The people of London are extremely lucky. Their city contains an unmatched, rich mix of colour, culture and tradition from every continent on earth. In order to make the most of living in London, we highly recommend adding some of these transcultural events to your calendar.
London Dragon Boat Festival
June 26th, Royal Albert Dock
Rumour has it this festival is over 2,500 years old. From the banks of the Yangtze to the Royal Albert Dock on the Thames, you will get all the traditions and delights from China right here in London. You can expect dragon dancing, food and boat racing – perfect for a warm afternoon in June. Finally – a boating event without all the toffs.
Carnaval de Pueblo
August 7th, Camberwell
I bet you didn’t know that Europe’s largest outdoor Latin American event is held in Camberwell? Expect belly dancers, drumming and hot, hot BBQ food. In true carnival style, there will be floats and entertainment covering traditions from Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Cuba. Don’t miss it.
Holi Festival of Colours
August 13th, venue tbc
Perhaps the hottest ticket in town, last year’s Holi festival was held at the Olympic Park and went off in a massive puff of powdered paint. Originally from India and Nepal, this is one of the least religious Hindu festivals. The painting of each other is to signify the sharing of love and there’s plenty of that, with DJs and live acts giving this South Asian celebration a UK festival feel.
Notting Hill Carnival
August 20th – 21th, Notting Hill
Some are put off by Notting Hill Carnival – it is extremely big and busy, attracting around one million people every year. Last year, we put together the ultimate guide to make the most of the festival. This year, we would suggest checking out some of the fringe activities, including late night club venues across the city.
The event is a breathing example of merging cultures in London after it was originally troubled with race related violence in the 60s. Now it is for everyone and all in a two-day explosion of tastes.
If we’ve missed out on cultural events that we should include, please comment below. If not, feel free to lace your London experience with these delights from around the world!
