Festivals and Events
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Pantomimes
The essentially British winter-time light-hearted theatrical experience. There are plenty of pantos around. Try Dick Whittington and His Magical Cat at the London Zoo.
http://www.zsl.org/london-zoo/whats-on/panto-at... -
The Holiday and Travel Show
The largest consumer travel show in the UK, at Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre.
http://www.destinationsshow.com/html/content_lo... -
Fine Art and Antiques Fair
Olympia Exhibition Centre.
http://www.olympia-antiques.com -
The Boat Race
The annual rowing contest on the Thames between the university crews of Oxford and Cambridge.
http://www.theboatrace.org -
Chelsea Flower Show
http://www.rhs.org.uk -
Trooping The Colour
The official celebration of the Queen’s birthday.
http://www.royal.gov.org -
Tower of London Festival of Music
Performances in the open air from some leading contemporary acts.
http://www.towermusicfestival.co.uk -
The Notting Hill Carnival
The biggest street festival in Europe with a Caribbean flavour.
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Proms In The Park
Top-class classical music beamed from the Royal Albert Hall on to giant screens for picnic parties in Hyde Park.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms -
Poetry International
Poets from all over the world converge on the Royal Festival Hall.
http://www.rfh.org.uk -
London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
Classic old crocks line up to attempt the 55-mile challenge.
http://www.vccofgb.co.uk -
London International Horse Show
At Olympia Exhibition Centre.
http://www.olympiahorsesshow.com
Theatre, Cinema and Opera
London’s West End theatreland is mainly centred on the area of Soho in and around Shaftesbury Avenue, although there are also a number of theatres in and close to The Strand, which leads to Trafalgar Square. Theatre tickets can be bought at the box office or online through an agency (although expect to pay a commission). There are also reduced-price ticket booths, such as the one in Leicester Square. There are also a number of good, professional fringe theatre companies. Details can be found in listing magazines such as Time Out, or one of the London evening papers. These will also have full details of cinema programmes across London and live music performances.
Museums and Galleries
London is blessed with many fine museums and art galleries.
Here are just some of the choices: the British Museum (www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk), nearest Underground: Holborn (Central line) or Russell Square (Piccadilly line);
the Natural History Museum (www.nhm.ac.uk), nearest Underground: South Kensington (District, Circle and Piccadilly lines); the Victoria and Albert Museum (www.vam.ac.uk), nearest Underground: South Kensington; the National Gallery (www.nationalgallery.org.uk), nearest Underground: Charing Cross (Northern and Bakerloo lines); the National Portrait Gallery (www.npg.org.uk), nearest Underground: Charing Cross; Tate Britain and Tate Modern (www.tate.org.uk), nearest Underground: Pimlico (Victoria line)
For Children
London is not as child-friendly in restaurants and bars as some other capitals on the European mainland, although many do now have small-portion menus and play areas. Many of London’s attractions – museums and art galleries, for instance - put on special activities for children. In Cathedral Street, SE1, there’s a reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s ship, the Golden Hinde, with crew in full costume. (www.goldenhinde.co.uk). There are two city farms – one in Shoreditch (www.spitalfieldscityfarm.org) and the other in Hackney (the restaurant here won the ‘Best Family Restaurant’ award in 2005). www.hackneycityfarm.co.uk Hamley’s, billed as ‘the biggest toyshop in the world,’ is worth a visit, but only if the parents have large wallets or strong wills. www.hamleys.com
