WINTER EVENTS
War Horse: Fact & Fiction -
National Army Museum
22 October 2011 to 31 August 2012
This stunning exhibition explores the hugely popular Michael
Morpurgo novel alongside touching real-life stories of war horses
and the men who depended on them during WW1.
The Orchestra of the Age of
Enlightenment - Royal Festival Hall
13 January to 10 June 2012
These unique performances will blow away your assumptions of
classical music from 1600 to now. The programme features a range of
events that offers something for everyone, whether you're a first
timer or a committed concert goer.
Friday Tonic - Southbank
Centre
20 January to 24 February 2012
Wind down at the end of the working week and experience some great
jazz, improvised musics and emerging artists for free.
Dickens on Screen - BFI
Southbank
27 January 2012 to 28 February 2012
From Great Expectations to Oliver Twist, see many wonderful,
curious, famous, rare, neglected and fascinating adaptations of
Charles Dickens work for film and television on the big
screen.
Tropical Extravaganza Festival - Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew
4 February to 4 March 2012
Celebrate all things bright, beautiful and tropical at the Tropical
Extravaganza Festival, where exotic orchids, tropical flowers and
foliage displays will dominate the Princess of Wales
Conservatory.
Vault - Old
Vic Tunnels
9 to 26 February 2012
This unusual three-week arts festival is being held in the
underground vaults of the Old Vic Tunnels. Choose from a reboot of
'La Bohème' as a silent disco, a digitally interactive theatre
performances, satirical puppetry, an album of short plays set to
music and many more exciting events.
Imagine - Southbank Centre
11 to 26 February 2012
With over 50 ticketed and free events over two weeks, including
concerts, plays, comedy and appearances by many of the UK's finest
children's authors, this will be the biggest Imagine festival yet.
Celebrate Roald Dahl, listen to the London Philharmonic Orchestra's
performance of The Jungle Book in the Royal Festival Hall and be
part of an audience with the legendary Jacqueline.
Maslenitsa Russian Festival
19 to 26 February 2012
The Russian Sun Festival - a celebration of the beginning of spring
- features events across London including a fashion show at the
V&A and cooking master classes with Russian chefs. The festival
culminates in a day of celebration on February 26 in Trafalgar
Square with lots of Russian art, culture and food as well as a live
video link-up with Moscow's Red Square.
The Big Egg
Hunt
21 February to 9 April 2012
The hunt is on! For 40 days and 40 nights London will be transfixed
by the most astounding and exhilarating egg hunt it has ever seen.
From 21 February, over 200 uniquely crafted Easter eggs created by
leading artists, designers, architects and jewellers will appear
around central London. Collect your map or download your app,
gather your family and friends and join in the world's largest
Easter egg hunt!
Great Spitalfields Pancake Race - Old Truman
Brewery
21 February 2012
See teams of four in wacky costumes compete in a crazy pancake
race. Make sure you enjoy a pancake from the sidelines!
Parliamentary Pancake Race - Victoria
Tower Gardens
21 February 2012
This Shrove Tuesday relay race sees three teams comprised
respectively of MPs, Lords and members of the press pit their
pancake tossing abilities against each others. It is required that:
'Gentlemanly and gentlewomanly behaviour will be strictly observed
at all times', specifically that 'any surplus eggs, flour or batter
must not be propelled in the direction of other participants or
spectators'! Enjoy!
London Fashion Weekend - Somerset House
23 to 26 February 2012
Once the curtain falls on the final London Fashion Week show,
Somerset House is transformed into a unique 4 day designer shopping
emporium. Style-savvy label lovers can update their wardrobe with
one-off pieces from their favourite designers at discounted rates,
see catwalk shows and be entertained by top-notch DJs.
Shell Classic
International
4 March to 26 June 2012
This programme of events features a rare opportunity to hear
Claudio Abbado with his legendary Lucerne Festival Orchestra,
Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of
Venezuela and much more.
WOW: Women of the World Festival -
Southbank Centre
7 to 11 March 2012
This celebration of International Women's Day programme of events
includes the one-woman play 'Beside the Sea', music by the Duo
DorT, 'Equals Live', contemporary music by women performers and
comedy from Sandi Toksvig and Jo Brand.
La
Dolce Vita - Business Design Centre
9 to 11 March 2012
Discover Italy in a day! Experience the best in Italian cooking
with live cooking demonstrations from Gino D'Acampo and
visit an authentic Italian food, wine and drink market.
Head
of the River Race
17 March 2012
Watch over 400 crews from around the world compete in London's
exhilarating rowing event, Head of the River Race, from Mortlake to
Putney.
St Patrick's Day Parade &
Festival
18 March 2012
See one of the most fun parades of the year! Starting at noon,
there'll be a stunning parade of marching bands and floats while
Trafalgar Square will host an all-day festival featuring ceili
dancing, Irish music and more.
Pick Me Up: Contemporary Graphic Art
Fair - Somerset House
22 March to 1 April 2012
This is the place to buy graphic art from the newest, coolest and
most exciting established and emerging artists.
CircusFest 2012 - The
Roundhouse
28 March to 29 April 2012
CircusFest returns to the Roundhouse with five weeks of
contemporary circus from around the globe. This year's programme
includes Cirque Mandingue's 'Foté Foré', 'Undermän' by Circkus
Cirkor and 'Professor Vanessa's Wondershow'.
London Marathon
2012
22 April 2012
35,000 runners and 26.2 miles... Find a spot to cheer on the
runners and see some inventive fancy dress costumes.
World Shakespeare Festival -
Various
23 April to November 2012
The World Shakespeare Festival is the crowning glory of the 2012
Cultural Olympiad. This celebration includes everything from a
South Sudanese 'Cymbeline' to Jonathan Pryce starring in the
Almeida Theatre's 'King Lear'. The centrepiece of the whole
festival will be Globe to Globe at Shakespeare's Globe, in which 37
theatre companies from around the world will present 37 of
Shakespeare's works in 37 different languages.
London Coffee Festival 2012 - Old
Truman Brewery
27 to 29 April 2012
Be immersed in a world of artisanal coffee discovery, tasting,
demonstrations and entertainment as you explore The Lab, The
Growing Community, The Showroom, The Roastery, The Tea Garden, The
Chocolate Factory and The Street Food & Artisan Markets.
The Queen's Diamond
Jubilee
Sunday 3 June 2012
- River Pageant - Up to 1,000 boats will take part in this pageant on the Thames - the largest flotilla on the river in modern times. The Queen will lead the flotilla, with boats carrying 30,000 flag-waving members of the public.
Monday 4 June 2012
- Jubilee Beacons - A network of 2,012 Beacons will be lit by communities and individuals throughout the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth. The Queen will light the National Beacon.
- Take a trip to Buckingham Palace to listen to the special Diamond Jubilee Concert which is being organised by the BBC.
Tuesday 5 June 2012
- Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession at St Paul's Cathedral - The final day of official celebrations includes a service at St Paul's and a formal carriage procession attended by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.
Our Concierge team are the definitive guide to what's hot in London and would be delighted to give you the inside knowledge on where to go and what to do during your stay this Christmas. Many of London's galleries are free to enjoy and our Concierge team will be happy to arrange tickets for those events that do require tickets.
All tickets are subject to availability. We will always try our best to secure your first choice or to suggest alternatives.
Contact our Concierge
Tel: 020 7300 1099
Fax: 020 7300 0525
Email Concierge
LONDON TIPS
Get into the '30s swing and discover some of Piet Mondrian
and Ben Nicholson greatest abstract works at the Mondrian ||
Nicholson: In Parallel exhibition.
Courtauld Gallery
16 February to 20 May
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