Nearly 4000 people are expected to attend one of the biggest singing and dancing London events — Various Voices 2009. It is also among the most remarkable social events in the European gay community and is held every four years. The host city is changed every time and this time the honour has come to London. This year, it is bound to emerge as the city’s most captivating social events, since the theme is based on removing discriminations and pre-conceived prejudices that are creating the violence that affects the entire global society. This makes it a slightly different edition of Various Voices, as traditionally, being one of the most noted gay events, it stressed upon engaging more attention towards the cause of LGBT identity, i.e. lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. The most notable factor that has added more prestige to Various Voices and increased its chances of being counted among London’s most sought-after music events has been its recognition in the form of being awarded with the Olympics 2012 Inspire Mark.

This directly propels it among the most elite list of London gay events, as no other notable gay/lesbian choir festival from the city has ever had the opportunity of upholding Olympic honours of any kind. Various Voices is also known as The European Festival of Song and it is traditionally known to attract the best of talent among the gay and lesbian choirs from across Europe. The last edition of Various Voices (2005) was held in Paris and it was due to the combined efforts of London-based organisations like The London Gay Men’s Chorus, Diversity and The Pink Singers that it has finally come to London. The fact that Various Voices will bring together participants even beyond the European nations is bound to add to its international appeal. It is already making an impact as one of the most eagerly-awaited London events, as more than 2000 singers would converge on the city for the 50 scheduled concerts. It is among those rare music events that allow participants to make the transition from being a novice to a more complete performer.

Further, maintaining its reputation of being counted among the savvy international gay events, training in musical queer studies and beatboxing is also offered. Being one of the most elaborately arranged musical London events, it will be organised over an entire weekend, i.e. from the 01st to 04th May. Various Voices is among the most exclusive of social events to be held in London as it offers several workshops preceding the main event that provide an unmatched opportunity for music lovers to collaborate with their international counterparts. The chosen venue for Various Voices 2009 is Southbank Centre, which is ideal since it boasts of multiple transport service options. Those intending to choose public transport to reach Southbank could try the underground Waterloo and Embankment services or the bus services operating from Waterloo Bridge, Stamford Street, York Road and Belvedere Road. Another option could be using the main rail line of Waterloo East or Charing Cross. A crucial factor for ensuring your seat at such mega London events is about getting your reservations in advance and the craze for Various Voices too is beginning to show.

One of the most reputed art events in London titled ‘Challenging the Past’ is currently underway at the National Gallery. It is among the few London events to have gained the reputation of featuring some of the rarest creations by Picasso. The four-month marathon art exhibition is the endeavour of the National Gallery of London. It has already seen its share of art lovers thronging to see some never-seen-before creations by the maestro, Picasso. It is among the most exclusive of art events across the entire European continent that boasts of displaying masterpieces belonging to the earliest years of Picasso’s career. ‘Challenging the Past’ has a structured feel to it, as it isn't like the usual arts shows that tend to display random creations of a well-known artist. The display has been organised in such a manner that the creations are systematically laid out as they were created by Picasso along his journey of life, the last ones pertaining to his finals days. The fact is that the mere venue of this Picasso exhibition establishes it among the most prestigious of London events, i.e. the National Gallery — the most sought-after venue for art exhibitions in the city. However, it has also managed to make a mark among London’s upmarket social events.

The reason lies in the universal appeal of Picasso’s work and something unusual about this art event — it is able to highlight the various art styles that seemed to merge in Picasso’s work and how his creations over a period of time responded to the changing art styles, including some major artistic revolutions. This transformation is something that is not commonly found in most art shows exhibiting Picasso works. Art aficionados are already saying that they have not seen art exhibitions of this magnitude and that too enriched with so much insight. This has further catalyzed an insatiable demand among the remotest of artistically-inclined folks in London to attend this exhibition, positioning it amongst the educated and distinctively-positioned London social events. However, what makes it a complete London social event and stand apart from the usual art events is the inspiration that is visible at the National Café at the Gallery.

