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LONDON EVENTS – London’s Northbank to Host Summer Festival
Historic Victoria Embankment Gardens transformed for a month-long celebration across July 2016
London’s Northbank is to play host to the capital’s most vibrant summertime extravaganza as The Northbank Summer Festival returns to the historic Victoria Embankment Gardens from 27 June to 29 July 2016.
The month-long, free celebration – hosted by the Northbank Business Improvement District (BID) – will feature an eclectic line-up of events that will entertain visitors and residents, whilst tempting the area’s workers outside to enjoy the delights of the beautiful Victoria Embankment Gardens.
Inspired by the traditional British Summertime, the Northbank Summer Festival brings the charm of a local village fête and the vibrancy of an urban street party to this oasis in the heart of central London.
Current highlights of the Northbank Summer Festival programme include:
· Screening of Wimbledon Tennis Championships: 27 June – 10 July, 11.00-19.30
· Embankment Summer Market – artisan and designer market including gourmet food and produce, as well as a great line up of new artists performing on the City Showcase stage – 15-17 July
· Weekly artisan food and drink stalls – Friday Food Feasts – every Friday in July, with an extended special during Wimbledon – 29 June – 1 July – and as part of Embankment Summer Market
· Cycle surgery and bike marking – 27 and 28 June – 11.00-15.00
· Best’s Bootcamp session – 28 and 1 July – 12.30-13.30
· Live music and entertainment – on 1 July from 17:00-19:00 and a traditional Tea Dance finale ‘Tea For Two’ on 29 July
· Local school, business and university choirs – 22 and 29 June
A key highlight of the Northbank Summer Festival is the return of Embankment Summer Market, a free, unique and distinctly chic, boutique festival style event. Organisers City Showcase: Markets, the UK’s premier organiser of artisan and designer crafts events, will bring together a handpicked selection of emerging artisans, artists, and fashion and jewellery designers with gourmet food and drink vendors and a produce market.
Northbank – the area from Trafalgar Square to Aldwych – encompasses some of the most iconic cultural, lifestyle and entertainment destinations in London. The Northbank Summer Festival brings these elements together for all to enjoy.
Ruth Duston, CEO of The Northbank BID, commented: “Victoria Embankment Gardens is a perfect setting for our second Northbank Summer Festival. Combining the very best of what the Northbank and the British summertime has to offer – from watching Wimbledon in the heart of the city to celebrating London’s emerging arts and foodie scene – visitors are in for a treat. Don’t miss out – whether you are visiting the capital or working nearby, grab a picnic blanket and join us in the Gardens to enjoy time with family, colleagues and friends.”
Nanette Rigg, Director, City Showcase said: “We are delighted to return to Victoria Embankment Gardens with Embankment Summer Market and be part of The Northbank Summer Festival. We launched our unique, free boutique market event last year to build on the success we had achieved with Soho Flea Market. The location provides a great platform to showcase emerging creative and design talent as well as the hottest up and coming musicians, plus a fine selection of street food and drink to add to the festival-style vibe.”
The Summer Festival will kick off a broader series of events taking place on the Northbank in summer 2016. It directly precedes Art Night 2016, a landmark new contemporary arts festival, which will transform the Northbank for one-night only on Saturday 2 July. From dusk until dawn, Art Night will take over historic landmarks across the Northbank, including St Mary le Strand, Somerset House, and Admiralty Arch, with large-scale art installations and performances. Art Night is a project by Unlimited Productions curated by the Institute of Contemporary Arts and supported by international auction house PHILLIPS.
In addition the Northbank will also see the return of the Somerset House Summer Series, featuring an impressive line-up of headline acts in July 2016, followed by its Film4 Summer Screening in August 2016.
Open daily from 11.00 – 19.30 the Northbank Summer Festival will again welcome a host of people both from across the capital and the world, following the success of the inaugural Festival which was enjoyed by over 15,0000 in 2015.
The Northbank Business Improvement District (BID) is the largest BID in London, and includes Aldwych, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, the Strand and Embankment.
Heart London Magazine 