July 2009

Londoners head out to open spaces in July, with fun runs, flower shows and festivals taking place all over the city. Highlights include the excellent O2 Wireless Festival at Hyde Park where Blur are also playing what's shaping up to be the gig of the year. Indoors, there's the start of London's best classical music series, The Proms.

Henley Royal Regatta 2009

Henley-on-Thames, London, RG9 2LY
1st - 5th July 2009

Henley Regatta is an historic occasion, set in a riverside village that has hardly changed in the last two centuries and 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.

More info: Henley Royal Regatta 2009 Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Blur

Hyde Park, London, W2 3JA
2nd & 3rd July 2009

Damon Albarn's been writing operas, Graham Coxon has gently disappeared into the musical dead end of art-punk and Alex James has been writing unspeakably smug foodie columns about organic cheese. But to be honest, Blur have always been loathsome art school gits. The important thing about them, the thing that will make this Hyde Park concert the gig of the year, is the effortless brilliance of the music. Endlessly inventive, gloriously catchy, and tripping joyously from witty intelligence to boozy raucousness, they were the most influential guitar band of the 1990s and a great live act to boot. Book early, because Hyde Park will be absolutely heaving.

More info: Blur Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

London Literature Festival

Southbank Centre, London, SE1 8XX
2nd July - 16th July 2009

Words, stories and author events are all part of the London Literature Festival, as you'd expect. Comedy, music and documentaries are also less obvious offerings that get piled into the capital's largest book event. This year astronaut Buzz Aldrin, poet Benjamin Zephaniah and Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy are among the highlights of this annual Southbank Centre event. There are also appearances from Sarah Waters, Lemn Sissay ("his poems are songs of the street," The Independent), Peter Ackroyd with his re-telling of The Canterbury Tales, and Vikram Seth as well as a whole host of international writers, prize-winning authors, historians, politicians, poets, artists and musicians. Radio 1Xtra presenter Gemma Cairney hosts an all female show featuring best friends Kate Nash and Laura Dockrill who are joined by Brigitte Aphrodite and Peggy Sue for an afternoon of live music and poetry. Meanwhile The School of Life looks at the philosophical side of books - after all, what you read can literally change your life. From short stories to cult classics, the festival focuses on words in every format.

See www.londonlitfest.com

More info: London Literature Festival Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Pride London 2009

Trafalgar Square, WC2H 7BP
4th July 2009

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 keep the celebrations going all night long.

More info: Pride London 2009 Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

O2 Wireless Festival

Hyde Park, London, W2 2UH
4th & 5th July 2009

A two-day festival smack bang in the middle of London - no long car journeys, no queuing for mud-covered taps, no losing your tent at 4am - it sounds like manna from heaven. Now in its fifth year, Wireless has established itself as a major live music event, attracting crowds of over 20,000 every day to Hyde Park. You don't have to commit yourself in quite the same way as a traditional festival - just dip in when you want, buy a ticket for the days you like (maybe one, maybe three) and go home to your own bed. The downside is that it definitely lacks the atmosphere of a camping festival - the weirdoes in costumes, stalls, teepees, organic cafes and strange entertainments have been replaced by blandly corporate fare, drenched in giant logos; there's definitely less of a community feel, and music licensing laws can restrict the volume. Gripes aside, the line-ups are consistently excellent.

More info: O2 Wireless Festival Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Hampton Court Palace, London, KT8 9AU
7th July 2009 - 12th July 2009

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 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. 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.

More info: Hampton Court Palace Flower Show Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Matthew Bourne's 'Dorian Gray'

Sadler's Wells Theatre, EC1R 4TN
7th July 2009 - 19th July 2009

Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray was a glorious sell-out hit when it arrived at Sadler's Wells last year and it looks poised to repeat that performance. From the man who took 'Swan Lake' and 'The Nutcracker' and made them electrifyingly modern, comes the dance version of Oscar Wilde's novel; catapulted into contemporary London society whilst still retaining a Faustian, Gothic thread that roots the story in the realm of fairytale. Out of the scenarios before him, Bourne devises dance that is inherently theatrical and it's his imaginative twisting of classics that gives his work its thrilling edge. In 'Dorian Gray' our anti-hero becomes an 'It Boy', photographed instead of painted, and the spiralling quest for youth and beauty is set in motion.

Photo: Chris Dunlop

More info: Matthew Bourne's Dorian Gray Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

London Bridge Festival

Various venues in the London Bridge area, London, SE1 9SP
10th July 2009 - 25th July 2009

Billing itself as "Like Edinburgh Fringe but in the middle of London", the London Bridge Festival is a mish-mash of arts events taking place over two weeks at venues across this part of London. Because it's open to all, the variety of events and talent is pretty much endless. Comedy, music, poetry, film, theatre, street shows, tours, children's events, art and photography all come under the festival's banner. In honour of the floppy-fringed one, there are Boris Awards for the best drama, comedy and writing at the festival, among other prizes, with an Oscar-like statuette for the winners.

www.londonbridgefestival.com

More info: London Bridge Festival Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The British 10K London Run

Start - Hyde Park Corner | Finish - Whitehall, SW1X 7TA
12th July 2009

Now in its eighth 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 way, but by no means impossible. If you fancy the challenge of racing against 35,000 fellow Londoners, drop them a line or visit www.theBritish10klondon.co.uk.

More info: The British 10K London Run Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Shoreditch Festival 2009

Shoreditch Park, London, N1 6TA
16th - 23rd July 2009

The Shoreditch Festival has been brought forward to July for 2009. The opening event in Shoreditch Park is followed by a host of street arts, theatre and workshops all around the area, many of which are free. Highlights include Proms in Shoreditch Park with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a firework finale, performances by the English National Ballet, plus live music across two stages including the brand new Shoreditch Park amphitheatre. There are old-fashioned tea dances, modern theatre shows, Shoreditch Bark dog show, bouldering competitions and plenty to keep the kids entertained with a special children's area, a huge variety of stalls and food. The LIFT (formerly the London International Festival of Theatre) returns to Shoreditch Festival taking theatre to the park with a portable performance space and a programme of events, shows and workshops.

Check the website www.shoreditchfestival.org.uk for details.

More info: Shoreditch Festival 2009 Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Proms 2009

Royal Albert Hall, London, SW7 2AP
17th July 2009 - 12th September 2009

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 the Royal College of Music, 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.

More info: The Proms 2009 Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Lovebox Weekender

Victoria Park, London, E3 5SN
18th & 19th July 2009

The best of London's festivals is Groove Armada's Glastonbury-inspired multi-genre party in Victoria Park. This is the park party that comes closest to capturing the vibe of a proper festival, with a huge range of musical styles across multiple stages, and a friendly, music-loving crowd. Victoria Park is a great festival venue, with loads of space and a sympathetic council who let them turn the music up really loud. The details haven't been revealed yet but book now and you can get tickets at Early Bird prices. Last year we had traditional bands on the first day, while DJs and new rave acts come out on the Sunday. Manu Chao, Groove Armada, The Human League, The Flaming Lips, Goldfrapp, Alphabeat, Sebastian Tellier, The Go Team and dozens of others all played.

More info: Lovebox Weekender Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube