Hickstead's Derby Meeting is the most exciting competition in British showjumping, drawing enthusiasts from throughout the country. The highlight of these four days is the Derby, when riders pit their wits against a fiendishly difficult and notoriously challenging course.
A bit of a well-kept secret, Club Kali at The Dome in Tufnell Park is an open and friendly bi-monthly gay Asian music night
A highlight in London's art calendar, the BP Portrait Award exhibition is held annually at the National Portrait Gallery. It showcases the winning entries of what is considered by many to be the most prestigious portrait competition in the world.
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.
West End Live transforms Leicester Square into an extravaganza of theatre, dance and music. While the stage offers free fun and family-friendly entertainment for all, the whole area is out to impress with shopping and eating to boot.
The Pride parade has firmly established itself in London and is the biggest event in the UK gay diary. The carnival atmosphere transforms central London with a flamboyant parade of floats representing the full force of Great Britain's GLBT community.
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.
From Bollywood Queens to Pearly Kings, the East End Film Festival is a celebration of local and international film. Screenings depict locations throughout the world but they're all inspired by the vibrancy and diversity of London's East End.
On the first Thursday of every month, more than 80 of East London's art galleries stay open until 9pm. Heavyweight galleries such as the White Cube and the Barbican participate alongside smaller independent exhibition spaces, and many stage special events.
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.
The V&A Museum of Childhood Summer Festival brings a touch of Glastonbury to East London. The museum buzzes with the sounds of live music, street performers and rickshaw rides. Face-painting, food stalls and games also keep the little monsters entertained.
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.
Eagle-eyed collectors and antiques enthusiasts hunt for gems at the Ardingly Antiques and Collectors Fair, held at the South of England Showground. Hundreds of stalls sell everything from 19th-century silverware to textiles, ceramics and paintings.
Dating back to 1907, Hickstead's Royal International Horse Show (RIHS) welcomes the elite of many equestrian disciplines. There are competitions in everything from international show jumping and dressage to the very best of national showing.
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.
Toni Tambourine, the man behind club nights such as Future Perfect, Malibu Stacey, Sign Of The Times and more recently We Are You, is gracing clubland with his presence once more. This time he aims to put the glam back into going out with the monthly City Loud bash at Turnmills.
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.
During summer Buckingham Palace's doors are opened to the public, providing access to the State Rooms. Highlights include gifts the Queen has received on behalf of her subjects, like Salvador Dalí drawings and an embroidered silk scarf from Nelson Mandela.
Sneak a peek inside the British Houses of Parliament, one of the world's oldest representative assemblies, during the Summer Opening. With nearly 1200 rooms and 100 staircases, the one-hour guided tour visits both debating Chambers and the great State Rooms.
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.
You don't have to be an aspiring bard or well versed in Shakespearean sonnets to enjoy the annual London Poetry Festival. Held at St John's Church, the event showcases a broad range of poets to highlight the genre's accessibility and importance.
The Great British Beer Festival returns to Earls Court. Anyone attending this event will no doubt find themselves encountering scores of Hooray Henrys and the odd White Bishop. Don't be surprised if your fate is sealed by the Umpire's Finger.
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!
Once known for raucous debauchery, the BoomTown Fair has cleaned up its act and is now family-orientated, with a huge emphasis on eco-initiatives. Musically, ska and reggae predominate; Toots and the Maytals headline, along with the Wurzels and Babyhead.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The London Mela brings the best of South Asian culture to Gunnersbury Park in Ealing every year. Entrance is free for live music, dance, film and fashion and there are market stalls and a mouthwatering selection of food and drink.
Guernsey's North Show provides two days of agricultural, horticultural and crafts entertainment but its Battle of Flowers is the highlight. Here, locals compete to win the prestigious "Prix D'Honneur" award for the best mobile floral float.
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.
If you thought the Wimbledon tournament was where it's at for strawberries and cream, handsome lads and scantily clad gals, think again. Tennis London International organises this annual gay and lesbian tennis tournament at Sutton Tennis Academy.
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.
Sancho Panza is firmly established as one of the most popular sound systems at the Notting Hill Carnival. Each year around thousands of people forsake the carnival floats to squeeze themselves as close as possible to the Sancho speakers.
