Fast service

Waiters race through London's Soho tomorrow at the annual community festival. Plus spaghetti-eating competitions, children's juggling workshop, stalls, refreshments.

St Anne's Gardens and Wardour Street. Noon - 6pm. From £1. 020-7439 4303/ www.thesohosociety.org.uk.

Swan of Avon

As You Like It, Love's Labour's Lost, and Twelfth Night will be performed in the Walled Garden at Warwickshire's Charlecote Park next week. Take a picnic.

Wellesbourne, Warwick. July 19, 20 and 21, 7.30pm. Adults £10, children and concessions £7. 01789 470277/ www.ntrustsevern.org.uk.

Up for it

Swan Upping starts on Monday, when six traditional skiffs set off up the Thames from Sunbury to Abingdon. Birds are counted, weighed, measured and ringed by The Queen's Swan Warden.

July 16 - 20. Free. For times, check with 01628 523030/www.royal.gov.uk.

Austin powers

More than 800 classic cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles get an outing tomorrow at a rally organised by the North East Club for pre-war Austins.

Newby Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire. 10.30am - 5pm. Adults £5, children £3.50, seniors £4. 01423 322583/ www.newbyhall.com.

Plot development

Small display gardens, showing what can be achieved in a modest space, are a feature of the Royal Horticultural Society's annual flower show in the glorious setting of Tatton Park.

Knutsford, Cheshire, July 18 - 22. RHS members and a few National Trust members only on opening day,£17. Otherwise, adults £16, children 5 - 15 £5 (under 5s free). 01625 534400/www.rhs.org.uk.

Fools' gold

Learn to play the fool at Hampton Court. Each weekend until August 27, children will be taught the ancient arts of juggling and stilt walking.

Three times daily between about noon and 4pm, for two age groups: 8 - 12 and over-13s. Plus a fool show at 3.15pm. Included in normal admission prices (adults £10.80, children £7.20, families £32, concessions £8.30). 020-8781 9500/www.hrp.org.uk.

Celtic summer

Street theatre and music, carnival, food-and-drink festival, children's workshops and entertainment in the castle, and the Welsh proms in St David's Hall are all part of the Cardiff Summer Festival.

July 13 - August 5. Many events free. Check dates and times on 029 2087 3690/www.cardiff-festival.com.

Cornish cream

Ancient legends are recounted in the Tent of a Thousand Tales at Cornwall's Tintagel Castle.

Wednesdays (until mid August). 6pm. Adults £3, children £1.50, concessions £2.30. 01840 770328.