12 Things That Belong On Your London Bucketlist for 2020

The problem with a visit to London si that it’s almost impossible to decide the best time for a visit. With great value, London city break package deals all year round and a broad variety of unique events during every one of the years 56 weeks, it’s easy to pick a time to visit and still suffer from a serious case of FOMO.

It’s difficult because being one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world, London has many events that vie for tourist attention. Whether you’re interested in the heritage, arts or sporting culture in London, the UK capital will always deliver on special events.

2020 looks to be an especially exciting year, with a collection of the annual traditions, alongside new events that are yet to make their mark on the city. Below are just a few of the events that might make you rethink before booking your holiday dates.

The Last Days of Winter Wonderland

While away those New Years blues with a trip to Winter Wonderland. This is a one of a kind winter haven for those who are looking for a little more than just Christmas carols. In Winter Wonderland, you’ll find funfairs, performances, bars and markets, all running until January 6th. This makes it the perfect place to kick off your new year with a little late Christmas festivities.

Vaults Festival

Running from January till March, Vault Festival is one of the cities top theatre and performance festivals. With hundreds of acts taking the Vaults underneath Waterloo by storm, this atmospheric multi-venue theatre festival is a performing arts lovers dream. With a multitude of unique acts and two raucous bar spaces, the Waterloo Vaults festival will host parties, cabarets, theatre performances and unique events to raise those early year blues.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Years takes place in the last week of January this year. With the Year of the Rat coming on January 25th, festivities will continue until February 11th. Within this two week period, guests at the Barbican Rooms London will find China Town in Soho teeming with lanterns, parades and music, all celebrating the new year of the Chinese Zodiac.

Premier League Matches

The Premier League is once again upon us and will have London kicking up a storm 2020. Running from August until May, the Premier League will be really heating up come February and March, with London teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham and Tottenham competing for the head of the table. Whether you’re a sports fan or not, London’s Premier League fixtures will take you to some of the best stadiums in the country, if not the world. Make sure not to miss West Ham fixtures at the Stratford Olympic Park, or Arsenal fixtures at the Emirates Stadium in Arsenal.

Lightopia Festival

From the 22nd January till the beginning of March, Lightopia Festival will bring a range of light installations and workshops to Chiswick House. With a month’s worth of unique events to explore, this dazzling show really draws out the beauty of West London’s leafy suburb and promises guests a magical interactive experience.

Six Nations

The Six Nations is the annual Rugby Event that pits the top 6 international teams against each other. With Italy, France, Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales pitting off against each other, you can find two extra special fixtures taking place at Northwest London’s Twickenham Stadium. Ireland and Wales will test their mettle against the English, the former on 23rd of February and the latter on the 7th of March.

Wimbledon Tennis

Taking place every end of June to mid-July, Wimbledon is a tennis championship that makes up one of the Grand Slam International Tournaments. A quintessentially British experience, Wimbledon sees a broad variety of the top world players battle it out for men and women singles, doubles and mixed doubles as well as a new wheelchair tournament titles. The tournament goes hand in hand with the British tradition of Strawberries and Cream and sees many famous London faces attend. With 18 grass courts in play over the tournament, Wimbledon has become one of the most popular and televised sporting events of the year.

Trooping of the Colour

Hosted on one Saturday every June, the trooping of the colour is an annual event that celebrates the birthday of the sovereign. Although Queen Elizabeth the II’s birthday is earlier in the year on April 21st, the Trooping of the Colour sends its parade down the Mall near Buckingham Palace in June. This event is free to attend and amasses many monarchy fans, so make sure to get down early!

All Points East

Easy to reach from Barbican Restaurants London, this East London based music festival sees the best in alternative and popular music acts take to a stage in Hackney’s Victoria Park. With beautiful canals and early summer sunshine in May, All Points East promises great ticketed acts on the weekend as well as free to attend, community events throughout the week.

BBC Proms in the Park

Taking place throughout the summer and into September, Proms in the Park is a Hyde Park-based classical music event that sees orchestras and singers take to the stage in Hyde Park. With an informal air to it that allows for picnics and family-friendly fun, BBC Proms in the Park is televised on the BBC and brings in hundreds of thousands of guests over its month and a half of events.

London Pride 2020

Taking place on the 27th of June, London Pride sees an LGBT Parade take over the city centre with an all-day party celebrating everything queer. With Soho and Oxford Circus becoming the main focus of the event, you’ll also find pop up clubs and events scattered across the many boroughs of the city.

Notting Hill Carnival

This celebration of Afro Caribbean and Black British culture in London takes place on the last Bank Holiday of August, and sees sound systems, carnival events and parades take over the Notting Hill area of West London. With two days worth of festivities, it’s worth noting that the more family-friendly day is on the Sunday, not the Monday of the event.