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 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.

Schools and colleges across the UK are being encouraged to celebrate the athletes and cultures of the world as part of London 2012 World Sport Day, which will take place on Monday 25 June 2012.

The celebration, which will open National School Sport Week in England and Wales, will give thousands of young people across the UK the chance to learn about the athletes and cultures of the world.

For the next three weeks, Africa will come to a standstill. The Cup of Nations, the continent's most celebrated football competition, kicks off on Saturday, and will capture the attention of millions of fans around Africa.

Find yourself a dragon mask and prepare for the fireworks: Chinese New Year is coming to London! The longest and most important festivity in the Chinese calendar takes place on Monday 23 January, and is sure to be celebrated with some verve in the capital.

The central weekend to celebrate the Queen’s diamond jubilee will take place from Saturday 2 June to Tuesday 5 June, and will be marked with celebratory activities throughout the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth. Here is our look at some of the highlights of the four-day weekend. 

• The Queen’s visit to the Epsom Derby on 2 June.
• The Big Jubilee Lunch, taking place on 3 June, will build on the already popular Big Lunch initiative, encouraging people to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations.
• The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3 June will take place on the Thames and consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. The Queen will travel in the Royal Barge which will lead the fabulous flotilla.
• The BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace is a televised diamond jubilee concert on 4 June, with tickets available to UK residents by public ballot. Details on how to apply for the concert will be available at a later date.