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What’s New in 2013
1. Accommodation……………………………………………………………… 1 2. Food …………………………………………………………………………… 4 3. Entertainment………………………………………………………………… 5 4. Shopping……………………………………………………………………… 7 5. Tours…………………………………………………………………………... 8 6. Attractions…………………………………………………………………….. 9 7. Exhibitions……………………………………………………………………. 10 8. Events…………………………………………………………………………. 13 9. Anniversaries…………………………………………………………………. 15
1. Accommodation
Shangri-La Hotel London opening at The Shard 2013 The Shard, July Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, will open a new 18-floor high-end hotel at The Shard, London. The 202 deluxe guestrooms will be amongst the largest in London with highlights including the Shangri-La Bed, featuring patented body-contouring technology. Food and beverage outlets will include a lobby lounge and bar, a gourmet lounge café with artisan crafted foods and a themed bar situated on level 52 with spectacular views across London. More information contact Louise Toye on +44 (0)20 8747 8484 or email [email protected] Onefinestay – Enter the “Unhotel” Onefinestay (www.onefinestay.com) redefines city travel with its unique “unhotel” concept, letting visitors to London live like a local in a distinctive home while the owner is out of town. The company teams upscale homes with hotel services for guests, who enjoy 5* linens, fluffy towels, luxury toiletries and even a complimentary iPhone for the duration of their stay. Looking to work with travel partners and agents, onefinestay has recently created a telephone line for agents. More information: call +44 (0)844 6112960 or email [email protected].
Café Royal Hotel Café Royal launched as a luxury hotel in December 2012. Its reopening heralds the return of an iconic London institution which has continually evolved to define and capture the mood and style of the capital throughout its 150 year history. Located on 68 Regent Street – with elegant Mayfair to the west and creative Soho to the east – Café Royal sits in the heart of London’s beating West End. It features 159 rooms and suites, an array of dining venues, a private members’ club, The Café Royal Club, high-tech meeting rooms and Akasha, a holistic wellbeing spa. More information: contact Mathura Premaruban [email protected] and visit www.hotelcaferoyal.com/
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South Place – New Hotel in City of London South Place is a brand new 80-bedroom, design-focused property. The hotel's rooftop terrace offers 7th-floor views of the City of London. South Place aims to bring something different to the hotel scene in London, combining the buzz of D&D London’s restaurants, Conran-designed interiors and specially commissioned work by contemporary London artists. There are two restaurants, including a brasserie on the ground floor, plus bars from hotel owner the D&D London group, which owns restaurants including London's Bluebird and Coq d'Argent. More information: visit www.southplacehotel.com or email [email protected] InterContinental London Park Lane InterContinental London Park Lane has unveiled a newly designed Royal Suite, which pays homage to the hotel's location on the site of 145 Piccadilly, Queen Elizabeth II’s former childhood residence. The design encapsulates styles from Her Majesty's early life to the present. Located on the 8th floor, the position offers panoramic views of Royal Parks and sits at the heart of a ‘By Appointment’ collection that creates one of the largest offerings in the capital. The contemporary interpretation draws inspiration from Her Majesty’s style and duties to create residential grandeur, perfectly suited to entertaining, meeting or relaxing. More information: visit www.intercontinental.com or email [email protected] Art'otel London Hoxton opening 2013 (to be confirmed) A new Art'otel London Hoxton - the first London venture from the group – is scheduled to open in 2013 at the junction of Old Street, Rivington Street and Great Eastern Street. The 18-storey building will include 350 hotel rooms and public areas including a gallery space, arthouse cinema, spa and restaurant on the double height top floor. The cylindrical shape of the bronze-coloured building (which has four floors below ground) has a brilliantly unusual design. More information: contact [email protected] or visit www.artotels.com/londonhoxton Nobu opening Hotel in 2013 (to be confirmed) Nobu gets into the hotel business; this new development from Nobu will have 143 bedrooms and a massive five metre high basement restaurant. The design, by industrial designer turned architect Ron Arad, looks frankly astonishing, with a metal exoskeleton protruding out on one side. More information: www.nobuhospitality.com The London Edition Hotel The London Edition has all the hallmarks of the Edition brand: authentic sophistication, extraordinary style and an exceptional level of service in a uniquely individual environment. Located in central London’s Fitzrovia, The London Edition brings together the integrity and character of a historic building with a simple, refined design to create a seamless blend of charisma and ease. With 173 guest rooms and suites, a new restaurant concept, two bars, an event space, meeting rooms, a fitness centre and an elegant lobby, the hotel offers a dynamic social hub where guests and discerning locals can work, relax, and experience all the benefits of a home away from home. More information: visit www.editionhotels.com or email [email protected] Melia White House – Special Offer 1 February – 31 December 2013 Enjoy London during 2013, book a Superior Room at the Melia White House for 6 nights and pay for 5. The newly refurbished rooms include flat screen TV’s and satellite channels. Melia White House is located next to Regent’s Park and within close proximity of London’s main attractions. The Hotel is well served by 3 underground stations and main train stations connecting to UK and Europe. The offer includes English breakfast and VAT and is available from the 1st February to 31st December 2013. Subject to availability, blackout dates may apply. More information and to book: email Alberto Gutierrez [email protected]
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‘What Women Want’ at the Covent Garden Hotel Cosmopolitans, canapés, beauty treatments and a champagne breakfast are just a few of the indulgences on offer at the five-star Covent Garden Hotel in Seven Dials, as part of their What Women Want package, which is the perfect treat for Mother’s and daughter holiday. Deluxe Room at £665 and Junior Suite at £720. More information: visit www.firmdalehotels.com/london/covent-garden-hotel/covent-garden-rates-special-packages/details ME London ME London is a high end lifestyle hotel that is located at the centre of London’s diverse art and culture district. Designed by Fosters and Partners, the hotel has 157 guest rooms each with sumptuous bedding, Nespresso machines, bathrooms with spa-like rain showers and premium amenities as well as access to the latest integrated digital media hub. Exceptional dining is located within the hotel including radio roof top bar, STK steakhouse and grill, Cucina Asellina for rustic Italian food and the Marconi Lounge. More information: email [email protected] or visit www.melia.com/hotels/united-kingdom/london/me-london/index.html Thistle Hotels Launches Free, Unlimited WiFi Service in London Properties Thistle Hotels have announced the successful launch of free, unlimited WiFi across its portfolio of London Hotels. Provided in partnership with BT WiFi, the service will offer first class connectivity to guests, making remote working stress-free and keeping in touch even easier. The free service follows significant investment in the WiFi infrastructure in these hotels. Guests will also benefit from anytime, anywhere internet access throughout the hotel properties, eliminating the need to be confined to WiFi ‘hotspots’. More information: www.thistle.com/en/group/find_a_hotel.html?searchby=city&city=London Pestana Hotel and Resorts Group The Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel & Spa is a modern contemporary design and custom built 216 room Hotel, perfectly located in the new Chelsea Wharf area, alongside the river Thames and Battersea Park. The hotel offers easy access to Buckingham Palace, Westminster and the City centre tourist attractions, popular shopping areas of Kensington, Knightsbridge and Kings Road, all within easy reach. Hotel facilities include the designer spa with heated pool and treatment rooms, international restaurant, bar and private Club floor. Pestana welcome the opportunity to do business in the future. More information: contact [email protected] or visit www.pestana.com. Introducing The Savoy Suite Welcome A suite stay at The Savoy is an experience from arrival to departure from London. Book a One Bedroom Suite or above at The Savoy and receive:
Complimentary round trip transfer from all London airports and rail station
Complimentary courtesy car drop off within a 3 miles radius, subject to availability
Complimentary refreshments from the Private Bar en suite
Complimentary pressing of a garment per person on arrival
Dedicated 24 Hr Butler Service
Complimentary WIFI
Complimentary Welcome Amenity Rates from £1,095 + VAT. More information and to make a reservation: please email [email protected] or visit www.fairmont.com/savoy
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More space, comfort and freedom at Marlin Apartments Marlin Apartments is London’s largest owner-operator of serviced apartments, providing spacious accommodation for the business traveller across six destinations including London Bridge, The City and Stratford. Marlin satisfies the accommodation requirements of countless SMEs and FTSE 100 travellers daily with its unique travel solutions and home from home environment. From overnight visits to an extended stay, Marlin’s guests enjoy all the convenience of a hotel room with the added benefits of a fully-fitted kitchen, spacious living area, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour concierge. More information: visit www.marlinapartments.com and see why Marlin is the smarter hotel alternative. Contact [email protected]
Five star welcome at The Nadler Soho The Nadler Soho will open this May as the group's flagship hotel located in a new, landmark building and comprising of 78 rooms, some with terraced courtyards or Soho Square views. With a focus on service, the front desk 'Local Ambassadors' are tapped into the local neighbourhood helping to ensure the hotel delivers four star rooms with five star service at three star prices More information: visit thenadler.com/soho or contact Emma Wrightson: [email protected].
