City of London Festival

Set against the awe-inspiring architecture of the City of London this annual three-week event is dedicated to getting the cultural heart of the capital beating. With more than 50 ticketed performances and a further 100 free outdoors events on offer - from music to visual arts, films, walks and talks - this year's festival continues with its Trading Places theme (that is, linking the City culturally and commercially with its historic partners overseas as opposed to eulogising the 80s stock-floor caper starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Ackroyd). The best of London's contemporary and classical music performers will be joined by international musicians in a fortnight of concerts across the Square Mile. Concerts take place inside many of the City's beautiful churches, the Guildhall, Finsbury Circus Gardens, the Barbican, Paternoster Square and many more City landmarks. As always, the heart of the festival will be the great dome of St. Paul's Cathedral. But it's not all about music. The programme is extremely diverse, offering the chance to explore some iconic buildings in the Square Mile such as Mansion House as well as take part in guided walks that reveal the secrets of the area. Events also go on before and after the festival's three-week duration so it is well worth checking what's on at www.colf.org because you'll be surprised at how many things pique your interest and curiosity.