Visit London Blog » Rebecca http://blog.visitlondon.com Enjoy the very best of London Sat, 25 May 2013 09:00:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Support London’s Bid for the Where Else But England Crown http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/03/support-london%e2%80%99s-bid-for-the-where-else-but-england-crown/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/03/support-london%e2%80%99s-bid-for-the-where-else-but-england-crown/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:00:25 +0000 Rebecca http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=20161 Our friends at VisitEngland are once again seeking out the country’s most memorable, quirky events as part of the annual Where Else But England Award.

From Pasty Flinging Competitions to the World Egg Throwing Championships, the wacky and wonderful are being celebrated around the country. 

Visit London have nominated two of London’s own events in the capital; the annual Peter Pan Cup (a Christmas morning swimming race  in the icy Serpentine waters) and new urban adventure, the Soldier Challenge (an obstacle-filled race involving abseiling, crawling and kayaking through the streets of London).

Vote now to ensure London’s place on the shortlist!

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/03/support-london%e2%80%99s-bid-for-the-where-else-but-england-crown/feed/ 0 What’s Your Favourite Eccentric London Event? http://blog.visitlondon.com/2010/02/whats-your-favourite-eccentric-london-event/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2010/02/whats-your-favourite-eccentric-london-event/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:56:42 +0000 Rebecca http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=6725

This year’s Enjoy England Awards for Excellence are asking for your favourite quirky event that’s unique to England.

The winner will be announced in a ceremony on St George’s Day (24 April).

Visit London will shortly be submitting some of our favourite quirky London experiences in a bid to claim the top “Where Else but England” prize for the capital!

Here are some of our favourite unconventional London traditions:

The Christmas Day Peter Pan Swim in the Serpentine: brave members of the Serpentine Swimming Club take to near-freezing waters for this annual event in Hyde Park.

The IWA Canalway Cavalcade: hundreds of narrowboats fill the waters of Little Venice with colour, character and quintessential English on May bank holiday

The MP vs Media Parliamentary Pancake Race gives the two opposing teams the opportunity to battle it out in Victoria Tower Gardens carrying frying pans and pancakes

Horseman’s Sunday: the vicar of St. John’s Church in Hyde Park leads more than 100 horses and riders to the church in a celebration of horse riding in the capital.

A much-loved cockney tradition, Pearly Kings & Queens: dating from the 19th century when a young boy covered a suit with shiny buttons to attract attention in an effort to raise money for the poor. The tradition thrives to this day; particularly at the annual festival at St Martin-in-the Fields.

Twelfth Night: mixing ancient midwinter traditions with contemporary festivity, the Twelfth Night celebration on Bankside includes the extraordinary, pagan Holly Man, who, decked in evergreen foliage, appears from the Thames…

Do you have your own favourite quirky London event? Add your suggestions to the comments below for other top contenders!

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