London - Festivals

Week-long festival takes place in early July.

This week-long festival takes place in early July.

The City of London Festival takes place every year in July.

On the first Sunday in October is the Costermongers' Harvest Festival. A service of the "pearly kings and queens" takes place in the Cockneys' Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields at 3:30 pm. The name comes from the mother-of-pearl buttons decorating the festive costumes of the costermongers, who at the end of the 19th century wanted to demonstrate their pride and community spirit in spite of their poverty.

This annual two-week festival held in mid-London.

This 10-day festival takes place in early October. Among the main events are operas, orchestral and chamber concerts and recitals.

The daily performances range from small-scale concerts in local churches to large-scale operas in grand halls. The theme of the festival varies from year to year.

This annual festival includes at least one opera production every year. The dates of the production vary from year to year as does the venue. What does stay the same is the repertoire, which focuses on baroque opera.

The festival often travels to other European countries.

This annual five-week festival travels to the major cathedrals of England between late May and early July. The orchestra of the London Festival uses its rest period to perform in other cities along with guest soloists and choirs. The repertoire varies from Bach to Bernstein. There are usually five performances during each of the festival weeks.

The London Film Festival takes place throughout the month of November.

The Greenwich Festival is London's largest and most established multi-arts festival and takes place every year for two weeks in early June. There are numerous events, including orchestral, choral, chamber and jazz concerts, recitals, theatrical performances, film screenings and art exhibitions, many of which are free.

Every year the festival focuses on a different theme and includes a varied repertoire with both classical and contemporary music. The venues are also varied, ranging from the Greenwich Borough Hall, to the Royal Navy Collage Chapel.

This annual week-long festival takes place in the spring. Since its inception in 1978, the festival has presented the London Handel Orchestra in a number of choral and chamber concerts in St George's Church. The orchestra holds about four concerts during this festival every year, with a focus on the less-popular works of Handel.

This is one of the major British annual festivals, and runs from mid-June to mid-July, lasting one month.

The festival includes actors and theatrical troupes from all over the world.

The Latin American Film Festival is an annual two-week event including dozens of screenings of contemporary Latin American films.

Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music takes place in June and includes a series of orchestral, chamber and choral concerts by musicians from all over the world. About 10 performances are staged every year, featuring music from the 17th and 18th centuries. Period instruments are also used, which along with the venue of St James Church, give the festival an authentic flavor.

The National Brass Bands Festival takes place in the Albert Hall in October every year.

The Richmond Folk Festival takes place in June.

This annual three-week festival takes place in early to late June in Christ Church. Events include classical concerts as well as community events.

This annual week-long festival takes place in mid-August and includes a number of daily events. The festival has evolved into a family affair, both by offering entertainment for the whole family and by presenting many free events.

Performances are held at the Barbican Centre for Arts and Conferences, and include orchestral and choral concerts which focus mainly on more familiar classical works.

The Thames Festival takes place in September and includes various events on and alongside the Thames river, from Teddington to Barking.