What's on in London. Highlights for June, 2008. A guide to London's ticketed events, a midsummer of Royal pageantry in London and Windsor, open gardens, festivals of Music, Theatre, Fine Art and Food, together with the great sporting highlights of Wimbledon, Ascot and Epsom Derby Day; from the diary of Burlington Bertie, OfftoLondon's Man About Town.

Trooping the Colour
Venue: Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, SW1.
Date: 14 June, 2008. 11am.
Description: The Trooping the Colour ceremony by the Massed Bands and Troops of the Household Division is the most spectacularly colourful annual event of military pageantry in Royal London and is an amalgamation of two old military ceremonies, Trooping the Colour and Mounting The Queen's Guard. The origin of the ceremony goes back to 200 years when the guards and sentries for the Royal Palaces were mounted daily on the parade ground by the Horse Guards building in Whitehall. A feature of guard mounting was for the colours of the battalion to be carried (or 'trooped') slowly down the ranks so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers. The parade ground ceremony has changed little since 1805, when it became an annual event, (though the actual ceremony was instituted in 1748), in honour of the Sovereign's birthday. What are effectively dress rehearsals for the ceremony take place on the two preceding Saturdays, with a senior General taking the salute.
At 10.40am The Queen processes down The Mall to the parade ground. Formerly she rode on horseback dressed in the uniform of the regiment of Her Household Foot Guards whose colours were being trooped. In later years The Queen has been driven in open carriage. As on all state occasions she is escorted by her Household Cavalry, (The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals), and reaches Horse Guards Parade at 11am. There, with her consort in attendance, she inspects her Household Regiments; the Grenadiers, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh guards, and takes the salute. Her Majesty then processes back up The Mall to Buckingham Palace where She watches a Royal Air Force fly-past from the Palace balcony at 1pm.
Tickets: A few tickets for grandstand seats situated in front of the former Admiralty citadel on the north side of Horse Guards Parade are allocated by ballot to the public, (maximum two per application), for the dress rehearsals and the Sovereign's Parade itself. Applications, in writing must arrive between 1 January and 1 March, accompanied by S.A.E. and international reply coupon if overseas, addressed to The Brigade Major, HQ, Household Division, Horse Guards, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX. Successful applicants are notified and must signify acceptance within 21 days. It is at this stage that payment is made.
You can enjoy a superb free view of the marching Guards, the Royal procession and other Royals being driven in open carriages to and from Horse Guards Parade by lining The Mall. Be in position by 9.30am. The event is traditionally televised live on BBC1.
London Transport: Nearest Tubes. Green Park, St. James's Park.
Dress: Grandstand ticket holders must be smartly dressed and wear a formal hat. An umbrella can be useful. It has been known to rain torrentially through the ceremony, turning the parade ground into an ankle-high lake through which the Guards and Massed Bands have splashed on undeterred in a bravura performance of military discipline and British phlegm.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes. Accessible Toilets in St. James's Park.

Beating The Retreat
Venue:Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, SW1.
Date: 4, 5 June, 2008. 7pm. Perfs last 1 hour.
Description:On two successive evenings each June, the 300 strong Massed Bands of the Household Division perform Beating Retreat, one of the major spectacles in the capital's ceremonial calendar. The event starts at 7 pm each evening with the salute being taken by Her Majesty The Queen or another member of the royal family.
Beating Retreat has its origins in the early years of organized warfare when the beating of drums and the parading of Post Guards heralded the closing of camp gates and the lowering of flags at the end of the day. Orders from the army of James II of England in 1690 and William III in 1694 laid down the basis of this daily twilight ceremony. Today the ceremony is reserved for special occasions and preceded by a display of music and marching. The participants are drawn from the bands of the two Household Cavalry Regiments and the five Foot Guards Regiments which make up The Queen's Household Division. These bands are an essential part of State Ceremonial from Changing of The Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace to Trooping the Colour and the State Opening of Parliament. In addition to the Band, each Foot Guards Battalion has its own Corps of Drums and, in the case of the Scots and Irish Guards, Pipes and Drums.
Tickets: £12, £10, (£25 Family concession). Reserved seating only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7414 2271 or the credit card line +44 (0)20 7839 5323. No refund on performance cancellation. Requests with cheque/Postal Order in £ sterling, payable to 'Household Division Funds' are accepted at any time but tickets will not be despatched before April. Cheques (in sterling only) should be sent to The Treasurer, Household Division Funds, Horse Guards, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX, together with a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
London Transport: Nearest Tube. Green Park, St. James's Park.
Dress: No formal dress code.
Wheelchair Accessibility: A limited number of wheelchair spaces are available and separate applications are required for this facility. Accessible Toilets in nearby St. James's Park.

