Page 62 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

60  INTRODUCING L ONDON

LONDON THROUGH THE YEAR

Springtime in London carries an almost theatre, cinema screenings and summer
tangible air of a city waking up to longer days food fiestas. As autumn takes hold, Londoners’
and outdoor pursuits. The cheerful yellow of thoughts turn to afternoons in museums,
daffodils studs the parks and Londoners turn followed by tea and cake. The year draws
out for their first jog of the year, puffing in to a close with Guy Fawkes fireworks, then
the wake of serious runners training for the Christmas markets and outdoor ice rinks.
London Marathon. As spring turns into The official visitor organization Visit London,
summer, the royal parks reach their full glory www.visitlondon.com (see p358), and the
as they, along with many other open spaces, listings magazines (see p338) have details
host a season of musical festivals, open-air of seasonal events.

Spring
The weather during the spring
months may be raw, and an
umbrella is a necessary
precaution. Around Easter,
Oxford and Cambridge
universities compete in their
annual boat race along the
Thames, and marathon runners
pound the streets. Footballers
close their season in May
with the FA Cup Final, while
cricketers don their sweaters
to begin theirs. Meanwhile,
painters hope to have their
works accepted by the
Royal Academy. Runners in the London Marathon pound the city’s streets passing Tower Bridge
March April Bridge are staked out hours
Head of the River Race (Sat Queen’s Birthday gun salutes before the race; canny spectators
mid-Mar or early Apr). More (21 Apr), Hyde Park, Tower of find a place near one of the
than 400 teams row from London (see p58). London Docklands Light Railway stations
Mortlake to Putney in a Marathon (Sun in Apr or May). or join the crowds on the
timed race on the ebb tide. Around 38,000 elite and novice Embankment to cheer the now-
A couple of weeks later, the athletes run the 42.2 km (26.2 weary runners on to the end.
more famous Oxford and mile) course from Blackheath to
Cambridge boat race (Sat the Mall. Prime viewing spots at May
late Mar or early Apr) takes the start and finish and on Tower First and last Mon are public
place over the same route holidays. FA Cup Final, football
in the opposite direction. season’s climax. Beating the
Riverside viewing spots Bounds (Ascension Day),
and nearby pubs teem with throughout the City. Children,
spectators. Spring Equinox clergy and locals from the City
celebration (21 Mar), Tower Hill parishes use sticks to “beat”
EC3. Historic pagan ceremony buildings that mark the parish
with modern-day druids. boundaries. Oak Apple Day
(29 May), Royal Hospital Chelsea
Easter (see p59). Covent Garden May
Good Friday and Easter Monday Fayre and Puppet Festival
are public holidays. Easter (mid-May), St Paul’s Church,
services held at all London Covent Garden (see p118).
churches, including Westminster Chelsea Flower Show (5 days
Abbey (see pp80–83). Look out for in late May), Royal Hospital
kids’ activities, such as Easter egg Chelsea. London’s biggest,
hunts, around the city, including most spectacular horticultural
at Kew Gardens (see pp266–7) The Holy Cross being carried through the event. State Opening of
and Greenwich (see pp240–47). streets during the Good Friday procession Parliament (see p58).

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