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 The Chelsea Flower Show is the traditional way to spend summer in London, admiring the blooms with a glass of Pimms in hand. But May has plenty of other ways to enjoy the longer, lighter evenings. You can celebrate the Bengali New Year at the marvellous Baishakhi Mela in Brick Lane, or enjoy a magical night at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park.
 Vaisakhi on the Square 2009 Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS 3rd May 2009 Head down to Trafalgar Square on the Sunday of the first May bank holiday to experience the colourful, culinary and exotic sounding delights of the Sikh New Year Festival. Commemorating 300 years of the consecration of Dri Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru, the Vaisakhi includes performances of traditional music such as Shabad Kirtin (religious hymns), as well as modern Asian music and dance and DJs from Sunrise Radio. Vegetarian food prepared by the Sikh community will be offered during the afternoon. For more information about this free event go to www.london.gov.uk/mayor/vaisakhi. Venue: Trafalgar Square Address: Central London, WC2N 5DS Date: 3rd May 2009 Time: 12pm-5.30pm Pricing: Free Vaisakhi on the Square 2009 - Information   Tudor Music Festival 2009Hampton Court Palace, KT8 9AU 7th May - 10th May 2009 A new addition for 2009 is this Tudor Music Festival celebrating the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession to the throne. Taking place over four days in Hampton Court, the festival features a series of evening concerts in the Great Hall from a feast of Tudor composers including Bryd, Tallis and Taverner. Other attractions include poetry readings, court minstrels, lute performances and - we should hope - copious amounts of meat eaten on the bone with one's hands. If it gets only slightly as rambunctious as the recent BBC TV programme The Tudors, this could be one of the best niche events of the spring. Tickets are available through the Royal Palaces' website, by phone on 0844 482 7795 or in person at the Hampton Court Palace welcome centre. Venue: Hampton Court Palace Address: East Molesey, KT8 9AU Phone: 0844 482 7795 Date: 7th May - 10th May 2009 Time: Doors open 6.30pm every night Pricing: Thurs, Fri, Sat: £19 (Adults), £15 (Concs) | Sun: £25-£29 | Half price (U16s) Tudor Music Festival 2009 - Information  Turning Point FestivalRoundhouse, NW1 8EH 8th May - 10th May 2009 The Roundhouse in Camden has handed over its keys to a cluster of creative tyros for a three-day festival of music, fashion, circus and more. Turning Point house guests include retro pop artiste VV Brown (who describes her sound as "musical mashed potatoes"), London indie rockers Noisettes, N.A.S.T.Y. rapper Kano, Ghanaian-born grime music artist Tinchy Stryder and beatboxer Beardyman. Added gravitas and credibility will come from celebrated Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe, who will play a set on the opening night. BBQs, buskers, poets, dancers, fashion shows - you name it - will take place outside and in the building before and alongside the headlining musical entertainment in what could well provide a Turning Point for many talented young creative professionals. Venue: Roundhouse Address: Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH Phone: 020 7424 9991 Date: 8th May - 10th May 2009 Time: Fri 8th May: 7pm | Sat 9th May: 3pm | Sun 10th May: 4pm Pricing: Fri £10, Sat £14, Sun £10, 3-day pass £25 (U25s) | Fri £14, Sat £18, Sun £14, 3-day pass £35 (26 and over) Turning Point Festival - Information  Notting Hill MayFestSt John's Church Notting Hill, W11 2NN 9th May - 24th May 2009 The annual Notting Hill MayFest, formerly known as the St John's Festival after the 19th century parish church which acts as its centrepiece, brings together traditional musicians and contemporary artists to showcase their talents over a fortnight in one of London's dreamiest areas. Now in its seventh year, the event galvanises an already diverse community with a selection of classical, opera, acoustic rock, jazz and folk concerts, as well as a series of workshops, children's events, lectures and religious services. One of the highlights of the programme is a talk on raising children given by one of the area's luminaries, the director Richard Curtis, whose film Notting Hill did so much to promote Portobello Road and its environs. All the events take place on the premises of St John's Church, on the ornate Lansdowne Crescent behind Holland Park, with all profits going to work done in the community. For more information on the programme of events please consult www.nottinghillmayfest.org.uk. Venue: St John's Church Notting Hill Address: Lansdowne Crescent, W11 2NN Phone: 020 7727 4262 Date: 9th May - 24th May 2009 Time: Check official website for schedule Pricing: Free - £10 (Depending on event) Notting Hill MayFest - Information  Baishakhi MelaBrick Lane, E1 6PU 10th May 2009 Famous for its curry houses, Brick Lane is the obvious choice of venue to celebrate Baishakhi Mela, the Bengali New Year. In London, you can ring in the changes with a colourful parade, traditional costumes, elephants, tigers and rituals. The festivities for this year's event will take place in Weavers Fields, Allen Gardens and Brick Lane and begin with a parade led by the Tiger Out East, musicians, dancers and local children in dazzling traditional dress. A Bengali tiger, peacock boat, bridal ride, and street entertainers all mingle together, and stages in Allen Gardens, Weavers Fields and along Brick Lane feature literally hundreds of musicians and dancers. You can also sample the famous spicy baltis, birianis and vindaloos from the numerous restaurants and stalls which put Brick Lane on the map. Venue: Brick Lane Address: Brick Lane, E1 6PU Phone: 020 7539 3411 Date: 10th May 2009 Time: 11am-7pm Pricing: FREE Nearest Station: Liverpool Street Tube / Rail Baishakhi Mela - Information  Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppetry FestivalSt Paul's Church Garden, WC2E 9ED 10th May 2009 He may be nearing his 350th birthday but Mr Punch is showing no signs of slowing down. This annual Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppetry Festival celebrates the red nosed stick-wielding puppet, bringing together dozens of puppeteers in a colourful, highly entertaining afternoon. The Covent Garden location is appropriately close to the spot where Samuel Pepys first sighted Mr Punch on 9th May 1662 and recorded the fact in his diary. Puppeteers from all over the country are accompanied by folk music, dancers, clowns and jugglers. The day's events start with a toast to Mr Punch, and a brass band led Grand Procession starting at Church Garden, a beautiful little oasis in the city centre. There follows a special church service at St Paul's Church, with a sermon administered by Rev Mark Oakley and Mr Punch himself. An integral part of British heritage, the puppet with attitude is a wonderful, anarchic figure and this is a top traditional family day out. Venue: St Paul's Church Garden Address: Bedford Street, WC2E 9ED Phone: 020 7375 0441 Date: 10th May 2009 Time: Grand Procession 10.30am | Church service 11.30am | Puppet Shows 12pm-5.30pm Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Covent Garden Tube Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppetry Festival 2009 - Information  Short Circuit FestivalRoundhouse, NW1 8EH 14th May - 17th May 2009 Rather than a series dedicated to the 1986 film starring Steve Guttenberg about a malfunctioning robot that comes alive, The Roundhouse's Short Circuit Festival is an exploration of electronica carried out over one long weekend in May. As well as performances in the Main Space, there are screenings, talks, workshops, installations and collaborations throughout this four-day, cutting-edge electro music appreciation. Gigs feature the legend of electronica Holger Czukay, A Taste Of Sonar (dedicated to the famous festival in Barcelona and including artists such as Jeff Mills), Touch (presenting some of the most influential composers of the experimental scene) and The Radiophonic Workshop (the BBC pioneers behind classic theme tunes such as Doctor Who and Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy). Venue: Roundhouse Address: Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH Phone: 0844 482 8008 Date: 14th May - 17th May 2009 Time: 7pm (Gigs), Various (Workshops) Pricing: £20 (Gigs), Free-£2 (Workshops) Short Circuit Festival - Information  Spirit of Summer FairOlympia, W14 8UX 14th May - 18th May 2009 Each year, House and Garden magazine hold their popular annual Spirit of Christmas Fair in November, helping shoppers get ready for Christmas. This May, however, they're hosting their first ever Spirit of Summer Fair, at Olympia. With over 200 stalls to browse around you can get your summer shopping done, make improvements to your home and stock up on beachwear, all under one roof. Most of the exhibitors offer special finds and unique goods you won't get in the high street shops. Coupled with all that choice are workshops on homely things like flower arranging as well as useful tips on putting together the perfect picnic. It's a fun day out with friends, and an efficient way to get everything you need for the long, hot summer months. Venue: Olympia Address: Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX Phone: 020 7385 1200 Date: 14th May - 18th May 2009 Time: Thu to Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm Nearest Station: Olympia Tube / Rail Spirit of Summer Fair - Information  RHS Chelsea Flower ShowRoyal Hospital Chelsea, SW3 4SR 19th May - 24th May 2009 Founded in 1913, the Chelsea Flower Show