They have created an extraordinary Picasso menu that is inspired from authentic Spanish cuisines, as Spain was Picasso’s homeland. Not many art exhibitions can offer a three-course Spanish menu at £21.50 with native Spanish recipes delivered across an exhaustively detailed menu range. Just consider this — how many art shows and London social events can boast of being able to offer some bottles of the finest wines, like Riojas, at an unbelievable discount of 50 percent! In a way, the London Picasso exhibition can be termed as a collaborative art exhibition, since contributions have bee made by the Musee National Picasso and Musee de Louvre, both from Paris. As a result, some truly exceptional Picasso creations like ‘The Reclining Nude’ have been displayed. This exhibition is scheduled from 25th February to 7th June 2009. This makes the ongoing Picasso Exhibition among the few artistic London events that have seen such elaborate partnership among international art galleries. Admission for children under the age of 12 is free and adult tickets are priced at £12.50, whereas 12 to 18 year-olds would have to pay £6.00 to gain admission.

The British Music Experience is among the most anticipated musical London events and is a must-see extravaganza for every music follower. It is one of the rare music events that are aimed at presenting both the contemporary and historic forms of British music. The British Music Experience 2009 includes a multitude of musical offerings in the form of presenting performances based on the most famous of musical acts and bands of the yesteryears and a live commentary on the present-day music scene. It is has been counted among the most happening of London’s social events as it is not often that the last sixty years of British music are celebrated under one roof, i.e. the O2 Arena. The Experience is among those rare musical shows that delve beyond the realm of just putting-up enthralling performances. It promised and has delivered to be the most interactive of music events that Britain has ever witnessed. The British Music Experience has already begun at the O2 Arena and has been seeing packed houses since its first show on 09th March 2009 and will continue to captivate audiences till 15th January 2010.

The Experience provides every individual at the O2, a chance of recording their songs along with the chance to pick-up instrumental skills from the legends of the business who will be at the venue. The O2 Arena presents a never-before opportunity to visit the Gibson Interactive Studio and learn to play the guitar, drums and many other electronic instruments and they will be tutored by KT Tunstall, Amy Macdonald and The Magic Numbers. Music events have never offered such levels of participatory interface and now the initiative has been taken further in the form of offering voice coaching modules. The Experience 2009-2010 is among those unique musical shows that emphasize on letting the audience get close and personal with the kind of music they adore.

The O2 Arena has even arranged for special audio-visual spots that give the attendees an insight into how music is actually produced and presented in the format that we have become so accustomed to seeing. Further, those who are keen to trace the history of music have the opportunity of listening to some never-seen-before interviews and even download rare music numbers from the yesteryears. There have been attempts made in the past to trace the history of British music but none of these London events have been as successful and grandeur in their presentation like the Experience. None of the previously-arranged music events have been able to comprehensively relay the glory of British music scene, starting from the forties in such an engaging manner.

The eternal favourites like the Beatles, Dusty Springfield and the Rolling Stones are there to entertain you and so are the modern-day hit bands like Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys and Oasis. Further, what has augmented British Music Experience’s reputation among the educated London events is the fact that it tries to trace the affect that music has had on the British society over the past few decades. The reason becomes quite apparent — it is hard to think of musical or social events from the present or past age that have been able to highlight the relationship between music and the society including, its fashion trends, the arts and politics. Collectors too can get their hand on some of the most authentic memorabilia of the Rock & Roll decades. Tickets for the British Music Experience cost £10.00 to £15.00 and there are no known age restrictions.

The Street Dance Championship 2009 is the most unique among competitive dance-themed London events. This is the only street dancing competition in London that has engaged both serious fan following and international recognition. It offers plenty of dancing categories for which the Championship is annually held. The categories include solos, pairs, groups, teams and run events, all held in compatibility of the SDI (Street Dance International) rules. More recently, running break-dance solo performances have also been included. To be precise, the Championship is often broken down into regional competitions to comprehensively evaluate the best of London’s streetdancing talent. One such local event is the East London Streetdance Championship. The unexpected worldwide acknowledgment that the Championship has evoked has transformed it amongst the most celebrated of London events. In fact, individuals who win prizes across different categories in the competition are further given the chance to compete for UK national freestyle dancing competitions and the eventual winners get to represent the nation across a series of events held across the world.

However, few people realize the importance of street dancing in terms of making a social impact. G Force Productions — the company that has heralded the cause of freestyle and street dancing in the UK, particularly in and around London, has used this as a way to keep troubled youngsters away from crime and use their energies for a more constructive cause. The growing success of the Street Dance Championships has further made a mark in the society by creating the need to open dancing schools and employ young choreographers, some still studying in schools. This is how the Championship has transformed local competitions based on relatively unknown (unconventional) dancing styles into the most impactful social events held in London. In fact, experts are now saying that the level of skill and concentration exhibited by participants in the competition is at par with Olympic athletes. Further, it has also matured into one of the most recognized networking events for the choreographic community. You will often find small teams of recruiters from across the globe gathered here to pick upon talents that capture their imagination. However, this is not the only aspect about the Championship that has propelled it to the league of career events held in London. Just consider this — Street Dance Championship winners are often offered a chance to take part in international movie projects that have substantial scope for these young artists to display their talents.

