Twickenham, home of England rugby, traces the history of rugby from its English public school origins to today's international sport phenomena in the World Rugby Museum. Take the tour around the world's largest rugby stadium to savour the game's glory.
Available :
Daily; not Mon
The annual Six Nations championship matches are the biggest of the year at Twickenham, attracting guaranteed 82,000 sell-out crowds and resuming international rivalries that have continued for decades. England welcome Wales and Ireland for matches in 2012.
Available :
Feb 2013 (various dates)
Rugby fans can enjoy two days of action as the IRB Sevens World Series visits Twickenham. A total of 44 matches over the May Bank Holiday weekend feature teams from all of the world's top rugby-playing nations.
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May 2013 (annual)
Twickenham's Farmers' Market is held on Saturday mornings at Holly Road Car Park, selling organic and locally-produced foodstuffs including fruit, vegetables, meat and cheese.
Available :
Sat only
Music lovers, river enthusiasts, culture vultures and party animals will enjoy the ten-day Twickenham Festival. Highlights include Morris dancing, quiz nights and al fresco dining in Church Street, which is closed to cars during weekend evenings.
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Jun 2013 (annual)
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are a venerated institution, UNESCO World Heritage Site and internationally renowned as a pioneering centre of botanical research, study and conservation. They are open throughout the year for all to enjoy.
Available :
Daily
Kew Gardens swings to the sounds of salsa, jazz and blues during the annual open-air Kew the Music concert series. Sit back and enjoy the music in beautiful leafy surroundings. The tickets support Kew's plant science and conservation work.
Available :
Jul 2013 (annual)
The Twickenham Museum is the history centre for Twickenham, Whitton, Teddington and the Hamptons - villages by the River Thames with a rich history going back thousands of years.
Available :
Tue, Sat, and Sun only
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.
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Aug 2013 (annual)
Gunnersbury Park Museum is the former home of the Rothschild family, who lived there when the air of Acton was "untainted". Now a museum, the former mansion contains imaginative exhibits which illustrate the family's life and an interesting programme of temporary displays.
Available :
Daily
Fancy a run, followed by a bike ride and another run? Challenge yourself to The London Duathlon, held in the beautiful, traffic-free Richmond Park. You'll be competing against 4000 people, or you can always cheer from the sidelines instead.
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Sep 2013 (annual)
If you're a fan of great engineering works then the Kempton Great Engines Trust, in Hanworth, is for you; its triple expansion steam engine is the largest in the world.
Available :
Tue, Thu, Sat, and Sun only
Revisit Tudor times by tracing 500 years of royal history at Hampton Court Palace. Set in 60 acres of manicured gardens, it features opulent public rooms, Henry VIII's State Apartments, original Tudor kitchens and a priceless collection of Italian Renaissance art.
Available :
Daily
Henry VIII's favourite house is the venue for a series of spectacular concerts in early summer. There are performances in the grounds to whet every music fan's appetite during the Hampton Court Palace Festival.
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Jun 2013 (annual)
For over 150 years, London's residents have flocked to Hampton Court's funfair at the former royal residence south of the river. Alongside traditional attractions like the Victorian games stalls and a historic carousel there are also dodgems, waltzers and orbitors.
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Apr 2013 (annual)
Stories of the strange goings-on throughout the centuries at Hampton Court Palace will raise the hairs on the back of your neck. Discover the palace's spooky secrets on this 90-minute ghost tour, held on Fridays and Sundays until spring.
Available :
Oct 2012 - Mar 2013; Fri and Sun only (annual)
Kingston Museum was built in 1904 with contributions from Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish American benefactor. There are permanent galleries telling the stories of Kingston and the photographer Eadweard Muybridge as well as a gallery hosting temporary exhibitions representing arts, crafts, photography and local history.
Available :
Daily; not Wed or Sun
The streets of Kingston come to life with the impressively noisy and colourful Kingston Carnival. There's plenty of live entertainment all day, including Bollywood dancing, African jazz and Caribbean steel drums fresh from Kingston Carnival's grand-daddy, the Notting Hill Carnival.
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Sep 2013 (annual)
Hammersmith promises fine quality and accordingly priced Italian food at The River Café. The outside dining area overlooks a sunken lawn, favoured by a mixed crowd who take their dining seriously, choosing seasonal dishes of antipasti, primi and secondi. Inside, chefs work behind the long open bar.