Knights of the Order of the Garter Investiture
Venue: St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire.
Date: 17 June, 2008.
Description: Investiture of Knighthood into England's most ancient and chivalrous Order of the Garter, (a closed order), takes place at the Chapel of the Order, constituted in 1348 by Knig Edward III. Arrayed in their midnight-blue robes emblazoned with the Star of the Order and plumed hats, The Queen and her knights process through Windsor Castle to St. George's Chapel for the investiture service of thanksgiving. The procession is preceded by a detachment of red-coated silver helmed Life Guards and the route is lined by the Queen's Yeomen of the Guard dressed in their vermilion and gold Tudor 'Beefeater' uniforms.
Tickets: Ticket applications marked accompanied by SAE to line the procession route inside the castle must be addressed to the Lord Chamberlain's Office, St. James's Palace, SW1A 1BE. The envelope should be marked "Garter Ceremony" and arrive not later than end of January. The investiture ceremony and Chapel service are by private invitation only.
Getting there: Road: The location is between junctions 5 and 6 on the M4 out of London. Rail: London/Paddingtom - Windsor Town Centre, (adjacent to the castle) or London/Waterloo - Windsor Riverside, (nearby).
Dress: Chapel service: Formal. Procession route: smart casual. The weather may be very warm.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes. Entry to the castle is however up a testing incline.

Hampton Court Palace Gardens Exhibition
Venue: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, KT8, 9AU. Tel: 0870 751 5175
Date: Ongoing.
Tickets: Book online.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Richmond.
Description: Situated adjacent to the East Front Gardens, this exhibition will help visitors understand the evolution of the historic royal gardens at Hampton Court, from their Tudor beginnings in the early 16th century right up to the present day. See the replanted Privy Garden restored to its original 1702 glory.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes, though it can be a bumpy ride! Accessible Toilets. See Palace accessibility for full details.

Hampton Court Palace: Tudor Kitchens, Cookery and Recipes
Date: 11am - 3pm First Saturday and Sunday of each month through September. 2008.
Venue: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, KT8, 9AU. Tel: 0870 751 5175.
Tickets: Live event admission included as part of your Palace admission ticket. Book online.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Richmond.
Description: Lecture and demonstration. Watch and hear 'Historia' food archaeologists researching Tudor cookery and ingredients, making traditional Tudor recipes which you can later sample in the Palace's Tiltyard Cafe.
Venue Hire You can hire Henry VIII's magnificent Great Hall and other Palace venues with costumed guides, etc., for entertaining, conferences, wedding and civil partnership receptions, your own sumptuous banquets, functions or film location. Check Venue Hire at Hampton Court Palace for details and bookings.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes. The ground floor of the Palace is wheelchair accessible and there are limited facilities for viewing the upper floors with the use of an elevator. Accessible Toilets. See Palace Disabled Access for full details.

Banqueting House Lunchtime Concerts
Venue: Banqueting House, Whitehall, SW1A 2ER, Tel: 0870 751 5187
Date: 11 June, 9, 30 July 2008. From 12 noon.
Tickets: £15 inc. buffet lunch. Book by venue telephone or in person. Carers for disabled visitors free.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Westminster, Embankment.
Description: The renowned monthly lunchtime concerts of chamber music and song recitals. The perfect way to admire the Rubens ceiling, a pictorial paean to the Stuart belief in the 'Divine right of Kings', a concept that cost Charles I his head. See website for concert details.
Venue Hire You can hire the historic and impressive Banqueting House for entertaining, conferences, wedding and civil partnership receptions, functions or film location. Check Venue Hire for details and bookings.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes for portable/standard size wheelchairs.

