Sheep, a huge bell, a miniature Stonehenge, David Beckham and some NHS nurses. This much we know will be in the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday evening. A global audience of four billion people are expected to tune into the show which is called Isles of Wonder, inspired by a line in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Artistic director Danny Boyle has kept most details under wraps, but we can say with certainty that it starts at 9pm, and that you’d be mad not to watch it.

London Live
Friday is the opening night for the Olympic London Live sites at Hyde Park and Victoria Park. In Hyde Park, the ceremony will be shown on screens alongside a celebration concert with acts representing each part of the UK – Snow Patrol from Northern Ireland, Stereophonics for Wales, Duran Duran representing England and Paolo Nutini waving the flag for Scotland. Tickets are £60 and are still available. If you just want to watch the ceremony in a crowd, you can head to the Victoria Park site which is free entry.

Tower of London
If you’re feeling flush, you could pay for an exciting Opening Ceremony dinner at the Tower of London House of Nations for just £139. Hosted by four-time record breaking swimmer and Strictly Come Dancing star, Mark Foster, you’ll enjoy a champagne and Pimm’s reception in the Tower of London’s moat, an exclusive private tour of the Crown Jewels, a delicious three-course meal with all inclusive drinks, footage of the Opening Ceremony and live entertainment.

Greenwich
You can also catch all the Opening Ceremony action at Greenwich Summer Festival’s Gala Weekend. As well as the big screens, there’ll be live entertainment, starting with music on the bandstand at 6pm. Greenwich’s very own Hangar Arts Trust will then perform a cabaret of aerial circus in a high-impact, thrilling show full of beautiful and apparently impossible human feats, before the Opening Ceremony kicks off at 9pm.

General Gordon Square, Woolwich
General Gordon Square in Woolwich is hosting one of two big screens set up by the BBC in London for outdoor summer screenings. It will show the ceremony outside for free in the newly landscaped square, which offers bench seating and food stalls and street performers to get you in the party mood.

Walthamstow Town Square
Another BBC big screen will be beaming the ceremony to Walthamstow Town Square in North London. Seating will be set up so crowds can watch in comfort.

Broadgate
The Broadgate development in the Square Mile is home to some of the world’s biggest companies, and this summer it is also the base for three big screens which will all show the Opening Ceremony. Take your pick from Exchange Square, Broadgate Circle and Finsbury Avenue.

Novikov’s Beach Party at Waterside House
Top Mayfair restaurant Novikov is heading east this Friday to set up an all-day Opening Ceremony beach party – complete with sand and beach loungers – at Waterside House in Royal Victoria Dock. You can watch the show while sipping cocktails and listening to DJ sets. Tickets are £25.

In The Pub
Hundreds of top London pubs will be showing the all action on big screens, so have a look at the watering holes near you. We suggest The Hanbury Arms in Islington, The Lauriston in Hackney, the Water Poet in Spitalfields and the Clapham Grand in Clapham Junction, all of which will be putting on amazing parties.

Where will you be watching? Let us know below.

Yes, it’s that time of the year again. Wimbledon season is upon us and we can’t wait!

The world’s most famous tennis tournament returns to SW19 and with Britain’s Andy Murray in contention again this year, it’s sure to be another exciting couple of weeks.

For those unlucky enough not to have tickets (us included) and those of you who can’t be bothered to queue, there are many places in London to watch the action. We’ve selected a few of the best.

The classy Bluebird restaurant on Kings Road will be showing the action on a big screen in their sheltered courtyard. In true Chelsea style, why not watch the action with a bowl of strawberries and cream and choose a glass or two of bubbly from their champagne and cocktail menu?

Gaucho Piccadilly: Fill-up on some quality Argentinean steak, watch the tennis on the big screen then work off the whole cow you have just eaten on Gaucho’s own tennis court.

Land Securities have set up mega-screens in Bankside Mix, Cardinal Place and New Street Square. Bring your own strawberries and cream, sit-back and relax while watching the action unfold – just remember the sunscreen!

Canada Square Park provides another alternative outside venue to watch the matches while soaking up the sun throughout the tournament.

If you want a taste of the Wimbledon atmosphere without having to pay to get in, why not head to The Woodman sports pub with its 52 inch outdoor screen or stylish The Common Room lounge bar, both in Wimbledon Village.

Tell us where you’ll watch Wimbledon unfold…

It’s going to be a big, nail-biting weekend for cricket fans in the capital.

With the Ashes tournament currently standing at 1-1, all eyes will be on the Brit Oval in London (and the skies above the city!) from Thursday. Can Freddie and the rest of the squad repeat their performance of four years ago, and take cricket’s big prize?

If you don’t have tickets for the final Ashes test at The Brit Oval, and you don’t fancy shelling out for Sky Sports, you can still see every ball of the forthcoming decider, for free, in our fair city.

Three sites are offering big screen coverage from Thursday to Monday, completely free of charge. And if you’re dragging along a non-cricket fan, there’s a mix of shops, bars and restaurants by each of the screens to keep them happy.

1. Cardinal Place, Victoria Street, London, SW1
2. New Street Square, New Fetter Lane, London EC4
3. Bankside Mix, Southwark Street London, SE1

Alternatively, you can head along to Regent’s Park on Saturday and Sunday and enjoy the match at the npower Cricket in the Park event.

As well as all the action on the big screen, there’ll be fun coaching zones for wannabe cricket stars, and a kids’ zone with games, fancy dress, face-painting… Everything you need to distract the rest of the family, while you get on with cheering the team to victory.

Check out our favourite Sports Pubs and Bars in London for further Ashes-watching inspiration; and let us know if you have any other tips for watching the Ashes…