Seasonal Highlights

London has countless festivals and events, and is a year-round tourist destination, with very few of its attractions closing or reducing their hours during the Winter months.

While the actual dates of many important events are timed to match the season and the calendar, they may change slightly from year to year. The information below provides a guideline to the city's many celebrated events

The City's New Year's Day London Parade, comprising 10,000 or more musicians and 1 million viewers is a spectacular procession led by The Lord Mayor of Westminster - from Parliament Square to Berkeley Square.

Shrove Tuesday in April is marked by pancake races in Covent Garden with more serious racers taking part in the London Marathon.

London displays its colours for the FA Cup Final in mid-May, and the riotously colourful Chelsea Flower Show is held in the last week of May.

June is marked by the Queen's birthday parade - Trooping of the Colour and tennis at Wimbledon.

The world's biggest military tattoo, the Royal Tournament, is held in July, followed by Notting Hill Carnival in August.

Horseman's Sunday, in late September is held at Hyde Park, with more than 100 horses receiving blessings, followed by horse jumping at Kensington Gardens.

October ushers in the cultural Trafalgar Square Festival, the Horse of the Year Show and the Opening of Parliament, when the Queen rides from Buckingham Palace to Westminster in a royal coach.

Guy Fawkes Night on November 5th is marked by several bonfires all around the city; followed by The Lord Mayor's Show held in late November featuring floats, live bands and fireworks.

London is lit up throughout December, after the Lighting of the Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square and many Christmas markets and open air ice rinks open throughout the festive season.  The Natural History Museum and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland are two of the most popular.

Between 27 July and 12 August 2012 the Olympic Games are taking place in London, making the Capital the only city to date to host the Games three times (1908, 1948 and 2012).