Caitlin Davies, author of Camden Lock and the Market (published by Frances Lincoln), tells us five facts about Camden Lock.

“Camden Lock is one of the busiest tourist destinations in London, famed for its shopping and entertainment. Yet 40 years ago the place was just a rundown timber wharf on the banks of the Regent’s Canal.

“I worked here as a teenager in the late 1970s, when there were just a few rows of stalls set on a dirty cobbled yard.  Now it’s part of the UK’s largest street market.

“How did it get so big? What happened to the original craftspeople and stallholders? As a novelist and non-fiction writer, I thought it would be a good idea for a book.

“So I found as many traders as possible who’ve worked here over the years. What I discovered was a story of dereliction and rejuvenation, of fortunes made, careers forged, and lives changed forever.

“Here are five things I never knew about Camden Lock….

1. There is no Camden Lock!

It’s the most famous canal lock in the world that doesn’t exist! Instead there are three dual locks in the area, built in the early 1800s as part of the Regent’s Canal. The nearest to the original market is Hampstead Road Locks, where you can watch the owners of colourful narrowboats operate the lock by hand – adjusting the water level to allow vessels to pass through..

2. Camden Lock is 40 this year

It began as a collection of craft workshops housed in Victorian horse stables, officially opened to the public in April 1973. Now Camden Lock is one of London’s most popular free attractions drawing five million visitors a year. There are 280 stalls, 54 retail shops (including Oddballs, England’s oldest juggling shop), 20 offices/studios, and four eateries/restaurants.

Camden Lock Fridays, which run through the summer, feature 30 stalls in the Middle Yard showcasing hand-made arts and crafts, while a summer Night Market runs until 10pm with global street food, cocktail bars and a pop up cinema.

3. Dingwalls Dance Hall is one of Camden’s first music venues

Dingwalls opened in 1973 in an empty packaging warehouse, and soon attracted customers from the world of music and art. Acts have included Frank Zappa, Bo Diddley, the Clash, the Stranglers and more recently Mumford & Sons. The four-level venue has a capacity for 500, with bands Sunday to Thursday and comedy every Friday and Saturday.

Other entertainment venues are Highlight Comedy, with four bars over three levels, and Lockside Lounge, a bar and restaurant with club nights, DJs and live music.

4. Famous fashion brands started at Camden Lock

Some famous fashion brands started out with a single stall at Camden Lock, including Red or Dead and BodyMap. The Lock has always attracted fashionable visitors, from David Bowie to Amy Winehouse. Spend a morning browsing racks of designer items and vintage one-offs, whether shoes, knitwear, unique t-shirts or vibrant accessories.

5. The first food stall was run by an Olympic medallist

Known simply as The Stall, Olympic sprinter June Carroll (nee Foulds) opened the Lock’s first food outlet in 1974. Soon there were queues down the street!

Now the West Yard is devoted to stallholders selling food from all over the world and there’s something for every taste. Among the most popular are Sonita’s Kitchen, serving North Indian curries, and When Mac Met Cheese, selling macaroni and cheese and deep-fried Oreos. In the nearby Dingwalls Gallery is Kim’s Vietnamese Hut, two-time winner of the King of Camden Best Food award.

More about Camden

Beyonce ended the European leg of her Mrs Carter tour on Saturday by headlining The Sound of Change. The concert, which saw a stellar line-up of A-list celebrities descend on London, launched the Gucci-founded global campaign Chime for Change.

I was lucky enough to join an audience of 50,000 people to watch the four hour show, which was also broadcast live from Twickenham Stadium to an audience of 1 billion across 150 countries.

Short sets came from a predominantly female line up including surprise act Jessie J, who opened the concert. She was followed by Iggy Azalea, Rita Ora, Laura Pausini, Florence and the Machine, John Legend, Haim and Ellie Goulding, who all performed a selection of their top hits. Jennifer Lopez was joined on stage by Mary J Blige for the Beatles classic Come Together. Timbaland was also joined on stage by another surprise act, Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon.

Each act was interspersed with moving and inspirational short films, introduced by a line-up of presenters as impressive as the musical one, including James Franco, Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Jada Pinkett Smith and Madonna. The hard hitting films presented the audience with statistics and highlighted issues and real life experiences.

What better and more fitting way to end an extraordinary event than with Chime for Change co-founder Beyonce. She opened with Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come, followed by Etta James’ At Last. Her empowering songs included Run the World (Girls), Destiny’s Child hit Survivor and If I were a Boy. She also performed a haunting rendition of the late Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You which lead into Halo. A highlight for me and considering the response, the whole audience, was when she was joined on stage by rapper husband Jay Z during Crazy in Love.