Hilton London Metropole Unveils £6 Million Lobby Transformation Hilton London Metropole is undergoing a major £6 million lobby transformation revolutionising the arrival experience in one of the biggest conference and events hotels in Europe. The two phase refurbishment, designed by Aukett Fitzroy Robinson, reflects the Hilton commitment to creating engaging spaces. The completed first phase sees a new lobby bar - EDG Bar & Lounge - and Whisky Lounge, whilst the installation of double-height glass entrances will mark the overall completion of the project in August 2013. More information: email [email protected] or visit hilton.com/londonmet
2. Food Le Cercle – New Michelin-starred Sous Chef Michael Gray, former sous chef of Michelin-starred Club Gascon, has been promoted head chef of Le Cercle, French restaurant located in Chelsea. Under Gray’s aegis, Le Cercle will continue to promote refined French cuisine bringing his creativity and knowledge to the team already in place. With its three different spaces available for hire for up to 100 guests, Le Cercle is perfect for any type of event. It can offer privacy, while glass windows & curtains provide diners an opportunity to enjoy the restaurant's upscale ambiance. More information: visit www.lecercle.co.uk or email [email protected]
Mint Leaf Restaurant & Bar, Haymarket Since opening its doors in 2003 Mint Leaf Restaurant & Bar Haymarket has become synonymous with fine Indian food, complemented by friendly, knowledgeable and attentive service. Their menus are freshly prepared using only the very finest ingredients. They offer set lunch, pre & post theatre, full a la carte and bespoke menus for Travel Trade and Group Bookings to suit a variety of budgets. More information: email Tracey Howes [email protected] or visit www.mintleafrestaurant.com
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Marco Restaurant Introduces a Touch of British If you want to try the English culinary tradition of Fish and Chips or enjoy a perfectly cooked steak Marco Pierre White style, then it’s worth giving Marco at Stamford Bridge a visit. Marco prides itself on serving typically British cuisine to a very high standard. Thursday nights play host to Steak Night, where you can take advantage of high quality steaks for very low prices or pop in on Friday evenings to take advantage of our fish and chip promotion! More information: visit the website www.marcorestaurant.org and guarantee your booking or find out more information about Marco Restaurant by contacting [email protected]
TOZI: New Italian restaurant opening in London Victoria New restaurant TOZI is an 80-seat, vibrant Italian restaurant and bar located just a few minutes’ walk from Victoria station, specialising in Venetian cicchetti (small plates) and classic Italian cocktails. Opening on 13 March 2013, TOZI is the result of a collaboration between Chef Daniele Pampagnin and Head Chef Maurilio Molteni, who worked for many years together at a number of restaurants in London. Inspired by the casual dining ethos of the Veneto region, TOZI puts emphasis on high quality, seasonal ingredients. The food is designed to be shared among friends, family and colleagues in an informal, welcoming environment. Cicchetti are priced from £4, oven-cooked mains from £9 and the sharing dishes for two from £28. More information: visit www.tozirestaurant.co.uk or contact [email protected]
Hard Rock Cafe – Visit The Vault Hard Rock Cafe London has been standing on Old Park Lane since 1971 and still offers the best authentic American cuisine and one of the largest, most valued collections of rock 'n' roll memorabilia in the world. Travel trade rates for group and FIT packages are available upon request. A trip to Hard Rock would not be complete without a visit to The Vault, our rock 'n' roll museum, and The Rock Shop for our unique t-shirts and merchandise that rock! More information: email [email protected] and visit www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes3/cafe.aspx?LocationID=91&MIBenumID=3
Ametsa with Arzak Instruction – opening at The Halkin by COMO, London this March The highly anticipated Ametsa with Arzak Instruction opened at The Halkin by COMO on 8th March. This is the first outpost of the original three Michelin-starred Arzak restaurant in San Sebastian run by a team of five including Elena Arzak, voted Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef. Ametsa’s approach is rooted in the traditions of ‘New Basque Cuisine’, pairing earthy flavours and Basque techniques with a modern twist. Interiors will reflect Basque heritage and embrace COMO’s tradition of contemporary design. Ametsa will seat up to 70 guests and can be hired with the adjoining Private Dining Room for private dinners and events. More information and for reservations: please dial 020 7333 1234, for more Information visit www.comohotels.com/thehalkin/dining/ametsa
Story Tooley Street, opening April 2013 Culinary wunderkind Tom Sellers will open his own restaurant, Story, on Bermondsey’s Tooley Street in February 2013. The highly anticipated restaurant – housed in an old toilet block, and championing British produce and design – will showcase inventive dishes and skilled kitchen alchemy. Story follows on from Foreword – Tom’s page-turning pop-up that filled as many reservations as it did column inches last November. Having worked with super-chefs such as Tom Aikens, Thomas Keller, Adam Byatt and Rene Redzepi, expect inventive dishes and skilled kitchen alchemy. More information: email [email protected]
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Beagle Shoreditch, launching March 2013 Beagle will be set within three beautifully renovated railway arches on Geffrye Street, Shoreditch - next to Hoxton Station. Taking its name from one of the locomotives that used to operate on the old North London line overhead, Beagle will house a restaurant, bar and coffee shop. The venue will also boast a large south facing outdoor seating area for up to 60 covers. Chef James Ferguson (former Head Chef at Rochelle Canteen), will deliver seasonal, produce led British cooking, with menus changing on a daily basis. Using a traditional wood grill for much of his cooking; sample dishes include pig’s head croquette with gribiche, whole wild sea bass with samphire and cucumber and custard tart with poached rhubarb. More information: email [email protected]
Eurostar partners with Michelin Star chef Raymond Blanc Eurostar is excited to announce a gastronomic partnership with Michelin Star chef Raymond Blanc who, as culinary director, will share his passion for promoting the very best in sustainable and seasonal food with Eurostar’s Business Premier passengers. His new summer Business Premier menus are now available onboard and have been created to be innovative, seasonal and sustainable and feature several Blanc family recipes such Smoked chicken and mushroom terrine and Lamb confit with pea and marjoram puree. More information: call the Groups Team on +44 (0)8448 224 80 or visit eurostar.com/uk-en/group-booking The Savoy launches Kaspar’s Seafood Bar and Grill May sees the launch of one of the most exciting restaurant openings in The Savoy’s 124 year old illustrious history, Kaspar’s Seafood Bar and Grill. Located in the heart of London with panoramic views of the River Thames and London landmarks, Kaspar’s will offer an informal yet luxury dining experience presented in an elegant Twenties-style setting. A show stopping oyster bar will take centre stage, encouraging a dynamic and bustling atmosphere. More information: visit kaspars.co.uk or email [email protected] St Martin-in-the-Fields announces new Café in the Courtyard From April 2013, St Martin-in-the-Fields launches a new seasonal café – al fresco. Managed by the same award-winning team from the Café in the Crypt, the Café in the Courtyard will be located in the open terrace directly behind the church. Hot and cold drinks will be served from 10.00am so ideal for a quick coffee en route. Lunch, served from 11.30am-2.00pm, includes a delectable selection of sandwiches and soups. Later in the day, the Café in the Courtyard is the perfect place to relax with friends over a glass of wine and a bite to eat as you watch the world go by. More information: contact Julie Emig on +44 (0)20 7766 1115 / [email protected]
