Calendar of Events

January

January Sales. Most shops offer good reductions at this time. Many sales start as early as late December to beat the post-Christmas slump.

London Parade. Bands, floats, and carriages contribute to the merriment as the parade wends its way from Parliament Square to Berkeley Square in Mayfair. January 1. Procession starts around noon.

London Boat Show, ExCel, Docklands, E16 XL. The largest boat show in Europe. Call tel. 0870/060-0246 or visit www.londonboatshow.com for details. Mid-January.

Charles I Commemoration. This is the anniversary of the execution of King Charles I "in the name of freedom and democracy." Hundreds of cavaliers march through central London in 17th-century dress, and prayers are said at the Banqueting House in Whitehall. Free. Call tel. 0870/751-5178 for details. Last Sunday in January.

February

Chinese New Year. The famous Lion Dancers appear in Soho. Free. Either late January or early February (based on the lunar calendar). Call tel. 0870/156-6366 for schedule and event details.

Great Spitalfields Pancake Race, Old Spitalfields Market, Brushfield Street, E1. Teams of four run in relays, tossing pancakes. To join in, call tel. 020/7375-0441 or visit www.alternativearts.co.uk. At noon on Shrove Tuesday (last day before Lent).

March

St. David's Day, Chelsea Barracks. A member of the Royal Family presents the Welsh Guards with the principality's national emblem, a leek. Call tel. 020/7234-5800 for more information. March 1 (or the nearest Sun).

Oranges and Lemons Service, at St. Clement Danes, the Strand, WC2. As a reminder of the nursery rhyme "Bells of St. Clements," children are presented with the fruits during the church service, and the church bells ring out the rhyme (part of which is "Oranges and Lemons, Say the bells of St. Clements") at 9am, noon, and 6pm; call tel. 020/7242-8282; www.st-clement-danes.co.uk for information. Third week of March.

Westminster Abbey on Holy Week Tuesday; call tel. 020/7654-4900; www.westminster-abbey.org for information. Free. Late March or early April.

April

Easter Parade. Floats, marching bands, and a full day of Easter Sunday activities enliven Battersea Park. Free. Easter Sunday.

Harness Horse Parade. A morning parade of heavy-working horses in superb gleaming brass harnesses and plumes, at Battersea Park. Call tel. 017/3764-6132; www.lhhp.co.uk. Easter Monday.

Boat Race, Putney to Mortlake. Oxford and Cambridge universities' rowing teams ("eights") battle upstream with awesome power. Park yourself at one of the Thames-side pubs along the route to see the action. Early April; call tel. 020/7780-6999; www.theboatrace.org.

Flora London Marathon. Thirty thousand competitors run from Greenwich Park to Buckingham Palace. Call tel. 020/7902-0200 or visit www.london-marathon.co.uk for more information or to register for the marathon. Mid- to late April.

The Queen's Birthday. The Queen's birthday is celebrated with 21-gun salutes in Hyde Park and by troops in parade dress on Tower Hill at noon. April 21.

National Gardens Scheme. More than 3,000 private gardens in London are open to the public on set days, and tea is sometimes served. Pick up the NGS guidebook for £8 ($15) from most bookstores, or contact the National Gardens Scheme Charitable Trust, Hatchlands Park, East Clandon, Guildford, Surrey GU4 7RT (tel. 014/8321-1535; www.ngs.org.uk). Late April to early May.

May

Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival, Covent Garden. There is a procession of puppets, puppeteers, and a brass band at 10am; a service at St. Paul's on Bedford Street at 10:30am; then Punch and Judy shows until 6pm at the site where British diarist Pepys watched them in 1662. Everything is free. Call tel. 020/7375-0441; www.alternativearts.co.uk for details. Second Sunday in May.

The Royal Windsor Horse Show, Home Park, Windsor Castle. You might spot a royal at this multiday horse-racing and horse-showing event. Call tel. 01753/860-633-0633 or visit www.royal-windsor-horse-show.co.uk for more details. Mid-May.

Glyndebourne Festival Opera Season, Sussex. The Glyndebourne Festival presents opera performances in a beautiful setting, with champagne picnics before and between the shows. Since the completion of the Glyndebourne opera house, one of the world's best, tickets are a bit easier to come by. Call tel. 1273/812-321 or visit www.glyndebourne.com for a schedule and to purchase tickets. The season runs from mid-May to late August.

Chelsea Flower Show, Chelsea Royal Hospital. This show exhibits the best of British gardening, with displays of plants and flowers from all seasons. The show runs from 8am to 8pm; tickets are £18 to £40 ($34-$76). Tickets must be purchased in advance; they are available through the Royal Horticultural Society (www.rhs.org.uk). Call tel. 0845/260-5000 for information. Four days in May.

