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 See in the Chinese New Year in style |
Trafalgar Square London, London W1V 7LA United Kingdom enquiries@londontouristboard.co.uk |
The Chinese New Year falls in January or February each year. The large Chinese population of London celebrates its culture with a noisy and bright procession of musicians, lion costumes, dancers and martial artists making their way through the streets from Trafalgar Square. Later, more dancing takes place in Chinatown itself, and food stalls selling delicious Chinese delicacies line the streets. All in all, the atmosphere is fantastic and admission is free. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Pete Woodhead |
 Photo: Vic  |
 Photo: Boback Shahsafdari |
 Photo: Reckless Rik |
 Photo: Goodnight London |
 Photo: Tanya Nagar |
 Photo: ma10.wong |
 Photo: H Kwan |
 Photo: Katie Reeder |
 Photo: scarcely |
 Photo: WLW Photography |
 Photo: Mecca Ibrahim |
 Free festival of music, dance and performing arts |
Coin Street London, London SE1 9NR United Kingdom +44 20 7401 2255 http://www.coinstreetfestival.... |
London's largest free festival of music, dance and performing arts runs annually from June to September. The festival features a series of lunchtime concerts, themed Sundays and art exhibitions in addition to the wide range of daily events. The festival aims to reflect London's cultural diversity, so expect Latin American dance, Colombian salsa, music from Ghana and Zimbabwe, jive, global story-telling, Chinese fortune-telling, children's events and other fun ad infinitum. Please call for a free festival guide, because the sheer quantity of things to do and see is hard to convey in a paragraph. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Andrew Crump |
 Photo: Nikki Tysoe |
 Photo: Nikki Tysoe |
 Photo: Nikki Tysoe |
 Photo: Nikki Tysoe |
 Bonfire night |
Various venues London United Kingdom |
The 5th of November commemorates the failure of renegade Guy Fawkes' attempt to blow up Parliament for religious motives in 1605. On this chilly night, everyone convenes in various parks throughout London to ooh and ahh at the brilliant fireworks and to keep warm around the bonfire on which an effigy of the historical miscreant is burned. Many parks also have funfairs, food stalls and music. A really enjoyable night no matter where you go, but Battersea Park hosts one of the best parties. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Cory Doctorow |
 Photo: Min Zaw Mra |
 Photo: Elliot Moore |
 Photo: megpickard |
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Biggest in Europe |
Parliament Square London, London SW1P 3 United Kingdom +44 20 8566 8586 http://www.londonparade.co.uk/ nick@londonparade.co.uk |
One of the world's greatest street spectaculars, the parade celebrates the New Year with colour, music and carnival-type festivities galore. Begun in 1987, around 10,000 participants and one million spectators now attend each year. Marching bands from all over the world, clowns, cheerleaders, giant inflatables and vintage cars all feature heavily, but it's the feel-good atmosphere that's really worth coming for. The two-mile route goes via Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Lower Regent Street and Piccadilly, and is led by the Lord Mayor of the City of Westminster. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Al Howat |
 Photo: Richard |
 Photo: David Collins |
 Photo: Phil Whitfield |
 Photo: Zoe Rimmer |
 Photo: McTumshie |
 Photo: sheryL. |
 Photo: Jehane Penfold-Ward |
 Photo: Patricia Chung |
 Photo: Maren Backstrøm |
 Photo: Audrey Sykes |
 Photo: Joy Pollard |
 Photo: Les Fletcher |
 Photo: delara-photos |
 Photo: sharon musgrove |
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Europe's Largest Street Carnival |
Various venues London, London United Kingdom http://www.nottinghillcarnival... enquiries@lnhc.org.uk |
Every August, a Caribbean sway comes to West London for Europe's largest street party. Steel drums, singers, eye-catching floats and troops of costumed dancers all pulsate to the beat. Throngs line the streets to watch this exceptional extravaganza. Rap and reggae mingles with dance music and other beats pumped out at deafening volumes as people munch on Caribbean snacks. The parade route winds through Chepstow Road, Westbourne Grove, Ladbroke Grove and Kensal Road. The carnival is free but bring cash for plantains, patties and Red Stripe beer. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Colin Palmer |
 Photo: Pedro Figueiredo |
 Photo: Colin Palmer |
 Photo: Pedro Figueiredo |
 Photo: Pedro Figueiredo |
 Photo: Ernesto Cinquenove |
 Photo: quejaytee |
 Photo: Rupert Phillips |
 Photo: Zoubin Navi |
 Photo: Jakub Martyński |
 Photo: William Simon |
 Photo: Tina Gunawardhana |
 Photo: Sarah Jane Leake |
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Take to the streets |
Room 302, Linen Hall 162-168 Regent Street London, London W1B 5TD United Kingdom 020 7038 3715 www.regentstreetonline.com |
Regent Street, one of the most elegant streets in London, runs through the very heart of the capital, from Regents Park to St James's Park. Along the way it takes in Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus and Trafalgar Square. Once a year the street closes, stages are set up and a large party is had. Live music, including both pop and classical, and theatre performances all feature, as do many a celebrity appearance. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: William Halliday |
 Photo: Adönis |
 Photo: Vicky Chalmers |
 Photo: Gitanjali Banerjee |
 Photo: Abhinav Natarajan |
 Photo: Mark Dear |
 Photo: David L Hone |
 Photo: Lloyd Burr |
 Photo: Billy Abbott |
 Photo: David L Hone |
 Photo: Vicky Chalmers |
 Photo: Kaigani |
 Photo: ken0624700 |
 Photo: Ravi Komatireddy |
 Photo: Blue Bird 2 |
 Photo: Faz |
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Lunch hour fun |
Commercial Street Spitalfields Market London, London E1 6BJ United Kingdom +44 20 7375 0441 |
There's never been a better excuse to snaffle some pancakes than Shrove Tuesday or "Pancake Day". Based on a traditional Christian holy day, pancake day was so named because people needed a way to use up all of their eggs before the Christian fast of Lent which starts the following day on Ash Wednesday, when no such luxuries could be eaten. From 12.30pm on Shrove Tuesday, Spitalfields market runs riot with teams of four people running relays with frying pans and pancakes. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Art and entertainment where you'd least expect it |
Venues throughout London London, London United Kingdom +44 20 8356 6411 http://www.stokefest.co.uk/ |
A local festival which grows in stature every year bringing art, music, theater, street performances, comedy and the like to the community, utilizing every possible space, from local shops to Abney Park Cemetery, Clissold Park and buses. The climax is a buzzing street festival on Stoke Newington Church Street. Many events are free and there is much to appeal to children and adults alike. Pick up a program or tickets from the Box Office at The Garage, Tana Mana, 148 Stoke Newington Church Street. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Fin Fahey |
 Photo: Dylan Curtis |
 Photo: Fin Fahey |
 Photo: Joelle McNichol |
 Photo: Simon Bruce |
 Photo: jigsaw youth |