The Golden Hinde
Venue:Pickfords Wharf/Clink St., London SE1 9DG. Tel: 020 7407 7056.
Date:Daily 10am - 5.30pm, 2008.
Tickets: £6. (Concessions).
London Transport: Nearest Tube: London Bridge.
Description: This is an exact working replica of Sir Francis Drake's Naval Flagship the Tudor warship Golden Hinde in which Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the world 1577-1580. This exact reconstruction, a fully working ship, was launched in Devon in 1973. Since then she has circumnavigated the globe and sailed over 140,000 miles - many more than the original. Her present berth is the St Mary Overie Dock on Thames South Bank, just a short walk from the Clink Prison Museum, Shakespeare's Globe and Tate Modern. This is a living history experience of particular interest to maritime history buffs. Explore the 5 decks and the 22 canons.
Venue Hire You can hire the Golden Hinde for entertaining, conferences, wedding and civil partnership receptions, functions or film location. Check website for details and bookings.
Wheelchair Accessibility: No.

Sadlers Wells:
Date: June, 2008.
Venue: Sadler's Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN and Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2.
London Transport: Nearest Tube. Angel.
Tickets: Book Online, in person at Box Office, or Tel: +44 (0)870 737 7737. Early booking advisable.
Description: A summer season of vibrant Latin American dance from Cuba and Kunqu Opera and dance from China.

Shakespeare's Globe: 2008 Summer Season
Date: 23 April - 5 October, 2008.
Venue: 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9ED. Tel: 020 7401 9199.
Tickets: £5 - £35.
London Transport: Nearest Tube. Southwark.
Description: This summer's 'Totus Mundus' season features new productions of 'King Lear', 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', 'Timon of Athens' and 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' plus world premieres of three new plays and a return of John Dove's production of 'The Winter's Tale'. Step into Tudor London at the Globe and join in the hearty audience participation! Dine before or after the performance, at the nearby Oxo Tower Restaurant or the Yakitori. Venue Hire You can hire the Swan at the Globe with its view overlooking the Thames for entertaining, conferences, wedding and civil partnership receptions and functions or film location. Check website for details and bookings.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Check website for special arrangements.

76th Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Summer Season
Venue: Regent's Park, NW1 Tel: 0870 060 1811
Date: 2 June - 2008. Morning, afternoon and evening perfs.
Tickets: £. Book online
London Transport: Nearest Tube. Baker Street.
Description: A programme of Shakespeare, Gigi, comedy and music recitals in the most perfect open air parkland setting. A Midsummer Night's Dream, (8 July - 2 August); Romeo and Juliet, (2 June - 2 August); Gigi, (6 August - 13 September). Also a series of Sunday evenings of Comedy and Music. Check the website for full details.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Check website for special seating arrangements and discounts. Make your requyirements known when booking. Mobility friendly toilets.

Offtolondon Theatre Breaks and Offers
Date: Ongoing.
Venue: West End and City theatres
Tickets: Online booking for all seats, accommodation, etc.
Description: Your guide to London's theatre programme, concert and events with online booking facility. Top musicals Billy Elliot, Cabaret, Chicago, Gone With The Wind, Lion King, Mama Mia, Phantom of the Opera, Spamalot, Sound of Music, Stomp, We Will Rock You, and more continue to draw capacity audiences nightly. Book your tickets online now.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Most London theatres, some hotels, (such as the newly refurbished Russell Hotel near the British Museum), and many restaurants are now wheelchair accessible with Accessible Toilets in their public areas, and have special accommodation facilities for wheelchair users. It is however essential that you make your requirements known when booking.

Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Concert Venue:Hyde Park, W2. 3JA
Date: 20 June, 2008.
Tickets: TBA.
London Transport: Nearest Tube. Bayswater; Queensway.
Description: The inspirational peacemaker whose statue now graces Parliament Square returns to London to celebrate his 90th birthday with us at this vast open air concert. He can be assured of thrilling music and line-up of talent to mark this occasion. Mark the date in your diary, watch this space and check Burlington Bertie's Spotlight for details and ticketing arrangements.
Dress: Make it colourful!
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes. Accessible Toilets near Rose Garden bordering Rotten row at south eastern end of the park.