June

Trooping the Colour, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall. The official birthday of the Queen (as opposed to her actual birthday, which is Apr 21) is held on a designated date in June. Seated in a carriage, the monarch inspects her regiments and takes their salute as they parade their colors. It's a quintessentially British event, with exquisite pageantry and pomp. Tickets for the parade and for two reviews, held on preceding Saturdays, are allocated by ballot. Those interested in attending must apply for tickets between January 1 and the end of February, enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope or International Reply Coupon -- exact dates and ticket prices are supplied later. The drawing is held in mid-March, and successful applicants only are informed in April. For details, and to apply for tickets, write to HQ Household Division, Horse Guards, Whitehall, London SW1X 6AA, enclosing a self-addressed envelope and International Reply Coupon (available at any post office). Call tel. 020/7976-0850; www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk for more information.

Vodafone Derby Stakes, Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom, Surrey. These famous horse races constitute the best-known event on the British horse-racing calendar. It's also a chance for men to wear top hats and women, including the Queen, to put on silly millinery creations. Grandstand tickets range from £28 to £35 ($53-$67). Call tel. 01372/726311 or visit www.epsomderby.co.uk for more information and to buy tickets. The "darby" (as it's pronounced) is run the first week in June.

Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition, Burlington House in Piccadilly Circus, W1. The Royal Academy, founded in 1768 with Sir Joshua Reynolds as president and Thomas Gainsborough as a member, has sponsored summer exhibitions of living painters' work for some 2 centuries. Visitors can browse and purchase art. Call tel. 0870/848-8484 or visit www.royalacademy.org.uk for details. Early June to mid-August.

Grosvenor House Art and Antique Fair, Le Méridien Grosvenor House, 86-90 Park Lane, W1 3AA. This is a very prestigious antiques fair featuring the world's leading dealers and more than £400 million ($760 million) worth of fine art and antiques. Call tel. 020/7399-8100 or visit www.grosvenor-antiquesfair.co.uk for more information. Second week of June.

Royal Ascot Week, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7JN. Ascot Racecourse is open year-round for guided tours, events, exhibitions, and conferences. There are 25 race days throughout the year, with the feature race meetings being the Royal Meeting in June, Diamond Day in late July, and the Festival at Ascot in late September. For Royal Ascot week, which runs from mid- to late June, everyone (including the Queen) shows up in their finery to watch 24 races over 4 days. For further information and tickets, call tel. 0870/727-1234 or visit www.ascot.co.uk. Tickets should be purchased in advance. Mid- to late June.

Lawn Tennis Championships, Wimbledon, Southwest London. Ever since players in flannels and bonnets took to the grass courts at Wimbledon in 1877, this tournament has drawn a socially prominent crowd. You'll still find an excited hush at Centre Court (where the most hotly contested championship matches are held). Savoring strawberries and cream is part of the experience. Tickets for Centre and Number One courts are handed out through a lottery; write to All England Lawn Tennis Club, P.O. Box 98, Church Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 5AE (tel. 020/8944-1066) between August and December. Include a self-addressed and stamped envelope with your letter. A number of tickets are set aside for visitors from abroad, so you may be able to purchase some in spring for this year's games; call to inquire. Outside court tickets are available daily, but be prepared to wait in line. Call tel. 020/8944-1066 or visit www.wimbledon.org. Late June to early July.

City of London Festival. This is an annual arts celebration held throughout the city. Call tel. 0845/120-7502 or visit www.colf.org for information about programs and venues. Late June to early July.

Shakespeare Under the Stars, Open Air Theatre, Inner Circle, Regent's Park, NW1 4NU. If you want to see Macbeth, Hamlet, or Romeo and Juliet (or any other Shakespeare play), our advice is to bring a blanket and a bottle of wine to watch the Bard's works performed at the Open Air Theatre. Performances are Monday through Saturday at 8pm, plus Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 2:30pm. Call tel. 0845/673-2154 or visit www.openairtheatre.org.uk for more information and to buy tickets. There is an on-site box office, but it's best to purchase tickets in advance. Previews begin in late June, and the season lasts until early September.

July

Kenwood Lakeside Concerts, north side of Hampstead Heath. Fireworks and laser shows enliven the excellent performances at these annual outdoor concerts on Hampstead Heath. Classical music drifts across the lake to the fans every Saturday and Sunday in summer from early July to late August. Call tel. 0870/156-6366 for a schedule and information and to buy tickets. Tickets are popular, so buy yours in advance. Early July to late August.

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, East Molesey, Surrey. This 5-day international flower show is eclipsing its sister show in Chelsea; here, you can purchase the exhibits on the last day. Call tel. 0845/260-5000 or visit www.rhs.org.uk for exact dates and details. Early to mid-July.