More recognition is bound to be provided to the performers through the release of DVDs in the local markets that list the best of Street Dance Championship performances for the year. The Championship is now increasingly being regarded as an international event. 2008 saw an intense USA versus the UK battle and the pattern is bound to continue as dancers from both sides refuse to give each other any sort of breathing space. You can count upon seeing the best of UK's street dancers who are keen to prove that they are the best in this genre. Also on display are some amazing and never-seen-before street dance routines and performances by international teams. Street Dance Championship 2009 is sure to make its mark as the most entertaining of London events and the grand finale for the event will see the contestants being handed the opportunity to compete across two categories of their choice. As the participation frenzy for the main event draws near, you can expect hundreds of local streetdancing events being organised in East London inviting participation from b-boxers, graffiti artists and local musicians, turning it into one of London’s biggest outdoor events.

The most reputed among film-based London events is the East End Film Festival which is into its eight year of running in 2009. This is the most happening of social events that East London plays host to and in 2009 the convergence of world cinema and Britain’s own domestic movie talents will again provide the most unbelievable experience to audiences. The East End Film Festival is now regarded as the ultimate among Britain film shows that showcase the best and breakthrough domestic filmmakers irrespective of their commercial reputation or movie-making pedigree. It is believed that it also serves as the most useful of film-focussed networking events as it witnesses movie-makers from Britain and the best names from European cinema analyse the best of upcoming movie talents. Film shows that cater to the small-scale movie makers often find it difficult to arrange for audiences for first-time movie-makers but the East End Film Festival is known for scheduling independent releases along with showcasing some of the more prominent films that were made during the year. It has now progressed on to become one of the most sought-after of London’s social events simply due to the multitude of film talents that congregate as a part of this film festival.

Like most other film shows, the East End Film Festival too will mark its grand opening ceremony with the screening of a film. However, what makes it different from other movie-centric London events is the fact that the opening movie, called ‘The End’, is not from a noted production house but from a debutant filmmaker. Scheduled at the Genesis Cinema, East End Film Festival’s opening night is an opportunity of window for home-grown British filmmakers. There are a plethora of other noted movies, some relatively unknown, that will be screened as a part of the Festival, making this event a must-attend for any film junkie or those who are on the lookout for watching movies outside the realm of the conventional or the mainstream. It is hard to think of any other film shows that are able to pack-in so many feature film screenings, particularly those that have been developed entirely in Britain and a few with that have sought international collaboration. The East End Festival is now being counted among London’s rare culturally diverse social events, as the emphasis is also on making people realize the cultural diversity that the city has to offer. Just to substantiate this point — the Festival will screen films such as the ‘Four Chapters’. It was shot in collaboration with Indian filmmakers and is about the life of an affluent Hindu family in London that is trying to make the social transition at the turn of the 20th century. Similarly, not many film shows would showcase movies like the ‘Park’ that has an amazingly different or non-conventional theme — it is about the not-so-known green spaces in the London’s landscape.

The East End Film Festival is among those rare London events that cater to ethnic populations that the nation has. It features a special event that applauds the efforts of the black filmmakers that reside in the UK. It is hard to come-up with the name of other social events that boast of special panels and evenings dedicated to discussions regarding the themes and the film representation of issues that are endemic to the city. What further makes it the most comprehensive of film shows is the screening of feature films from the silent cinema genre, including the screening of the classic ‘Nosferatu’. The Festival 2009 is one of those unique London events that have a specially-themed closing event. After the week-long festivities, the closing night will witness the screening of the documentary titled ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’. Venues for this event are spread throughout London and the availability of tickets could be a major issue, so ensure checking the local listings and booking your seat in advance.

