British Summer Time kicks off today: Six great concerts in Hyde Park and four days of free events

The sun is back and so is British Summer Time, London’s legendary lineup of world-class musical talent. Opening today in the capital’s beloved Hyde Park, the festival brings five unforgettable concerts to the city centre. Tonight’s gig launches the event in style as Celine Dion brings her ballads to the stage in a European exclusive. The weekend will only get hotter with the Stevie Wonder Song Party on Saturday, where the star will be joined by none other than soul king Lionel Richie. Barabara Streisand will bring this incredible weekend to a close with a performance spanning a staggering six-decade career. Next week, two of the most iconic singer-songwriters will co-headline on Friday evening: Bob Dylan and Neil Young. On Saturday, Florence and the Machine and the National will perform a more contemporary repertoire for followers of the rock and alternative music scene, and the millennial mania is set to continue with 90s nostalgia from pop sensation Robbie Williams. The support acts are exciting too, spanning from Josh Groban and the Black Eyed Peas to Feeder and Keane, who are returning after a long hiatus.

Friday 5^th July – Celine Dion
Saturday 6^th July – Stevie Wonder
Sunday 7^th July – Barbra Streisand
Friday 12^th July – Bob Dylan & Neil Young
Saturday 13^th July – Florence & The Machine, The National
Sunday 14^th July – Robbie Williams

Open House 8^th-11^th July

Sandwiched between these five concerts is a generous filling of free events. Open House 2019 will be hosting a range of fun activities and even more music from the University of Westminster and BIMM London. Opportunities on offer now include Yoga and Breathwork with Lululemon to leave you on a natural high; mindfulness workshops with monk, speaker, meditation teacher and author Gelong Thubten; and a Coca-Cola Premier League Experience in which you can pose with the iconic trophy and enjoy a refreshing can. If you fancy something stronger then the UK’s largest outdoor craft beer festival, Craft Beer Rising, might tickle your fancy.

On top of this, there will be free movie nights and live entertainment – and for big kids, the playground area, with a huge lawn where you can try your hand at croquet, boules, connect four and a whole host of other games. The Barclaycard sensorium will allow you to step up the sparkle and immerse yourself in the colours, sounds and tastes of the festival. If you’re feeling more peckish, there is also street food on offer, as well as pop-up bars, to give you a taste of the capital’s diverse culinary scene. That’s not all: there are also tennis screenings, cabaret, family theatre, The Royal Parks Showcase, Piazza Birra Moretti, Free Denim: The Reunion Tour, circus workshops and much more. Surely, with that lineup, there is something for everyone.

The editorial unit
Photo: BST/AEG

British Summer Time is at Hyde Park from 5^th July until 14^th July 2019. For more information or to book visit their website here.