It definitely is starting to feel like summer here in London, so this month I've picked four out of five ideas of what to get up to in the month of June outside, to ensure that we all make the most of the sunshine!
Number One
It's the Queen's official birthday on the 8th which means it's the annual Trooping the Colour, a very impressive display of pageantry indeed! Although events take place over the week, the highlight is on the 8th when her personal troops and the Household Division, along with over 1400 officers and men, 200 horses and 400 plus hundred musicians join in the celebrations. Starting off at Buckingham Palace, they make their way down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, into Whitehall and back again. The area is sure to be heaving, but it's worth it!
Number Two
I always love getting into places and spaces which are normally closed to the public, so I'll definitely be penning the Open Garden Squares weekend on the 8th and 9th in my diary. Head over to their website, click on an area of London where you would like to see some of these hidden areas, and get organising!
Number Three
On the weekend of the 15th and 16th why not pop over to Marylebone Summer Fete an annual celebration organised and funded by The Howard de Walden Estate, raising money and awareness to a different charity each year (this year it's the Greenhouse Sports Charity). Local businesses set up stalls, their's plenty of food offerings from many of the local restaurants, as well as drink stalls ran by local bars, shops, live music, a tombola and on Saturday evening an outdoor screening of Billy Elliot.
Number Four
The Hindu Rathayatra Festival taking place on the Sunday the 16th is always a vibrant celebration, with a parade celebrating the Festival of the Chariots making its way from Hyde Park Corner, past Green Park onto Trafalgar Square. Expect lots of colourful and beautifully decorated chariots, plenty of music, dancing and a party like atmosphere. I remember sunbathing in Green Park last year listening to the music for hours! Fingers crossed for the same weather.
Number Five
It was Joseph Bazalgette's 200th birthday back in March and it seems celebrations are still in full swing! For those who don't know who he is, he's the man we have to thank for Londons sewage system, parts of which are still in use today! On Thursday the 27th London Metropolitan Archives are celebrating by holding a birthday party! There's not too much online about it, but all the events I've been to at LMA have been very well organised.
A few more suggestions which didn't quite make the cut include the opening of the Leonardo di Vinci exhibition at the British Library on the 7th, West End Live on the 22nd and 23rd, and a talk by David Rosenberg on his new book Uncovering London's Radical History on the 18th.
Enjoy June!
Heard in London