham Palace, SW1A 1AA 31st July 2008 - 29th September 2008 For two months in the summer visitors have the chance to look round Buckingham Palace and admire the interiors of the principle royal residence. Thousands have visited since the palace first opened its doors, to enjoy the astonishing luxury in which the British royals have immersed themselves for the past few centuries. The tour includes a look at some exquisite royal gifts including Faberge Eggs, a walk through the Royal Mews and access to the State Rooms, which are still used by the Royal Family to receive guests on state and ceremonial occasions. Decorated in lavish fashion, they include paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto, Sevres porcelain and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. This is a fascinating opportunity to admire the taste - often wonderful, sometimes comically bad - of Britain's monarchy, and the astounding art and antiques collected over the last 500 years by the world's most famous family. Venue: Buckingham Palace Address: Buckingham Palace Road, SW1A 1AA Phone: 020 7766 7300 Date: 31st July 2008 - 29th September 2008 Time: 09:45-18:00. Timed tickets allow entry in fifteen-minute slots. Pricing: Full Entry: £28.50 (Adults), £25 (NUS/OAPs), £16 (Under 17s), Free (Under 5s), £73 (Family) | State Rooms Only: £15.50 (Adults), £14 (NUS/OAPs), £8.75 (Under 17s), Free (Under 5s), £39.75 (Family) Nearest Station: St James's Park Tube The State Rooms, Buckingham Palace Summer Opening - Information  Hadrian: Empire and ConflictBritish Museum, Reading Room, WC1B 3DG 24th July 2008 - 26th October 2008 Think of Hadrian and one word automatically and instantly comes after it. Wall. The great Roman emperor who reigned from AD 117 to 138 most famously left his mark on this country in the shape of a stone division running the breadth of the UK, from Segedunum at Wallsend on the River Tyne to the shore of the Solway Firth. This special exhibition gives us an insight into the man who ruled over much of Europe, northern Africa and western Asia. His empire building remains as his legacy today with landmarks like the Pantheon in Rome, the Temple of Zeus and an aqueduct in Athens as well as his villa at Tivoli - more like a small town - still standing as testament to his passion for design, architecture and Greek culture. With objects on loan from 35 museums worldwide backed up by information unearthed by recent excavations, this exhibition takes Hadrian beyond the wall. Tickets on sale from 6 February 2008 Venue: British Museum, Reading Room Address: Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG Phone: 020 7323 8000 Date: 24th July 2008 - 26th October 2008 Time: Sat to Wed 10:00 - 17:30, Thu & Fri 10:00 - 20:30 Pricing: TBC Nearest Station: Holborn Tube Hadrian: Empire and Conflict - Information |
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