Proms at St Jude's Music & Literary Festival

Proms at St Jude's is a nine day music and literary festival that offers free lunchtime concerts, including some specially for kids, performances from international luminaries of music and literature and a series of guided walks that will open your eyes to the natural and built environment, including one aimed at families with kids.

Expect a sublime performance on Last Night of the Proms from Lesley Garrett, one of Britain's most popular sopranos. Prepare for revelations at LitFest from iconic author Edna O'Brien, whose debut novel, 'The Country Girls,' first published in 1960, was banned in Ireland. And expect to see the world about you with new eyes as experts discuss architecture and nature on the Proms Heritage walks.

The music festival is eclectic and caters to all tastes, from the operatic to the playful. Events range from a brilliant performance of Puccini’s La Bohème, by Nevill Holt Opera, a unique ensemble that focuses on the best of young British talent to the intimate cabaret of Maria Friedman and Jason Carr performing the music of Bernstein and Sondheim to trad jazz with Keith Ball and his Jazzmen.

Other musical performances include Handel's 'Esther' by the Elia Ensemble and Choir, The Endellion String Quartet with Michael Collins, playing Haydn, Bartok and Mozart; Llyr Williams on piano, playing Haydn, Schubert, Chopin and Mussorgsky; Tasmin Little, violin, and Piers Lane, piano, playing Beethoven, Ravel and Strauss; The Barbican Piano Trio and Friends, playing Schubert, Taneyev and Schumann.

The Literary Festival (21 - 22 June), showcases seven authors and journalists. It opens with actress and author Phyllida Law, talking about her humane and often defiantly hilarious account of her mother’s final months in the grip of dementia. Also speaking will be Lynn Barber, one of the most feared interviewers in Fleet, whose new memoir will reveal more secrets of those in the limelight. And tasty treat is in store in the talk by Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer of Middle Eastern cafe, Honey & Co.

Proms Heritage walks takes place starting on Sunday 22 June, with themes as diverse as town planning and 'controversial trees.'

The Festival runs from Saturday 21 June to Sunday 29 June 2014 in Central Square, London NW11. Visit the Proms at St Judes website to book tickets or, from Monday 2 June, ring 020 3322 8123.