Don't you think major cities are a good place to spend the summer? Get that idea out of your head. Cosmopolitan cities actually offer plenty of events and activities to enjoy at this time of year. Discover, for instance, summer in London...

• Enjoy all the fun of Notting Hill Carnival

When? 26 and 27 August.

One of London's most eagerly awaited events of the year is held at the end of August: the popular Notting Hill Carnival. The streets teem with fun and excitement during the celebrations. The big parade is the most eagerly awaited event: spectacular floats and extravagant costumes (feathers, sequins and, above all, colour) to the rhythm of Caribbean music played by over fifty bands. With so much dancing, you're sure to work up an appetite. But don't worry, the carnival includes more than 300 food stalls, where you can try some typical Caribbean cuisine. The signature dish? Jamaica Jerk Chicken.

• Visit the inside of Buckingham Palace

Every summer, while the Queen is away on holiday, Buckingham Palace opens to the public. Stroll through the sumptuous halls, see the treasures of the Royal Collection and admire priceless works of art by Rembrandt, Rubens and Vermeer. A word of advice. Book your tickets in advance.

• Take a free tour around the city

If you want to see London's most famous landmarks, be sure to take a free tour. It's a fun way to see the city. There are also themed tours, such as the Harry Potter Tour or the Old City Tour. Bear in mind that they usually have a set price.

• Go to the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament

When? 2 to 15 July.

If you're a tennis fan and in London for the first two weeks of July, this is your chance to enjoy one of the world's greatest tennis tournaments in situ. Rub shoulders with aristocracy and high society, eat strawberries and cream, and enjoy all the excitement from the grandstand. Many of the traditions from the first tournament in 1877 have survived to this day: the dress code means all participants must wear white, the grass must be mown to precisely 8 mm (it's the only tournament played on grass), it's traditional to have a glass of Pimm's with your strawberries, a summery drink similar to sangria...

• See a play at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

If you visit London in summer, you can go to see a play at the famous Globe Theatre (it only opens from April to October). Standing on the Southbank of the River Thames, the building is an exact replica of the theatre where William Shakespeare staged his most famous works (built in 1599).