July 2010

It's all fun runs, flower shows and festivals for July giving Londoners ample opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Highlights include the excellent O2 Wireless Festival at Hyde Park where P!nk is playing, and July also marks the start of The Proms, London's famous classical music festival at the Royal Albert Hall.

London Literature Festival

Southbank Centre, London, SE1 8XX
1st - 15th July 2010

Words, stories and author events are all part of the London Literature Festival, as you'd expect. Comedy, music and documentaries are some of the less obvious offerings that are crammed into the busy schedule of the capital's largest book event, held annually at the Southbank Centre. This year's festival themes include Science - to tie in with the Royal Society's 350th anniversary - with academic and author Marcus du Sautoy (named by The Independent on Sunday as one of the UK's leading scientists) giving a lecture on The Maths of Music on 3rd July. There's a huge diversity of topics and formats from performances to screenings, spoken word to short stories, essentially, the festival focuses on words in every format.

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

Wireless Festival 2010: Pink & Jay-Z

Hyde Park, London, W2 2UH
2nd - 4th July 2010

For the first time in its six year history, the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park will be headlined by a girl, and that girl is chart-topping global superstar P!nk, who will be getting the party started with an opening night performance in the ilk of her record-breaking Funhouse Tour. It will be P!nk's first open-air London show and follows her blistering two-gig jolly at The O2 Arena last December, which cemented the American livewire as the most exciting and unpredictable performer of her generation. Joining the party on the Friday night are festival favourites The Ting Tings, who supported P!nk during her recent UK tour. Meanwhile, legendary hip-hop artist Jay-Z has been confirmed for the Sunday headline slot. The American rapper's critically acclaimed 11th album, The Blueprint 3, recently certified platinum, making it his biggest UK album to date, and Jay Z also picked up the 2010 Brit Award for Best International Male. Keep checking www.wirelessfestival.co.uk for the latest line-up additions. The Wireless Festival has firmly established itself as a major live music event, attracting crowds of over 20,000 for each of the three days 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 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, tepees, 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: Wireless Festival 2010 - Friday: P!nk Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube
Wireless Festival 2010 - Sunday: Jay-Z - Information

Pride London

Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS
3rd July 2010

For the past few years London's Pride Parade has been growing in scale and ambition. Now they've got something even bigger to aim for with London chosen as the city to host WorldPride in 2012. While this year's details have yet to be confirmed you can expect a huge turnout for the street party one of Britain's biggest street parties. Gay or straight, you can join in the heady mix of fun, fabulous costumes, live concerts and politics. Around half a million gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight people are expected to fill the streets, making their way down Oxford Street and Regent Street for the parade. Entertainment is provided by floats and 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 usually host more frivolous activities, with DJs, cabaret and bands in the square. There's usually an official afterparty but there are also hundreds of lesbian and gay bars and clubs in the area who'll be keeping the celebrations going all night long.

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

Big Dance

Sadler's Wells Theatre, EC1R 4TN
3rd - 11th July 2010

The biennial Big Dance festival is back, turning London into the dance capital for one week in July, and this year it's one of the keynote projects in the run up to the Olympic & Paralympic Games in 2012. Taking place at various venues across the city, the scale of this frenzy of dance activities is huge with events organised through a series of 'hubs' coordinated by five dance organisations: East London Dance, English National Ballet, Greenwich Dance Agency, Sadler's Wells and Siobhan Davies Dance. There's a huge diversity of dance to be enjoyed from the traditional to the popular, as well as artistic and religious dances. 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 gyrating 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. For full details of all the events on offer, go to www.bigdance2010.com.

