London Marathon
April 26, 2015
Be part of the Virgin Money London Marathon. Whether you run, walk or cheer from the sidelines, this is a London sporting institution.
Every year, approximately 30,000 people run the 26.2-mile (42.2km) marathon through the streets of London.
Some run for personal achievement, some to raise money for their favourite charity; and many run in outrageous fancy-dress. The Virgin Money London Marathon is open to all abilities, from beginners who walk the course to professional athletes.
The route runs along the south of the Thames and then the north side after crossing the river on Tower Bridge. From Greenwich and Blackheath to Buckingham Palace, runners pass some of the capital’s famous landmarks, including the London Eye and the Tower of London.
Museums at Night
From 13 May 2015 to 16 May 2015
Explore arts, history and heritage after dark at museums across London. Packed with special events, from treasure trails to pyjama parties, Museums at Night is an exciting opportunity to explore culture in a new light.
A huge range of London museums take part in this nationwide initiative, giving you the chance to discover new exhibitions, see special presentations and engage in a range of fun activities.
Open Garden Squares 2015
From 13 June 2015 to 14 June 2015
Open Garden Squares allows you to take a peek behind the closed gates of more than 200 London gardens.
Hidden grassy gems from the historic and traditional to the new and experimental are opened up to the public over this weekend, including private gardens, roof gardens, community allotments, urban wildlife and ecology centres, as well as gardens belonging to historic buildings, institutions, restaurants, schools and shops. Many of the gardens provide stalls, music, entertainment, family and art activities as well as food and drink.
Pride in London
From 21 June 2015 to 28 June 2015
Main Pride events taking place on Saturday 27 June
Pride in London is the city’s biggest one-day event, and one of the world’s biggest LGBT+ celebrations. Last year more than 750,000 people came to Pride in London, and 30,000 people joined the Parade. This year expected to be even bigger and better!
Join the party as thousands of people take to the streets for Pride in London, a celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and culture.
A highlight is the Pride parade, which usually follows the traditional route from Baker Street, along Oxford Street and Regent Street, ending in Trafalgar Square. One of London’s most vibrant celebrations, the parade features thousands of marchers, roller-skaters, dancers and singers.
The Queen’s Birthday Parade
13 June 2015
London celebrates The Queen’s official birthday in June each year with Trooping the Colour, a fantastic military parade that has taken place in London since 1820. Trooping the Colour is an annual event that takes place on Horse Guards Parade in London’s St James’s Park in June, marking The Queen’s official birthday.
The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is full of military pomp and pageantry as The Queen carries out an inspection of the troops from the Household Division. The Queen then leads the troops down the Mall to Buckingham Palace, one of London’s most famous landmarks.
The Queen salutes and guns are fired in Green Park and at the Tower of London. Finally she joins other members of the Royal Family on the balcony to watch the RAF flypast.
Prudential Ride London 2015
From 1 August 2015 to 2 August 2015
Hop on your bike and join Prudential RideLondon, a world-class festival of cycling in London.
Following the huge success of the first Prudential RideLondon festival in 2013, London Mayor Boris Johnson said, “Prudential RideLondon is now firmly on the map as one of the greatest cycling events in the world.”
London Fashion Weekend
From 24 September 2015 to 27 September 2015
London Fashion Weekend is Britain’s biggest biannual consumer fashion showcase and your chance to experience first-hand insider knowledge and style advice from London Fashion Week’s most famous British brands. Expect designer shopping, catwalk shows, pop-up shops, hair & beauty and educational panels from leading industry experts.
London Fashion Weekend follows London Fashion Week, which is one of the “big four” fashion trade shows in the world. London Fashion Weekend is a fashionista extravaganza, letting everyone in on the fabulous world of fashion.
Bonfire Night: London Firework Displays
5th November 2015
Remember, remember the fifth of November… Make sure you celebrate Bonfire Night in style at a spectacular London fireworks display.
Bonfire Night is also known as Fireworks’ Night or Guy Fawkes’ Night. It’s a British tradition dating back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Catholic conspirator Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James I. To this day, it is customary for the cellars in the Houses of Parliament to be searched by the Yeoman of the Guard before each State Opening of Parliament.
The anniversary of Fawkes’ arrest on 5 November is celebrated each year with fireworks and bonfires. Effigies of Guy Fawkes (“the guy”) are often burned on top of the bonfires. You can look forward to firework displays across the city. See below for details of these and other special events for Bonfire Night in London.
Christmas in London
25th December 2015
London acquires a special sparkle around Christmas time. The weather is frosty, the Christmas lights are twinkling, and shoppers line the streets. The centrepiece of London’s Christmas spectacle is the giant pine tree – a gift to London from the people of Norway – which is beautifully adorned and set up in Trafalgar Square each year.
