Mayor reveals plans for 'grand celebration' of London life

London Mayor Boris Johnson today announced plans for a grand celebration of London life, including a magnificent flotilla sailing up the River Thames and a 1960s' day in the city's trendy Carnaby Street.

Mr Johnson posed for pictures with a King Henry VIII lookalike at Henry's royal residence Hampton Court Palace to announce the plans.

Historians Tristram Hunt and Simon Schama are also getting involved in the month-long celebration, featuring art, music, literature, theatre and walking tours entitled The Story of London.

Throughout June events will include Historic Royal Palaces' Spectacular Tudor River Pageant marking the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's Coronation, with the King and a spectacular flotilla sailing up the River Thames.

There will also be jousting at Eltham Palace as well as a Story of London Walking Weekend from June 6 to June 7 when more than 120 different walks will be on offer across the capital.

Mr Johnson spoke of London's rich history saying: "London was founded by a bunch of pushy Italian immigrants and we're... grateful to the Romans for what they did."

Asked if it was an exercise in popular culture or posh culture Mr Johnson said: "It is a celebration of both.

"I think the two things are indistinguishable... you know and I know that such distinctions are entirely artificial and so did Henry VIII."

Mr Johnson said London tourism was doing well despite the economic downturn.

He said: "People are spending money on tourism and entertainment in a way that's frankly surprising a lot of the experts."

The Greater London Authority has a £150,000 budget for the event, plus funding from partners.

Some of the events will be free and others will have a charge.

It was put to Mr Johnson that he had been critical of his predecessor Ken Livingstone for pursuing pet projects and he was asked if this was what he was doing here.

But Mr Johnson said: "Far from being a pet project I think this is a very, very sensible thing to do."

He added: "This is a good thing in itself that people should be celebrating and enjoying the story of their city."

Historian and broadcaster Dan Snow lent his support to the project, saying: "London's history is overwhelming.

"Every building, every inch of the Thames, every park or common has millennia of stories, some are well known, others are buried.

"I am really looking forward to this summer's Story of London as a chance to get beneath the skin of the capital and big-up some of its secrets."

Other organisations getting involved in the project include the National Gallery, English Heritage, the Museum of London, the Heritage Lottery Fund, BFI and Southbank.

The BBC Proms, Black Cultural Archives, ICA and the National Archives are also taking part.

More details will be released in due course and information about activities can be found at www.london.gov.uk/storyoflondon.