IT’S YOUR
LONDON NEWSLETTER, SPRING 2015.
It’s Your London has been away for a few months volunteering in Swaziland (see my last blog post)
but I’m back and catching up with all things London. Newsletters come with each
new season full of great info but not too often clutter in your inbox!
Here’s your Spring 2015 newsletter giving you a taster of the exciting
events coming up in the next 3 months in our capital. If you want to hear more
about anything listed (or other things you’ve heard about) send me an email (sue@itsyourlondon.co.uk) and I’ll get
right back to you.
Have a look a Sue’s blog on the website (www.itsyourlondon.co.uk) to read
about what I’ve been up to lately – a peek into life in London. I’m also on
Twitter at @itsyourlondon so do join my 3600 followers for the latest news!
Hope you enjoy your newsletter; let me know what you think!
Best wishes,
Sue
SPECIAL
EVENTS
- April The massive London Marathon takes over the
streets and the nation’s hearts as thousands struggle past the sights of London
to raise incredible amounts for charity long after the elite runners have
reached the end on the Mall. The crowds are huge and it’s great fun to join in.
- May The magnificent
Chelsea Flower Show is the greatest flower show in the world and it gets us in
the mood for gardening with all that fabulous colour and design. Let’s hope we
get some London sunshine too.
- June We have a royal
event called Trooping the Colour which marks the Queen’s official birthday, she
has 2 birthdays (of course) but this is the public one. You can see the royals
if you get there early and don’t forget to take your flag. The end of June sees the start of Wimbledon
when we all go tennis mad for 2 weeks and SW19 is the place to be.
THEATRE
- April
If you are looking for big names on the stage, look no further than
American Buffalo at the Wyndham theatre starring Damien Lewis, John
Goodman and Tom Sturridge. Bang up to date is The Vote at the Donmar
Warehouse tracking the political events of the moment and will be playing
in real time on May 7th when the election takes place, with a
great cast including Timothy West. Golem at the Trafalgar Studios faces
the issues of man and machine and who controls who in an innovative
production.
- May
One of May’s big openings is The Elephant Man at the Theatre Royal
Haymarket starring Bradley Cooper in the lead role. I’m not sure if this
comes under the ‘theatre’ heading but Al Pacino is on stage at the Apollo
Hammersmith, in an ‘Audience with...’. A lesser known Shakespeare play – King
John - has its first outing at The
Globe. Noel Coward’s ever popular Hay Fever opens at the Duke of York
starring Felicity Kendal. At the
London Palladium, Beyond Bollywood looks great fun, promising to be a
dance extravaganza around a theatrical storyline!
- June. Another play or film turned into a
musical hits the Phoenix. Theatre with Bend it Like Beckham the Musical,
keep your fingers crossed that Beckham himself might turn up! In a strange football co-incidence, the
National Theatre is showing The Red Lion, about the passion that football
inspires and stars Daniel Mays. In the
hope of fine evenings, the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park brings us
Chekhov’s The Seagull.
ART GALLERIES
- April
A Sonia Delaunay
exhibition arrives at the Tate Modern, her first UK retrospective of 60
years of work. The Royal Academy hosts the London Original Print Fair
where work is for sale as well as viewing. The Deutsche Borse Prize shows
its entrants at the Photographers Gallery
- May
Photo London at Somerset House is London’s first international
photography fair, looks like being a major event. Not many new openings
this month but shows to catch which close in May are: Marlene Dumas: The
Image as Burden at the Tate Modern: John Sargent: Portraits of Artists and
Friends at the National Portrait Gallery; and, Inventing Impressionism at
the National Gallery. .
- June A key art event happening in June is
the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition, the world’s largest open submission
contemporary art show, is open for anyone to submit their work, few however
are chosen to hang alongside some top names. The Tate Britain’s Fighting
History explores conflict in history painting from the 18th
century to the present day. Somerset House has an exhibition of The Jam:
About the Young Idea examining their influence on music, style, politics
and culture. This year’s Serpentine Pavilion will open for inspection from
Spanish due SelgasCano, I hear it’s plastic! Last but absolutely not least is a new
Barbara Hepworth show at the Tate Britain.
SHOPPING
& MARKETS.
- April
Borough Market, the ultimate foodie destination is holding a
special St George’s day event which sounds English but we share our patron
saint with many places including Catalonia so look out for a great mix of
stalls and events from Spain and Britain. Just opened in March but worth a
mention is the world’s first Google shop on Tottenham Court Road!
- May. Carnaby Street will host a Shopping Party
with 20% off in many shops alongside music and generally good fun. This area is now buzzing again so worth a
visit any time.
- June
The Spirit of Summer Fair at Olympia exhibition centre has
everything you never knew you needed for your home and garden and yourself
London Jewellery Week sounds dangerous,
showcasing big names and bright new talent at exhibitions, shows, and
launches. Graduate Fashion Week at The Truman Brewery could offer insight
into the next big thing in fashion.
MUSEUMS
& EXHIBITIONS
- April The
British Museum’s spring blockbuster exhibition is Defining Beauty: the
body in Ancient Greek Art, but opening in April is Indigenous Australia:
Enduring Civilisation. This is the first major exhibition in the UK to
present the history of this 60,000 year old civilisation, one of the
world’s oldest continuing cultures. Apsley House, the former home of the
Duke of Wellington, reopens this month so you can enjoy these fine
historic surroundings again as the anniversary of Waterloo is marked.