There’s a wealth of family entertainment on offer over the festive season, from temporary ice skating rinks to Santa’s grottos and pantomimes. On Christmas Day, London’s hundreds of Christian churches, chapels and cathedrals hold Christmas services, which everyone is welcome to attend.
New Year’s Eve in London
31st of December 2015
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in London. It’s one of London’s biggest party nights, with a host of festivities, fireworks and fun!
On New Year’s Eve, London comes alive with celebrations, fireworks and parties in every corner of the capital. Be here at midnight to help see in the New Year with a bang!
London’s spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks display at the Coca-Cola London Eye is famous around the world.
At midnight, Big Ben’s famous “bongs” will ring out, followed by the UK’s largest annual fireworks display.
London Boat Show at ExCeL
8th of January 2016 – 17th of January 2016
London’s biggest and best-loved boat show is returning to ExCeL to give visitors the chance to experience the best in boating, water sports and shopping.
Whether you’re a seasoned boater or looking to dip your toe into the water for the first time, the CWM FX London Boat Show offers an action-packed day out with more than 500 exhibitors showcasing the best in watercraft innovations, equipment and holidays, as well as immersive and interactive experiences.
Chinese New Year 2016 in London
February 2016
Chinese New Year is a huge festival among Chinese communities in London and across the world.
Based on the lunar and solar calendars, the actual date of Chinese New Year varies, but always falls between late January and mid-February.
London’s Chinese New Year celebrations are the largest outside Asia. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people descend on the West End to wish each other Happy New Year.
Chinese New Year festivities in Central London take place in Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and Shaftesbury Avenue.
London Fashion Weekend
25th of February 2016 – 28th of February 2016
Cutting edge glamour arrives in the capital as the London Fashion Weekend gets underway at the Saatchi Gallery.
For four days, this art gallery is transformed into a fashion paradise as big names from the beauty and style industries show off their creative work.
The ultimate fashion and designer shopping experience, the show is bursting with catwalk shows, pop-up shops, hair and beauty products and even educational panels from leading fashion experts. Style savvy glamour fans can get their winter wardrobe sorted for the year as more than 100 of the nation’s best loved designer brands dazzle with their designs.
UCI Track Cycling World Championships 2016
2nd of March 2016 – 6th of March 2016
See the best cyclists in the world as they converge on London to prove their speed, strength and tactical superiority in a series of races and time trials during the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships at Lee Valley VeloPark.
Watch on as the best in the world compete in the Sprint, Keirin, Scratch Race, Points Race, Madison, Individual Pursuit, Team Sprint, Team Pursuit, Omnium and Time Trials.
St Patrick’s Day in London
13th of March 2016
Every year London hosts a St Patrick’s Day Parade on the Sunday closest to 17 March, which features spectacular pageantry, wonderful floats, and marching bands from across the UK, sports clubs and Irish dancing schools. The Parade usually makes its way down Piccadilly, on a 1.5 mile route passing some of London most iconic Landmarks including The Ritz, Piccadilly Circus, and Trafalgar Square and onto Whitehall.
The free St Patrick’s Day Festival in Trafalgar Square is a great chance to experience Irish culture with an artisan Irish food market, comedy and film festivals, children’s activities, ceilidhs, music and dance.
Saint Patrick is one of the patron Saints of Ireland and the day is traditionally celebrated with a feast and a national holiday in Ireland. St Patrick’s Day is also celebrated all over the world, by people of both Irish and non-Irish descent.
Easter 2016
25th of March 2016 – 28th of March 2016
Easter bunnies, Easter egg hunts and special Easter holiday offers… It must be Easter in London!
Keep your whole family entertained over the Easter holidays with a host of special events in London. And remember, Easter’s not just for kids; there are lots of Easter treats for grown-ups in London too!
Look out for special Easter events and activities for kids at London attractions, including fun family activities with a historic theme, religious services, fluffy ducklings and Easter egg hunts. Grown-ups can look forward to Easter treats including chocolate afternoon teas and Easter concerts.
London Marathon 2016
24th of April 2016
Be part of the Virgin Money London Marathon 2016. Whether you run, walk or cheer from the side-lines, this is a London sporting institution.
Every year, approximately 36,000 people run the 26.2-mile (42.2km) marathon through the streets of London.
Some run for personal achievement, some to raise money for their favourite charity; and many run in outrageous fancy-dress. Previous years’ costumes have included a giant penguin, a London bus, Superman, and a slow-moving snail. The Virgin Money London Marathon is open to all abilities, from beginners to professional athletes. Celebrities who have run the London Marathon in previous years include Princess Beatrice, Gordon Ramsay, Agyness Dean and Ronan Keating.