HMS Belfast opens new café bar Located at the main entrance to HMS Belfast on the riverside, visitors will be able to enjoy the breath-taking panoramic views of the City of London whilst dining on a selection of café delights and beverages. The Café Bar can seat up to 24 diners and is available for private hire. Look out for the launch of the new destination bar on the Upper Deck in late spring too. More information: iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfast or email [email protected]
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3. Entertainment Royal Opera House Experience the extraordinary world of the Royal Opera House this summer with unforgettable operas and ballets. Join the Royal Opera House for classic and new opera, including Verdi’s dramatic ‘Simon Boccanegra’ and the UK premiere of Gerald Barry’s exciting and hilarious ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’. Or enjoy an evening of dance: be the first to see the world premiere of Wayne McGregor’s ‘Raven Girl’ coupled with a Balanchine classic, or Liam Scarlett’s first full-length ballet, a dark adult take on ‘Hansel and Gretel.’ More information: visit www.roh.org.uk or email [email protected] Viva Forever! Piccadilly Theatre, from December 2012 From the award-winning writer and comedienne Jennifer Saunders, and producer Judy Craymer, comes Viva Forever!, a joyous contemporary musical about the value of friendship in the face of fame and fortune. From London to Spain and back again, as the world judges you, it's all about who you want to be, whatever the cost. Spice up your life with this exhilarating and funny tale of love, loyalty and romance, inspired by the songs of the Spice Girls. More information and to book: contact [email protected] or call +44 (0)207 492 9999 or register online at www.myencore.co.uk Rock of Ages the Musical – Rocks into a New London Home Rock Of Ages The Musical, the award-winning hit musical that has taken the UK by storm is upping sticks and rolling across London into a new home at the Garrick Theatre in January 2013. Following on from a face-melting 16 month stint and over 500 performances at the Shaftesbury Theatre the cast will take the midnight train and the Bourbon Room will be to, raise the roof of their new home every night with the greatest rock tunes of the 80s. Rock of Ages is the ultimate hit musical, a rip-roaring, hilarious story of hedonism, dreams, love and of course ROCK! So popular, it has played to audiences in New York, Toronto, Melbourne and London confirming that the whole world is still rocking out to the songs of the 80s!! More information: email [email protected] or visit www.rockofagesmusical.co.uk Burn The Floor – The Ultimate Ballroom Sensation From January at the Shaftesbury Theatre Special guest stars Robin Windsor and Kristina Rihanoff (BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing) take to the floor in the global dance hit, Burn The Floor, at the Shaftesbury Theatre from 6 March. Before Strictly Come Dancing turned ballroom dancing into must-see TV, one incredible show enthralled audiences around the world. Burn The Floor totally reinvented Ballroom and Latin dance and has dazzled audiences in more than 40 countries, and this latest production promises not to disappoint. Showing from 6 March. More information: email [email protected] or visit www.BurnTheFloor.com The Book of Mormon Prince of Wales Theatre, from February 2013 The London production of The Book of Mormon has begun preview performances in the West End at the Prince of Wales Theatre on 25 February 2013 with tickets sale now. The Broadway phenomenon from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, has nine 2011 Tony Awards. More information: www.bookofmormonlondon.com or contact group bookings on +44 (0)844 482 5100
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THE BODYGUARD Adelphi Theatre / playing now through 27 April 2013 Based on the blockbuster film starring Kevin Costner and the late great Whitney Houston, THE BODYGUARD has taken the West End by storm. Lloyd Owen plays the Secret Service agent turned bodyguard who’s hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron (the stunning Heather Headley) from a crazed stalker. The musical boasts a variety Whitney’s greatest hits from throughout her career including “So Emotional”, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and “One Moment in Time.” More information or to book: contact [email protected] or call +44 (0)207 492 9999. Or register online at www.myencore.co.uk Quatermaine’s Terms Wyndham’s Theatre, booking until 23 April 2013 Rowan Atkinson will star as the well-meaning but hopeless teacher St John Quartermaine in the first major West End revival of Simon Gray’s play ‘Quartermaine’s Terms’. Set in the 1960s in an English language school for foreigners, this tragicomic play is a humorous but ultimately moving account of several years in the lives of seven teachers. More information: contact Stephen Pidcock on +44 (0)20 7831 7657 or email [email protected] GREAT EXPECTATIONS Vaudeville Theatre / from 1 February until 1 June The life of an orphan named Pip is changed forever following his encounter with the escaped convict Magwitch. It’s been 150 years since the publication of this Charles Dickens classic, but this is the first time it’s ever been presented as a full-length play. This production transfers to theWest End following a critically acclaimed UK tour. More information or to book: contact [email protected] or call +44 (0)207 492 9999 or register online at www.myencore.co.uk A Chorus Line London Palladium, 5 February - 29 June 2013 For the first time since its debut London season, which opened in 1976 and won the Olivier Award for Best Musical, a full revival of the Broadway production will be staged at the London Palladium, and will be directed by Broadway and West End veteran director and choreographer Bob Avian. A Chorus Line is an iconic musical masterpiece that should not be missed. More information: visit www.AChorusLineLondon.Com / group bookings on +44 (0)844 412 4650 or [email protected] Charlie & the Chocolate Factory Musical London Palladium, June 2013 The musical of Roald Dahl’s famous Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will premiere in London in June at the London Palladium. The famous book, published in 1964, has already inspired two films and has now been brought to the London stage by Academy Award winning film and theatre director Sam Mendes with new songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. More information and to book: contact [email protected] or call +44 (0)207 492 9999 or register online at www.myencore.co.uk