Spitalfields Festival
Venue: 10 East End venues including Christ , Dutch and Shoreditch churches, Wilton Music Hall, Museum in Docklands and open air in Bishop's Square.
Dates: 2 - 20 June, 2008.
Tickets: Check website for details.
London Transport: Liverpool Street Station.
Dress: No dress code.
Description: An important and prestigious festival of new music, with at least one new work commissioned each year. Based at the superb Spitalfields Christchurch, (Nicholas Hawksmoor, 1729), and George Dance the Elder's Shoreditch Church, (known as the Actor's Church, 1716); both inspirational backgrounds for a musical evening. Musical events also take place at a number of other East End venues such as the famous 19th century Wilton's Music Hall, now restored to its former glory. Check website for details of performances, tickets, etc.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes. Accessible Toilets at all venues except 19 Princelet Street.

The 16th Hampton Court Palace Music Festival
Venue: Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Court, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU. Tel: 0870 752 7777.
Dates: 3 - 21 June, 2008.
Tickets: Book online.
London Transport: Nearest Tube. Richmond. Bus connection from station. Rail from London/Waterloo to Hampton Court, (32 mins). Riverboat from Westminster Pier, (3 1/2 hrs), to Palace quay and return by train/tube.
Description: A superb line-up of talent to suit all tastes - A delightful midsummer open-air evening of music and fireworks set against the magnificently illuminated backdrop of Hampton Court Palace. Bring a picnic to enjoy during the extended interval, or do it in style and dine like a King in the State Apartments on a gourmet meal prepared for you by Chef Gordon Ramsey.
Dress: Smart comfortable, if dining in the State Apartments, casual elsewhere.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes. Check website for special ticket arrangements. Accessible Toilets. See Palace Disabled Access for full details.

Opera Holland Park 2008
Venue:Holland Park, W8. 0845 230 9769
Dates: 3 June - 9 August, 7.30pm. Matinee 2pm, 6 July. 2008.
Tickets: £10 - £52. Book online or Box Office 0845 230 9769 after 8 April, 2008.
limited ticket concessions and free tickets for students are available for specific performances only. See website and Shophound Alexia's Free London for details. Disabled carers free.
London Transport: Nearest Tube. Kensington, (Olympia); Holland Park:
Description: This is Glyndebourne in a London setting. Dress up, order a champagne picnic with reserved table in the theatre and enjoy a fabulous evening of Opera sung by top international singers in the stunning Opera Holland Park theatre.
2008 Festival programme: Il Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi. June 3, 5, 7, 12, 14, 18, 20. Charity Gala in aid of NSPCC on June 10
La Fille du Régiment by Gaetano Donizetti. June 4, 6, 11, 13, 17, 19, 21.
The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. June 28, 30, July 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12.
Tosca by Giacomo Puccini. July 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13. Charity Gala in aid of Venice in Peril on July 9.
La Gioconda by Amilcare Ponchielli. July 22, 24, 26, 30, August 1, 5, 7, 9.
Iolanta by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. July 25, 29, 31, August 2, 6, 8.
Dress: An opportunity to dress up for a smart evening.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes to all but the Terrace. Check website for special arrangements. Accessible Toilets.

City of London Festival.
Venue:Various, including St. Paul's Cathedral, 6 historic City churches rebuilt by Wren after the 1666 fire, the Museum of London, and Bank of England.
Dates: 20 June - 15 August, Day and Evenings. 2008.
Tickets:From £5- £45. Plus free open air events.
London Transport:Nearest Tube: St. Paul's, Bank, Blackfriars, Chancery Lane.
Description: A summer feast of international classical, contemporary, jazz and World Music and the arts, covering orchestral and chamber music, recitals, opera, literature, visual arts, film, a student film and video competition and architectural walks and talks. In addition there is a programme of jazz, late night comedy, and other entertainment afloat on the River Thames and lots of free open air gigs and street entertainment. See website for full details, booking info, etc.
Dress:No dress code.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Check website for Wheelchair Accessibility, special seating arrangements, and Accessible Toilets at individual venues and events.

