London Events

Changing of the Guard. The display by the Queen's Foot Guards occurs daily at 11:30 am April-July and on alternate days the rest of the year at Buckingham Palace. No ceremonies take place in extremely wet weather. The time sometimes varies on days when state events occur.
Changing of the Horse Guards Parade. The mounted Queen's Life Guard leaves Hyde Park Barracks and rides to the Horse Guard Parade grounds at Whitehall. Monday-Saturday at 11 am, Sunday at 10 am, daily during the summer and on alternating days the rest of the year. The time sometimes varies on days when state events occur.
Ceremony of the Keys. See the nightly lockup (seven minutes before 10 pm) at the main gate of the Tower of London by the chief warder and an escort of guards. Guests are escorted in promptly at 9:30 pm. Passes are required.

January,
Early-Late January: Harrods Annual Sale. The shopping event of the year at the legendary Harrods. Brompton Road, Knightsbridge (SW1X). For information, call 7730-1234..
1 January: New Year's Day Festival. London's New Year's Day Festival, composed of a parade and concerts, is an international event. More than 1 million people view approximately 10,000 performers from at least 16 countries as they pass along the 2.2-mi/3.5-km route from Parliament Square to Berkley Square. The Music for London concerts feature young artists, including marching bands, chamber-hall musicians, singers, pipers and baton twirlers. For information, call 8566-8586.

February,
Early-Mid February: Flamenco Festival London. This festival hosts performances by some of the best contemporary flamenco dancers and singers from Spain. Sadler's Wells, Rosebery Avenue (EC1R). For information, call 7863-8198. For tickets, call 087-0737-7737.

March
Mid-Late March: BADA Antique Fair. The British Antique Dealers Association (BADA) hosts this annual event showcasing Britain's leading art and antique dealers. Browse, buy and learn from the experts. Shipping companies are on-site to assist with getting your purchases home. Duke of York's Headquarters, Kings Road, Chelsea (SW3). For information, call 7589-6108.
Early March: Olympia Spring Fine Art and Antiques Fair. Extensive collections span the ancient past and the present with an unusual mix of decorative artworks and period pieces. Olympia Exhibition Centre, Hammersmith Road (W14). For information, call 7370-8212. For tickets, call 087-0126-1725 or 087-0900-6050.

April
Early-Mid April: Hammersmith and Fulham Festival. This large annual festival celebrates the borough's multicultural heritage with concerts, art exhibits, theatrical productions, sports events, comedy shows and more at venues throughout the neighborhood. call 8753-6567.
Early-Late April: Only Connect. This genre-breaking arts festival melts the traditional boundaries of music, dance, film and the spoken word. Barbican Centre, Silk Street (EC2). For information, call 7638-4141.

May,
Early-Mid May: The Prince's Trust Urban Music Festival. The U.K.'s largest urban music festival is headlined by top hip-hop, rap and R&B stars from the U.S. and U.K.; performers have included Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. Also DJ battles, urban art exhibits, B-boying and music-industry workshops, street soccer games, computer gaming competitions and more. Earl's Court, Warwick Road (SW5). For information and tickets, call 087-0160-7030.
Late May: Chelsea Flower Show. The self-billed "world's greatest flower show" features more than 600 exhibitors from at least four continents in show, chic, courtyard, city and street gardens. Sponsored by the Royal Horticulture Society. Royal Hospital, Chelsea (SW3). For information, call 7834-4333. For tickets, call 087-0906-3781.

June,
Early-Mid June: Hampton Court Palace Music Festival. Internationally renowned artists and companies perform in this premier classical-music festival in a beautiful, historic setting. East Molesey, Surrey. For information, call 8233-6400. For tickets, call 8781-9545.

July,
Mid-Late July: BCC Henry Wood Promenade Concerts. Called the Proms, this internationally renowned music festival draws top artists and orchestras and has been imitated throughout the world. Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore (SW7), Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington (SW7 2RL), and other venues. For information, call 7589-8212. Individual tickets are sold on concert days at Door 7 of the Royal Albert Hall box office. Continues through mid September

August
Early-Late August: Portobello Film Festival. The world's largest free film festival screens more than 700 new independent shorts, features, documentaries, animations, digital works and more. Various cinemas. For information, call 8960-0996.
1-29 Aug: Glyndebourne Festival. This prestigious opera festival takes place on a country estate 54 miles southeast of London. Custom dictates that operagoers wear evening dress. Tickets are hard to come by, but try calling the box office at 012-7381-3813.

Month of September: Opening of Buckingham Palace. The state rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors each summer and the beginning of fall. For information and tickets, call 7766-7300.

October
Early-Mid October: London Festival of Chamber Music. London's finest classical musicians, including the English String Quartet, give 16 concerts in various churches and concert halls throughout the city. For information and tickets, call 7435-6232 or 018-6530-5305.

November

Mid-Late November: State Opening of Parliament. In the fall of each year, the queen opens Parliament in the House of Lords. The ceremony dates from the Middle Ages and includes an inspection of both houses of parliament by the royal official bodyguards, the Yeomen of the Guard. The queen, as well as peers and bishops, in traditional garb travel from Buckingham Palace in a royal procession. For information, call 7219-3000 or 7219-4272.

Mid November: Olympia Winter Fine Art and Antiques Fair. Approximately 250 dealers exhibit antique furniture and fine artworks at this holiday fair held in conjunction with the British Antique Dealers Association. Olympia Exhibition Centre, Hammersmith Road (W14). For information, call 7370-8212. For tickets, call 0870-126-1725 or 0870-900-6050.