- May Museums by Night is a special event countrywide but London museums
are joining in with fun events such as a nightime safari at the Natural
History Museum, an event called Put that Light Out at the Royal Artillery
Museum, simulating the blitz experience, a sleepover at the William
Morris, Late Mad Men at the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising
and the rather scary The Night of the Bodysnatcher at the Old Operating
Theatre! The Design Museum opens a new exhibition about shoewear - Life on Foot: Camper at the Design
Museum, looking at the impact of creative design and new technologies on
shoe making.
- June. Continuing
the late theme from May, Sir John Soane’s museum can be visited for one
night a month on a candlelit tour – it really is fabulous. And continuing the shoe theme, the
Victoria and Albert Museum brings us Pleasure and Pain – an exhibition
about shoes! The Museum of London at the Docklands hosts Soldiers and
Suffragettes, early press photography by Christina Bloom.
FOODIE THINGS
- April The foodie world is excited by the arrival
of Le Chabanais from the people behind the famous Parisien restaurant
Chateaubriand. More from Gordon Ramsay as Maze Grill opens in Chelsea where
Aubergine was located and where he made his name. Tonic and Remedy claims
apothecary inspired food with strong pedigree from the Great British menu chef
Paul Welburn from Rhodes W1. Talking of strong pedigrees, Berber and Q is
brought to us by Josh Katz and Mattia Bianchi whose priors include Ottolenghi
and Galvin Bistro de Luxe.
- May Wahleeah in Fulham
will have a strong emphasis on cooking with beer. 2015 sees the 100th year of
the Ivy so they closed in January to have a facelift and will reopen with a new
menu mixing classics with a nod to southern European and Asian cuisines. They
have also refreshed their art work so expect a whole new look focussing on
British art, especially emerging talent.
- June The Taste London
festival comes to Regents Park with an enormous
annual gathering in Regent’s Park where
ordinary food lovers get to sample small dishes from great restaurants at
manageable prices. Jason Atherton’s new tapas wine bar opens in Marylebone
called Social Wine – I do like the sound of this one. The famous Chutney Mary
Indian restaurant which has been on the Kings Road is upping sticks and moving
to St James. Focussing on sustainable seafood in the City, Bouillabaisse is
brought to us by Kurt Dzesar from Chotto Matte.
PARKS
& GARDENS, ROYAL PALACES
- April Chelsea
Physic Garden opens a brand new area, the World Woodland Garden, and you can
enjoy displays of medicinal plants from all around the world and be amazed that
it was founded way back in 1673! Hampton Court Palace is celebrating its 500
years so they are putting on events to mark this milestone.
- May. Regents
Park Open Air Theatre season starts, running throughout the spring and the
summer including Peter Pan in the repertoire this year. The ultimate in
gardening is the Chelsea Flower Show where you will be inspired for the rest of
the year! St James’s Park is having Victory in Europe Day (VE) celebrations
with a big party where performers will include Katherine Jenkins, Pixie Lott,
Alfie Boe, Ian Lavender, Status Quo and Strictly Come Dancing – quite a line
up.
- June Taste Festival comes to
Regent’s Park with the chance to taste small dishes from many of London’s top
restaurants in the lovely surroundings of this famous park. The Hampton Court
Festival hosts favourites such as Jules Holland, Burt Bacharach and Paloma
Faith in the grounds of the Palace along with comedy shows and fireworks.
SPORT
- April
The big deal is the London Marathon which is a huge event for elite
and ‘fun’ runners alike. It takes over London and the television and we
admire and weep with them. We also have County cricket at the Oval and the
FA Cup semi finals at Wembley.
- May
The BBL (British Basketball League) playoff finals come to the 02. 20/20 cricket gets a new set of fans at
the Oval followed by a more conventional test series against New Zealand
with a game at Lords. It’s a big month for football with the FA Cup Final
at Wembley and the Championship play offs which are always exciting.
- June
It’s tennis time with the warm up men’s’ events at Queens and then
headlong into the start of Wimbledon when everything stops for 2 weeks
especially when Murray is playing. Wimbledon is a wonderful event and
although it’s almost impossible to get a seated ticket, you can join the
famous queue for general entry and soak up the atmosphere.
MUSIC
- April
Somehow, and wonderfully, still alive, Wilko Johnson plays at the
02 Shepherds Bush. Popular classical pianist Lang Lang plays at the Royal
Albert Hall and in a complete contrast the same venue hosts Status Quo as
part of their current tour! Catch Lynyrd Skynrd at the Apollo Hammersmith.
The Blow Monkeys are Under the Bridge, Chelsea and Ben Howard is playing
in Alexandra Palace.
- May
Boyz 11 Men bring soul to the 02 and Olly Murs also plays there but
in the larger Arena, as are S Club 7 on their revival tour – their first
for 10 years - and the great Mark Knopfler and Band. However, the big name
at the 02 is Paul McCartney. Cult folk singer Rodriguez is on at the Royal
Albert Hall and then Eric Clapton takes up his annual residence there and
then the summer starts properly with the Beach Boys! Also in the world of contrasts The Forum
hosts Fabio and Grooverider in the same month as Billy Ocean.
- June
It’s a busy time at the 02 following May’s list with Fleetwood Mac,
Take That, John Legend and Goldie Looking Chain. Head to the 02 Shepherds
Bush for wonderful Hozier and to catch Holly Johnson too. Brian Ferry
celebrates his new album at the Royal Albert Hall, Tony Bennett and Lady
Gaga team up for a charity event at the same venue. British Summer Time
Festival returns to Hyde Park with The Strokes, Blur, Kylie, The Who and
Taylor Swift over 2 weekends, with great support acts like Paul Weller,
Kaiser Chefs, Ellie Goulding and Grace Jones.
Enjoy!
.
www.itsyourlondon.co.uk
@itsyourlondon
*All listings correct to the best of my knowledge but exact details
should be checked with each venue.
