DIARY
Summer
2009
30-31 AUGUST
Notting Hill Carnival
It started as an offshoot of the Trinidad
Carnival in 1964 — today Notting Hill Carnival
is Europe’s largest street festival, drawing
hundreds of thousands of visitors. Expect
colourful parades, fl oats and costumes.
www.thenottinghillcarnival.com
13 JUNE
Trooping the Colour
This fi ne display of pageantry is held in
honour of the Queen’s Offi cial Birthday.
See more than 1,400 offi cers and men
of the Household Division on parade,
together with 200 horses and more than
400 musicians. The Trooping the Colour
route extends from Buckingham Palace
along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade,
then into Whitehall and back again.
www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk
7-12 JULY
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
Budding gardeners will love this show in
the grounds of Hampton Court Palace.
www.rhs.org.uk
22 JUNE-5 JULY
Wimbledon
The Wimbledon lawn tennis championships
are a perennial favourite. Expect strawberries
and cream and delayed play due to rain.
www.wimbledon.org
7-11 JULY
Summer Swing at Kew Gardens
The popular picnic and fi reworks concert
series returns. Enjoy live music, big-screen relays and a sizzling, colourful
fi rework fi nale.
www.kew.org
18-21 JUNE
Taste of London
This outdoor festival of food and drink in
Regent’s Park showcases cuisine from some
of the country’s best chefs. The 2009
line-up of London restaurants include Asia
de Cuba, Tamarind, The Landau and more.
www.tastefestivals.com/london
29-30 AUGUST
Clapham Weekender
Head to Clapham Common over the Bank
Holiday for London’s top dance festival,
with some amazing live acts and DJs.
Highlights this year include Sacha and
John Digweed.
www.southwestfour.com
9 JULY
Charity Dragon Boat Racing
Crews of 11 paddlers head to the London
Regatta Centre to race 30ft Hong Kong-style
dragon boats. Qualifi ed helmsmen ensure
racers head in the right direction.
www.anthonynolan.org.uk
12-13 SEPTEMBER
The Mayor’s Thames Festival
This free two-day event is a celebration
of London’s iconic river, held between
Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge.
www.thamesfestival.org
8-12 JULY
Beer and Jazz in Greenwich
Raise a pint or two at this fi ve-day
festival dedicated to real ales on the
lawns of the Old Royal Naval College.
www.greenwichbeerandjazz.com
W2L SUMMER 2009 7
WORDS: SAM LEWIS. IMAGES: BRITAINONVIEW; BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW; THAMES FESTIVAL