More info: Big Dance Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Hampton Court Palace, London, KT8 9AU
6th - 11th July 2010

Henry VIII built one of the finest gardens in the world at Hampton Court Palace, so it is only fitting that one of the world's largest horticultural show should take place there. The Royal Horticultural Society organised Hampton Court Palace Flower 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

The British 10K London Run

Hyde Park Corner Tube, SW1X 7TA
11th July 2010

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the 2010 ASICS British 10K London Run takes place on the second Sunday of July with nearly 30,000 runners expected to take to the streets of the capital. Starting at Hyde Park Corner, the course 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 past 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. Last year, the event was a family affair as Kenyan siblings Cyrus and Catherine Ndereba won both the men's and women's races with times just over the half-hour mark. Ten kilometres is a fair old way for newcomers to running, but by no means impossible. If you fancy the challenge of racing against fellow Londoners, then visit www.theBritish10klondon.co.uk and start raising the £300 minimum sponsorship required.

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

Lovebox Weekender 2010

Victoria Park, London, E3 5SN
16th - 18th July 2010

Grime rapper Dizzee Rascal and newcomers Chase and Status will headline the opening night of the 2010 Lovebox Weekender, which organisers have labelled the biggest and most ambitious to date. For the first time in the event's seven-year history, Lovebox will take place over three full days in East London's Victoria Park, with headline acts for the Saturday and Sunday set to be announced in the new year. Set up by Groove Armada and inspired by Glastonbury, Lovebox 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. Last year, the likes of Duran Duran, Florence and the Machine and Ladyhawke all starred - so keep checking www.lovebox.net for full line-up info. Running from Friday afternoon through until Sunday evening, each day will have its own distinct musical identity. Following Dizzee Rascal's opening day antics, Saturday will boast an eclectic line-up before the closing Sunday will feature the very best in dance music. Book your early bird tickets while you can for a dream festival, Twenty-Ten style.

More info: Lovebox Weekender 2010 Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Proms 2010

Royal Albert Hall, London, SW7 2AP
16th July - 11th September 2010

All eyes return to the Royal Albert Hall for the 2010 Proms as the most popular season of classical music in England continues to go from strength to strength. 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 half the price of a central London 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.

More info: The Proms 2010 Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

High Voltage Festival

Victoria Park, London, E3 5SN
24th & 25th July 2010

The inaugural High Voltage Festival launches at Victoria Park this July with a weekend of classic rock, progressive rock and metal from 40 acts handpicked by the UK's fastest-growing music magazine, Classic Rock. Topping the bill are the legendary prog-rock trio Emerson, Lake & Palmer (Saturday), who have reunited specially for the festival, and bearded rock kings ZZ Top (Sunday). Dubbed "the festival all true rock fans have been waiting for," High Voltage will feature three stages and a brilliant support cast, including the likes of Asia, Clutch, Marillion, Foreigner and Black Label Society. Home to the Lovebox Weekender, Victoria Park has a proven track record of hosting excellent summer music festivals and this should prove a welcome addition for the capital's rock fans - even if prices seem a little dear.

More info: High Voltage Festival 2010: ZZ Top & Emerson, Lake And Palmer Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Cirque du Soleil - Saltimbanco

Wembley Arena, London, HA9 0DH
28th July 2010 - 2nd August 2010

Since starting out on the streets of Quebec in the early 1980s, Cirque du Soleil has achieved success on a global scale and now the modern day circus returns to London's Wembley Arena with one of their longest running touring shows, Saltimbanco, performed worldwide since 1992. The name, Saltimbanco, comes from the Italian "saltare in banco", which literally means "to jump on a bench" and the show explores the urban experience from the families on the streets to the skyscrapers above. An imaginary city is the backdrop for the jumps, leaps and gravity-defying aerobatics that are their signature style. Highly polished acrobatics and theatrical showiness coupled with their consummate precision and elegance still draws unbelieving gasps from audiences. The stunts are all very traditional big top acts with a cast of over 50 performing plate spinning and hula-hoop routines, balancing acts and juggling, while the striking lighting design makes the costumes and sets come alive in a vivid and ever-changing array of colours.

More info: Cirque du Soleil - Saltimbanco Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube