London is not naturally a festival city. It’s simply too large to get into the spirit – Royal funerals seem to be the obvious exception. Many of the best events capitalize on the river, though, and throughout the year innumerable individual festivals and festivities enliven other parts of the city. Some are important dates in the social calendar: the Chelsea Flower Show, Wimbledon, the Proms, Boat Race and Notting Hill Carnival, all in their different ways are enjoyed by ardent fans and are also annual occasions unique to the city.

Others, like the Lord Mayor’s Show, Trooping the Colour and Beating the Retreat are colourful anachronisms that indulge an enthusiasm for pomp and circumstance. And still more display local communities celebrating their own identity. Whatever the time of year, in this city there’s always likely to be some kind of celebration of something going on near you.