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Let It Be, Transfers Theatre Due to Popular Demand Savoy Theatre, booking until 5th October Let It Be, the spectacular West End show celebrating the music of The Beatles, recently transferred to the Savoy Theatre in London, booking until Saturday 5th October 2013. Let It Be is ‘the next best thing to seeing The Beatles perform live’ and has established itself as one of the West End’s most popular shows since it opened in September 2012. Group rates available. More information: email [email protected] or visit www.letitbelondon.com War Horse Extends To February 2014 The National Theatre’s internationally acclaimed stage production of War Horse has released over 100,000 new tickets for sale for the West End production, taking bookings at the New London Theatre to 15 February 2014. War Horse, which has now been seen by over 1.6 million people in London and by over 3 million people worldwide, is currently celebrating its sixth year on the London stage. The production is currently touring both North America and Australia, and will tour the UK and Ireland from September, plus appear in Berlin in October. More information: visit www.warhorselondon.com The Southbank Centre – 20th Century Music Festival ‘The Rest Is Noise’ January – December 2013 The Rest Is Noise festival is one of Southbank Centre’s most ambitious classical music undertakings to date – a year-long series of concerts and events examining 20th century classical music. The festival features nearly 100 events, including talks, films, performances, participation events and concerts, all exploring 20th-century classical music in the context of historical, political and cultural upheavals. Our partners on the project include the London Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Four. More information: visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk or email [email protected] The Barbican reveals programme for spring and summer season 2013 The Barbican unveiled a compelling array of theatre, dance, art and music presented in the Centre and beyond, including Jean Paul Gaultier, Michael Clark Company, David Tennant, a weekend of community arts events to celebrate the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and major exhibition Pop Art Design head up the unmissable projects this 2013/2014 season. More information and full listings: www.barbican.org.uk or email [email protected] Cripple of Inishmaan, Noel Coward Theatre, LONDON 8 June – 31 August Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe takes on the title role in the third of the Michael Grandage season in 2013 in the Cripple of Inishmaan. The play is a coming-of-age story of Cripple Billy finding his way off the Isle of Arran all the way to Hollywood if only he can persuade a small community of Islanders how much he wants to realise his dream. More information: www.michaelgrandagecompany.com or email [email protected] A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Noel Coward Theatre 7 September – 16 November Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde The Musical, Gavin & Stacey) and David Walliams (Little Britain) reprise the roles of Titania and Bottom in one of Shakespeare’s much-loved comedies A Midsummer Night’s Dream, play four in the series of five Michael Grandage productions in 2013. More information: www.michaelgrandagecompany.com or email [email protected]
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Henry V, Noel Coward Theatre 23 November – 15 February 2014 In the final of the Michael Grandage-directed plays at the Noel Coward Theatre, Jude Law takes on the role of Henry V in Shakespeare’s great play of nationhood, war and a land in crisis. Jude Law and Michael Grandage continue their collaboration that began with Hamlet in 2009. Law also appeared in the Donmar’s award-winning production Anna Christie, as part of Grandage’s final season as Artistic Director. More information: www.michaelgrandagecompany.com or email [email protected] Richard II, Barbican Theatre The highly anticipated RSC production of Richard II, directed by Gregory Doran, with David Tennant in the title role, transfers to London's Barbican Theatre for performances in December 2013 and January 2014. More information: http://www.barbican.org.uk/theatre/event-detail.asp?ID=14613 or email [email protected] City Academy City Academy is a leading performing and creative arts academy based in London (UK). The company run their wide range of courses and workshops in some of London's most prestigious West End theatres (including The Royal Opera House, the Sadler's Wells Theatre and the Dominion Theatre) and have been featured by BBC, The Times, The Telegraph and Time Out. City Academy offers its workshops to all those travellers (both corporate and leisure) with an interest in the performing & creative arts, who are planning to spend some time in London and are looking to add a special experience to their stay. More information: visit www.city-academy.com or call +44 (0)20 7042 8833 Season of Plenty at Shakespeare’s Globe The 2013 ‘Season of Plenty’ at Shakespeare’s Globe opened on 23 April and includes 8 Shakespeare plays, 3 new plays, 4 international productions, 2 tempests, 2 Lears and 5 touring productions. The exhibition is open year round and included in the ticket is a 30-40 minute guided tour of the theatre. Educational workshops are also available year round. Food and drinks are served at Swan, the chophouse and bar with stunning Thames views. More information: contact Hester van Hien by email [email protected] or call +44 (0)20 7902 1459 Sport takes centre stage at Canary Wharf Following last year’s spectacular Olympic summer, Canary Wharf Group’s Arts & Events team has lined up another exciting array of sporting events including cycling event The Tour Series on 6 June; the UK’s largest free to visit motor show Motorexpo from 10-16 June; Beach Volleyball from 8-19 July; and Ping!, the popular table tennis event returns from 2-10 August. Canary Wharf’s big screens will also be showcasing Britain’s popular sporting events in Canada Square Park from 24 June. More information: visit canarywharf.com or email arts&[email protected] Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 2013 Season Jane Austen’s ultimate romantic comedy, Pride and Prejudice will run from 20 June – 20 July. The play is dramatised by Bristol Old Vic’s former Artistic Director, Simon Reade. From 29 June – 20 July, a production of William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale will be tailored specifically for children aged six and over. Using Shakespeare’s original text, this follows their previous productions of Pericles, Macbeth and The Tempest especially created for younger audiences. More information: visit http://openairtheatre.com
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The Commitments on stage for the first time The Commitments, Roddy Doyle’s best-selling novel, is now live on stage for the very first time. Be the first to experience this show as it makes its World Premiere at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End this September. The show, which has been more than two years in the making, has been adapted from the novel by Booker prize winning author Doyle himself and will be directed by award winning Jamie Lloyd (the man behind the recent production of Macbeth starring James McAvoy).
