The days are longer, the sun is shining (most of the time) and a selection of free summer festivals are arriving in London. Children and adults can enjoy days out in London with plenty of attractions and activities to go for. Check our guide for a list of free summer festivals to visit this year.

Skyrides
One of the longest free festivals in London during the summer, the Skyrides cycling events will take place every weekend across the city. Skyrides Summer Festival events include a mass 10km cycle from Syon to Osterley parks on Sunday 9th August, and events for families in Finsbury Park and Hyde Park, all designed to get Londoners of every age and ability on their saddles. The festival ends with the massive Mayor of London's skyride through a traffic free central London on 20th September.One Magic Summer
Visitors to Trafalgar Square can pull up a deckchair for free every day of the One Magic Summer festival in Trafalgar Square, which brings seaside chic and end of pier entertainment to the centre of London. There are live performances every Thursday - Sunday, with highlights including pop up beach huts, comedy, live music, street theatre, and Bollywood dancing. The One Magic Summer festival takes place from 17th August - 31st August 2009.Spitalfields Show and Green Fair
Kids, families and green fingered horticultural enthusiasts can reconnect with nature while staying in the city with the Spitalfields Show and Green Fair. Taking place at the Spitalfields City Farm, expect to find stalls galore and a range of talks and workshops on 13th September.Thames Festival
Enjoy live music, street theatre, arts, cultural performances and illuminations with the Mayor's Thames Festival in September. Full of vibrant performances, the Thames Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday 12th and 13th September 2009.Liberty
Taking place once more in September 2009, free live performance festivals don't come much better than this, as dance, music and much more comes to London in a massive celebration of deaf and disabled artists. Expect street art, acrobatic aerial performances, and a kids area to keep the little ones happy too.Pestival London
If you're looking for a more quirky festival at the tail end of summer, the Pestival event at the Southbank Centre certainly ticks more than a few boxes. Although some of the music events are ticketed, the majority of the arts and science events that celebrate insects in all their glory are free to attend.Notting Hill Carnival
One of the biggest street parties you will ever have seen, the Notting Hill Carnival is like no other event in London over the summer. The highlight of the August Bank Holiday weekend, there is so much colour, music, food and entertainment going on that you won't know where to start. The 2009 carnival runs from 9am-7pm, Sunday 30th August - Monday 31st August 2009.Japan Matsuri
Head to Old Spitalfields Market for a day of dance, puppetry, live music, games and plenty of food and drink stalls at the Japan Matsuri event. Plenty of fun is in store for kids and families, and everyone with an interest in Japanese culture will be in for a real treat puppetry, origami wishing trees, Japanese fairytale trails, and much more. The Japanese Festival takes place on 19th September.Watch This Space
Taking place from July - September 2009, the Watch This Space festival at the National Theatre features circus acts, parkour, live music, street theatre and plenty of events for kids and families. With free film screenings projected onto the National Theatre Flytower and a huge programme of dance themed events planned for the August bank holiday, there's simply no excuse not to soak up some culture along with your sun over the summer.Giant Chess at Trafalgar Square
Design in all its shapes and forms is the theme of the city wide London Design Festival, which takes place from 19th September - 27th September 2009. Although some of the talks and events are ticketed, there's also much to see and do during the festival that's free and open for all. Among the spectacles you can expect to see during the festival is a giant working chess set in Trafalgar Square, and large art installations along the South Bank.More London Festival at The Scoop
A massive four month long festival of theatre, music and film events takes place at The Scoop open air amphitheatre this summer, and all performances are free to attend.Other London events