Among the most sought-after London events hosted during the summers is the Flower Show held at the Hampton Court Palace. It is held during the month of July and is an absolutely exceptional garden spectacle. It is perhaps the largest in its category, across the globe. It usually lasts for six days and attracts thousands of visitors. Some visitors might complain that the few items that are put-up for purchase at Hampton’s Flower Show are exorbitantly priced but then buying is not really the priority here. This is one of the few botanic-themed London events that ought to be visited just to witness the magnificent display of the unique Water Gardens and all the new concepts that are deemed as bright prospects for fame in the world of garden designing. This is one of those rare outdoor events that focus on domestic gardens and this exemplifies the uniqueness that is associated with the Hampton Court Show.

The zest to participate and showcase their best can be literally felt as hundreds of nurseries from across the UK display their floral creations in the dedicated exhibition areas. Every year, there are some specific themes that are the usual crowd-pullers. In 2008, it was the show titled ‘Inspiring Spaces’ that had engaged everyone’s attention. Actually, it was an improvement over its earlier incarnation and for a change, it suggested some very practical household ideas that could be used to lighten-up difficult areas around the house such as the small balconies or your conventional patio. Showcases like this have raised the appeal of the Hampton floral show among those looking to synchronise their Home and Garden spaces.

A perpetual favourite at the Show, for the last few years, has been a collection of ideas that describe in detail how to brighten a typical domestic balcony space through by manipulating container spaces and managing to balance the space shared by the flowers and the people. However, this is just one example from a plethora of ideas that range from the most contemporary to downright conservative. There are ample garden design ideas on exhibition that would appeal to the most unimaginative of garden lovers. Apart from its appeal for people looking to harmonise their Home and Garden spaces, the Show has some seasonal festivals too. The most recent ones include the Festival of Roses that had the most remarkable collection of floral art which stood out because of the manner in which it blended the slightly bizarre patterns with more unadventurous sensibilities. Another usual feature in such outdoor events is the stress laid upon fruit and vegetables derived in the most pure (read organic) way.

It has been some time since literary London events have caught the public attention with such an overwhelming frenzy. The Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake Exhibition, being displayed as a part of the Snozzcumbers and Frobscottle London shows are already enthralling individuals from all walks of life. The Snozzcumbers and Frobscottle London exhibition can be understood as the most exclusive of travelling art shows that London has ever hosted. For the moment, it has been scheduled at the V&A Museum of Childhood and is being organised by the Seven Stories Museum — an establishment that has a reputation for providing the best in children's literature. Some folks have gone on to dub it as among the best of art events that London has witnessed in recent times although it does not boast of any great artists. The reason lies in the wonderful manner in which some brilliant and a few outrightly bizarre creations have been exhibited. Most of them have never been displayed in a public forum and they combine the expanse of Dahl's grand imagination with Blake's sense of creating typically detailed illustrations.

Initially, thought of as an event meant for the children, the Snozzcumbers and Frobscottle London exhibition is now being regarded as one of London’s most prestigious art shows. It has been successful in providing artistic insights to what made Quentin Blake illustrations so amazingly different. Further, this is the first time that an art event has taken the initiative to explain the kind of creative process that that made Dahl's characters so real life-like and hence, engaged the attention of book readers across all genres. The Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake Exhibition has something that no other contemporary art shows can ever offer. It displays Dahl's infamous Norwegian sandal that inspired the now popular BFG footwear design. Also, Dahl and Blake fans must not miss the opportunity to see authentic video footage of Blake’s work in progress, at his London studio — another first-of-a-kind for London art events along with an audio recording of Dahl himself reading his favourite stories. Further, how many exhibitions in London have been able to invite the presence of Quentin Blake in person, who will be at V&A Museum to interact with his fans.

If you are a Big Friendly Giant fan then attending this event cannot be an option for you — no other London exhibition has been able to put-up such a huge BFG cave replica, complete with the essential ingredients, i.e. Snozzcumbers and Frobscottle, along with the Dream Catchers. What started out as a travelling exhibition of the best in children’s literature has now progressed into the most sought-after London events with the best in Dahl and Blake collaboration being put on display. There are ample of resources to explain how this creative team gelled together to create what are essentially contemporary reading masterpieces. Those who had been complaining about the lack of children-themed shows in London that could also serve as entertaining social events for the adults in the family should definitely attend the Snozzcumbers-Frobscottle Exhibition. To popularize it as a part of happening London social events, the entire exhibition is being offered as the ‘Frobscottle Weekend’. It opened with the exhibition ceremony on 2nd May and is scheduled to go on until 6th September 2009. There is no entry fee and there are no age restrictions either. The timings are from 10:00 to 17:45 and the attendance crescendo peaks during the evening hours.