Up coming events in London - 11.06.06

Christmas Lights in Regent Street Along with the Oxford Street lights the one’s on Regent Street have the traditional big opening. This year they’re based on the new Dreamworks animated film Flushed Away and three of the actors whose voices are used in the movie, Ian Mckellen, Andy Sirkis and Shane Richie, will switch on the lights at 5.30pm on November 7 outside fashion store Aquascutum. They’ll also be a firework display.

The BBC Good Food Show London Everything you need to know about food and drink for the Christmas season with chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Antony Worrall Thompson, John Burton Race and others giving demonstrations and kitchen coaching clinic’s. On from the 10-12 November at the Grand Hall, Olympia. Open from 9.30am-6pm each day, tickets £14.50 adavance, £16.50 on the day.

Lord Mayor’s Show There’s been a Lord Mayor’s Show every year since 1215 when King John’s charter said the Lord Mayor must show himself to the people and swear an oath of allegiance to the King, with a few exceptions for things like the Black Death. The Lord Mayor of the City of London is different to the elected Mayor of London whose postion was created in the last ten years. A new Lord Mayor is appointed every year and the Lord Mayor’s Show is a huge procession from that goes from the Guildhall to the Mansion House, along to St Paul’s Cathedral for a blessing and down Ludgate Hill and Fleet Street to the Royal Courts of Justice where the Lord Mayor takes the oath of allegiance. The procession includes over 6,000 people, 21 marching bands, 66 floats, 21 carriages including the Lord Mayors gold coach built in 1757. The parade starts at 11am on Saturday 11 November at the Guildhall.

Mind Body Soul Exhibition Get in touch with your inner self at this show and learn about Aromatherapy, Reiki, Reflexology, Meditation, Yoga and other stuff to make you feel at one with the world. On at Olympia 2 from the 11-12 November 2006, open from 10am-6pm both days. Tickets £7.

Discover Dogs 2006 Find out all there is to know about owning a dog and which one to get in a show run by the Kennel Club. The show runs from 10am-5pm on the 11-12 November at Earl’s Court 2, tickets £10.50.

Oxford Street Christmas Lights The other big switch on happens on Thursday 9 November at 6pm outside of Selfridges at the western end of Oxford Street where girl group All Saints will be doing the honours in a ceremony hosted by radio station Heart 106.2.

Country Living Christmas Fair 2006 This show is on at the Business Design Centre in Islington from the 8-12 November with over 400 exhibitors providing plenty of Christmas ideas. Tickets are £10.50 advance, £14 on the door and it runs from 10am-6pm each day.