Plenty of sunshine is needed in London this August with a strong supply of al fresco events on the line-up - from the vibrant Notting Hill Carnival and SW4 to the family friendly Lollibop Festival. Film4 also return with their annual film events, Summer Screen and FrightFest, and RideLondon cycles into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Over 140 works - landscapes, portraits, Soviet propaganda, avant-garde and reportage photography - from the 20th-century, many never before seen in the UK, give a retrospective of colour experiments and developments in Russian photography over the course of a century. Spanning the 1860s through to the 1980s, works by photographers and artists including Ivan Shagin, Dmitry Baltermants, Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky, Alexander Rodchenko, Vladislav Mikosha and Boris Mikhailov trace advancements in photography but also chart the social history of Russia during this time. The exhibition is part of Russia Visualised, a year-long celebration of the UK Russia Year of Culture which includes the Malevich exhibition at Tate Modern and events at the Science Museum, V&A and the Whitechapel Gallery on topics as varied as Russian space exploration and avant-garde theatre.
Part of the National Maritime Museum's commemoration of World War One, Forgotten Fighters: the First World War at Sea explores the naval and maritime dimensions of the conflict in a new gallery display opening in August 2014. Through a wide range of objects including weaponry, photographs, medals and ship models, the epic scale of the war at sea is remembered. Forgotten Fighters puts the spotlight on the personal stories, from the heroism of merchant mariners to the realities of naval battle.
It's now over a decade since the excellent idea of Kids Week was first conjured up. A truly inspired summer treat for families, Theatreland is available for free to excitable tots and teens for the whole month of August. Children aged 5 to 16 years can see an awesome selection of dazzling West End hits gratis - as long as an adult pays the full price - and another two children can go half price. The 2014 shows include Aliens Love Underpants, The Elephantum, The Tiger Who Came To Tea, What The Ladybird Heard, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Lion King, Hetty Feather, Horrible Histories, I Believe in Unicorns, Mamma Mia!, Matilda the Musical, Les Miserables, War Horse and many more with over 35 shows to choose from. Tickets for the most popular shows go fast, so it's best not to make any promises until you've booked. Aside from the shows themselves, there's a whole raft of free children's activities. Kids can peek backstage, participate in workshops, dabble with make-up, learn to dance, scribble a few lines in writing classes and even sing with the cast. It's a fantastic initiative and one which can only inspire kids' enthusiasm for the stage in later life.
Art festival Hackney WickED is back and is opening up artists' studios in east London for one weekend in August, showcasing the thriving East End art scene. The three-day festival showcases work from local and international artists through a variety of galleries, open studios, temporary exhibitions, pop up spaces, site-specific installations and events throughout the Hackney Wick area. As well as open studios and pop up art events there will be a market selling art installations and a Fringe Festival with artists, studios, galleries and venues across Hackney Wick and Fish Island where venues involved include Bridget Riley Studios, Britannia Works, and the Elevator Gallery which hosts 'The Tomorrow People', an exhibition featuring a handpicked selection of emerging artists.
Back for a second year, London Beach Rugby moves to Canary Wharf in August 2014 creating a special sand pitch in Wood Wharf where 32 teams and 320 competitors come together to raise money for charity. Each game of sandpit touch rugby is played for seven minutes with teams allowed five players on the pitch, with five rolling subs available to join the fray at any time. Players are allowed up to three touches/tackles before the ball is turned over to the opposition - and given the size of the pitch (just 25m by 18m, and surrounded by an inflatable perimeter) it's very much a game of skill, attrition, tactics and speed. Alternatively, players could try kicking sand into their opponents' faces - although this may incur the wrath of the two eagle-eyed referees. Sponsored by the delightful refreshing Cornish ale Doom Bar, the tournament is free for the public to watch and also includes an Akuma Sports stand and the Doom Bar Experience, where you can race on rowing machines or just sample some beer. Saturday's event is the Club Cup and features teams from rugby clubs and universities, as well as some invitational sides from abroad. Friday's Corporate Cup includes teams from finance, property, insurance, surveying and law firms from London.
Eid Festival
Live music, food stalls, and entertainment on Trafalgar Square to mark the end of Ramadan.