Diamond Day, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7JN. This is one of the most important horse races on the international racing calendar. The major event of Ascot's summer season, it is a stylish sporting and social occasion where Brits appear in all their finery. More than £1 million ($1,900,000) in prize money is at stake at this horse race, and the world's greatest thoroughbreds are on display here. Tickets must be booked early. For more information, call tel. 087/0727-1234 or visit www.ascot.co.uk. End of July.

The Proms, Royal Albert Hall. "The Proms" -- the annual Henry Wood Promenade Concerts at Royal Albert Hall -- attract music aficionados from around the world. Staged daily, the concerts were launched in 1895 and are the principal summer venue for the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Banners, balloons, and Union Jacks on parade contribute to the festive summer atmosphere. Call tel. 020/7589-8212 or visit www.bbc.co.uk/proms for more information and for tickets. Tickets should be bought in advance. Mid-July to mid-September.

August

Notting Hill Carnival, Notting Hill. This is one of the largest street festivals in Europe, attracting more than a half-million people annually. You'll find live reggae and soul music combined with great Caribbean food. Free. Call tel. 020/7727-0072 or visit www.portowebbo.co.uk for information. Two days in late August (usually the last Sun and Mon).

September

Chelsea Antiques Fair, Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Road, SW3. This is a gathering of England's best antiques dealers. Call tel. 018/2574-4074 or visit www.penman-fairs.co.uk. Mid-September.

Open House, citywide. During this 2-day event, the public has access to buildings of architectural significance that are normally closed. Visit www.londonopenhouse.org for a schedule and further information. Mid- to late September.

Horse of the Year Show, NEC Arena, Birmingham. This is the premier equestrian event on the English calendar. Riders fly in from all over to join in this festive event of jumping competitions, parading, and pony showing. For more information, call tel. 0870/777-4567 or visit www.hoys.co.uk. End of September to early October.

Raising of the Thames Barrier, Unity Way, SE18. Once a year, in September, a full test is done on the flood barrier. All 10 of the massive steel gates are raised out of the river for inspection, and you can get a close look at this miracle of modern engineering. Call tel. 020/8854-1373 for the exact date and time (usually a Sun near the end of Sept).

The Ascot Festival, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7JN. This is Britain's greatest horse-racing weekend, providing the grand finale to the summer season at Ascot. The 3-day "meeting" combines some of the most valuable racing of the year with other entertainment. A highlight of the festival is the £250,000 ($475,000) Watership Down Stud Sales race restricted to 2-year-old fillies. Other racing highlights include the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, with the winning horse crowned champion miler in Europe. To book tickets, call tel. 0870/727-1234 or visit www.ascot.co.uk. Last weekend in September.

October

Opening of Parliament, House of Lords, Westminster. The monarch opens Parliament in the House of Lords by reading an official speech written by the Prime Minister's office. The Queen rides from Buckingham Palace to the House of Lords in a royal coach accompanied by the Yeoman of the Guard and the Household Cavalry. The Strangers' Gallery at the House of Lords is open to spectators on a first-come, first-served basis. Call tel. 020/7219-3000 or visit www.parliament.uk. Late October to mid-November.

Judges Service, Westminster Abbey. The judiciary attends a service in Westminster Abbey to mark the opening of the law term. Afterward, in full regalia -- wigs and all -- they form a procession and walk to the House of Lords for their "Annual Breakfast." You'll have a great view of the procession from behind the Abbey. First Monday in October at 10am.

Quit Rents Ceremony, Royal Courts of Justice, WC2. The City Solicitor pays one of the Queen's officials a token rent for properties leased from the kingdom long, long ago. Two fagots of wood, a billhook, and a hatchet pay for land in Shropshire, and 61 nails and 6 horseshoes pay for a long-gone forge in the Strand. Call tel. 020/7947-6000 for free tickets. Early October.

November

Guy Fawkes Night. On the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, an attempt to blow up King James I and his Parliament, huge bonfires are lit throughout the city and Guy Fawkes, the most famous conspirator, is burned in effigy. Free. Check Time Out for locations. November 5.

Lord Mayor's Procession and Show, from the Guildhall to the Royal Courts of Justice, in The City of London. This annual event marks the inauguration of the new lord mayor of The City of London. The Queen must ask permission to enter the City -- a right jealously guarded by London merchants during the 17th century. You can watch the procession from the street; the show is by invitation only. Call tel. 020/7222-4345 or visit www.lordmayorshow.org for more information. Second Saturday in November.

December

Caroling under the Norwegian Christmas Tree. There's caroling most evenings beneath the tree in Trafalgar Square. December.

Harrods After-Christmas Sale, Knightsbridge. Call tel. 020/7730-1234 or visit www.harrods.com for dates. Truly voracious shoppers camp overnight outside the store so that they have first pickings. Late December.

Watch Night, St. Paul's Cathedral. A lovely New Year's Eve service takes place at 11:30pm. Call tel. 020/7236-4128 or visit www.stpauls.co.uk for information. December 31.