From jazz atop a skyscraper to orchestral concerts at St Paul’s Cathedral, the City of London Festival returns with an impressive line-up of music, dance and art at unusual venues across the Square Mile.

The festival kicks off on Monday, June 22 with eclectic performances from the Danish String Quartet, Circus Geek jugglers, bilboquet expert Ezec Le Floc’h and the Deutsche Bank Art Tour.

Alan Yarrow, the Lord Mayor of London, says: “We are busting the myth that the Square Mile simply serves the financial and professional services industries. The rich diversity of its cultural landscape and identity is the open secret of the City’s success – attracting the best and the brightest who want to work and live here.”

Highlights – in this case, literally high-up – of the festival include world-class jazz at the Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street and the Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard.

Beautiful views of the capital will accompany performances by Jeremy Monteiro (June 23), Norma Winstone (June 26), Anita Wardell (July 5) and Arve Henriksen (July 7).

In the magnificent setting of St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Symphony Orchestra will perform Haydn’s Creation (June 24), followed by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s rendition of Monteverdi’s Vespers (July 2).

To mark the 50th anniversary of Singapore’s independence, the festival will present a snapshot of the republic’s cultural riches.

Concerts include pianist Melvyn Tan with the T’ang Quartet at Merchant Taylors’ Hall (June 29), and violinist Siow Lee-Chin performing Bach at St Bartholomew the Great (June 23).

And although it has been running for more than half a century – the festival began in 1962 – it is always bringing in new events.

This year festival-goers can take part in a Wren Church Marathon challenge with morn-to-midnight choral performances at each of Sir Christopher Wren’s magnificent City churches.

Throughout the festival street guitars will be dotted around the locale for anyone to play, housed in unique re-purposed boats.

For younger visitors, around 1,000 children will round off the festival on July 10 with a myths and legends parade, while a day of free family events will also take place on Hampstead Heath (June 28).

City of London Festival, Square Mile, June 22 to July 10. Details: 0845 120 7502, colf.org