Eid al-Fitr is the global Muslim celebration which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. Eid is the Arabic word meaning festivity, while al-Fitr means conclusion of the fast. Where Christians have Christmas, Muslims have Eid - which gives you an idea of how big the celebrations are. It's certainly a major event in London - and since 2006 there has been a mass gathering in Trafalgar Square organised by the Mayor of London and Muslim groups in the capital. The event features live music as well as food stalls, exhibitions and displays about Islam. There will also be other local events happening across London in what should prove to be a vibrant and uplifting occasion for everyone involved.
Marking the centenary of the First World War, the BBC Proms teams up with the National Theatre for the first time in a Prom. The War Horse Prom uses the life-size Handspring Puppet Company puppets which feature in War Horse, with music performed by the Proms Military Wives Choir directed by Gareth Malone, the personable presenter of the BAFTA-award-winning TV series The Choir.
Jacqueline Wilson's Hetty Feather is brought to life on the Vaudeville stage this summer following a successful first run at the Rose Theatre in Kingston in April this year. Adapted by scriptwriter Emma Reeves - known for CBBC's The Story of Tracy Beaker - the story follows Hetty - "a hot-tempered but good-hearted Victorian orphan" (The Independent) "played superbly by a magnetic Phoebe Thomas: impish, sprightly, utterly indomitable" - after she escapes from the Foundling Hospital. Following her adventures from a squirrel house to the streets of Victorian London as she searches for her real mother, it's a terrific story that's "like seeing old friends on stage" (The Guardian), ideal for all the family.
Inspired by the medieval mystery plays, Sommer 14 - A Dance of Death, is an epic telling from a German and European perspective of the world's descent into war. Employing the character of Death as a guide, the play uses the classic Danse Macabre structure of a series of vignettes to illuminate the people and events that led up to the outbreak of the First World War. It's a free adaptation by Gwynne Edwards of the original book by controversial German playwright Rolf Hochhuth. The production is part of THEGREATWAR100, a series of works at the Finborough Theatre that commemorate the centenary of the First World War, staged between 2014 and 2018.
ZooNation's young dancers, aged 10 to 19, perform this hip hop twist to the story of The Wizard of Oz. ZooNation Dance Company and Kate Prince put their distinctive and energetic spin on the classic children's tale made famous by the 1939 film starring Judy Garland. A big hit when it premiered at the Southbank Centre last summer, Groove on Down the Road returns inviting audiences aged five and over down the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion to a soundtrack of Jose Gonzalez, Janet Jackson, Miguel, Janelle Monae, Justin Timberlake and Stevie Wonder.
Dance partners Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev feature in this programme of short works, performed to a mixture of electronic music, English traditional folk music and Portuguese fado. Natalia, previously a principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet and who has been a guest artist with the Mariinsky Ballet here partners with Ivan Vasiliev, last seen at the Coliseum in March as part of the Kings of the Dance season. Included in the programme are two world premieres including a new work by Arthur Pita called Facada, danced to music by Frank Moon, Phil King and the traditional urban folk music of Portugal.
Possibly the most famous of all the open air film events to take place in London, Summer Screen returns to Somerset House in association with Film4 to bring cinema lovers a truly eclectic mix of movies. This year's programme features comedy, romance, musicals, thrillers and cult classics, kicks off with the UK premiere of French drama 'Two Days, One Night' starring Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard and continues with Roman Polanski's 'Rosemary's Baby', a double bill of 'A Fistful of Dollars' and 'Mad Max 2', and classic Marilyn Monroe flick 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'. The film festival ends with UK premiere of New Zealand vampire movie 'What We Do in the Shadows' and in between feast your eyes on an array of films that includes Emma Thompson's take on Jane Austen's novel 'Sense and Sensibility', 'Annie Hall', the UK premiere of '20,000 Days on Earth', and 'The Great Beauty' - the winner of this year's Oscar and BAFTA for Best Foreign Language Film. 2014 is the 10th anniversary of Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House and to mark the occasion they asked film fans for their favourite film from highlights of the past 10 years. After thousands of votes the winning film was revealed as 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' which will be screened as part of this year's season. Each night DJs play in the courtyard before the film is shown on a state-of-the-art screen with full surround sound. Beside the Screen talks provide special insights into the films, with directors, actors and industry insiders giving talks which illuminate the programme.
The Richard Wagner librettos of Viking mythology are adapted by Lisa Kuma for a month of free theatre performed by The Scoop's award-winning company Gods and Monster Theatre company. The Ring Cycle Plays feature elements of fantasy, mythical romance, giants, and more, as they explore how mortals and immortals fell under the spell of a powerful ring. Phil Willmott and Mervyn Millar's devised presentation of the The Ring Cycle Plays (The Rhine Gold, The Valkyrie, Siegfried, and Twilight Of The Gods) can be seen for free at The Scoop at More London next to City Hall, a lovely open air amphitheatre adjacent to the Thames. The audience is invited to see each tale on different visits, or the four in one day.
Michael Morpurgo's children's book about a little boy who hates stories is adaptated for the stage by the award-winning Wizard Presents Theatre Company. Set in a library, I Believe in Unicorns tells of the power of books and the bravery of Tomas who loves playing in the mountains where he lives but who hates reading and school. His world is turned upside down the day he meets the Unicorn Lady (Danyah Miller) in his local library. Ideal for children aged between five and eleven - and anyone who could be persuaded to believe in unicorns.
This two day festival of cycling takes place across the city, from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to The Mall and into the Surrey countryside. First up, Saturday's 'FreeCycle' welcomes up to 70,000 cyclists to ride along an eight mile, traffic-free loop in central London. Britain's biggest bike festival culminates with Sunday's 'RideLondon 100' - a 100 mile race for amateurs that organisers have described as the London Marathon on wheels. Other Sunday events include the 'RideLondon Grand Prix' - a series of criterium-style races through central London for professional women, junior riders and hand-cyclists - and the 'RideLondon Classic' - the biggest ever men's professional one day race in Britain. Both the Classic and 100 races will start at the Olympic Park and cover a similar route to that used in the London 2012 Olympics - taking in eleven London boroughs, Richmond Park, Hampton Court Palace - where Cyclemania is taking place - and the Surrey countryside, before finishing on The Mall. Ride on!
Celebrations of the 100th anniversary Moomin author, Tove Jannson, culminate in Moomin Summer Madness - A Birthday Party, a weekend of storytelling and Moomin music on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th August at Covent Garden in the Piazza (on the north east side by the Royal Opera House). Philip 'Beardy' Ardagh, the award-winning author of the Eddie Dickens adventures begins the weekend-long celebration at 12noon on Saturday, and the puppets from the Polka Theatre's production Moominsummer Madness will also be putting in an appearance at 5pm. There will be extracts from favourite Moomin books, and on Sunday Finnish entertainer Benny Tornroos, best known for singing the Moomin animated theme song, performs. Added to all this there will be Moomin character costumes as well as face painting on both days between 11am and 4pm.
Exactly one hundred years after it was first performed at the inaugural Glastonbury Festival on 26th August 1914, The Immortal Hour, plays at the Finborough Theatre. Rutland Boughton's record-breaking music-drama, a magical faery tale that draws heavily from Celtic folklore and mythology, explores fate, desire and mortality in two worlds, as the unrequited love between the mortal world and the immortal Faeries collide.
The winners of the FA Cup, Arsenal, take on the Premier League champions, Manchester City, in the annual season curtain-raiser at Wembley Stadium. Although many call the Community Shield a friendly - money raised goes to charities and good causes - the competition can be fierce and a clash between two of the Premier League heavyweights is something that fans of both teams will want to witness live at Wembley - expect tickets to sell out fast.
Enjoy an al fresco film atop London's National Theatre at The Deck - a stunning roof top venue usually reserved for private events and product launches. For one week only The Deck is opened to the public to screen two of the National Theatre's most celebrated shows, One Man, Two Guvnors (evenings) and London Assurance (matinees). Ticket includes a deckchair in the 50-seat pop-up cinema, a hot dog, a box of sweet and salted popcorn, plus a welcome drink.
