Lots of alfresco fun as the sun (hopefully) comes out to play!

Well, spring was slightly disappointing with the weather… but let’s hope it FINALLY warms up in June now summer has finally begun. Although admittedly this summer won’t be as exciting as last year without the Olympics/Paralympics and Diamond Jubilee, there’s still plenty going on.

• 2 June : Soho Flea Market

Soho’s Dean Street will be closed to traffic for this one-day only market featuring stalls from artisans, artists, fashion designers and jewellery designers, while filmmakers will exhibit and sell their works directly to the public. Noon until 8pm. Nearest tube: Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Tottenham Court Road or Leicester Square. For more information, visit the City Showcase Markets website.

• 3 – 9 June : Stoke Newington Literary Festival

A festival featuring readings, workshops and performances at venues across the suburb, including the Town Hall, Library and Abney Park Cemetery. Tickets range from free to £10. Caitlin Moran, Danny Baker and Cleo Rocos among the names taking part. For more information and tickets, visit the Stoke Newington Literary Festival website.

• 6 – 15 June : Terracotta Far East Film Festival

Films, events, masterclasses and parties celebrating the best of Far East cinema. Taking place at the Prince Charles Cinema in Chinatown and ICA in The Mall. For schedule and tickets, visit the Terracotta Festival website.

• 7 – 9 June : MINT Polo In The Park

Bringing polo from the country estates into London. As well as watching the polo, there is plenty of entertainment and food and drink venues, including Kerb Gourmet Street Food; Pommery Champagne Garden; Mahiki Bar; The Polo Bar; The Pimms’ bus; luxury shopping village and Club Med Kids. Tickets start from £20-35 (adults), £10-£15 (children). Hurlingham Park, Fulham, SW6 3RH. Nearest tube: Putney Bridge or Parson’s Green. For more information and tickets, visit MINT Polo In The Park’s website. To read about Metro Girl’s visit to the polo, check out this post.

• 7 – 16 June : London Jewellery Week

The biggest jewellery festival in the UK, taking places at various venues across the capital including Somerset House and Spitalfields Market. Featuring markets, pop-up shops, parties, workshops and open studios. For more information, visit the Jewellery Week website.

Be a big kid at London Zoo Lates

• 7 June – 26 Jul (Fridays only) : London Zoo Lates

Visit London’s iconic zoo after-hours on Fridays in June and July. All the usual fun… except with alcohol and no screaming children! Includes pop-up bars, live music, food market and other entertainment. Embrace your inner child and rent a costume or buy an animal mask. Metro Girl went last year and a had a great time. Tickets are £25 and must be booked in advance, but sometimes early booking discounts are available. Located on Outer Circle (Regent’s Park), NW1 4RY. Nearest tube: Camden Town or Regent’s Park. For more information, visit the London Zoo website.

• 7 – 22 June : Spitalfields Summer Music Festival

Two week festival incorporating classical music, contemporary music, family activities and bespoke tours. For more information, venues and tickets, visit the Spitalfields Music website.

• 8 June : Venture Cup powerboat race

The Venture Cup – the world’s longest and toughest powerboat race – starts in London. Kicks off 9am at Tower Bridge and moves on to Southend, Essex for the 11am Hot Start. Also on 6 – 7 June will be a free fan event village in Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf featuring lots of nautical fun. Free. Nearest tube: Tower Hill or London Bridge. For more information, visit the Venture Offshore Cup website.

• 8 June – The Big Noise Festival

A one day festival organised by the Big Issue Foundation in Peckham, South London. Featuring live music, comedy, poetry, theatre, and art at the Bussey Building/CLF Arts Café. Money raised going to help the homeless. Advanced tickets £10 or £12 on the door. Starts at 2pm. 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST. Nearest train: Peckham Rye. For more information, visit the Big Noise Festival website.

• 8 – 9 June : Open Garden Square Weekend

Two day event where private squares and community squares that are normally off-limits to the public open their doors. Tickets cost £10 and give you access to all gardens and a guidebook. For more information, visit the Open Square website.

