Discover the City of London

Culture and Entertainment

City of London Festival: London is flooded by excellent classical music and jazz performances each June and July with a series of events of global stature. Concerts are held at various locations in the city, including St Paul's Cathedral, Guildhall Yard, Liverpool Street Station and Finsbury Circus Gardens.
Film Festival: One of the most significant events of its kind, London's film festival gathers together more than 300 films and documentaries from all over the world each October. The festival features more mainstream events, along with the newer work of alternative film-makers and parallel events like forums, workshops, master classes and others.
Notting Hill Carnival: A colourful event that takes place every August in the streets of Notting Hill and is one of the largest street festivals worldwide.
London Fashion Week: One of the most significant fashion centres in the world, London devotes two weeks a year to fashion: one in autumn during which designers present their winter collections and one in spring for summer collections. The glamorous catwalks that light up life in London and the parade of famous personalities complete the variety of events and shows that take place as part of Fashion Week to the delight of hard-core fashionistas and many others.

A global centre for fashion and commerce, London is an exciting marketplace. Most shoppers gravitate to the triangle formed by Oxford Street, Regent Street and Old Bond Street. Oxford Street, particularly the section between Marble Arch and Oxford Circus, is full of department stores, while Old Bond Street, with the impressive architecture of its buildings, is the address of the famous fashion houses. You will also find smaller, chic boutiques in Chelsea. You can also visit the alternative Dover Street Market, created in 2004 as a unique combination art gallery and department store, and make sure to stock up on English tea at Fortnum & Mason (181 Piccadilly, www.fortnumandmason.com), the Queen's official tea supplier for the last 150 years. Another "must" is a visit to the stores of English designers Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, famous Harrods and Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop, the tiny shop with vintage toys in the heart of Covent Garden. Last but not least, London has amazing outdoor markets, from Camden to Portobello Road and Greenwich, where you can browse through antiques, clothing and even fresh produce.