Guest post by William Nunez
London has some of Europe’s top tourist attractions. The city has a long history, is one of the finance and fashion capitals of the world, and has a vibrant food and nightlife scene as well. But did you know that the culture in London is also extremely rich? The art and culture scene in London is also a major reason for visiting the city. You will find everything… from opera houses to theaters, performing visual arts presentations, to places like the British Museum.
- There are more than 197 festivals in London every year, including Europe’s biggest street festival.
- More than 22,000 music performances are held in 300-plus venues.
- The city has more than 192 museums
- There are 4 UNESCO Heritage sites – Westminster Palace, Maritime Greenwich, Tower of London, and Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens.
Interesting Art and Culture Events In London
The calendar for cultural events in London is varied. You have everything here, from exhibitions that showcase world and British art to music festivals, sports events, and even fun festivals. Read about art and culture events in LEVEL for a deeper understanding of the city’s cultural scene and also how many of them are linked to London’s history.
Here are some of the top cultural events in London between June and December 2023
1.Trooping the Colour
Date: June 2nd
Location: Horse Guards Rd, London SW1A 2AX, United Kingdom
Cost: £30
Where to buy the ticket: www.kbp.army.mod.uk
Trooping the Colour celebrates the monarch’s birthday. You will see hundreds of horses, officers, and musicians parading wearing their ceremonial uniforms. The King and other members of the Royal Family attend the event. The parade starts at Buckingham Palace and goes up to the Horse Guards Parade. The Monarch will then inspect the troops and lead the guards back to Buckingham Palace. At the Palace, the monarch will take the salute while the guns will be fired.
2. London Fashion Week
London, together with New York, Paris, and Milan are regarded as the world’s major fashion capitals. Some of the best-known international and British designers showcase their work at the London Fashion Week. There are menswear shows, women swear, and accessories. It is certainly the best time to go to London if you are keen on fashion.
Date: June 10th to 12th
Location: 180 Strand, London
Where to buy the ticket: Tickets cannot be purchased. Entry by invitation!
3. Wimbledon Tennis Championships
Wimbledon hosts the most famous tennis championship in Britain and one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments in the world. It is a very prestigious event that has been held since 1877. Wimbledon Tennis is the only Grand Slam tournament that is held on grass court as the other three are held either on clay or hard court. The surface thus offers a different kind of challenge to the players. The tickets are costly but there is still a huge demand for them.
Date: July 3rd to 16th
Location: AELTC, Church Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 5AE
Cost: From £550.00 per person
Where to buy the ticket: wimbledon.com
4. Greenwich+Docklands International Festival
This is one of the biggest festivals of performing arts and outdoor theatre in the United Kingdom (UK). There are dramatic dances, dazzling light shows, and many creative performances. Many theatre companies come here. There is also a street art program.
Date: August 26th to September 11th
Location: Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, Woolwich, SE18 6HQ
Cost: Free
5. Notting Hill Carnival
Every August, the streets of West London become colourful with the music, flavours, and colours of the Caribbean. Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street festival in Europe. It’s a huge Caribbean party. The carnival parade is very colourful with costumed performers and elaborate floats. You can see everyone dancing to the sound of calypso music and steel bands. There are many food stalls too. It was first held in 1966. It is now extremely popular and attracts thousands of locals and many visiting tourists. The parade has up to 50,000 performers.
Date: August 27th and 28th
Location: 243 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SE
Cost: No tickets for the main carnival. Fee for the after party
6. Open House London
Often described as the world’s biggest architecture festival, Open House London will give you access to the buildings that are not usually open to the public at other times of the year. You can walk through and see the key attractions of many architecturally unique spaces and historically important buildings. It is thus a rare chance of exploring some of London’s hidden treasures. There are also urban walks to many popular places.
Date: September 6th to 17th
Location: Throughout London
Cost: Free
7. EFG London Jazz Festival
Held over ten days, this is the city’s biggest jazz festival. You can see performances from some of England’s top artists and also jazz stars from around the world. Promising new talents can also perform.
The best things to do in London on a cultural trip must always include attending some of the city’s top festivals. It can be a rock music concert, an art exhibition, or an architecture exhibition. There are so many cultural attractions in the city that you will always have many options.
Date: November 10th to 19th
Location: More than 60 venues throughout London
Cost: From £49.50
Where to buy the ticket: online
