Vanity Fair Portraits 1913-2008 exhibition

From now - Sun 21 September
Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, Edinburgh
Admission £6/£4

150 classic photographs from the Vanity Fair archive - some on display for the first time. Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin, Jean Harlow, Louis Armstrong, Princess Diana and Madonna are among the many icons captured.

http://www.nationalgalleries.org/

Outdoor film screenings

See relevant websites for details.

What could be more delectable than an afternoon or evening spent outdoors soaking up some big screen action with a few choice friends and a tasty bottle of wine? Outdoor film screenings are happening all across the country this summer so check local press for details. Here are a few we\'ve found: Gloucester, Stockton Heath, Cambridge, Leeds, London.

ITunes Live: London Festival

Tue 1 Jul - Thu 31 Jul
KOKO, 14 Camden High Street, London
Tickets to the festival are free and available only to competition winners.

Don\'t miss your chance to enter the draw to win tickets to this exclusive series of gigs performed by both international superstars and fresh new bands. Performers include NERD, Alpha Beat, James Blunt, The Ting Tings, Feeder, Death Cab For Cutie, The Zutons, McFly and Pendulum.

http://www.ituneslive.co.uk/

Godiva Festival

Fri 4 Jul - Sun 6 Jul
Memorial Park, Coventry
Free

Still the UK\'s largest free music festival, this year\'s merriments include a theatrical carnival, funfair, firework displays, craft stalls, kids\' tent, a circus, comedy stage, plus a range of outdoor performances, including parachute display teams and acrobatics. Music will be provided by The Enemy, Envy & Other Sins, Gabriella Cilmi plus many more.

http://www.godivafestival.co.uk/

Architectural Jelly Banquet

Fri 4 Jul (8pm - 3am)
University College London, London, WC1
Tickets £5

Part of the London Festival Of Architecture, the Jelly Banquet will showcase a range of London landmarks made out of the wobbly stuff. Apart from that there will be performers wearing jelly costumes, music, jelly wrestling and a late bar.

http://www.jellymongers.co.uk/banquet.html

Open Air Theatre

From now - Sat 2 Aug
Regent\'s Park, London, NW1
Ticket prices start at £10

This year\'s season includes performances of Romeo & Juliet, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night\'s Dream and Gigi, plus one offs from The Comedy Store Players, Seth Lakeman and Jose Gonzalez.

http://www.openairtheatre.org/

English Heritage Picnic Concerts

Sat 12 Jul - Sun 3 Aug
Audley End House, Saffron Walden, Essex
Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, Hampstead, London
Ticket prices start at £27.50

Performers this year include Van Morrison, Shayne Ward, Gipsy Kings, Rufus Wainwright and Michael Ball & Lesley Garrett. If you really want to splash out you can also pre-order a delicious Carluccio\'s picnic hamper for two people for £45, mmm!

http://www.picnicconcerts.com/

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion

Sun 20 Jul - Sun 19 Oct
The Serpentine Gallery, London, W2
Some events are free, some ticketed

Now in its ninth year, the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion series is one of the most anticipated highlights of the design calendar. 2008 sees the installation of a timber and glass \'part-amphitheatre, part-promenade\' structure designed by Frank Gehry. On Friday and Saturday nights there will be a number of events held at the Pavilion including talks, performances, music and film screenings.

http://www.serpentinegallery.org/

Monkey: Journey To The West

Wed 23 Jul - Sat 26 Jul
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
Ticket prices start at £10

Composed by Blur frontman Damon Albarn, directed by Chen Shi-Zheng and designed and animated by Jamie Hewlett, Monkey: Journey To The West is part opera, part circus, based on ancient Chinese legend.

http://www.roh.org.uk/

The Wizard Of Oz

Wed 23 Jul - Sun 31 Aug
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1
Ticket prices start at £10

Follow the yellow brick road to the Royal Festival Hall and witness its magnificent transformation in the mythical Emerald City. Directed by Jude Kelly, who was behind last year\'s brilliant Carmen Jones production, The Wizard Of Oz will certainly be one musical not to miss this summer.

http://www.followtheyellowbrickroad.co.uk/

Doctor Who Prom

Sun 27 Jul 2008 (11am - 1pm)
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London
Tickets £10/5

This year\'s Proms promises to be more exciting than ever before with the added excitement of a special Doctor Who Prom. Presented by Freema Agyeman, who plays Martha Jones in the series, the event will feature music from the series, a new filmed scene starring David Tennant, written by Russell T Davies and special appearances from both the Cybermen and the Daleks.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/

Zoo Nights

Fri 1 Aug 2008 (6.30pm - 10pm)
London Zoological Society, Regent\'s Park, London, NW1
Tickets £15.45/12.30

For one night only, London Zoo will open its doors on a Friday night, so you can grab a bite to eat, stroll around the grounds, watch the sunset and wait for the nocturnal animals to come out on the prowl. The evening will also feature entertainment from acrobats and fire jugglers, bird displays and penguin feeds.

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/whats-on/

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Sun 3 - Mon 25 August
Ticket prices vary.

The 62nd Edinburgh Festival Fringe boasts a fantastic programme of theatre, comedy, children\'s shows and dance. Famous names gracing the stages in 2008 include Joan Rivers, Brit Ekland, Bill Bailey, Jimmy Carr, Ruby Wax, Roy Walker and Jim Bowen.

http://www.edfringe.com/

British Firework Championships Final

Tue 12 Aug - Wed 13 Aug
The Hoe, Plymouth
Free

This unmissable pyrotechnic extravaganza is the culmination of five nationwide regional heats and promises to be the epitome of excitement.

http://www.britishfireworks.co.uk/

Madonna Sticky & Sweet Tour

Tue 23 Aug - Wed 26 Nov
Various venues
Tickets from £75

The queen of pop kicks off her highly anticipated Sticky & Sweet Tour with a mahoosive gig at Cardiff\'s Millennium Stadium on 23 August. She also plays Wembley Stadium on 11 September, with more dates yet to be announced.

http://www.madonna.com/

George Michael The Final Two

Sun 24 Aug - Mon 25 Aug
Earls Court, London, SW5
Tickets from £50

George Michael marks the end of his 25 Live Tour that started in Barcelona in September 2006 with The Final Two - mooted to be his last ever UK performances before he retires from the music scene. These very special shows will feature Michael\'s hits, some tracks not previously performed in Britain, and a stunning new stage set. Not to be missed by any George Michael fan.

http://www.georgemichael.com/

London 2012 Olympic handover party

Sun 24 Aug
The Mall, London, SW1
Free

London begins countdown to 2012 Olympics with a free party to celebrate the official handover of the Olympic flag. Expect big name performers, music and lots of special guests. Tickets are available through a free ballot.

http://www.london2012.com/tickets/

Blackpool Illuminations

Fri 29 Aug - Sun 2 Nov
Blackpool Promenade, Blackpool, Lancashire
Free

Jump on an open top tram or horse drawn carriage and take in six-miles of fantastical lights along the Blackpool Promenade. Bag of candy floss/chips optional.

http://www.blackpooltourism.com/

30 Days of Fashion & Beauty Festival

1 Sep - 30 Sep
Various venues across the country
Free

From fashion shows and cocktail parties to in-store shopping competitions and make-overs. Check out the gorgeous new website for information and to plan your diary around all the fabulous events.

http://www.30daysoffashionandbeauty.co.uk/

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