The 8 Best Cultural Events in London, England

The Lumiere London light festival returns to the capital with more than 40 international UK artists. Commissioned by the Mayor of London and produced by arts charity Artichoke, Lumiere London is the capital’s largest art event and is free to attend. This year's festival is bigger, brighter and bolder and extends from King's Cross to South Bank & Waterloo, through Fitzrovia, Mayfair, London's West End, Westminster and Victoria. An official Lumiere London programme will be available to buy together with a downloadable map.

Over 200 private, secret and unusual gardens and green spaces open to the public for one weekend. Located across 27 London boroughs, gardens range from the historic and traditional to the new and experimental, including private gardens, roof gardens, community allotments, and gardens belonging to historic buildings, institutions, cafes, schools and shops. Organized by the London Parks & Gardens Trust to celebrate the capital’s unique urban, green space network. Includes an exciting program of tours, walks, tours and cycle rides including art and sculpture, poets in residence and family-themed activities.

The Notting Hill Carnival is centred around a huge parade that makes its way through the Notting Hill area of London every August Bank Holiday weekend. The carnival is a big celebration of Caribbean culture, where people dress up in traditional carnival costumes and dance to the beats of the drums and the speakers that line the route. It’s a mostly free event, where you can follow the crowd and enjoy the traditional Caribbean fare from the pop-up street sellers on the side of the road, as well as a few rum cocktails!