A Look at the City of London Festival in England

The City of London Festival in England combines the diversity of art, music, street theatre, and dance. This year, the festival takes place from June 20 to July 10, 2008. Many of the venues are free, so take advantage of all these rich, cultural activities. The traditional bell ringing at St. Mary-le-Bow gets the festivities started. Hailed as the spiritual centre of London, St. Mary's is home to the famous "Bow Bells," which every true cockney should recognize.

The festival continues with the opening procession on June 20. Music by the Baja Brass Band, art, dance, and a performance by the London Youth Circus will flow through the streets.

Join the crowds at St. Paul's Cathedral to hear Bandhni Beats. Bandhni Beats features three primary schools, combining bankhni art with bharatanatyam and bhangra dancing. The kids will enjoy Conversations in a Railway Carriage. Primary students manipulate giant rod puppets, which are based on the Panchatantra, and hear fun stories about the railways of India.

On July 10th, St. Paul's Cathedral comes alive with the music of the London Symphony Orchestra. Listen to the stirring music, while taking in the magnificent mosaics, and intricate stone carvings that decorate the interior.

Part of what makes the City of London Festival so enchanting, is the beautiful, majestic surroundings that the events are held in. Finbury Circus Gardens is the oldest park in London, and the lush, green surroundings make it perfect for a quiet lunch. The bandstand in the centre hosts public jazz concerts during the City of London England Festival.

If you like comedy, you'll want to see the "Late Bloomers" at the New Swiss Cinema. Instead of aging gracefully, the late bloomers decide to age ungracefully, and shock their younger counterparts. Reservations can be made at the festival website at www.colf.org.

Take part in a city walk. For the ghoulish, join the Narratives, Slippage, and Ghosts Walk with Irene Gunston, on July 5 at noon.

No visit to London is complete without a tour of the Tower of London. The Tower of London, commonly known as Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, is a historic fortress that sits on the north bank of the River Thames. View the White Tower, and see the original armor worn by Henry VIII and Charles I. Experience what life was like 500 years ago as a prisoner in the Beauchamp Towers. If you come on the right day, you may get to see the Crown Jewels. Book a tour through Gray Line Golden Tours, and plan on spending at least 2-3 hours in order to see everything. The tour website is www.goldentours.co.uk/tower_of_london/

Information about how to access the venues is provided at the festival website, www.colf.org. Please call in advance, if special accommodations for a disabled person are needed. Some of the venues have ramps or lifts.

For the festival activities that charge a fee, tickets can be bought at the website. If you join the email list at the festival website, you'll receive the latest updates and news about the festival, as well as priority booking.