Co-founders Salma Hayek, Gucci’s creative director Frida Giannini and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, were joined by the biggest stars in the world right now to support an amazing cause. Chime for Change campaigns for education, health and justice “for every girl, every woman, everywhere” and the Sound of Change is its first event. The sell-out concert is expected to fund at least 120 projects in more than 70 countries from ticket sales alone. In a world first, ticket buyers could choose which project to fund and 100% of their money would go straight to the non-profit organisations.

Ellie was a guest of Freud.

On Sunday London’s LGBT community and I descended on a sunny Victoria Park for the debut of brand new gay festival As One in the Park.

Victoria Park played host to two festivals at the weekend, starting with Field Day on Saturday, followed by As One, the first large-scale gay music festival in London for over a decade.

The weather was on our side as the sun beat down on a sea of colourful, flamboyant festivalgoers.

Most of my day was spent enjoying the music by the main stage, kicking off with Celebrity Big Brother winner and the X Factor’s comical finalist Rylan, who presented part of the day and welcomed us to “Vicky Park.” He had the crowd chanting his name as he did his own version of Gangnam Style and a Spice Girls mash up. Another X Factor performance came from Union J − whose set included several covers from the show plus their debut single ‘Carry You’

Katy B had everyone up on their feet dancing, to her top hits, including Aaliyah – which led into a couple of covers of the late artist. Plus special guest Holly Johnson made his first London appearance for several years, appearing on the stage in his glittery suit and had the crowd singing along to Power of Love.

Elsewhere festivalgoers enjoyed a selection of activities from the dance tents to the dodgems, and were entertained by Cabaret at Madame JoJo’s, including burlesque and drag acts, who wore some killer heels!

Brit nominee Rita Ora pulled the biggest crowd of the day as she closed the festival in a pair of smiley faced trousers and sung her number one singles, Hot Right Now, How we Do and R.I.P.

As One in the Park is a fun day out –whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender… or even straight, if it’s a glitzy, extravagant festival you are after, this is the one for you.

If you missed As One in the Park or just can’t wait till next year, check out the other festivals in London this summer.

By Eleanor Mills

London has one of the best jazz scenes in the world. With the release of The Great Gatsby fast approaching, why not get in the mood with a visit to one of the capital’s best jazz clubs? If you’re planning a trip later in the year, make it November, for the London Jazz Festival.

Ronnie Scott’s, Soho

The most established of all London’s jazz clubs, Ronnie’s was set up in 1959 by Ronnie Scott who had dreamed of opening his own club after frequent trips to New York in the 1940s and 50s. Some of the biggest names in jazz have graced the stage there, including Miles Davis (above), Wynton Marsalis and even Jimi Hendrix. Ronnie’s has changed the face of British jazz and remains the quintessential jazz experience. With popular acts like legendary drummer Roy Haynes’s Fountain of Youth Band (15-16 May) and vocalist Claire Martin (29-30 May) coming up, be sure to book early.

The Vortex, Dalston

Off the beaten track, The Vortex Jazz Club has provided a platform for the most groundbreaking jazz for the last 25 years, launching the careers of many groups like Mercury prize nominees Polar Bear and Portico Quartet. Easy to get to on the London overground, the club regularly has outstanding musicians playing for very reasonable prices. Look out for a two-day residency with Oriole and Basquiat Strings (featuring the acclaimed drummer Seb Rochford, of Polar Bear) from Friday 17 to Saturday 18 May. Great burgers in the restaurant downstairs too!

Dover Street Restaurant & Bar, Mayfair

For a sophisticated jazz experience book tickets to the Dover Street Restaurant & Bar. With great blues outfits and lively big bands, Dover Street offers a fun night out. For a more traditional sound, watch out for the Sugar Ray Ford Quartet playing jive and swing classics on 3 June, or check out the Blues Engineers on 8 May or 11 June.

PizzaExpress Jazz Club, Soho

It does exactly what it says on the packet: great jazz, great pizza. This PizzaExpress venue is underground, giving the club a great ambience. Acts to see in the coming month include saxophonist and rapper Soweto Kinch playing with the Moses Boyd Band on Sunday 2 June and elegant jazz singer Nikki Iles with The Printmakers playing on Wednesday 5 June.

Hideaway, Streatham

One of London’s newest jazz venues, Hideaway has already made a mark on the UK jazz scene with renowned acts like the Neil Cowley Trio, Mark Lockheart, Ingrid Laubrock and Tom Cawley’s Curios playing there. The acoustics are great, food is delicious, service exceptional and, because it’s one of the capital’s best-kept jazz secrets, you’re bound to get good seats and an opportunity to meet the musicians afterwards. Make a trip down there on 16 June for Sunday lunch to see NYJO (the National Youth Jazz Orchestra).