More information: visit TheCommitmentsLondon.com or contact [email protected]
4. Shopping Westfield London Effortlessly cool and always fashionable, London is home to two premier shopping destinations – Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City. These vibrant centres are the places to shop, dine and relax in safe and stylish surroundings. At both venues you’ll find leading fashion, kids’, home and lifestyle brands; an excellent selection of eateries showcasing global cuisine, and first-rate leisure and entertainment facilities. Westfield offer a range of exclusive customer services including tax-free shopping, multilingual concierge, and hotel & international delivery. They can also offer customers a VIP Pass entitling them to discounts at a wide range of stores and restaurants. More information: email [email protected] Soho Flea Market Dean Street Soho, May 2013 Artisans, artists, fashion designers, jewellery designers, filmmakers and musicians will take part in a unique event Soho Flea Market in the heart of London. The historic length and breadth of Dean Street will be closed to traffic and specifically-curated ‘creative market stalls’ will exhibit and sell directly to the public. Organiser City Showcase will host an outdoor stage with new and emerging music and comedy acts. More information: visit www.sohofleamarket.com What’s new in Carnaby in 2013 2013 is the year of music for Carnaby - a yearlong celebration of music past and present. No shopping street in the world can boast a real connection with music and popular culture quite like Carnaby Street. Music and fashion have walked hand in hand It became a mecca for the new Mods in the 1960s.Today, Carnaby continues to be the destination for music artists to launch their new projects, play live gigs and shop while being most exciting destination for shopping and leisure in the heart of London’s West End with a unique mix of 150 global fashion brands, independent stores, unusual boutiques and over 40 award winning restaurants throughout 13 streets. More information: visit www.carnaby.co.uk Pankhurst London - Opening on Newburgh Street Sinatra in the background, McQueen on the walls, and the great and the good passing on the stairs, Brent Pankhurst’s barbershop is part speakeasy, part flagship store for the luxury London skincare, haircare and barbershop brand. Leather barbers’ chairs, drinks cabinets and classic films onscreen, it reflects Brent’s own style: suits, style and a place you can talk freely as you lie back for a shave and trim. Coming to 10 Newburgh Street in the Newburgh Quarter in March. More information: www.pankhurstlondon.com Gant Rugger – Opening at 47 Beak Street Gant Rugger located opening on Beak Street in early March is all about creating modern fashionable clothes with a distinct vintage edge. Digging deep into the archives, Gant Rugger delivers authentic pieces with a broken preppy vibe. More information: www.gant.co.uk/rugger
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5. TOURS Tours of the Houses of Parliament – Available in German Guided tours of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, which includes access to the floors of the Lords and Commons Chambers as well as 900 year old Westminster Hall, run most Saturdays year round, and Tuesday to Saturday during the Summer Opening period. Tours are available in German at various times on all days. Special rates for groups of 10 or more start from £9 per person, depending on the tour start time. More information and bookings: Ticketmaster on +44 (0) 844 847 2498. For travel trade enquiries, contact Ian Lacey at [email protected] or on +44 (0) 207 219 4565. Fat Tire Bike Tours – Entering their 6th year in 2013 Fat Tire Bike Tours London is an English speaking biking and walking tours of London and they are entering their 6th year in 2013! Fat Tire Bike Tours offer a range of specialty tours and managing several large events from: Architects Tour, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Film Tour, Conference at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, Series of Olympic Hospitality Tours. This year they are working on several new and exciting products that will be a lot of fun for groups and individual travelers. More information: email [email protected] or visit fattirebiketours.com/london Classic City Tours Classic city tours is a bespoke sightseeing tour in Classic Morris Minor convertibles, allowing you to enjoy the breath- taking views of London, Classic City Tours have great packages with tours, for concerts, theatre, sporting events, they also have some excellent vip celebrity parties tickets. More information: call Nick on +44 (0)207 376 0680, or visit www.classiccitytours.com
London Bicycle Tour Company
London Bicycle Tour Company is offering a guided 4 day cycling itinerary in and around London this Summer. London and its attractions are very accessible by bike. Sights include the Olympic Park and Venues, rides along The River Thames, Regal Westminster and the Parks and Palaces of Surrey. This boutique tour includes British food and culture and an entertaining local guide. More information: contact +44 (0)7751 739559 or email [email protected] Discover Wartime London Wartime London is an emotive and unique sightseeing tour that tells the story of how modern London has been shaped by the events of the Second World War - travel on an original, restored 'RT8' bus from 1940 and listen to original broadcasts from the day as history is brought to life. Wartime London runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from April-October 2013 and is available in a morning, afternoon or full day version. More information: contact Chris Pourgourides at Evan Evans Tours on [email protected] Bespoke Tours at the National Portrait Gallery The National Portrait Gallery is home to the largest collection of portraits in the world and, with over 1,000 portraits on display, your group can come face to face with the people who have shaped British history and culture. The Gallery offers Bespoke Tours on your specialist subject, a menu of popular Collection Tours and Exhibition Lectures. More information: please visit www.npg.org.uk/grouptours or, to discuss your group’s interest, please contact our team on 020 7312 2483 or e-mail [email protected]
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Limited mobility tours at Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens 'LIBERTY DRIVES' is a free transportation service for individuals with disabilities and limited mobility who wish to visit Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. The service operates May through October, Monday - Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and advance booking is recommended. Each ‘LIBERTY DRIVES’ electric buggy, has seating for five passengers plus one in a wheelchair so family members and/or caregivers may accompany if desired. Volunteer drivers provide tours lasting 30 to 50 minutes with pick-up at any number of easily identified locations in the park. More information: visit www.hydeparkappeal.org or telephone +44 (0)7767 498 096.
Golden Tours Hop on Hop off Plus – Extended Route New for 2013 Golden Tours are pleased to announce an extension to its Hop on Hop off bus route. Golden Tours are currently the only open top bus company to offer stops at the London Docklands, Excel and Emirates Air Line connecting Central London with the up and coming areas of East London. More information: [email protected] or visit www.goldentours.com
6. Attractions Tiger Territory ZSL London Zoo, opening March 2013 Tiger Territory is the new flagship exhibit at ZSL London Zoo. Tiger Territory will inform and inspire a generation of people to treasure the tiger and understand their role in its survival. It will also help fund ZSL’s tiger conservation work in the field, providing a lifeline for years to come. More information: contact [email protected] for more information or visit www.zsl.org.uk The New London Dungeon South Bank, opens 1st March 2013 The London Dungeon re-invents itself in March 2013 when it opens a new bigger, bolder and better attraction in the vast underground vaults of County Hall on the South Bank, next to the EDF Energy London Eye. The all new multi-million pound attraction brings 1000 years of authentic London history to life with a unique mix of talented live actors performing in scarily funny shows, stunning special effects, edge of your seat surprises and two exciting thrill rides. Guests will embark on a journey through a dramatic London landscape going back ten centuries. There are new shows and rides which are more dramatic and surprising than ever, new funnier scripts, more theatrical costumes and styling and more talented actors to play even more colourful villains and blaggards. More information: visit www.thedungeons.com/london/holding +44 (0)871 663 1670 Mint Street at the Tower of London From mid-May Mint Street will be opened up for visitors from mid May 2013. See where the coins of the realm were minted for over 500 years and learn how Sir Isaac Newton, Warden of the Mint, tried to rid London of counterfeiters and hear of Edwards I’s harsh punishments for people who tampered with his coins. More information: go to: www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon or email [email protected] Imperial War Museum (IWM) – re-opening after Transformation July 2013 IWM London is closed temporarily from January - June 2013 in order to complete a transformation of the museum which will allow for more significant and rich collections improve the visitor experience. Leading up to the 100 year anniversary of the start of the First World War, the museum will create ground-breaking new First World War galleries. More information: contact Nina Smetek [email protected] or call +44(0)20 7416 5311
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Olympic Park to reopen in 2013 as Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Opens 27 July 2012 (anniversary of Opening Ceremony 2012) The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park site in Stratford, east London which will begin to open its gates from July 2013 and will bring together the best of London in one place; combining, lush parklands and waterways, new neighbourhoods and world class sports and entertainment venues. The Park will be defined by two distinct areas: the river valley in the north, and a 50 acre urban landscape in the south. The North Park will include a nature-themed community hub and playground, and the South Plaza will be perfect for events and attractions. More information: contact Keith Bendall on [email protected] The Original London Sightseeing Tour - Sightseeing Provider of the Year 2012 The Original London Sightseeing Tour has been awarded Sightseeing Provider of the Year 2012 at the UKinbound Awards for Excellence. The prestigious awards are voted for by companies and individuals across the UK travel industry. Managing Director Colin Atkins expressed his appreciation for the award: “We have always prided ourselves on being the first choice of the travel trade, thanks to the loyalty of our partners and the consistently reliable quality of our sightseeing tours and our iconic open-top red buses.” The Original Tour are exhibiting with ETOA (stand 301) in Hall 9 at ITB. More information: email [email protected] or call +44 (0)20 8877 2105. Bateaux London's Thames Dining Cruises New for 2013! Bateaux London is enhancing its Lunch Cruise commentary with a fresh approach to the history of the Thames. Gliding past London's best-loved landmarks, Bateaux London's Thames dining cruises are a unique and memorable way to experience the city. Combining quality dining, superb entertainment and spectacular views from the river, this unique dining cruise experience captures the excitement of the capital from a truly special perspective. Bateaux London's repertoire includes Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner Cruises, as well as exclusive hire and opportunities for Private Dining. Perfect for inspiring your guests with the sights of the city, celebrating your special occasions or as one of many aspects of your big day out. More information: visit www.bateauxlondon.com Kew Gardens prices held and a palace added Tour operators bringing clients to Kew Gardens can now include Kew Palace and the Georgian Royal Kitchens at no extra charge. Admission also includes entry to all glasshouses and galleries making Kew Gardens the perfect all-weather attraction. What’s more, there is no price increase this year. Travel trade can request an account with Kew Gardens to enjoy 20% commission and free sale of tickets. More information: Ccntact Paul Chibeba and Imogen Dent, [email protected] or call +44 (0)208 332 5648.
7. Exhibitions Extinction: Not the End of the World? Natural History Museum, 8 February – 8 September 2013 Extinction: Not the End of the World? takes you beyond dodos and dinosaurs to explore the crucial role extinction plays in the evolution of life. The exhibition combines astonishing images, real specimens and interactive installations to bring to life species that disappeared long ago. Exploring the latest scientific findings, it also looks at today’s endangered species and asks whether conservation can save them. More information: visit www.nhm.ac.uk or email [email protected]
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Roy Lichtenstein Tate Modern, 21 February – 27 May 2013 Roy Lichtenstein at Tate Modern is the first full-scale retrospective of this artist in over 20 years. Co-organised by The Art Institute of Chicago and Tate Modern, it brings together 125 of his most definitive paintings and sculptures and reassesses his enduring legacy. Renowned for his works based on comic strips and advertising imagery, coloured with his signature hand-painted Benday dots, the exhibition showcases key paintings such as Look Mickey 1961 and his monumental Artist’s Studio series of 1973–4. More information: visit www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern or email [email protected] London Underground’s Greatest Designs exhibit February – October 2013 The London Transport Museum will display the most iconic posters advertising London Underground in Poster Art. The exhibition will showcase 150 of the best designs since the Tube’s first graphic poster commission in 1908, and visitors will have the chance to vote for their favourites with the most popular poster revealed at the end of the exhibition. More information: visit www.ltmuseum.co.uk or email [email protected] Barocci: Brilliance and Grace National Gallery, 27 February – 19 May 2013 Federico Barocci (1535–1612) is celebrated as one of the most talented artists of late 16th-century Italy. Fascinated by the human form, he fused charm and compositional harmony with an unparalleled sensitivity to colour. The exhibition will showcase Barocci’s most spectacular Marchigian altarpieces, including his famous Entombment from Senigallia and Last Supper from Urbino Cathedral – never before seen outside Italy. More information: visit www.nationalgallery.org.uk or email [email protected] Alien Revolution Royal Observatory Greenwich, March – August 2013 This exhibition explores the idea that the other planets in our Solar System were other Earths, with their own plants, animals and intelligent inhabitants took hold and led people to ask. Within less than a century many people, from scientists to clergymen, believed in an infinite universe awash with intelligent alien life. So began the little-known Alien Revolution, which has been influenced by religion, literature, philosophy, art and film. More information: visit www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory/ or email [email protected] Michael Caine Museum of London, 8 March to 14 July Sir Michael Caine is one of the world’s best-known Londoners. In the year of his 80th birthday, the Museum of London reflects on how his identity with the capital has shaped his life and career, and how his work has influenced ideas about this great city. More information: visit www.museumoflondon.org.uk or email [email protected] London's Design Museum announces contenders for sixth annual Designs of the Year 20 March - 7 July The Design Museum has announced the contenders for the sixth annual Designs of the Year, which will be brought together in an exhibition at the museum this year. Consisting of over 90 nominations, this year’s contest include many designs that can be seen in the United Kingdom, including the celebrated Olympic Cauldron by Heatherwick Studio; Western Europe’s tallest building – The Shard designed by Renzo Piano; the boutique boatshaped hotel room – A Room for London by David Kohn Architects; and the award-winning Exhibition Road by Dixon Jones, which integrates vehicle and foot traffic with its rejection of boundaries between pavement and road in the cultural district of Kensington. More information: visit www.designmuseum.org or email [email protected]
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Secrets of the Royal bedchamber at Hampton Court Palace 27 March – late September In 2013, Hampton Court Palace will be showing the world’s largest collection of state beds, elaborate symbols of royal power and prestige. Secrets of the Royal Bedchamber will also feature portraiture and bedchamber furnishings of the time, as well as unusual bedroom artefacts, such as Charles II bedrail, a rare remnant of the long-lost palace of Whitehall. The rituals of the bedchamber, from morning levee to evening couchee, were performed in and around these magnificent surroundings. More information: visit www.hrp.org.uk or email [email protected] David Bowie is in partnership with Gucci The V&A Museum 23 March – 28 July 2013. The V&A has been given unprecedented access to the David Bowie Archive to curate the first international retrospective of David Bowie’s extraordinary career. Bowie is one of the most pioneering and influential performers of modern times and the exhibition will bring together more than 300 objects including handwritten lyrics, original costumes, photography, set designs, album artwork and rare performance material from the past five decades. Bowie’s work has both influenced and been influenced by wider movements in art, design, theatre and contemporary culture and the exhibition will focus on his creative processes, shifting style and collaborative work with diverse designers in the fields of fashion, sound, graphics, theatre and film. More information: visit www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/david-bowie-is or email [email protected] Life and death in Pompeii and Herculaneum British Museum, 28 March – 29 September 2013 This exhibition will be the first ever held on these important cities at the British Museum, and the first such major exhibition in London for almost 40 years. It will bring together over 250 fascinating objects, both recent discoveries and celebrated finds from earlier excavations, many of which have never been seen outside Italy. The exhibition will have a unique focus, looking at the Roman home and the people who lived in these ill-fated cities. More information: visit www.britishmuseum.org or email [email protected] Riviera revealed at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, from April 2013 As the Championships draw ever closer and anticipation builds, visitors will be pleased to hear they can indulge their passion for all things tennis with the arrival of Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum’s latest exhibition - ‘Tennis On The Riviera’ – from this April. The exclusive exhibition will feature fascinating French memorabilia, dating from the early 1890s to the late 1930s; treating visitors to a visual insight into the rich history of tennis culture on the Riviera. More information: visit www.wimbledon.com/museum or call +44 (0)20 8946 6131. In Fine Style: The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion, The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace 10 May – 6 October For the Tudor and Stuart elite, luxurious clothing was an essential component of court life. Garments and accessories – and the way in which they were worn – conveyed important messages about wealth, gender, age, social position, marital status and religion. Through the evidence of portraiture, In Fine Style: The Art of Tudor and Stuart Fashion traces changing tastes in fashionable attire and the spread of fashion through the royal courts of Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries. Using paintings, drawings and prints from the Royal Collection, and rare surviving examples of clothing and accessories, it explores the style of the rich and famous of the Tudor and Stuart periods. More information: visit www.royalcollection.org.uk or email [email protected] Estuary at the Museum of London Docklands 17 May – 27 October 2013
