With long days and (hopefully) glorious temperatures, London’ll be a hot place to visit this summer in every sense of the word. Although there are plenty of things to see and do that mean you spend time indoors – from shopping in Harrods to viewing art at the Tate Modern – we know that if you want to make the most of the season you should head to the capital’s parks.
Not only do the green spaces offer a way to get a break from the hubbub of the city, but there are also plenty of great things happening. Don’t spend all your days inside once you’ve checked in at a cheap hotel in London – get out there and embrace some of the amazing festivals and other events that are taking place! Here’s just a few of the things we think you ought to check out.
Lovebox Weekender, Victoria Park
London’s known the world over for its fantastic music scene, but instead of watching bands play in an indoor venue in the evening, in the summer you can see your favourite acts perform in the sunshine.
From June 15th to 17th, Victoria Park will host the Lovebox Weekender Festival, with some of the biggest names in music performing across 12 stages for a great summer party. Hot Chip, Emile Sande and Lana Del Rey are among those set to entertain the crowds, so bring your dancing shoes and get ready to boogie! If you’re into disco and house music, stop by the NYC Download stage which plays funky tunes in a life-size replica of a ruined US apartment building.
Kelis and Patrick Wolf are also appearing, with this year’s Lovebox promising to be extra-special as the event celebrates its tenth anniversary.
Picnic in the Park, South Park Gardens
The capital offers plenty of family-friendly attractions and activities, but taking the kids to the annual Picnic in the Park at the South Park Gardens in Wimbledon will be something they’ll remember forever.
Taking place on June 3rd, this event, organised by the Friends of South Park Gardens, aims to bring people together and foster a community spirit and with stuff like face-painting, an ice cream stall and a bouncy castle you’ll soon be enjoying the fun. In addition, there are kids’ races and tug-of-war games planned too, while adults can grab a refreshing drink at the beer stall.
African Cultural Festival, Hyde Park
As the biggest UK city, London is a melting pot of different cultures. By heading to the African Cultural Festival in Hyde Park this July you’ll get an insight into the traditions of London’s African communities.
It runs from July 5th to 6th and you can see drum and dance performances while more than 30 countries will be represented over the two days. There’s a procession taking place and the chance to try a range of different foods, so this really is a feast for the senses.
Olympic Closing Ceremony, Hyde Park
It’s hard to escape the fact that the Olympics are taking place this year, and on August 12th the sporting spectacle will draw to an end with a massive concert in Hyde Park. This fantastic event will see New Order and The Specials perform, with Brit-pop legends Blur headlining.
Hopefully, Team GB will have done the country proud in the medals table in the weeks leading up to the gig, so by attending this event you’ll then see the best of British music do their stuff.
Photo Credit: ThinkStock
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
