September & October 2011

London festivals continue into autumn with the Mayor's Thames Festival and Open House Weekend standing out in September, along with a celebration of Asian music and culture at the London Mela in Gunnersbury Park. The art world descends on Regent's Park for the Freize Art Fair in October at the same time as film buffs gather for the London Film Festival.

Festival of Britain

Southbank Centre, London, SE1 8XX
22nd April - 4th September 2011

Four months of performances, new outdoor spaces, talks and events at the Southbank Centre mark the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain - the 1951 national exhibition which aimed to revive the spirits of people living in post-war Britain. Sixty years on and the Southbank - home to Skylon in 1951 - celebrates with a theatre in the body of Udderbelly the purple cow, a funfair and a new garden on the roof of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, all overseen by a massive straw fox called Susan. Festival highlights include Ray Davies curating this year's Meltdown (June), Tracey Emin's first major survey show in London at The Hayward Gallery (18 May to 29 August), plus appearances by the Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang, a busking session led by Billy Bragg, and Heston Blumenthal with an event devoted to the pleasures of afternoon tea and sherry. Themed weekends celebrate just some of the highlights of British culture - from Stewart Lee's curated weekend of comedy and music (27 to 30 May) to Light Fantastic in collaboration with the BBC (24 to 26 June), a hip-hop weekend (14 to 17 July) and Red or Dead designer Wayne Hemingway's Vintage Weekend from 29 to 31 July. If the original 1951 event was designed to give an "inexplicable lift to the heart", then a visit to this tribute festival should surely do the same.

More info: Festival of Britain Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

London Mela

Gunnersbury Park, London, W3 8LQ
Sunday 4th September 2011

The London Mela in Gunnersbury Park is a wonderful celebration of Asian music and culture which always draws a big crowd - there were 92,000 visitors last year - with its line-up of British Asian music, Bollywood figures and traditional and classical performances. One of the biggest celebrations of Asian music and culture outside the Indian subcontinent, this year's festival is still in the planning stages but last year saw nine different zones, all showcasing different types of music with urban, classical and experimental music, DJs, circus and comedy as well as dance, arts and a children's play area. We're expecting a simliar funfair atmosphere this year with music and dance supplemented by hundreds of stalls selling food and handicrafts, all of which makes the London Mela a magnet for a multitude of Londoners out for a good time.

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

Sainsbury's Super Saturday

Clapham Common, London, SW4 9DE
Saturday 10th September 2011

The Saturdays are (appropriately enough) one of the bands playing at Sainsbury's Super Saturday, a family event celebrating the 2012 Paralympic Games a year before the games are due to begin on 9th September 2012. Chipmunk and Taio Cruz are also playing on Clapham Common at an event which promises to promote the Paralympics with a whole range of fun activities, live music and refreshments. You may even see an top class athlete showing you how it's done. A great way to get warmed up for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

More info: Sainsbury's Super Saturday Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Mayor's Thames Festival

Blackfriars Bridge, EC4V 3QR
10th & 11th September 2011

The Mayor's Thames Festival takes place in mid-September each year celebrating the main waterway which winds its way through the heart of the city. There's a carnival atmosphere to the two-day festival with street entertainment, art installations, music and dancing all performed at various riverside locations between Westminster Bridge, Tower Bridge and beyond. All this fun entertainment is free and, for the grand finale, there's a colourful night procession featuring costumed performers with tambourines and whistles travelling along Victoria Embankment and via Blackfriars Bridge, culminating in a massive free fireworks display. No wonder the Evening Standard described it as "London's biggest end-of-summer party". The festival ends with a spectacular bang as more than a ton of pyrotechnics explode over the River Thames in just ten minutes. Large crowds line up along the river for the fireworks display but with the stretch from the two barges between Blackfriars Bridge and Waterloo Bridge spanning almost half a kilometre, there's plenty of opportunity to find a space.