Over 66,000 people flock to this massive celebration of our national drink, which features over 700 real ales, ciders, perries and beers from around the world. Although the Great British Beer Festival sounds like a fun event, don't be surprised to see a lot of very serious faces and concentration; some real ale experts are genuinely obsessive - and for them this isn't merely an occasion to get sozzled. Tutored tastings are on offer for anyone who wants to learn the subtleties of what makes a great beer. For the rest of us, though, this is a jolly day out with some delicious brewed drinks. Besides the amber nectar, there's a load of activities to keep you interested, including traditional pub games, live music and, to soak it all up, some hearty traditional pub snacks.
Book Slam, London's best literary nightclub, heads to iconic East London boxing venue, York Hall, for a night of literary sparring refereed by Irvine Welsh, the man behind 'Trainspotting', 'Porno' and, most recently, 'The Sex Lives Of Siamese Twins'. He'll be ensuring it's a fair fight between Bill Hillmann who presents his debut novel 'The Old Neighborhood', and guitarist from The Slits, Viv Albertine whose memoir, 'Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys.' reveals what it was like to be a girl at the height of punk. Warming up the crowd is Doc Brown, while Kate Tempest returns to Book Slam for the first time since winning her Ted Hughes Award.
Pucker up for the Southbank Centre's summer-long Festival of Love which continues throughout August with a special Film Series of love stories screened in the Royal Festival Hall. Headling the series is David Lean's classic 'Brief Encounter' set to live music by the London Philharmonic Orchestra (15th, 22nd and 29th August) and featuring pianist Leon McCawley and conductor David Charles Abell. Lucy Fleming, daughter of Brief Encounter leading lady Celia Johnson, introduces the film which is preceded by Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2. The series will also feature 9 love films including 'Casablanca' (13th August) and 'The Graduate' (27th August) as well as romantic musicals 'West Side Story' (14th August), Moulin Rouge (20th August) and South Pacific (28th August). Other highlights include Sing-a-long screenings of Grease (16th August) and Dirty Dancing (23rd August) - don your best fancy dress and you'll be in with a chance of winning the competition.
Eighteen world-class craft brewers will be bringing over 100 superb beers to the Oval Space in Bethnal Green this August. In recognition of so much great beer being made in the UK - much of which doesn't get the recognition it deserves - the London Craft Beer Festival brings brewers from the UK and Europe together under one roof - including breweries like the The Kernel and Crate Brewery from right here in London. Visitors are given information on each brewery and encouraged to sample small glasses to experience as much as possible. Street food is supplied by local companies like the Ginger Pig, E5 Bakehouse and Gelupo with dishes inspired by the beers. Bands and DJs provide the soundtrack, all to be enjoyed on the large Oval Space terraces overlooking the Bethnal Green gas works. Tickets are expected to go quickly.
The Trinity Cinema Series - which is held in the award-winning gardens of the Clapham hospice - returns for a fourth year raising the funds for Trinity Hospice. This year's line-up features three all-time classics: gender-crossing spoof gangster film Some Like It Hot (Thursday 14th August) starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, musical comedy the Blues Brothers (Friday 15th August), and 80s cult classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Saturday 16th August). So, come join the likes of Marilyn, the hilarious Dan Aykroyd, and the ultimate slacker Ferris for three nights of outdoor cinematic fun - all for a good cause. Opt for the VIP package and you'll get two tickets, a bottle of prosecco, popcorn and some other summery treats. For more information see www.trinityhospice.org.uk/cinemaseries.
London's largest free jazz festival takes place in Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, with live jazz from well known acts. This year's line-up includes Riot Jazz Brass Band, Zara McFarlane, and the Hidden Orchestra with special guest Phil Cardwell on Saturday while Nostalgia 77, Polar Bear, and the Yiddish Twist Orchestra all play on Sunday. The evening and festival is wrapped up by the Andy Sheppard Quartet completing the collection of high calibre artists and rising stars taking part in the free weekend-long festival.