Founded in 1996, the Portobello Film Festival has been described as "London's biggest filmic free-for-all". The large independent film festival screens new shorts and features, cult movies and more at various locations around Notting Hill's Portobello area, including Westbourne Studios.
This long-established traditional agricultural show at Weedon Park offers cattle, sheep and horse classes, domestic and horticultural classes and nearly 200 trade stands. Weather permitting, visitors can take a hot-air balloon ride or even try parachuting.
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.
The Hurlingham Club hosts the BNP Paribas Tennis Classic, a mainly seniors tennis tournament with all-time favourites. Pat Cash, Ilie Nastase and Henri Leconte have graced the courts here, and high-calibre tennis is guaranteed.
Rescued from dereliction by antiquary Denys Bower in 1955, 15th-century Chiddingstone Castle is home to Bower's impressive collection of Japanese, Egyptian and Buddhist artefacts, including Edo period weaponry. Finish the day with a walk around the National Trust village.
Climb aboard the MV Princess Pocahontas for a guided tour along the Thames. Cruise upstream as far as London or to Greenwich, where you can visit the Maritime Museum and Cutty Sark. Sail downstream to enjoy Southend's traditional seaside amusements.
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 Chantry Heritage Centre is a small museum housed within a 14th-century chapel. Inside there is an ornate Jacobean staircase and displays on Gravesend's local industries and Roman history, including Roman coins excavated from nearby Springhead.
Step into Charles Darwin's slippers and explore Down House, in which he wrote and researched his revolutionary On The Origin of Species series. Watch bees building their honeycomb or pace his Sandwalk path and come up with your own theories.
An annual summer fixture since 1989, Opera Holland Park performs fully staged opera under Holland Park Theatre's spectacular canopy. The all-new productions in 2011 comprise Don Pasquale, L'amico Fritz, Le nozze di Figaro, La rondine, Rigoletto and La Wally.
Royal Ascot is one of the grandest race meetings of the year and also a great social event. As much attention is paid to the fashions being worn as to the horses in the paddock.
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.
The pride and joy of London's "Square Mile" are its exquisite guild halls and churches, which resonate every summer during the City of London Festival. Also spilling onto the streets, the closing concert takes place at mighty St Paul's Cathedral.
Liberty's summer sale offers discounts of up to 50% across the whole range of goods: from china and glass to linen, furniture and furnishing fabrics, fashion and jewellery.
Hauteville House was the home of 19th-century French Romantic writer Victor Hugo during his years in exile in Guernsey from 1856 to 1870. The house remains as the author left it, and the interior mixes classical style with idiosyncratic touches.
Touch ancient Roman objects like coins and pottery, excavated at Crofton Roman Villa in Orpington. Evidence of underfloor heating within the ten rooms of this former farming estate reveals the sophistication of Roman life.
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.
One of the few remaining 1930s lidos in the country, Guildford Lido in Surrey is a heated Olympic-sized swimming pool that proves popular every time the sun makes an appearance. There is also an onsite gym.
Delve into an age of decadence with The Cult of Beauty, an exhibition at the V&A Museum on the Aesthetic Movement in Britain. Pieces ranging from paintings to ceramics showcase one of the most sensuously beautiful art periods in Western tradition.
Free Range at London's Old Truman Brewery brings the very best of the country's creative talent together on one site and boasts visitor numbers to rival some of the capital's top art shows. You might even spot the next Tracey Emin!
The annual Meltdown festival of contemporary music, organised by London's Southbank Centre, is programmed each year by a celebrity curator. In 2011 the artistic director is Ray Davies, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of The Kinks.
Harrods Summer Sale draws thousands of bargain hunters to the Knightsbridge store every year. Shoppers sniff out cut-price designer clothes, kitchen appliances and other goodies in the world-renowned prim and proper emporium. Arrive in the small hours, prepared to queue.
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.
Chosen as the home for Henry VIII's children, Hatfield House is a gem in Hertfordshire's crown. Visitors can see tapestries, furniture and works of art in the house and explore the extensive gardens.
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. Middlesex Panthers play their home games at Lord's, Richmond and Uxbridge.
The Royal Academy of Arts' famous Summer Exhibition is the world's largest open contemporary art exhibition. Paintings, sculptures, drawings and models by many distinguished artists jostle with works by unknown and emerging artists, with cash prizes and work for sale.