London 2012 Festival

21 January 2012 to 9 April 2012

Royal Academy of Arts W1J 0BD[map]

London's Royal Academy presents an unmissable exhibition of landscape works by David Hockney. Until 9 Apr

25 June 2012 to 7 July 2012

London Coliseum WC2N 4ES[map]

Blur and Gorrilaz frontman Damon Albarn has written an ambitious stage show that combines accoustic pop with contemporary opera to tell the story of the Elizabethan hero Dr John Dee.

9 February 2012 to 27 May 2012

National Portrait Gallery WC2H 0HE[map]

See more than 100 portraits by Lucian Freud at London's National Portrait Gallery. Until 27 May

19 July 2012 to 25 November 2012

The British Museum WC1B 3DG[map]

Discover what London was like in Shakespeare's day at the British Museum. 19 Jul-25 Nov

6 June 2012 to 9 July 2012

Various venues

Sadler's Wells and the Barbican Centre team up to present an season of 10 works by Pina Bausch. 6 Jun-9 Jul

1 January 2012 to 30 December 2012

Queen Elizabeth Hall SE1 8XX[map]

Spend a night perched on top of London's Queen Elizabeth Hall in unique new installation A Room for London. Until 31 Dec

13 July 2012 to 8 September 2012

Royal Albert Hall SW7 2AP[map]

The greatest classical music festival on earth returns to London's Royal Albert Hall. 13 Jul-8 Sep

7 July 2012 to 15 July 2012

Various venues [map]

Put on your dancing shoes and get involved in Big Dance 2012, a fun festival of dance-related events in London. 7-15 Jul

4 April 2012 to 9 September 2012

Tate Modern SE1 9TG[map]

See more than 70 iconic works by celebrated contemporary artist Damien Hirst at London's Tate Modern. 5 Apr-9 Sep

4 May 2012 to 13 May 2012

Barbican Theatre [map]

Don't miss the first-ever UK performances of Robert Wilson and Philip Glass's opera Einstein on the Beach. 4-13 May

21 April 2012 to 9 June 2012

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre SE1 9DT[map]

See all Shakespeare's plays performed in six weeks in multiple languages at the Globe. Don't miss it! 21 Apr-9 Jun

27 July 2012

Various venues [map]

At 8am on Friday 27 July 2012 all the bells in the country will ring for three minutes performing Work No, 1197 by Turner Prize winning artist and musician Martin Creed.

29 February 2012 to 9 September 2012

Various venues [map]

The Mayor of London presents a fantastic series of free outdoor events to celebrate the London 2012 Games. Summer 2012

11 July 2012 to 23 September 2012

National Gallery WC2N 5DN[map]

Discover new art and poetry inspired by Titian at the National Gallery, as part of Metamorphosis: Titian 2012. 11 Jul-23 Sep

26 June 2012 to 1 July 2012

Southbank Centre SE1 8XX[map]

Hear poets from every competing Olympic nation read at the Southbank Centre's mammoth Poetry Parnassus festival. 26 Jul-1 Jul

June 2012
(exact dates to be confirmed)

Whitechapel Art Gallery E1 7QX[map]

Whitechapel Gallery unveils a newly commissioned artwork for its façade by Rachel Whiteread. Summer 2012

23 June 2012 to 24 June 2012

Hackney Marshes E5 0SW[map]

See Florence + The Machine, Leona Lewis and Plan B at this free weekend concert, part of the London 2012 Festival. 23-24 Jun

21 July 2012 to 22 July 2012

Various venues

Enjoy free gigs at riverside venues in the run-up to the London 2012 Games, starring Scissor Sisters and more. 21-22 Jul

19 July 2012 to 23 September 2012

National Portrait Gallery WC2H 0HE[map]

Don't miss the final exhibition of the National Portrait Gallery's photographic portrait series, Road to 2012. 19 Jul-23 Sep

14 July 2012 to 20 July 2012

Royal Opera House WC2E 9DD[map]

Discover three new ballet works at the Royal Opera House, as part of Metamorphosis: Titian 2012. 14-20 Jul