More info: Mayor's Thames Festival Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

London Open House Weekend

Bank of England Museum, EC2R 8AH
17th & 18th September 2011

So many of London's architectural landmarks are closely guarded secrets, off-limits to Joe Public. It's tantalising to imagine what goes on behind those closed doors. Well, thanks to the hugely popular London Open House Weekend, we need wonder no more. Over 700 of the city's buildings - from the Bank of England to the Barbican Centre - take part in this fantastic, free yearly event, now in its 18th year, by opening their doors to everyone. London Open House Weekend offers a wealth of historical landmarks to choose from including some of the most beautiful architectural achievements in the city. You can also get inside some of the grandest private homes in your own neighbourhood - it's a voyeur's dream come true. For the more serious students of contemporary design, this is a chance to visit spaces by famous modern architects. An inspired idea and a real treat whether you're a lover of architecture or just plain nosy. Entry to some of the houses is only permitted via pre-booked tickets acquired through the website www.londonopenhouse.org. You're advised to bring booking confirmation with you.

More info: London Open House Weekend Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The London Design Festival

Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS
17th - 25th September 2011

The London Design Festival is an ambitious project. Hundreds of events, locations, shops, universities and design agencies are involved in the nine days of talks, exhibitions, competitions and activities. It's a true celebration of the capital's all-encompassing design industry, taking in sectors as diverse as fashion, architecture, retail, typography, photography, textiles, interior decoration and manufacturing. There's a huge amount to see with events staged in up to 150 different venues but don't be put off by the volume: inclusion here is based on the quality of the design. Events come in all shapes and sizes from product launches in tiny boutiques to massive trade shows. Details are released in July but, going on the information released so far there is a hub at the V & A which makes a good starting point for exploring the festival. The programme is likely to include events at the Southbank Centre, Earls Court Exhibition Centre, and there's usually a showcase piece at Trafalgar Square too - last year saw visitors able to take control of synchronized mechanical arms on loan from car manufacturers Audi and trace light messages into the air in real time. The scope is far-reaching and you'll be hard pressed to cover all of it but it's fun trying. Check the website www.londondesignfestival.com for full details.

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

BFI 55th London Film Festival

BFI Southbank, London, SE1 8XT
12th - 28th October 2011

Every October the BFI Southbank and selected cinemas across London host the BFI London Film Festival. Now in its 55th year, the festival attracts Hollywood players and Indie film-makers from around the globe. As well as a few blockbuster premieres, gala films and celebrity-studded ceremonies, there is a commendable amount of programme time given over to small independent films, foreign language cinema, documentary work, animation and BFI National Archive classics. Over 16 days last year's festivals screened a total of 197 features and 112 shorts from 67 different countries, including 11 world, 23 international and 33 European premieres. Opening the festival was Mark Romanek's Never Let Me Go, a dystopian drama starring Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield, whilst Danny Boyle's typically colourful 127 Hours, based on the true story of an American mountain climber who amputated his arm to free himself after being trapped by a boulder, closed the festival. An excellent film programme is enhanced by a number of correlating events, such as informal post-screening Q&As, guest appearances, workshops and masterclasses. The 2011 dates and line-up are yet to be confirmed so keep checking www.bfi.org.uk/lff for the latest news and details.

More info: BFI 55th London Film Festival Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Frieze Art Fair

Regent's Park, London, NW1 4NR
13th - 16th October 2011

As the country's leading contemporary art fair, the Frieze Art Fair is far from conventional and there's always the possibility of stumbling across something extraordinary. And with Frieze the world's most influential art buyers arrive in Regent's Park. Specially commissioned art works are exhibited alongside curated exhibitions as well as the pieces for sale presented by 173 of the most highly respected contemporary art galleries in the world. Among the paintings and installations in Regent's Park there's an amazing jumble of the comical, the beautiful and the shocking. You can expect site-specific projects, short films, a prestigious talks programme and an artist-led education schedule all presented in a captivatingly chaotic atmosphere. It's packed into a vast temporary structure in the park with work by around 1,000 contemporary artists crammed in. There's an incredible wealth of art on display - and the incredibly wealthy come to buy it. For people-watching alone, Frieze is a must for any Londoner with an acute interest in the art world. Returning once again will be Hix Oyster Bar & Restaurant, alongside numerous cafes, Gail's artisan bakery and Japanese sushi restaurant Moshi Moshi - so you'll be able to take a much-needed pit stop as you trail around the collection. Last year saw the introduction of 'Frieze Music', with The xx playing under the arches of London Bridge Station and Shoreditch Church hosting a night of ethereal music. For more information on this year's programme go to www.friezeartfair.com.

More info: Frieze Art Fair Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube