A Right Royal Weekend

Dig out the bunting, get your Union Jacks at the ready and defrost the leftover Christmas party nibbles, because this weekend sees the country taken over by Royal Wedding madness.

Whether you love or loathe the Royals, surely nobody can complain at the idea of another day off work. And what better way to enjoy this weekend's promised sunshine than with a traditional street party.

Here's our pick of some of the best Royal and anti-Royal Wedding Street Parties happening around the country this Friday, 29th April.   

The Northern Quarter Street Party and The Thomas Street Treat

Friday sees Manchester's creative Northern Quarter come alive with not one but TWO street parties, taking place on the neighbouring Edge Street and Thomas Streets. 

Edge Street will be taken over by The Northern Quarter Street Party - a 1940's themed event aimed at bringing together the area's creative independent businesses for a traditional community event. Food will come courtesy of a Common Bar BBQ, The Manchester Egg, and various cake and food stalls, while entertainment will be in the form of swing dance lessons, a fashion show, a 1940s treasure hunt, a RNCM string quartet performance and a line-up of local DJ talent headed up by Xfm's Gareth Brooks. Find out more and get your wristbands (£4.75) here.

On neighbouring Thomas Street meanwhile you'll find the Thomas Street Treat, a free event with food, drink, music and general merriment under the bunting. Mr Scruff will be providing the tunes, along with King Spinna, Dr Sid and more. Find out more here. 

The Leonard Street Royal Wedding Street Party

Of course East London would be having a Street Party. Of course. The hipster hub of the UK will be showing their red white and blue by celebrating Wills and Kate's big day with a right Royal East End knees up on Shoreditch's Leonard Street, with fancy dress, cocktails, bunting, band, games and barbecue. Entertainment will come from 'Rockney' Chas n' Dave tribute act Wilf & Squint, as well as Brassroots and Swing Patrol. There'll also be a live outdoor screening of the wedding. Find out more here.

Off With Their Heads Presents… The Royal Wedding

Taking an ever-so-slightly less patriotic view of The Royal Wedding is the Off With Their Heads Royal Wedding Special at Salford's Islington Mill. The event aims to question the values of Royals in the best way possible - by getting the community together for a good old knees up. There'll be a World Record attempt for the longest wedding train made out of knitted plastic bags, a wedding karaoke, live wedding editing of the official event and sideshows including an indignant coconut shy and aggressively machismo crockery smashing stall; all culminating in a massive tug o' war between republicans and royalists. The night will then degenerate into madness with a vogue brawl, wedding bands, a gypsy wedding reception and much much more. Find out more here.

Saint Saviour Street Party

Over in Hull, things are going from Royal to downright Saintly with a combined club and street party event headlined by Groove Armada vocalist Saint Saviour. Organised by the Icehouse Project, the event will see the gobsmackingly talented vocalist perform at Hull's Fruit, while outside Humber Street will be closed for a traditional street party with special guest DJs. Find out more here.

The Big Fat Royal Wedding

Another one for the patriots, The Big Fat Royal Wedding takes place at East London's ever so regal Royal Inn on the Park and will be a day of food, drink, wedding DJs, dancing, and good old community spirit. There'll be free vodka jelly shots, a BBQ, and cheesy wedding tunes until the early hours. Find out more and get your £5 ticket here.

Butterfly Social Royal Wedding Party

Break out the bunting and bone china! We all know that real weddings can be a bit of a snoozefest in places, so Butterfly Social are taking all the best bits of the Royal Wedding and creating their kind of party. Against the backdrop of the fantastic Leadenhall Market in the City, party goers will watch the Royal nuptials on a big screen before celebrating with a street party. As well as fun, food and games, there will be a wedding reception, complete with cheesy DJ and plenty of 'Dad dancing'. Find out more and get your ticket (£12 - including lunch) here.