Meet Michelin star chefs, see live demonstrations and sample food from London's top restaurants at FEAST the Foodies Festival taking place at Battersea Park. New features for 2014 include a Feasting Tent, the social hub at the heart of the festival where banqueting tables encourage sociable eating with chefs, friends and family, the Vintage Tea Tent, a Real Ale and Cider Farm, and Chilli Food Market. Cooking is made to look easy thanks to demos from top chefs and if the mere thought of all that makes you hungry then you can head to the restaurant tents where you can sample signature dishes from well known restaurants. Wash it all down with posh fizz from Veuve Clicquot and you can guarantee an atmosphere of bon viveur. Around 25,000 people are expected to attend which just goes to show the popularity of London's restaurants. Much like the 'Taste of London', these 'Foodies' events - which also take place in Bristol, Oxford and Edinburgh (coinciding with the Festival) - offer a winning combination of sampling, slurping and learning, all in the open air. A foodie's treat.
The festival will take place at Marble Hill House over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend from Saturday 24th to Monday 26th May, Kenwood House from Friday 30th to Sunday 1st June, Clapham Common from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th June, and Battersea Park on Friday 15th, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August 2014.
Glastonbury for the under-12s, the LolliBop Festival - "the big bash for little people" - returns for another packed weekend in 2014, this time taking place at the grand Hatfield House in Hertfordshire (a 20 minute train journey from London's King's Cross). The festival is renowned for welcoming some of the biggest names in children's entertainment to its live stages and this year is no different with a whole cast of CBeebies favourites including Justin Fletcher, Andy, Mr Bloom, and Mister Maker all taking part. The festival organisers are promising it will be "more diverse, exciting and extraordinary than ever before" with the Southbank Centre, The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Disney on Ice, and Bear Grylls Survival Academy providing plenty of choice. As well as the live acts, there will be a number of sporting activities, creative workshops, nature talks and new areas to explore.
The equestrian legacy of the London 2012 Olympics is cemented with the staging of the Global Champions Tour Show Jumping event at Horse Guards Parade ground this summer. The world's top 18 riders - including World No1 Scott Brash who rides for Great Britain and new World No2, Ludger Beerbaum - will all take part in the London round of the international equestrian event, competing for a slice of the £360,000 prize fund - the biggest prize of the year in British showjumping. The arrival of the world's leading show jumping championships on the spot where the London Olympics Beach Volleyball was staged takes place just weeks before the 2014 season thunders towards a climactic close. With just three events remaining, results in London will be key for those riding high on the overall Championship Ranking. This will be the first time the Global Champions Tour has come to this venue in London - a prime spot overlooking St James's Park built by Henry VIII as a jousting courtyard and now used for ceremonial equestrian displays including the annual Trooping the Colour in June.
Bounce is what children like to do and during the summer holidays they've got the weekend-long Bounce Festival to both inspire and wear them out. Partnering with the Science Museum and Peppa Pig, there's something for all little adventurers, whether they're into science or arts and crafts. There's a create and craft section for budding artists, a dig it! zone full of cuddly and slithery creatures, and a Baa-rmy Sheep Show. Added to these are lots of wandering entertainers and a host of main stage shows which last year included international human beatboxing superstar Shlomo, juggling duo Rosie and Chaz, and THE GO!GO!GO! Show - new pop songs from five young performers. It's mainly designed for 4-12 year olds, hence under 3s go free, but younger siblings are catered for too with a Little Bouncers Corner which includes a soft play area, sand pits, mini-climbing wall, a playhouse and other toys. Find Bounce within the Old Deer Park next to the tennis courts behind Pools on the Park. If you're using satnav or Google maps - the postcode is TW9 2SL.
Performances from the National Theatre's Watch This Space Festival, comedy cabaret from Pull the Other One, George Irvin's funfair, and The Africa Live Festival are all to be found at The Elephant and The Nun, Southwark Council's annual fun, free family friendly festival in Burgess Park. As well as world music on the main stage there are pop up performances and a packed programme at the Pull The Other One tent including mudflapping lessons from Peter the Dance Instructor, and rockabilly band The Teenage Men. The Men in Coats perform the Greatest Show on Legs, there's Ping Pong from Olav Stahl, Dr Martin's incredible time machine and fortune teller Madame Cassandra as well as jumble sales, tea stalls and pet competitions. A great fun day out in the park complete with storytelling with ice cream from independent local bookshop Rye Books in East Dulwich.
