The Queen's 90th: Everywhere in London lighting beacons

To celebrate the Queen's milestone birthday, more than a thousand beacons will be lit across the country, including a number in London
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Whereas her humble subjects must make do with a Colin the Caterpillar cake and a few dodgy candles, our monarch, Her Majesty The Queen, is celebrating her 90th birthday in a significantly grander fashion.

To celebrate her milestone, more than a thousand beacons will be lit across the country, effectively turning the country into a giant, inedible cake. The Queen will begin things, lighting the first beacon at 7pm outside Windsor Castle, and around the country, councils are set to follow suit.

Not everywhere, however, is taking part, with some places opting to instead raise a glass to the birthday girl with street parties and other special events.

Below is an alphabetical list of everywhere in London joining the beacon brigade. Be sure to arrive a little before the stated starting time, to avoid crowds and to catch the entertainment being put on.

While we’ve made every effort to be as comprehensive as possible, this list is ncomplete, as some councils did not respond to the Standard’s requests. If you know of an event happening, please do comment below.

  • Barking and Dagenham: Dagenham Civic Centre, 7.30pm 
  • Barnet: Outside St Mary the Virgin Church, ceremony from 6.50pm, lighting at 7.30pm
  • Bexley: Danson Park. They say “at dusk”, but it will be post 7pm, as the Queen must go first, naturally
  • Brent: Civic Centre, from 7pm
  • Camden: Camden have had some confusion over lighting a beacon. As of the latest news, they are no longer planning a beacon on the roof of the Town Hall, but will instead project burning imagery upon the BT Tower. It may or may not look like it’s on fire
  • City of London: Golden Lane Estate, 7.30pm
  • Ealing: Royal Logistics Corps, Royal Logistic Corps, Army Reserve Centre, Southall, 8.30pm
  • Greenwich: Three events happening here, at the Cutty Sark Gardens, in General Gordon Square in Woolwich, and Oxleas Meadow at Shooters Hill. All events begin 7.30pm, lights at 8.30pm
  • Hackney: The roof of Hackney Empire, 8.30pm
  • Hounslow: Lampton Park, from 7pm 
  • Haringey: Alexandra Palace, event from 8pm, lights 8.30pm 
  • Harrow: Old Redding Road Car Park, from 8pm, and the Civic Centre, 8.30pm
  • Havering: St John the Evangelist Church, events from 7.15pm, lighting from 8.30pm
  • Islington: Dartmouth Park, 8.30pm 
  • Kensington and Chelsea: Royal Hospital Chelsea, 7.30pm, where a Chelsea Pensioner will do the honours
  • Kingston: Adventurous Kingston will light theirs in the middle of the Thames, at 8.30pm. It’ll be on the Thames Adventurer boat. For viewing, your best bet is Minima Yacht Club on Embankment 
  • Wimbledon: The piazza, from 7.30pm. Looks like an especially good one, with live music including bag pipes

The following area have confirmed they will not be doing beacons: Bromley, Enfield, Hillingdon, Lambeth, Newham, Southwark, Sutton, Richmond, Westminster, Waltham Forest.

Follow David Ellis on Twitter @dvh_ellis

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