Fun in London this July 2013:
iTunes Festival, Roundhouse
Each year Apple takes over the Roundhouse in Camden to host a month-long calendar of concerts under the banner of iTunes Festival. The best thing about the event? All the gigs are free to attend, with audiences entering a ballot to win tickets to the shows. Those that miss out, however, do not need to shed too many tears, each concert is recorded and made available to download on the iTunes website.
The line-up for the festival is kept under wraps until closer to the time, but last year saw 65 big acts perform over the 30 days, with household names such One Direction, Muse, Example, Plan B and Mumford & Sons all performing. Those visiting London should keep an eye on the iTunes Festival website to see who is playing and when they can apply for tickets. The first weekend is from July 5th to July 7th and will no doubt be full of amazing artists.
Coronation Festival, Buckingham Palace
Although Brits were granted an extra bank holiday for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee last year and spent the weekend celebrating the monarchical plaudits of the country equipped with bunting, Union Jack flags and a glass of Pimm's, the celebrations are not over yet. The Coronation Festival between July 11th and 14th is to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953.
Taking place at Buckingham Palace, the Coronation Festival will bring people from up and down the country to experience the best in food and drink, design and technology, and homes and gardens, as well as view elegant displays of some of the most archetypal British pastimes during the daytime event. Come the evening on July 12th and 13th, a spectacular gala will commence to celebrate 60 years of performing arts in the UK. Music will come from homegrown artists such as Katie Melua, The Feeling and Russell Watson, while the English National Ballet will be stunning audiences with their dancing displays.
Lambeth Country Show, Brockwell Park
As you would expect from one of the world's biggest urban metropolises, there's not a lot of countryside to see in London. As lovely as Hampstead Heath and Hyde Park are, they do not quite cut it when it comes to unadulterated rural joy. Thankfully, organisers of the Lambeth Country Show are bringing herds of farmyard animals, fruit and veg competitions, and wonderful folk music to so that Londoners do not even have to travel far to experience what the sticks have to offer.
Taking place on Saturday July 20th and Sunday July 21st at the beautiful expanse of Brockwell Park in South London, visitors will have plenty to keep them entertained. From falconry and jousting to steam engines and donkey rides, the Lambeth Country Show is a fantastic day out. Some 250 exhibitors and traders will have all sorts of bric-a-brac to buy and food to sample, while there will be a mixed soundtrack of folk, latin dub, afrobeat, ska and soul to keep the crowds dancing.
Sainsbury's Anniversary Games, Olympic Park
A year after the Olympic Games graced Britain for the first time since 1948, athletes are set to return to London's Olympic Park for the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games. The event spans two different competition across three days of sporting action. On the Friday and Saturday the British Athletics Grand Prix will see International Association of Athletics Federations action where many athletes from last year's Olympics will return to show the world why they are the best once again. Events will include the discus, triple-jump and 3,000-metre steeplechase, to name a few. Then on the Sunday, the attention will shift to athletics' Paralympic stars.
Some of the British stars who will be competing include Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford, Robbie Grabarz, Perri Shakes-Drayton and Jonnie Peacock. Meanwhile, sprinting superstar Jamaican Usain Bolt will return to the capital once again to see if he can break his own 100-metre world record.