Following her Proms debut last year, Laura Mvula returns to give her very own Late Night Prom with the Netherlands-based Metropole Orchestra and its Principal Conductor Jules Buckley, with whom Laura collaborated for the Urban Classic Prom in 2013. Having sung in a church choir as a child, Mvula studied violin and piano and spent three years studying composition at the Birmingham Conservatoire. She has since performed at Glastonbury, in support of Prince and is in the running for the 2014 Ivor Novello Awards. Her album Sing to the Moon, "one of the most striking and original debuts from any British artist in many a year," according to Neil McCormick (Daily Telegraph) is given a new orchestral remix in this Late Night Prom.
Set within the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Greenwich Music Time presents four nights of live music featuring electropop outfit Goldfrapp, who triumphed at their recent Glastonbury gig, performing songs from their back catalogue and from 2013's acclaimed Tales Of Us. Multi-million-selling English tenor Russell Watson will headline on Friday 22nd August backed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and featuring some very special guests. Drawing the festival to a close on Saturday 23rd August is local boy Jools Holland, who brings his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra to Greenwich for a set that will feature special guest singers Marc Almond and Melanie C.
Irish actress Lisa Dwan performs these three Samuel Beckett monologues, directed by Walter Asmus, a close friend and collaborator of the playwright. Not I, performed as a speaking mouth spotlit in the blackness, transfers from the Royal Court to the Southbank Centre's Purcell Room. For this special event, actress Billie Whitelaw, who performed the original under Beckett's coaching, has tutored Dwan herself and the stream-of-consciousness piece is spoken at the speed of thought, as per Beckett's instruction. In Footfalls, a woman paces back and forth, metronome-like, outside her dying mother's room and in Rockaby, a prematurely-old woman rocks back and forth in a rocking chair, a piece that explores issues of loneliness. The pieces will tour UK theatres and festivals throughout 2014.
The Film4 FrightFest puts the horror into this August Bank Holiday weekend with five days of screenings at the Vue West End in Leicester Square, a new venue for the festival in 2014. The home of horror, the festival has been running for 15 years and has rapidly grown in popularity. This year there's a record twenty short films, twelve of them world premieres, starting with the UK premiere of Adam Wingard's killer thriller 'The Guest', starring Dan Stevens (of Downton Abbey fame) and rising star Maika Monroe (The Bling Ring, It Follows). Audiences can expect to be scared witless with a devilishly delightful line-up of premieres, previews and special screenings of fantasy and horror films. Zombie films, cinematic apocalyptic visions of the future and revenge thrillers fill the festival with the finest films of this genre. New in 2013 was FrightFest Extra, ensuring extra screenings of the most popular films.
Denise Van Outen's new one-woman musical play, Some Girl I Used to Know, centres on Stephanie Canworth, a media darling who has it all - a successful career, supportive husband - but it takes just one Facebook poke from a former love for things to unravel. Songs from the '80s and '90s accompany Stephanie's journey down memory lane in this intimate, funny and warm story about life and love. Denise Van Outen performs cover versions of songs by Soft Cell and Culture Club, and sings the title song which has been specially written for the show by Kylie Minogue's long-term musical collaborator, Steve Anderson, and Terry Ronald with whom Denise co-wrote the production.
In its penultimate week, Week Nine, the National Theatre's Watch This Space free festival of outdoor entertainment presents a Bank Holiday bonanza for the long weekend, from Friday 22nd until Monday 25th August. There's a huge mix of happenings including Nana's Jumble - a de-cluttering storytelling performance for children of all ages - jokey juggling from masters of street theatre The Chipolatas in 'Gentlemen of the Road', and 'Something to Hold', a 20 minute show by Pif Paf taking audiences on an aerial astrological adventure. Added to these are numerous dance shows, and a big boat to take a nap in - what better way to while away a Bank Holiday?
The South West Four Weekender returns for its 11th year and welcomes festival-goers to Clapham Common over the August bank holiday weekend for two days of dance-music mayhem. This year's line-up has a stellar list of the world's number one DJs with the likes of Fedde Le Grand, Sasha, Laurent Garnier, Alesso, and deadmau5 just some of the talent spinning the tunes. "SW4" has proved a great success over its first ten years, filling Clapham Common with revellers united in the knowledge that they don't have to slum it in a tent and that there's no work the next day - so the party can go on and on. The music may finish around 10pm both nights but there are after-parties for those keen on all-night revelry.