• Now until 9 June : Chelsea Fringe at Battersea Power Station

As part of the city-wide Chelsea Fringe Festival, the newly opened temporary park at Battersea Power Station will host sculptures, interactive activities, markets and food stalls during weekends. Free. 188 Kirtling Street, SW8 5BN. Nearest rail station: Queenstown Road or Vauxhall. For more information and detailed opening hours, visit the Battersea Power Station website.

• 9 June : Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair 2013

Once a year there’s a chance to pick up some bargains from the art world. As well as over 70 pitches, there will also be a chance to play Pass the Art Parcel and dance at the Handbag Disco. From 12-6pm. Brick Lane Yard (corner of Brick Lane and Buxton Street), E1. Nearest overground: Shoreditch High Street. For more information, visit the Art Car Boot Fair website.

Watch the Royal Ballet or some of the West End’s biggest shows in Trafalgar Square

• 13 June : BP Big Screen – Mayerling

The Royal Ballet’s latest production will be beamed live from the Royal Opera House to big screens around the UK, including Trafalgar Square, Victoria Park, Walthamstow Town Square and General Gordon Square in Woolwich. Free. All performances start at 7.30pm.

• 13 – 16 June : Affordable Art Fair

For those among us who aren’t loaded, this event is a chance for people to buy a unique piece of art or photography for their homes at an affordable price. There are over 100 galleries, with pieces for sale ranging for £40 to £4,000. Admission costs £10-£12 in advance, more on the door. Lower Fairground Site, East Heath Road, Hampstead, NW3 1TH. Nearest tube: Hampstead. For more information and tickets, visit the Affordable Art Fair website.

• 13 – 16 June : Wilding Festival

Four day festival in Bloomsbury, named after suffragette Emily Wilding Davison. Described as ‘dynamic and discursive new music, theatre, dance, arts performance, collaboration, discussion and intergenerational community engagement’. Takes place at venues around Bloomsbury. Nearest tube: Russell Square. Tickets range from free to £10. For more information visit the Wilding Festival website.

• 14 – 23 June : Yoko Ono’s Meltdown Festival

This year’s Meltdown Festival on the Southbank has been curated by Yoko Ono. Features performances, talks, a silent disco and screenings of Yoko’s favourite films. Features gigs by Siouxsie, Peaches, Iggy and the Stooges, Boy George, Julianna Barwick and Earl Slick. Tickets range from £10 to £40. Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX. Nearest tube: Waterloo. For booking and more information, visit the Meltdown website.

A bit of olde England: Eltham Palace are hosting a jousting weekend

• 15 – 16 June : Grand Medieval Joust @ Eltham Palace

A weekend of good olde fashioned fun for families. As well as jousting competitions, there will also be jesters, medieval games and a knights training school. Tickets: Adults £12, Children 5-15 years £7.20, but cheaper for English Heritage members. Eltham Palace and Gardens, Eltham, SE9 5QE. Nearest train station: Eltham or Mottingham. For more information and tickets, visit the English Heritage website.

• 20 – 23 June : Taste Of London

The hugely popular food festival returns to Regent’s Park. As well as a host of different cuisines to try, there’s also the chance to attend workshops and talks by Michel Roux Jnr, Gary Rhodes, Matt Hills, amongst others. Will feature pop-ups of London’s best friends, including Gaucho, Theo Randall, Angler and Barbecoa. Tickets start from £25.50 (£28 on the door). Regent’s Park, NW1 4NR. Nearest tube: Regent’s Park. For more information and tickets, visit the Taste Of London website.

• 21 – 29 June : Greenwich and Docklands International Festival

Nine day celebration of free outdoor performing arts, including theatre, dance, and street arts. At various venues across Greenwich and Docklands. For more information, visit the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival website.

