London said a big thank you to the athletes of Team GB and ParalympicsGB yesterday during a parade through Central London.

Athletes including Mo Farah, Victoria Pendleton, Sarah Storey, Sir Chris Hoy and Ellie Simmons showed off their medals from floats that travelled from Mansion House, through Trafalgar Square and ended at The Mall, in front of Buckingham Palace.

The floats were led by two giant lion puppets, a steel band and dancers.It was also a chance to pay tribute to the police, armed services and volunteers who contributed to the Games.

British Airways led a flypast with the Red Arrows over The Mall, and the Pet Shop Boys played some of their biggest hits on a stage outside Buckingham Palace.

At the end of the parade, Princess Anne, Prime Minister David Cameron, and Mayor of London Boris Johnson gave speeches praising “the best ever” Games.

Did you go to the parade? Don’t forget to add your photos to our Flickr pool.

The duo are teaming up with choreographer Javier De Frutos to create a show based on Hans Christian Andersen story The Most Incredible Thing.

The modern fairytale will feature former Royal Ballet star Ivan Putrov and animation by BAFTA award winner Tal Rosner.

Among the other season highlights is a new commission by horse rider, director and stage designer Bartabas, who will appear on stage with four horses.

And – not for the faint hearted – Dave St Pierre’s Sadler’s Wells debut, Peu de Tendresse Bordel de Merde, which will feature 20 completely naked dancers.

See the full 2011 programme on the Sadler’s Wells website at www.sadlerswells.com

It’s been a fantastic year in London. Here we take a moment to reflect on our favourite things from 2009.

Claire:
I think mine was seeing the film Wings of Desire at the Somerset House Summer Screen. Everything came together that night: fantastic venue, good weather, and a cool movie about Berlin with Nick Cave on the soundtrack!

Hannah:
I love all the quirky, creative events that happen in London. Two of the best this year were Bompas and Parr’s Architectural Punch Bowl and the science-themed ice cream van at the Royal College of Art Show.

Jenny:
My highlight of 2009 is seeing bands that I loved back in the 90s! This year I’ve been lucky enough to see Brett Anderson from Suede, the Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode, who all played fantastic gigs in London.

Jo:
Anish Kapoor at the Royal Academy – this groundbreaking exhibition was a breath of fresh air. The scale and ambition of the exhibition made it one of my highlights of the year. Massive reflective sculptures, a huge moving wax installation squeezing its way through the academy’s doorways, and, of course, the famous wax cannon mean I won’t forget this show in a hurry.

Julie:
La Clique’s intoxicating cocktail of cabaret, circus, comedy and burlesque is the best night out in London by far. Current highlights include Marawa’s fabulous disco hula hooping, Ursula Martinez’s famous strip with red hankie, Mario Queen of the Circus’s Freddy Mercury tribute, juggling and risqué chat – and manic songstress Miao Miao’s ability to get strapping blokes from the audience into uncompromising positions. I’ve been lucky enough to see La Clique five times and have thoroughly enjoyed every show!

Lettice:
I can’t decide between my top two highlights of 2009. I was totally terrified after I agreed to go kayaking in the summer but bobbing about on the Thames on a lovely sunny morning turned out to be the most peaceful and relaxing way to enjoy London. The other highlight was seeing my all-time favourite band, The Shadows, in concert for the first time. If only I’d been kayaking with The Shadows, my year would have been perfect!

Zoe:
It’s impossible to choose between Piaf early in the year, Hello, Dolly! and As You Like It in the summer, and more recently, Morecambe for Christmassy giggles. And I really liked going to Frank’s Campari Bar on top of Peckham’s multi-storey carpark in the summer. Proof that my new neighbourhood, SE15, is where it’s at.

From the Sun Always Shines On TV to the closing notes of Take On Me (via their latest hit single Foot of the Mountain), a-Ha’s gig at The O2 last night was worth waiting two decades for. The music still sounds fresh and exciting and, despite pushing 50(!), Morten, Mags and Pal still look as young and tasty as they did in that poster. No signs of ravaged rock star looks or excessive pie-eating retirement on this stage.

a-Ha plan to play a final worldwide tour in 2010 before splitting up, so you’ll have one last chance to see them in London next year. While you’re waiting for the details of the tour, we say go and indulge your 80s crushes, Smash Hits obsessions and dirty secrets.

Artists who defined the 80s embarking on London gigs in the near future include:

• The Pet Shop Boys
• Alison Moyet
• Madness
• Shakin’ Stevens
• Marillion
• Depeche Mode
• Gary Numan
• Joe Longthorne
• Howard Jones 
• Ned’s Atomic Dustbin

Loads of 80s stars are still touring, and you can even catch Belinda Carlisle in Hairspray.

A-Ha are the second band that I loved in the 80s and hadn’t seen live until this year (I saw The Shadows in September; I love you Bruce!) Now I’m on a mission to tick some more names off a slightly embarrassing list.

Who were your teen crushes, the bands and singers you never got to see when you were 13? And will you be going to see them live in London in 2010?

If I could design my ideal club night, it would probably feature my favourite cocktails, a big name music act, and fun and games all night.

Happily, my ideas are pretty similar to those contributed by Facebook fans of Smirnoff UR The Night, a unique club night designed by said Facebook fans, who sent in their ideas for a chance to win free tickets to the night.

So what did they come up with?

Well, keeping in the spirit of participation, there was a DIY cocktail bar, where you could create your own cocktails; a secret (and free) bar accessed via a visit to a fortune teller; a make-up station; a digital graffiti wall (with the option to upload your masterpiece to Facebook in one click); and even a game of bingo!

Add to this non-stop entertainment, including an energetic half-hour set from Little Boots and an appearance from the Pet Shop Boys. Plus, DJ sets from Tom Middleton, Hot Chip and Bristol club night Monkey! Flash! Light! where we were given a torch and led into a darkened room of drum’n'bass.

I left The O2 with a fake butterfly tattoo, ridiculously long false eyelashes and a white feather boa – all mementoes of a night well spent!