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2013 is a special year for the Museum of London Docklands as it celebrates its tenth anniversary. A decade after launching in a Georgian warehouse on West India Quay, the museum is bringing together film, paintings, photography and screen prints by fourteen renowned and up-and-coming artists in a new exhibition which explores the outer limits of the Thames, where the river becomes the sea. Free entry. Groups of 10 or more people can book an exclusive talk with the exhibition curator on +44 (0)20 7001 9844. More information: www.museumoflondon.org.uk/estuary The Portrait in Vienna National Gallery, 22 May – 24 November 2013 The Portrait in Vienna 1867–1918 is the first exhibition to explore Viennese portraiture during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, showing both the continuity and the rupture between the Biedermeier and imperial traditions of the 19th century and the innovations of avant-garde artists such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Richard Gerstl and Oskar Kokoschka in the years around 1900. More information: visit www.britishmuseum.org or email [email protected] Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life Tate Britain, 25 June – 20 October 2013 Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life results from an invitation extended to the distinguished art historians T.J. Clark and Anne M. Wagner to reappraise Lowry for a new, extended audience. Including works by Lowry from Tate collection and significant loans, the exhibition re-assesses his contribution as part of a wider art history, showing how he engaged fruitfully with the French tradition, and argues for his achievement as Britain’s pre-eminent painter of the industrial city. More information: visit www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain or email [email protected] Vermeer And Music: Love and Leisure in the Dutch Golden Age National Gallery, 26 June – 8 September 2013 This exhibition explores the concept of music as a pastime of the elite in the northern Netherlands during the 17th century. The display will combine for the first time the National Gallery’s two paintings by Vermeer, Young Woman Standing at a Virginal and Young Woman Seated at a Virginal, and Vermeer’s Guitar Player. The exhibition aims to enhance viewers’ appreciation of these beautiful and evocative paintings by Vermeer and his contemporaries by juxtaposing them with musical instruments and songbooks of the period. More information: visit www.nationalgallery.org.uk or email [email protected] Airfix exhibition Royal Air Force Museum London, from June 2013 The Royal Air Force Museum London will be launching in summer 2013, a signature exhibition commemorating and celebrating the national institution that is Airfix. This exhibition will chart the history of this Great British Institution by displaying original Box Art as well as Airfix’s most popular models from the 50s, 60s and 70s in the Museum’s Art Gallery. More information: call +44 (0)20 8205 2266 or visit www.rafmuseum.org/whatson Visions of the Universe National Maritime Museum, June – September 2013 Visions of the Universe tells the story of astronomical imaging - from the earliest drawings done by hand to the latest pictures from Hubble and the Mars Curiosity rover. The exhibition brings together some of the best astronomical photographs ever taken and showcases over a hundred captivating images of stars, planets, galaxies and many other celestial highlights. More information: visit www.rmg.ac.uk or email [email protected] Horrible Histories: Spies and Secret War Imperial War Museum (IWM), July 2013 In July 2013, IWM London reopens with a major new family exhibition, Horrible Histories: Spies and Secret War. Based on the popular children’s book series written by Terry Deary, which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2013.Visitors will be immersed into the world of Second World War spy-craft, including codes and cyphers, disguises, camouflage, forgeries and gadgets. More information: contact Nina Smetek [email protected]
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The Queen's Coronation 1953, Buckingham Palace 27 July - 29 September 2013 This summer marks the 60th anniversary of one of the most momentous occasions in 20th-century British history – the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. To mark the anniversary of the event, a major exhibition for the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace will bring together for the first time since Coronation Day, a spectacular array of dress, uniform and robes worn by the principal royal party. Works of art, paintings and objects used on the day will also be on display. More information: visit www.royalcollection.org.uk/exhibitions/the-queens-coronation-1953
Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition Royal Observatory Greenwich, September 2013 – February 2014 The Royal Observatory’s hugely popular Astronomy Photographer of the Year returns in 2013 to celebrate the very best in astrophotography from around the world. After the awards are announced in September 2013 the winning photographs will be displayed in a special exhibition at the Royal Observatory. More information: visit www.rmg.co.uk/visit/exhibitions/astronomy-photographer-of-the-year or email [email protected] The Cheapside Hoard: London’s Lost Jewels Museum of London, 11 October 2013 – 27 April 2014 In 2013, the Museum of London will open a major exhibition investigating the secrets of the Cheapside Hoard. This extraordinary cache of 16th and 17th century jewels was discovered in 1912, buried in the City of London, but the mystery remains: who owned the hoard and why was it hidden? More information: email [email protected] or call +44(0)20 7814 5510 Turner & the Sea National Maritime Museum, November 2013 – April 2014 This major exhibition is the first full-scale examination of Turner’s lifelong preoccupation with the sea. Including iconic works spanning the artist’s whole career - from his transformative Academy paintings of the late 1790s and early 1800s to the unfinished, experimental seascapes he produced towards the end of his life - this show will re-evaluate the compelling appeal of the sea for Turner and his contemporaries. More information: visit www.rmg.co.uk/national-maritime-museum or email [email protected] The Northern Renaissance: Durer to Holbein, Royal Collection Trust: The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, 2 November 2012 – 14 April 2013 The Royal Collection welcomes yet more fine collections in 2013, kickstarting the year with The Northern Renaissance: Durer to Holbein. The exhibition will bring together paintings, prints, manuscripts, sculpture, tapestries and armor, as well as the Genius of Castiglione, one of the greatest artists of the Baroque period. More information: visit www.royalcollection.org.uk or email [email protected] Paul Smith: Design Museum 20 November – 2 March 2014 This exhibition, presented through the different stages of design and production behind a catwalk collection, will explore how Paul Smith’s unique and intuitive take on design, coupled with an understanding of the importance between designer and retailer, have laid the foundations for the company’s lasting success. More information: visit www.designmuseum.org or email [email protected]
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8. Events
New for 2013 in the City of London There are some great festivals and events happening in 2013 in the City of London including the Huguenot Festival, which takes place in April across the City, and new exhibitions like ‘Victoriana: The Art of Revival at Guildhall Art Gallery’ from September and ‘The Cheapside Hoard: London's Lost Jewels’ at the Museum of London from October. For information about the City, London and the UK, visit the City Information Centre and speak to their multilingual staff. More information: visit www.visitthecity.co.uk Flamenco Festival London, Sadler’s Wells Theatre 15 – 23 March The renowned annual season of flamenco dance and music at dance theatre Sadler’s Wells celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2013 with a special programme of the best flamenco dancers and musicians. This year’s festival features eight productions in the main house and two performances in the Lilian Baylis Studio. More information: visit www.sadlerswells.com Bird’s Eye View – women’s film festival London 3-10 April The Bird’s Eye View Film Festival is the UK’s first annual film festival devoted exclusively to women in film and the UK's only public celebration of international women filmmakers., hosted at various venues in London. It takes place for ten days around International Women's Week every March, at the BFI Southbank, ICA, City Screen cinemas, BAFTA, Southbank Centre, Prince Charles cinema and other venues. The programme includes international feature films, short films and documentaries, parties, director Q&A’s, educational events, awards and much more. In 2013, the Festival will be celebrating the female filmmakers working in the Middle East. More information: visit www.birds-eye-view.co.uk 2013 Virgin London Marathon Across London, 21 April 2013 One of the most popular marathons in the world, the