The Big Mix has seven hours of live music spread across East London venues around Brick Lane. Café 1001, 93 Feet East, Cargo, The Brickhouse, Rough Trade, Spitalfields Market and the Vibe Bar host performances. Money raised goes to Macmillan Cancer Support.

East London erupts every summer at the award-winning Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, London's longest-established free outdoor extravaganza. Spectacular performances, encompassing theatre and music, fill spaces across the Thames, connected each year by a different theme.

Widely considered the world's greatest tennis tournament, top-seed players, traditional strawberries and cream and the infamous rain delays set Wimbledon apart from other Grand Slams. Some of the greatest matches of all time have been fought out here on Centre Court.

Despite all those cuts and closures it's not all doom and gloom for London's cultural calendar. Venues throughout the city this summer play host to the inaugural Bluesfest. Featuring BB King, Booker T and others, its soundtrack is blues, soul and jazz.

The Wireless Festival in London's Hyde Park is another of the capital's addictive outdoor summer festivals with a top line-up of international performers. There is also a market, side shows and chillout zones.

Hard Rock Calling in London's Hyde Park is a veritable rock music extravaganza on two huge stages. Top international stars perform every year on the park's east side, near Park Lane. Tickets sell like hot cakes, so book early.

In 1995, 100 years after Henry Wood founded "the Proms," the first Proms Chamber Music concerts were held. Since 2005 they have been held under Cadogan Hall's Byzantine tower, a tube stop away from the Royal Albert Hall.

Founded in 1895 by Sir Henry Wood, the Proms concerts at the Royal Albert Hall take over London's classical musical calendar every summer and, with some justification, can claim to be the greatest classical music festival in the world.

For decades the famous BBC Henry Wood Proms have taken over the resplendant Royal Albert Hall each summer. More recently, chamber and smaller ensemble concerts have also been programmed at Cadogan Hall, just one Tube stop away, including four Saturday matinées.

The annual Audi International offers world-class polo in the regal surroundings of the Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park. The long-running event attracts attention from media-celeb spotters, and is traditionally attended by the Queen and Prince Philip.

Top solo musicians, orchestras and groups play in the open air around the striking Old Royal Naval College to celebrate the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics. The Greenwich Summer Sessions trumpet Greenwich's heritage with six days of themed live music.

The world's best athletes compete at the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, part of the annual Diamond League Athletics series. Held over two days, the meeting features more different disciplines than any other Diamond League event.

Every year the average age of the audience in London's theatres plummets during Kids Week. Children from five up to 16 years old flock to an unrivalled selection of plays and musicals - either at greatly reduced prices or absolutely free!

Spurs play their home matches at White Hart Lane. The Premier League runs between August and May and full fixture lists can be found on the club websites. Please note: games may be rearranged due to cup or television commitments.

The Carnaval del Pueblo, a vibrant celebration of Latin American culture in London, salsas its way into Southwark's Burgess Park. More than 100,000 people come for the Latino party, which incorporates music, food, parades and arts and crafts stalls.

Queens Park Rangers play their home matches at Loftus Road Stadium. The Premier League runs between August and May and full fixture lists can be found on the club websites. Please note: games may be rearranged due to cup or television commitments.

Fulham FC play their home matches at Craven Cottage. The Premier League runs between August and May and full fixture lists can be found on the club websites. Please note: games may be rearranged due to cup or television commitments.

Held at London's Clapham Grand by the charitable organisation WEZIMBABWE, the annual Zimfest celebrates all things Zimbabwean. Expats and those just up for a good party come and enjoy the braai, sports, cold beer and excellent live music.

Arsenal FC play their home matches at The Emirates Stadium. The Premier League runs between August and May and full fixture lists can be found on the club websites. Please note: games may be rearranged due to cup or television commitments.

Chelsea FC play their home matches at Stamford Bridge Stadium. The Premier League runs between August and May and full fixture lists can be found on the club websites. Please note: games may be rearranged due to cup or television commitments.

Head to Clapham Common for South West Four, London's biggest event dance event, South West Four. Consistently attracting the top names in dance music, the festival takes place over two nights on London's August bank holiday weekend.

Around a million people hit Notting Hill's streets in West London for Europe's biggest carnival. Fabulous floats make a colourful circuit of the area and sound systems blast out music all day. Sample delicious Caribbean jerk chicken or Jamaican patties.

The Underage Festival returns to London's Victoria Park, with a fantastic show strictly for 14-18-year olds. Bands and DJs across six stages deliver teenage kicks - without alcohol, or embarrassing parents.

Thousands of young Londoners can enrol on free summer courses throughout June, July and August this year. Futureversity offers a choice of over 100 subjects ranging from belly dancing and Japanese to rowing and business studies.

The Friends Life T20 begins with a group format in June, before quarter finals in July and Finals Day at Southampton's Rose Bowl in August. Surrey Brown Caps play their home games at The Oval in London.

Forget stuffy auditoriums and enjoy the pleasures of Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Combining natural beauty, atmosphere and choice drama, current artistic director Timothy Sheader has expanded the repertoire to programme high drama and musicals as well as Shakespeare.

Street theatre, music, acrobatics, comedy and spectacle from across the world provide entertainment for all ages and tastes at Inside Out. The National's annual summer fiesta spills from the theatre and onto Theatre Square, Square 2 and the terraces.

Those of you who are yet to be convinced about the merits of farmers' markets should visit Maidenhead Farmers' Market, held on Groves Road. It's one of the town's most reliable addresses for fresh, locally produced treats and savoury delicacies. 

The Chessington World of Adventures theme park is just a short drive or train journey from London and a great day out for adrenalin-starved kids and their excited parents. Apart from countless rides, there's a zoo and Sea Life Centre.

Sinc 1976 Brick Lane and, more particularly, Nicholas Hawksmoor's iconic Christ Church Spitalfields has resounded with a summer jamboree of exceptional music making.  Old and new, and both professionsals and comuunity performers come together for the annual Spitalfields Festival.