Here are my top picks for this weekend
Saturday 11th June
TROOPING OF THE COLOUR: Dating back to the 17th century, Trooping the Colour is perhaps the most famous part of the Queen's birthday bash. If pageantry and horses are up your street (1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and over 400 hundred musicians), make sure that street is The Mall (or on the edge of St James's Park overlooking Horse Guards). If you're tall/have a step ladder/don't mind nudging fellow Royalists out of the way, you might catch a glimpse of Her Maj riding back to Buck Palace. Events start around 10am (get there at 9am for any kind of a view), and there's an RAF fly-past at 1pm, while an assortment of Windsors exercise their wrists on a balcony. This is quality royal birthday.
Alternatively, there's a Queen-less, but nonetheless grandiloquent, flotilla heading down the Thames from 12.15pm
CROUCH END FESTIVAL: Go north for a huge selection of exhibitions, markets, entertainment, zombie walks, comedy, craft and live music at Crouch End Festival. For a complete list of events, visit their website. Various prices including many free events, just turn up, until 19 June
SECRET GARDENS: Discover 10 of Spitalfields' treasures at this secret gardens day with NGS. See a new side to the area's history of merchants and weavers and even grab some homemade tea on your tour. £14 (children go free), just turn up, 10am
Sunday 12th June
PARTY AT THE MALL: The icing on the birthday cake comes in the form of a 10,000 strong street party down The Mall on the Sunday, featuring a posh picnic and a parade of performers. How do you get an invite? Er, you can't now. But you can watch the festivities unravel on a big screen in nearby Green Park and St James's Park, while knocking back a tube of Pringles.
Otherwise, make your way to Trafalgar Square, where they're screening the Mall lunch, but also laying on a stage full of entertainment, dance workshops, a football challenge, cookery demonstrations and food tasting sessions, royalty-themed games and activities and face painting. 'Commonwealth-style' food for sale includes fish and chips, an Oz-style burger, Caribbean jerk chicken and Indian curry.
MAKE MERRY: The longest community festival in the borough of Greenwich welcomes you to Plumstead Common today. Plumstead Make Merry is a packed day of music, arts and activities with up to 80 stalls, food and family-friendly fun. Free, just turn up, noon-6pm-4pm
PATRON'S LUNCH. Have lunch with the Queen at this St James's Park Patron's Lunch. Don't let not having a ticket to the official celebrations put you off — watch the action on big screens, grab picnic food from the caterers on site and celebrate Liz's 90th. It's going to be a busy one, so plan your journey in advance. Free, just turn up, from 10am
LONDON BRIDGE CITY SUMMER FESTIVAL: Enjoy live music performances at More London's London Bridge City Summer Festival. Be entertained by street performers at More London and London Bridge City Pier. Free, just turn up, all day
BIG LUNCH: Bring a dish to share at Stepney City Farm's Big Lunch to celebrate their sixth birthday. Meet the animals, learn swing dancing, discover history and be a part of games, competitions and even a treasure hunt. Free (just bring a dish to share), just turn up, 10.30am
STANMORE FETE: Get in the mood for British summer time at Stanmore Fete's traditional day out on Old Church Lane. Chock-full of stalls, activities and entertainment — do some shopping, hook a duck or climb St John's Church Tower. Free (some activities cost), just turn up, noon-4pm
CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN: Tucked away beside the Thames, Chelsea Physic Garden is London's oldest botanical garden. Get up close with over 5,000 plants on this family fun day. Discover the edible, useful, medicinal and historic. Free (with entry to the garden: £10.50/£6.95), just turn up, noon-4pm
HIDDEN GARDENS: Take a peek into the hidden gardens of Regent's Park on this behind-the-gate look at the green spaces of St John's Villa, Queen Mary's Rose Garden and more. Hear stories of their creation and secrets behind their famous residents. £9.63-£10, prebook, 2pm-4pm
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