Available :
Daily
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.
Available :
18 Aug 2012 - 19 May 2013 (annual)
This popular centre near London's Putney Bridge explores Sivananda - a Hindu-inspired form of yoga - at all levels throughout the year.
Available :
Daily
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.
Available :
18 Aug 2012 - 19 May 2013 (annual)
The modern, airy arcades at Westfield London Shopping Centre in Shepherd's Bush are home to a plethora of labels, from top designer Gucci to high-street brand H&M. Stop for lunch at one of the many onsite restaurants.
Available :
Daily
The FA Cup dates back to the 1871/1872 season, when 15 teams took part. Nowadays the competition kicks off in November with some 700 teams all having the same dream, of holding the cup aloft at Wembley Stadium in May.
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May 2013 (annual)
Although not as high-profile as the FA Cup, in recent years the Carling Cup has enjoyed something of a renaissance, and the winners earn potentially lucrative UEFA Cup qualification. The final is played at Wembley Stadium.
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Feb 2013 (annual)
Dating from 1829, this university boat race is billed as "the world's longest surviving sporting challenge". Competitors row a gruelling four-and-a-quarter-miles along the Thames from Putney to Mortlake, often against waves and bitter winds, in their quest for the coveted title.
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Apr 2013 (annual)
Join holistic friends at Kensington Olympia for the Mind Body & Soul Exhibition - a gathering of all things alternative, organic and spritually awakening. Listen to talks, engage in workshops and buy or sample numerous products.
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Sep 2013 (annual)
Each year thousands of adults of all ages and sexual persuasions visit the Olympia Exhibition Centre's Erotica event in search of products to enhance their lifestyle. Exhibitors sell everything from clubwear, leatherwear and rubber to fetish, beachwear and lingerie.
Available :
Nov 2013 (annual)
Amazing horsemanship, breathtaking jumping and beautiful horses are all on display during The London International Horse Show at Olympia. This event is something of an institution, with thrilling competitions including the Olympia Grand Prix, the Puissance and the prestigious World Cup Qualifier.
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Dec 2013 (annual)
Browse paintings including Old Masters, ancient Chinese ceramics, Art Deco jewellery and other sought-after treasures exhibited by British and international galleries at the annual London International Fine Art Fair. Buyers, curators and fine art aficionados fill the Olympia Exhibition Centre.
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Jun 2013 (annual)
Olympia's National Hall hosts The Yoga Show, featuring workshops, demonstrations, meditation areas and hundreds of stands dedicated to all things yogic. The thousands of visitors range from beginners to professional teachers.
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Oct 2013 (annual)
Rum is a drink that evokes balmy tropical evenings under the shade of palm trees, a slice of which will be served up at Olympia. Sip tiki-themed cocktails mixed by the world's best barmen and enjoy live music in the heart of Kensington.
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Oct 2013 (annual)
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.
Available :
Jun - Jul 2013 (annual)
World-class polo players come to Fulham's Hurlingham Park for the three-day Polo in the Park event. The London event aims to shed the sport's elitist image, and make it accessible to more people. Polo players from all over the world will battle each other over three exhilarating days to gain the winning title.
Available :
Jun 2013 (annual)
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.
Available :
Jun 2013 (annual)
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.
Available :
Aug 2013 (annual)
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.
Available :
Jun - Aug 2013 (annual)
Pick up a present for your home at Earls Court Exhibition Centre's Ideal Home Show. From billiard tables and antique mirrors to solar-powered garden lights, this is the place to go for innovative and inspirational home accessories.
Available :
Mar - Apr 2013 (annual)
100% Design is the UK's definitive contemporary interiors show, bringing the latest in cutting-edge talent to the Earls Court Exhibition Centre. Over 400 international exhibitors display their latest work to more than 35,000 visitors.
Available :
Sep 2013 (annual)
Stella McCartney, Antonio Beradi and Sheila Maloney all launched their careers at London's Graduate Fashion Week, Britain's springboard for major new designers, held at Earls Court 2. Competition is fierce as students battle to impress buyers, headhunters and the press.
Available :
Jun 2013 (annual)
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