| Most businesses close on public holidays such as New Year's
Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day Bank Holiday (the first
Monday in May), Spring Bank Holiday (the last Monday in May),
Summer Bank Holiday (the last Monday in August), Christmas Day
and Boxing Day (26 December).
There are countless festivals and events in London. It all kicks
off with the New Year's Eve fireworks and street party in Trafalgar
Square, followed by the New Year's Day Parade. On Shrove Tuesday
pancake races are held in Covent Garden, and in early May more
serious racers take part in the London Marathon.
All London gets its colours on for the FA Cup Final in mid-May.
There's even more colour at the Chelsea Flower Show, held in the
last week of May.
Trooping the Colour, the Queen's birthday parade, is held in
June; Wimbledon runs for two weeks in the same month and London
Pride, Europe's biggest gay and lesbian festival, also hits the
streets. In July the world's biggest military tattoo, the Royal
Tournament, is held in Earl's Court, and the raucous Notting Hill
Carnival takes over the streets in August.
Horsey folks can't resist late-September's Horseman's Sunday
in Hyde Park, with more than 100 horses receiving the blessing
from a vicar on horseback, followed by horse jumping in Kensington
Gardens.
Things wind down as the weather gets colder, though there are
plenty of bonfires on Guy Fawkes Night, on the 5th of November.
The Lord Mayor's Show is held in late November, complete with
floats, bands and fireworks. Trafalgar Square lights up in December
with the Lighting of the Christmas Tree.
Public Holidays
1 Jan - New Year's Day
Mar/Apr - Good Friday
Mar/Apr - Easter Monday
first Monday in May - May Day Bank Holiday
last Monday in May - Spring Bank Holiday
last Monday in August - Summer Bank Holiday
25 Dec - Christmas Day
26 Dec - Boxing Day
|