is an extraordinary event - famous around the world. Eight hundred of the greatest exponents of imaginative garden design spend nearly a month creating a horticultural wonderland over an 11-acre site in Chelsea's Royal Hospital gardens. Most of London society, including the Queen, regards the Chelsea Flower Show as a highpoint of the London summer season, so if you get bored of the blooms you can have a great time celeb-spotting. The 20,000 glasses of Pimm's consumed over the five days confirm it as a very sociable, very British event. This beautiful and inspiring show is a real treat, even for non-gardeners. Venue: Royal Hospital Chelsea Address: Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4SR Phone: 0844 209 0362 Date: 19th May - 24th May 2009 Time: May 21st & 22nd 8am-8pm, May 23rd 8am-5.30pm | Members only May 19th & 20th 8am-8pm Pricing: £18.50-£43 | Members £13.50-£48 RHS Chelsea Flower Show - Information  Foodies Festival at Hampton Court PalaceHampton Court Palace, KT8 9AU 23rd May - 25th May 2009 The winner of Marsterchef 2009, Mat Follas, joins Michelin star chefs at Hampton Court Palace for the Foodies Festival which sees tasting tents set up in the gardens of Henry VIII's historic home. Himself a well documented fan of feasting, the King would no doubt have approved of this spread. Cooking is made to look easy thanks to demos from top chefs including Gary Lee (The Ivy), Rob Aikens (Tom's Kitchen), and Ian Pengelley (Gilgamesh) - it's enough to make you salivate. Just as well, then, that there are restaurant tents where you can satisfy your hunger, with well known names like Salt Yard and Mango Tree showcasing their signature dishes. 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 Brighton, Glasgow and Edinburgh (coinciding with the Festival) - offer a winning combination of sampling, slurping and learning, all in the open air. A foodie's treat. Venue: Hampton Court Palace Address: East Molesey, KT8 9AU Phone: 0131 226 7766 Date: 23rd May - 25th May 2009 Time: 10am-6pm Pricing: £15 (Adults), £10 (Concessions) Foodies Festival at Hampton Court Palace - Information  Open Air TheatreOpen Air Theatre, Regent's Park, NW1 4NR 25th May - 12th September 2009 This is the 77th season for the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, and as the summers get hotter, they're more popular than ever. The season kicks off with Shakespeare's comedy 'Much Ado About Nothing - Love is war!' featuring the verbal jousting between Beatrice and Benedick, destined to become lovers. In July, we leave the Bard behind for a showing of Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest' while August and September are devoted to the breezy musical comedy 'Hello, Dolly!'. But no matter how fabulous the performances, the biggest draw, as always, is the magical setting. The players emerge from the green leafy wings, under a darkening summer sky (you may need to take waterproofs but mainly the show goes on whatever the weather) and surrounded by English parkland. Comedy by Jimmy Carr, Simon Amstell and The Comedy Store Players add to a summer of outdoor fun, with live music nights dotted in between. British Sea Power, Alabama 3 and Tunng are the three highly rated bands lined up for consecutive weekends in August. Venue: Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park Address: Inner Circle, NW1 4NR Phone: 0870 060 1811 Date: 25th May - 12th September 2009 Time: Various Pricing: Various, Theatre £5-£42, Music £26-£32.50, Comedy from £14 Open Air Theatre - Information  E4 UdderbellySouthbank Centre, SE1 8XX 27th May - 19th July 2009 Look out for an upside-down purple cow as you're crossing over the Golden Jubilee footbridge to the Southbank Centre from the end of May. It's hard to miss it. This colourful, comic temporary structure provides the performance space for E4 Udderbelly, a summer of comedy and circus, magic and free family fun with Joan Rivers to kick things off. There's a huge variety of entertainment taking place within the purple cow - also seen at the Edinburgh and Brighton festivals - with something going on almost every night. Highlights include appearances from Clive James, comic performers The Crack and Jonathan Ross regulars 4 Poofs and a Piano. There's a free puppetry workshop hosted by The Terrible Infants theatre company, three nights of circus shows from the Tom Tom Crew, and Beardyman's excellent beatboxing - mixing it up with special guests to inspire his improvisations. With so much to choose from your only problem will be picking just one to go to. www.southbankcentre.co.uk/festivals-series/e4-udderbelly Venue: Southbank Centre Address: Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Phone: 0871 663 2501 Date: 27th May - 19th July 2009 Time: Various Pricing: Various, FREE-£30 E4 Udderbelly - Information |
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