15th Observer Meltdown Festival
Venue: South Bank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX.
Dates: 14 - 22 June, 2008.
Tickets: Check website for details or telephone 08703 800 400.
London Transport: Embankment, Waterloo Station
Description: A musical highlight in London's summer calendar. Unlike other music festivals it is curated by a different well-known musician every year (past curators include David Bowie, Lee Scratch Perry, Morrissey, Patti Smith). This year musical innovators Massive Attack are in the driving seat. They are taking over all 21 acres of Southbank Centre - including the riverside, Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall - for nine days of concerts, DJ sets, talks, films, and visual art as diverse as Massive Attack's many influences and interests. Details to be announced at time of writing
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes. Check website for special ticket arrangements. Accessible Toilets.
Dine before or after the event at Southbank Centre's excellent Skylon, nearby Oxo Tower or Yakitori, all overlooking the Thames and featured in Offtolondon's Dining Out.

Antiquarian Book Fair, Olympia
Venue:Olympia 2, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX.
Date: Thurs: 4pm-9pm, Fri: 11am-7pm, Sat 11am-6pm. 5 - 7 June, 2008.
Tickets:
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Sloane Square, (Circle & District Line).
Description: 150 leading international antiquarian booksellers are offering the 'crème de la crème' of what is on the market in art, travel, gastronomy and science to sport, natural history, literature, fashion and children's books. The Fair, organized by the prestigious Antique Booksellers Association, is the largest and most prestigious event of its kind in Europe and the oldest established book fair in the world. It encompasses illuminated manuscripts, early printed books, prints, maps, atlases, letters, autographs, vintage photographs and modern first editions right up to Harry Potter. This fair is the perfect place to browse, discuss, compare and buy; prices range from £50 to £500000.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes. Mobility friendly toilet facilities available.

London Map Fair
Venue: Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington gore, SW7.+44 (0)20 7370 8212
Date: Midday-7pm, 7 June; 10am-5pm 8 June, 2008.
Tickets: Admission by complimentary ticket. Print out complimentary entry tickets admitting Two..
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge; High Street Kensington.
Description: The London Map Fair provides a forum for collectors, curators & dealers from all over the world to buy and sell antique atlases, maps, sea charts, town plans, globes, topographical views, panoramas & prints. Once a year up to forty specialist dealers from Europe, America and the UK gather here with a display of thousands of well researched items covering all parts of the world. .
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes. Mobility friendly toilet facilities available

Grosvenor Fair 2008
Venue: Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, W.1.
Date: 11 - 18 June, 2008. Times vary.
Tickets: £16 Single; £27 Double; £65 Private View; £100, Gala View; £350 Charity Gala Evening Book your tickets Online.
London Transport: Hyde Park Corner.
Description:London's longest established social and charity event in the antiques trade. This is an exceptional opportunity to purchase some of the most amazing works of art on the market today from some 80 top international specialist dealers from UK, Europe and New York.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Yes. Mobility friendly toilet facilities available.

Antiques and Art Auctions
London's four major auction houses, Bonham's, Christie's, Sotheby's and Phillips de Pury, all hold important sales during June to coincide with the influx of interested collectors and dealers for the Olympia and Grosvenor House Fairs. You can log onto their website and register an interest, view online, download or buy their sales catalogues, open a bidding account and attend a sale.
Bonham's 101 New Bond Street, W1S 1SR. Tel: 0207 447 7447 .
Christies, 85 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3LD. Tel: 020 7930 6074.
Phillips de Pury, 9 Howick Place, SW1.
Sotheby's, 34-35 New Bond Street, W1. Tel: 020 7293 5000.

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The Central London congestion charge zone for visitors driving in London now covers all main areas of attraction on the north side of the Thames. It makes sense to travel by London Transport bus or Tube. Buy a great value multi-journey London Transport Travelcard or Oyster Card before you arrive, (available in most countries), and save money, time and hassle.