More London jazz clubs and events

London boasts a huge range of music festivals, from blockbusting, arena-filling events such as Hard Rock Calling to boutique events for those in the know. Whatever your preference, there are some basic points that will help you make the most of your experience.

First of all, there’s your attire. As most festivals are held in grassy parks, you’ll need sensible shoes such as wellington boots (Hunters for the fashion conscious!). Flat shoes are essential, even if you’re in an arena, as you’ll be doing a lot of dancing. As for clothing, festival wear tends toward bohemian chic; think casual shorts, t-shirts, jeans, and floaty summer dresses. If you’re stuck, why not browse some of London’s excellent vintage shops for inspiration?

Equally important are your accessories, as you’ll need to prepare for London’s changeable weather by taking sunglasses, a hat and something waterproof. You can pick up a rain poncho for a few pounds in many London tourist shops – not only will they keep you dry, but they mean you don’t have to worry about carrying an umbrella when you’re dancing to your favourite songs. Sunscreen is also essential, particularly if you are going to be outside in the midday sun.

Before packing your bag, remember to check the festival’s policy on bringing food and alcohol into the venue: some events will let you bring a full blown picnic with drinks, whilst others prefer you to purchase your snacks at the many stalls on site. Some festivals allow you bring bottled water with you and there are places to refill it for free throughout the festival grounds.

Although there’s a temptation to take a huge variety of stuff to cover all contingencies, you should remember that festivals are always crowded, busy places and that it’s best to only take the essentials in case you get separated from your belongings. Things that you should never be without at a London music festival are:

• Cash (festivals often have ATMs on site but there will be queues)
• Tissues/toilet paper (this often runs out in festival toilets, so it’s best to be prepared!)
• Antibacterial hand gel
• An Oyster card so you can get to and from the venue easily
• A pre-arranged meeting point for you and your friends, so you don’t have to worry about finding them in the crowd if you run out of phone charge or signal
• Your ticket
• A jumper, jacket or wrap for when the sun goes down
• A compact camera (or camera phone) so you can capture those amazing memories!

You should also remember that, as most London music festivals are one-day affairs, you won’t need to worry about bringing lots of clothes, sleeping bags, tents and all the other weekend festival paraphanalia. There are plenty of hotels, hostels, and homestays in London, so you can find somewhere to stay nearby.

Have we missed anything? What are your festival essentials?

The Sound Tracks Festival on the East London Line

Enjoy a day of great music throughout East London during the Sound Tracks Festival. Not only will a great variety of bands be playing at venues such as Dalston Roof Park, The Geffrye Museum and the Brunel Museum, but you can also listen to live music on the East London Line as you travel between venues. Wristbands, which allow entry to all the festival venues, are £15. 11 May

The Richmond May Fair

Head to the pretty green at Richmond for a traditional May Fair, which features craft stalls, a vintage carousel and all-day entertainment. Don’t miss the crowning of the Richmond May Queen, or the dancing around the Maypole! Entry is free. 11 May

The Marriott London Sevens at Twickenham Stadium

Combine rugby and fancy dress at the Marriott London Sevens, which is known for its carnival atmosphere. Not only can you watch a series of exciting short matches throughout the weekend, but there’s also live entertainment and competitions galore. This year’s fancy dress theme is ‘safari’, so dig out your adventure gear and animal costumes! Tickets are £25. 11-12 May

The World on Regent Street

Regent Street will be pedestrianised for this free one-day festival, which features entertainment and activities from around the globe. Visitors can enjoy Argentine tango lessons, Trinidadian steel band music, Chinese drumming and much more. All of the street’s shops will also be open – perfect for some retail therapy. 12 May

The London Burlesque Festival

Be dazzled at the glitzy London Burlesque Festival, a ten day extravaganza of burlesque and cabaret that takes throughout London. At this international festival, which is the largest of its kind in the world, you can see everything from the best of home-grown talent to the biggest stars of ‘boylesque’. Event times and ticket prices vary – see the festival website for full details. 10-19 May

More London events

Calling all One Direction fans! Brand new wax figures of the band will be on display at Madame Tussauds London from 18 April to 11 July 2013.

As you can see from the video, the 1D boys didn’t just pose for the figures, they helped to sculpt them too. We think the figure of Niall is pretty lifelike. What do you think?

For more information and videos visit www.madametussauds.com/1D

Wilton’s Music Hall

When John Wilton unveiled his “magnificent new music hall” in 1859, it was the newest venue in a thriving scene. During the late 19th and early 20th century, East London had more music hall theatres than any other part of the country. Music hall entertainment was raucous and rapid-fire; its acts often quirky and outrageous and its audiences legendarily bawdy and restless.