• 22 June : Brixton Windmill Parade & Festival

One of South London’s best-kept secrets: a restored mill in the backstreets of Brixton that was built in 1816. The theme of this year’s festival and parade (which starts from Windrush Square in Brixton town centre at 1pm) is ‘cakes, puddings and pies’. Windmill Gardens will play host to entertainment, live music, stalls, farm animals and much more. Free. Windmill Gardens (west end of Blenheim Gardens, off Brixton Hill), Brixton, SW2 5EU. Nearest tube: Brixton. For more information visit the Brixton Windmill website.

• 22 – 23 June : West End LIVE

The casts of some of the West End’s biggest shows perform live in Trafalgar Square over the weekend for free. Sat 22 – 11am-6pm, Sun 23 12noon-6pm. Nearest tube: Charing Cross, Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square. For more information, visit the London.gov.uk website.

• 22 June – 6 July : Shubbak Festival

A celebration of contemporary culture from the Arab world, featuring  exhibitions, concerts, films, plays, family events and talks at venues across London, including the Tate Modern, Lyric Hammersmith and the British Museum. For more information and tickets, visit the Shubbak Festival website.

• 23 June – 26 July : City Of London Festival

One month long festival across the City to entertain residents, workers and visitors. Features music, visual arts, dance, cabaret, film, walks and talks. Includes concerts in St Paul’s Cathedral and circus performances in St Bartholomew-The-Great church and The Gherkin. A majority activities are free, but some performances cost up to £20. For more information, visit the City Of London website.

• 25 – 30 June : Pride London Festival

Six day festival celebrating gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. Featuring music, talks, screenings, walks and performances. Includes a talk by tennis legend Martina Navratilova and the free parade on 29 June from Portman Square (1pm), along Oxford Street, through Soho and finishing in Whitehall around 4pm. For more information, visit the Pride London website.

• 25 June – 10 July : East End Film Festival

Diverse film festival including premieres, industry masterclasses, free pop-up screenings and immersive live events at venues across the East End. For more information, visit the East End Film Festival website.

• 27 – 30 June : Crystal Palace Overground Festival

Four day community arts festival in featuring live music stage, food and craft stalls, arts workshops, sports and children’s activities. Takes place around the Crystal Palace triangle. Nearest train/Overground: Crystal Palace. For more information, visit the festival website.

• 30 June : Dragon Boat Festival

40 dragon boat teams will race at the London Regatta Centre in Docklands. As well the race, the free festival includes martial arts displays, live East West music festival, traditional lion and dragon dancing, a Hong Kong food festival, cultural festival and children’s games. 10am-5pm. Nearest tube: Royal Albert (DLR). For more information, visit the London Chinatown Lions Club website.

Ready for a laugh: Udderbelly Festival takes place on the Southbank until July

• Now until 14 July : Udderbelly Festival

Udderbelly returns to the Southbank for a fifth year, featuring three months of comedy, circus, cabaret and family shows at affordable prices in an inflatable upside down cow venue. Jubilee Gardens, off Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Nearest tube: Waterloo. For more information and tickets, visit the Udderbelly website.

• Now until 29 September : London Wonderground

The London Wonderground Festival returns to the Southbank for a second year – an entertainment and cabaret extravaganza in Jubilee Gardens, near the foot of the London Eye and by the Southbank Centre. It includes cabaret, children’s show, comedy, burlesque and alfresco drinking. Open all day untill 11pm every night. Free to get in, but entry fee for shows. Jubilee Gardens, off Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Nearest tube or train: Waterloo, Embankment or Westminster. For more information, visit the Wonderground website. To read Metro Girl’s post on this year’s Wonderground, read London Wonderground 2013: Alfresco fun, cabaret and circus comes to the Southbank

• Now until late September : Gorilla Circus – Flying Trapeze School

Gorilla Circus returns to Regent’s Park for its summer season. Metro Girl went last year and had a really good time – read what happened here. Beginners classes start from £26 for two hours. Booking must be done in advance, which is available on the Gorilla Circus website.

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