Summer Fever – London in July & August

London is where all the action is happening this summer, with July and August literally bursting at the seams with special events, attractions, concerts, and tours. To give you a taste of what there is to do and see in London in the upcoming months, here are some of the must-attend summer 2013 events to mark in your calendars.

Start by saving a lot of time, money, and hassle by investing in a London Sightseeing Pass, which gives you admission to all of London’s main attractions (i.e. the royal palaces, cathedrals, zoo, waxworks, museums, and more) at a fraction of the price and without having to stand in long lineups or fight the crowds. A great way to see the sites of London even before you hit the pavement is by hopping a vintage red double-decker bus for a city wide tour.

Wimbledon is over however July 2013 in London is still jam-packed with activities. Here are some of the events you won’t want to miss:

• The Queen’s Coronation 1953 (July 27-September 29, 2013): A special exhibition at the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace marks the Queen’s 60 coronation anniversary in the palace ballroom. On display are the Queen’s coronation jewels, dress and robe, outfits worn by 2-year-old Princess Anne and 4-year-old Prince Charles, uniforms worn by the royal party, and more.
• The Bolshoi Ballet: 50th Anniversary Season comes to London for three weeks (July 29-August 17, 2013) at the Royal Opera House. The season will open with Swan Lake choreographed by renowned Yuri Grigorovich and includes the UK premiere of the new production of Balanchine’s Jewels.
• The BBC Proms 2013 (July 12-September 7) highlight the work of composer Benjamin Britten, one of the greatest British composers of all times, on his centenary anniversary.
• The Somerset House Summer Series (July 11-21, 2013) features some of the best live acts in music with everything from electronic dance music to jazz and more. All the concerts take place in the central courtyard of Summerset House, an idyllic setting for escaping the city and enjoying an intimate, relaxing experience under a cool summer breeze.
• The Press Photographer’s Year (July 8 – August 31, 2013) returns to the National Theatre Lyttelton Foyer with a display of 130 thought-provoking images which were hand-picked from over 7,000 submissions by the judges in each of 16 categories.
• Festival of British Archaeology (July 13-28) takes place at the Museum of London, educating visitors on local heritage and archaeology.
• Tour de France Fan Park (July 15-21, 2013): Attention all cycling fans: Don’t miss this opportunity to visit a cycling themed village and watch all of this year’s Tour de France live broadcasts playing out on the big screen at Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf. Participate in interactive cycling activities, buy cycling souvenirs and paraphernalia, and enjoy a photo of British cycling legends and other sports stars.
• Traditional Crafts Weekend (July 20-21, 2013) Visit the London Wetland Centre for ancient craft demonstrations, craft stalls, Morris dancers, shire horses, and more.
• Henry VI: Three Plays (July 23 – September 8): Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is putting on all three of Shakespeare’s Henry VI plays, directed by Nick Bagnell and starring Graham Butler
• The Sound of Music is back at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park July 25-September 7, 2013. The Rodger and Hammerstein show has been a hit since it first took to the stage in 1959 and its popularity has not waned since.
• English National Ballet: A Tribute To Rudolf Nureyev at theLondon Coliseum – English National Opera (July 25-27, 2013): Twenty years after his death,the English National Ballet pays tribute to Rudolf Nureyev who “changed forever the way we viewed the role of the male ballet dancer in the west” says Tamara Rojo, the English National Ballet’s artistic director who put together the program.

Here’s what’s in store in London for August 2013:

• Buckingham Palace Summer Opening (August 3-September 29, 2013): It’s that time of year again, when Buckingham Palace officially opens its doors to the public for two months, allowing free access to exhibitions, 19 state rooms still used by the Royal Family, fine art and paintings, a display of royal Faberge Eggs, some of the world’s finest English and French furniture, and this year’s special exhibition marking the Queen’s 60 years on the throne: The Queen’s Coronation 1953.
• From West End to Broadway!On the first three Thursday nights of August 2013 at 7:30pm, you’ll enjoy music by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, and songs from the Great American Songbook as Cadogan Hall features musical theatre stars of West End and Broadway.
• Kids Week (August 1-31, 2013): Head to the West End for a week filled with family friendly concerts, activities, workshops, and more, many of them for free.
• RideLondon (August 3-4, 2013): Four exciting cycling events are packed into this two-day cycling festival, which takes place in the newly opened Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: The FreeCycle event (eight mile traffic free route), RideLondon 100 (100-mile race for amateurs), RideLondon Grand Prix (series of cycling faces for junior riders and professional women), and the RideLondon Classic (the biggest men’s professional one-day race in Britain).
• West Side Story, the Broadway classic, is back! Always a sell-out, get your tickets now for performances at the Sadler’s Wells Theater (August 7-September 22, 2013), directed and revived by Joey McKneely featuring original choreography from Jerome Robbins and a live orchestra playing Leonard Bernstein’s iconic score. 
• Canary Wharf Jazz Festival (August 16-18, 2013) For one terrific week of music, London’s largest free jazz festival returns to Canada Square Park world-class artists and rising stars performing back-to-back
• The Great British Beer Festival (August 13-17, 2013). About 70,000 people attend Britain’s national celebration of beer with hundreds of ales and ciders from around the world. Learn what makes a great beer, participate in traditional pub games, listen to live music, and enjoy your favorite brew.
• Peter Pan: The Never Ending Story World Arena Tour (August 21-26, 2013): Head to Wembley Arena for a special staging of this classic children’s story in a performance featuring over 50 actors, singers, acrobats, stunt artists fly through the air, a high-tech CGI cinematic backdrop, and starring Stacey Solomon.
• Notting Hill Carnival (August 25-26, 2013): This vibrant celebration of London’s Caribbean community has become one of events of the summer and Europe’s largest street party. Millions of onlookers join together to experience a blaze of Caribbean dancers, festive costumes, music, bands, floats, food, and more. It’s the party of the season and the highlight of London’s summer, so don’t miss out!

Author byline

Einat Mazafi is the owner of NY International Shipping, an International Shipping and moving company based in New York. She is also a specialist in providing the best relocation solutions to clients worldwide.