Believe it or not (and most southerners will not) but rugby league is the second most popular team sport in Britain and this, the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, is one of the most prestigious matches in world rugby league played out in front of 80,000 fans. While the game's roots are in firmly in the north of England, this knock-out cup competition, first played in 1897, is now open to a few teams from France and Russia, as well as teams from the Army, Navy and RAF, and some amateur and university sides. Wigan, who defeated Hull 16-0 at Wembley last year, are the current holders of the cup but the new champions will be revealed on the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the BBC Good Food Festival comes to Hampton Court Palace for the first time giving visitors a great selection of food to sample and expert tips from well known cooks and chefs including John Torode, Lisa Faulkner, and Gennaro Contaldo, the Italian legend who taught Jamie Oliver all about Italian cooking - he's currently involved in the Jamie's Italian chain of restaurants. In addition to appearances from The Chiappa Sisters, a pop up restaurant and bar run by The Bingham, family entertainment in the form of The Kids Cookery School, and live music from The Polka Dots, the Royal Palaces's food historians will be preparing Georgian recipes in the Palace's historic kitchens, as part of Hampton Court's Glorious Georges season.
Coinciding with the Notting Hill Carnival, Tate Modern presents Up Hill Down Hall: An indoor carnival, a new performance commission informed by the history of the famous carnival as it reaches a milestone half-century. Artists Hew Locke and Marlon Griffith create a performance that offers critical and artistic perspectives on Carnival, set against the backdrop of an architectural design by Gia Wolff and a soundscape by Dubmorphology (aka Gary Stewart and Trevor Mathison). A day-long performance which brings the sensorial experience of carnival to Tate's Turbine Hall.
Notting Hill Carnival
Europe's biggest street party enlivens the streets of west London.
Held since 1966, the Notting Hill Carnival was originally a local affair for west London's homesick Caribbean community, this has evolved into Europe's biggest street party. Carnival sets London on fire in a blaze of Caribbean spirit as extravagantly costumed dancers, calypso and soca musicians, giant sound-systems and steel bands are joined by over a million revellers of all ages. Sunday is officially children's day, but there are loads of kids on both days enjoying the bright colours of the floats and the dancers' feathered costumes. Adults can shake their bootys at dozens of stages: our favourites are Channel 1's booming dub, and the jazz-reggae at Gaz's Rockin' Blues, but there are tunes for all tastes, from house to hip-hop. It's a huge area, and can get very crowded, so be prepared for an exhausting day out, but for anyone who loves a party, carnival remains the absolute highlight of the London summer.
Old Spitalfields Market Paw Pageant
Cool canines strutt their stuff on the dog catwalk at Old Spitalfields Market.
For the past three years, cool canines, perfect pooches, hip hounds and masterly mutts have come together on the August Bank Holiday Monday to strutt their stuff on the dog catwalk at Old Spitalfields Market. The Paw Pageant sees London's best-dressed, 'fugliest' and smartest dogs competing to win prizes across eight categories - from 'Dressed up to the (Ca)nines' to Jimmy Chews, awarded to the naughtiest dog. Sponsored by the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, the 'Paw Pageant' also includes puppy training displays and a specialist bow-wow market selling a variety of great gear and tasty grub for man's best friend.
Imogen Heap, the 22-year old English singer-songwriter and guitarist "giving the likes of Jack White and the Black Keys a run for their blues-rock money" (The Guardian) curates this year's Reverb, a festival of cutting-edge contemporary classical music at London's Roundhouse. Across the Bank Holiday weekend, the building will come alive with Imogen's giant interactive sonic playground through music machines and installations where trees whisper secrets. There are performances by composer Simon Steen-Andersen whose extraordinary work Black Box Music, performed by the Arhus Sinfonietta, kicks off Reverb; Nick Ryan, whose piece Synaesthesia will be performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra; and Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto who gives a premiere of music he has written for violin and electronics at Friday night's 'One-Man Band' at which Norwegian composer and vocal improviser Maja S. K. Ratkje also appears. The festival culminates in the world premiere of Imogen's fourth solo album, and her most ambitious to date, Sparks.