Many acts on the Wilton’s stage performed comic songs in character.  An enchanted 1872 reviewer described the performance of impressionist Annie Delemont:

“Miss Delemont, who has a beautiful voice and is a superior vocalist, sang serial comic ditties in a way which charmed all who listened to her.”

Upon John Wilton’s death in 1880, Wilton’s was taken over by the East End Mission of the Methodist Church who were determined to help relieve the notorious poverty in the area. They used the building as a soup kitchen and as a refuge for people whose homes had been bombed during World War II.

The Grade II listing building then fell into disrepair until 10 years ago, when it began to be used as a music and events venue.

Wilton’s Music Hall has just re-opened its auditorium after completing the first phase of a grand refurbishment. It is hosting a production of The Great Gatsby until 23 March 2013. Find out more about the history of the building or catch a show.

Guest post by the Museum of London as part of our Visiting the Past series. More London history next week

The Lord Mayor’s Show, City of London

Marvel at this spectacular procession, which has been held (almost) annually for nearly 800 years. The extensive parade, which consists of floats, marching bands, musicians and cars, sets off from Mansion House at 11am. You can also watch the return route between Aldwych and Bank from 1 to 2.30pm – don’t miss the new Lord Mayor of London in his magnificent gold coach. 10 Nov

Cartier Bresson: A Question of Colour, at Somerset House

This fascinating exhibition displays 10 photographs by French photojournalist Henri Cartier-Bresson that have never before been on view in the UK. These important works are exhibited alongside those of 15 international photographers, allowing visitors the chance to trace Cartier-Bresson’s significant influence on his field. This exhibition is the first from The Positive View Foundation, a charity which works with disadvantaged young people and which is supported by Prince William. 8 Nov-27 Jan

The London Jazz Festival, Various Venues

London’s largest pan-city music event kicks off in style this weekend, and as many of the events are free there’s plenty of opportunity to be spontaneous.  Throughout the festival there are more than 30 jazz events per night to choose from: check the event website for full programme details and prices. 9-18 Nov 

Egypt in England, Wellington Arch

From Cleopatra’s Needle to Highgate Cemetery, London’s long association with Egypt is highly visible. Head to this interesting exhibition to learn about England’s involvement with Egypt and how it came to influence the country’s buildings and interiors. After the exhibition, pop upstairs to the roof for unique views of Buckingham Palace and the surrounding landscape. 7 Nov-13 Jan 

Ansel Adams: Photography from the Mountains to the Sea, at the National Maritime Museum

This exhibition presents a rare chance to see works by legendary landscape photographer Ansel Adams in the UK. Although Adams is best known for his pictures of the American Midwest, this exhibition explores his other passion – water. More than 100 photographs are on display, covering everything from waterfalls to rivers and confirming his reputation as a truly exceptional photographer. 9 Nov-28 Apr

More London events

It’s now 50 years since The Beatles released their debut single, Love Me Do. The Fab Four quickly gained international fame, and many key moments in their ensuing career took place in London. To celebrate this important anniversary and the band’s close association with the capital, you can explore the sites listed below, all of which provide a great opportunity to connect with the world of Ringo, George, John and Paul.

Abbey Road
Pay a visit to the world’s most famous pedestrian crossing, located in St John’s Wood, where you and your friends can recreate the band’s iconic album cover. Afterwards, enjoy refreshments at the nearby Beatles Coffee Shop.

Beatles Tours
Beatles experts, including Beatles Coffee Shop owner Richard Porter, conduct regular tours of London locations relevant to the band. There are a wide range of tours to choose from, both pedestrian and chauffeur-driven, and you can see everything from studios and film locations to the church in which several band members were married.

Madame Tussauds
Get up close to the Beatles in their heyday thanks to the startlingly realistic wax figures of the band at Madame Tussauds. Make sure you get a photo with your favourite Beatle!

Let It Be
Enjoy an innovative theatrical experience at the Prince of Wales Theatre, where the Beatles’ history is retold through film footage and the live performance of more than 20 of their greatest hits. Let It Be is on in London until January next year – book your ticket now.

British Music Experience
Head to The O2 in Greenwich for an immersive introduction to the best of British music, which of course includes The Beatles! Using images, video and a wealth of audio clips, the British Music Experience brings The Beatles’ magic alive, and you can even see John Lennon’s glasses.

Beatles Shop
For the perfect end to your trip, head to this charming shop for a unique souvenir. The Beatles Store offers everything from mugs and t-shirts to platinum-coated albums.

Which Beatles hotspots have you visited in London and are there any we’ve missed?