If, as William Shakespeare wrote in As You Like It, "all the world's a stage", then UK must surely be hogging the spotlight this summer.

The World Shakespeare Festival, part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, kicks off this month, aiming to tempt a new generation of fans into the world of one of the UK's most celebrated playwrights. Led by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the country-wide celebration will feature theatre companies from all over the world, presenting their own unique interpretations of the works of the bard.

Young people from Aberdeen, Hull and London have celebrated their participation in the London 2012 Young Leaders Programme at an event at the British Museum.

London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) chair Seb Coe and Olympian Jonathan Edwards joined the young people at the event marking the two-year development scheme.

Through the Young Leaders Programme, London 2012 is giving a group of young people the chance to make a positive change to their lives and their communities, culminating in volunteering roles during the Games.

The wait is almost over! Seven years after being awarded the Olympic Games, London is making its final preparations for the world's largest sporting event.

Despite fears over infrastructure and business during the Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed on Friday that the city is ready to welcome the world's best athletes and Olympic and Paralympic fans this summer.

Said chairman of the IOC's Coordination Commission, Denis Oswald, "With only 119 days to go until the Games begin, London is ready to welcome the world this summer.

Dust off your dancing shoes, Londoners: carnaval is coming to the UK! The Brazilian programme for the London 2012 Festival has been announced in Rio de Janeiro, and looks set to bring the best of the country's creativity to these shores.

As part of the Cultural Olympiad, the celebration will also create opportunities for Brazilian artists to collaborate and create relationships with established and emerging British artists.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has confirmed places for over 7,300 inspiring people who will be carrying the Olympic Flame as Torchbearers in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

This year’s Grammy Awards, the US accolade to recognize outstanding acheivement in the music industry, was held on Sunday 12 February.

The event saw a very British victory, as Adele won in all six categories she was nominated in, matching leading American singer Beyoncé for most Grammy wins in a night by a female act.

Adele won record of the year, song of the year, best pop solo performance and best short form music video for ‘Rolling in the Deep’. Her second album, ’21’, was named album of the year.

The singer/songwriter also performed for the first time since having throat surgery last year.

Other British winners were Amy Winehouse, who received a posthumous award for her duet with Tony Bennett, ‘Body and Soul’, which was the last recording she made before her death in July.

British Corinne Bailey also picked up a Grammy for the best R&B performance for ‘Is This Love’.

London's most prestigious fashion event, the bi-annual London Fashion Week, is again just around the corner.

With all the top names in fashion out to impress at the fashion shows, front rows, backstage and parties, London Fashion Week spring/summer 2012 is set to be more glamorous and cutting edge than ever before.

However, for those who love fashion but are not involved in the fashion industry, London Fashion Week still holds some peripheral public events so that everyone can have a slice of the action.

• Karaoke at Source Below, Soho – Monday 13 Feb, from 6-11pm (free but register online) – special fashion-themed karaoke.
• Upstyler Barnabus Bazaar at the House of St Barnabus, Greek Street, Soho– Friday 17 February, from noon till 7pm (£5 donation on entry) – a ‘high end vintage shopping experience’.

The last work of the late Lucian Freud went on show for the first time at London's National Portrait Gallery this week, as a countdown event for the London 2012 Festival.

The most ambitious exhibition of the artist's work for ten years, Lucian Freud Portraits will provide an opportunity for visitors to see some of his most important portraits. The show runs from 9 February to 27 May.

Prince Charles is leading global celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens's birth today.

The Prince of Wales laid a wreath at the author's grave in Poets' Corner, ahead of a special service at Westminster Abbey.

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has announced details of the lighting of the Olympic Flame and its arrival into the UK.

The Flame will be lit in Greece on 10 May and travel on board a special gold-liveried aircraft to Cornwall ahead of the Torch Relay, which starts on the 19 May.