Created in 1996 as a reaction to the state of the British Film industry, the Portobello Film Festival celebrates its 18th edition in 2014. Set up with the aim of providing a platform for exciting new film-makers the festival gives daring and ground-breaking directors a chance to get their films seen. While the line-up for this year's festival hasn't been confirmed, 2013 featured the world premiere of Phil Strongman's Macolm McLaren Situationist biography, Anarchist, an exhibition at the Louise T Blouin Institute, and 17 days of screenings at Westbourne Studios, and the Portobello Pop Up Cinema under the Westway so you can expect something along those lines. The festival hasn't always had an easy ride and has even found itself without a cinema screen at times but screening in parks, theatres, clubs and bars have all added to the diverse nature of the event. With annual premieres of shorts, documentaries and animations, plus lots of talks and workshops with top film directors, the Portobello Film Festival is an exciting event in any film fanatic's diary.
Christopher Sergel's adaptation of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning 'To Kill a Mockingbird' returns to the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre after its sell-out success last year. The production, which opened the season last year ends the theatre's 2014 season. When a small town is engulfed with racial injustice, it takes the courage of one man to disregard what's expected of him and stand for what's right. Atticus Finch is a lawyer who seeks the truth and is determined to prove the innocence of a black man wrongly accused. Finch's daughter, Scout a young girl progressing into adulthood fights for his honour but faces terrible circumstances as a result. However, the determination of the pair gives hope to other locals in the town. The story's strong themes of compassion and bravery have provided it with enduring popularity and have already proved to be a huge success in the idyllic setting of the open air theatre.
The Geordie-duo are taking their hit ITV show on the road with the same pranks, games and competitions as seen on TV. After taking home the most prestigious gong of the night at the 2014 National Television Awards - the presenting duo were presented with the Landmark Award as well as winning Best Entertainment Presenter - Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly (affectionately known as Ant and Dec) are riding high on the crest of a wave of widespread popularity. Having started out at the age of 11 on Byker Grove, the pair have accumulated an impressive 25 years in the entertainment industry, hosting I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here and Ant & Dec's Takeaway. The live version of the show is sure to sell out when it comes to London's O2 for three performances only on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th August 2014. The audience will be invited to take part and could have the chance to win heaps of prizes.
If you've ever fancied the challenge of swimming in the Thames then this is your chance. The Great London Swim challenge is to swim one mile as fast as you can and there are organised swims taking place throughout the UK and this year the London venue moves from Royal Victoria Dock to Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre at Millwall Dock. The new venue allows family and friends to cheer swimmers on from the dockside for the full length of the course. This year also sees the introduction of a new 'Family Wave' where swimmers from 12 years and up can take on a slightly shorter half a mile course. They challenge is available to all, no matter how adept you are at front crawl. If you've already been making use of London's lakes and lidos, this is a great way to supplement your outdoor swimming, safe in the knowledge that expert kayakers and safety boats are alongside the entire way. Entry is £39 and includes an event pack, medal and t-shirt. Get your wetsuit out and get involved.
Talented young director Blanche McIntyre (responsible for The Seagull, and Ciphers) brings a new production of The Comedy of Errors to Shakespeare's Globe from 30th August 2014. Basing his plot on a farce by Plautus, Shakespeare caps the mayhem of his Roman original to build up a hectic tale of violent cross-purposes, furious slapstick and social nightmare. It's a busy year for McIntyre, who won best director at the 2013 TMA UK theatre awards for her modern take on The Seagull for Headlong, and whose recent projects include Ciphers and a film script for Stephen Fry's novel The Hippopotamus.
The London Mela in Gunnersbury Park is a wonderful celebration of Asian music and culture which always draws a big crowd - 80,000 visitors attended last year - with its line-up of British Asian music, Bollywood figures and traditional and classical performances. Entertainment is spread over nine zones, all showcasing different types of music with urban, classical and experimental music, DJs, circus and comedy as well as dance, arts and a Magic Mela family area. There will also be a fun fair and hundreds of stalls selling food and crafts, all of which makes the London Mela a magnet for a multitude of Londoners out for a good time.