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This three-day Caribbean festival is Europe’s largest carnival, with steel bands and DJ’s playing all imaginable kinds of music, street food, brilliant costumes and lively dancers. Children’s parades on Sunday, grown-ups’ on Monday.

As much a society outing as a horticultural event, this is the Royal Horticultural Society’s prestigious annual show. Beautiful and imaginative gardens are created especially for the event.

The Queen celebrates her official birthday on Horse Guards Parade where troops of the Household Division, in their famous red tunics and bearskin hats, put on an immaculate display of marching and drilling before escorting her to Buckingham Palace.

The most extensive concert series in the world. The famous last concert is relayed live to adjacent Hyde Park, whenLand of Hope and Glory rocks the Royal Albert Hall to its foundations.

Around 1,000 works are selected from the public and academicians for the art world’s most eclectic summer show. Works sell for as little as £100.

Every year, the City of London elects a Lord Mayor who processes through the Square Mile in a gilded coach. Military bands, floats and city guildsmen in traditional costume go from Guildhall to the Law Courts. Evening fireworks.

Lord Mayor’s Show

Effigies of Guy Fawkes, who attempted to blow up Parliament in 1605, are burned on bonfires across the country, with accompanying firework extravaganzas. Children make dummy Guys and ask for pennies to pay for their little arsenals.

Chinatown is taken over by dancing dragons breathing fire during this vibrant, colourful festival. Food and craft stalls are authentically oriental.

Scores of international films are shown in this three-week festival when cinemas, including the National Film Theatre, reduce prices. A booth is set up in Leicester Square to take bookings and distribute programmes.

Organized by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), this annual festival in a major west London exhibition hall is a chance to sample the best beers and ciders produced in Britain.