Virgin London Marathon will see over 45,000 runners from 150 different countries attempt the gruelling 26 mile course that takes in some of London’s most scenic sights. Those just planning to spectate can pick out a spot and soak up the race atmosphere anywhere between the start in Greenwich Park, a Royal Park, to the finish at Buckingham Palace. Over half a billion pounds has been raised for charities by runners since the first London marathon in 1981. More information: contact Nicola Okey on +44(0)207 902 0182 or email [email protected] Euroleague Basketball – Final Four The O2, 10 – 12 May 2013 Euroleague Basketball and AEG will team up to bring the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four to a new home in 2013. After hosting the 2012 Olympic Games, London’s spectacular The O2 will remain the focus of international sporting attention as it turns its eyes to Europe’s premier basketball event. More information: visit www.euroleague.net INTERIORS LDN, 19 – 21 May London is hosting INTERIORS LDN, a new exciting event focused on delivering innovative, original and inspirational design-led contemporary interiors for mid to high-end retail and contract markets. Taking place on 19 – 21 May 2013 at ExCel London, INTERIORS LDN is the boutique London edition to perfectly complement INTERIORS UK – the UK’s largest definitive interiors furniture event. More information: visit www.interiorsuk.com
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2013 UEFA Champions League Final Wembley Stadium, 25 May 2013 The UEFA Champions League Final will return to London for the 150th anniversary of the FA in 2013. The announcement from UEFA is testament to the successful delivery of last year's UEFA Champions League Final which saw a sell-out stadium and a record global audience of 300 million viewers tuning in to watch. This will be Wembley Stadium's seventh European Cup Final after hosting the Final most recently in May of 2011. More information: visit www.uefa.com Wireless 2013, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Summer 2013 Forming part of the No Ordinary Park Campaign, this annual concert from Live Nation, will be hosted in the Olympic Park in the summer of 2013. The line-up includes Justin Timberlake, Jay Z, Rita Ora, Rihanna and other major artists. More information visit www.wirelessfestival.co.uk or email [email protected] City of London Festival 2013 23 June – 26 July 2013 Following its acclaimed and record-breaking 50th anniversary season, the annual City of London Festival has announced its full 2013 programme, promising once again to animate the Square Mile with its customary extravaganza of music, dance, art, film, poetry, family and participation events, transforming some of the City’s most iconic venues and outdoor spaces into a wealth of creative activity for everyone to enjoy. Programme highlights include: world-class concerts: new commissions: walks, talks and thought provoking debates and much more. More information: visit: www.colf.org Wimbledon Championships All England Club, 24 June – 7 July 2013 The Championships, Wimbledon, "The Wimbledon Championships" or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and widely considered to be the biggest and the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club – originally founded as the home of English croquet - in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three majors being the Australian Open, French Open and US Open. Wimbledon is the only Major still played on grass, the game's original surface, which gave the game its original name of "lawn tennis". More information: contact Eric White on [email protected] The Coronation Festival 11-14 July To mark the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s coronation, Buckingham Palace gardens will be staging a four-day festival where up to 200 firms with royal warrants will showcase their goods in an exhibition highlighting a few of the Queen’s favourite brands and offering unique entertainment and shopping opportunities. Retailers include Bendicks chocolates, Daks raincoats, The Ritz Hotel and Hunter wellies. In the evening, the Palace Gardens will host a magnificent Coronation Gala featuring a range of home grown UK music and dance talent as well as performers from across the Commonwealth. While the first day of the event is open by invitation only, tickets for the three following day will cost £30 for the day and £80 for night and will be available for purchase from the 16th December. More information: visit www.coronationfestival.com
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British Athletics Grand Prix 27 July London's Olympic Stadium will host its first sporting event since the Games on the anniversary of the opening ceremony. The London Grand Prix athletics meeting, part of the elite Diamond League series, is to be moved from its usual home at Crystal Palace and will take place on July 27, a year to the day after the Olympics began in spectacular fashion. More information: visit www.britishathletics.org.uk/british-athletics-series/british-athletics-london-anniversary-games/ Prudential RideLondon 3 – 4 August 2013 A new annual, mass-participation cycling event launches in London in 2013. The two-day cycling festival will allow families and amateur riders to take part, as well as attracting the world's best elite cyclists. Saturday's ride will be aimed at cyclists of all ages and abilities who want to enjoy the fun of cycling in a traffic-free environment. The route will pass many of Central London's famous landmarks. Up to 70,000 participants are expected to take part. Sunday's activities will appeal to the world's top elite cyclists and amateur cyclists alike. The 100-mile route will start at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, taking in roads in London and Surrey and finishing in Central London. More information: contact Nicola Okey on +44(0) 207 902 0182 or email [email protected] Notting Hill Carnival 25 August 2013 to 26 August 2013 The award winning and internationally renowned Annual London Carnival rooted in the Caribbean tradition includes a series of linked events from July to August that culminate in the large event on the streets of Notting Hill on August Bank Holiday. More information: visit www.thenottinghillcarnival.com ITU Triathlon World Series Grand Final, Hyde Park 11 – 15 September 2013 The vision for the Games was legacy and ensuring that future generations would continue to be inspired by world class sporting events and performances in London. This September, London hosts the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final using an identical course and venue to that used in the London 2012 Olympic Games. 5,000 of the world’s best triathletes will return to the London 2012 Olympic Games venue as Hyde Park, a Royal Park, hosts the International Triathlon Union’s (ITU) most prestigious event, all fighting for world championship titles. More information: email [email protected] NFL International Series Game Wembley Stadium, 29 September and 27 October 2013 Following the continued success of playing a regular season NFL game in London, at least one regular game has been fixed onto the London calendar for Wembley every season until at least 2016, with the Jacksonville Jaguars playing host for the International Series. A historic step for the NFL in the UK and for London, a second regular game has also just been announced in 2013. The Minnesota Vikings will be the home team to the Pittsburgh Steelers on 29th September, whilst the Jacksonville Jaguars will begin their ground-breaking initiative at Wembley against the San Francisco 49ers on 27th October. More information: contact David Tossell on [email protected]
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Rugby League World Cup Semi-Finals Wembley Stadium, 23 November 2013 The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league football tournament contested by national teams of members of the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF). It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954. The 2013 competition will be held in England, France, Ireland and Wales and will form part of the UK's 'Golden Decade of Sport. As a double-header at Wembley Stadium, the semi-finals day is set to be one of the biggest days in the 2013 sporting calendar as the best four teams in the world battle it out for a place in the Rugby League World Cup Final. More information: email [email protected]
9. Anniversaries
150th anniversary of The Underground, the first ever subterranean transport system The Metropolitan Line opened 150 years ago as the world’s first underground passenger railway. The Underground's development has bestowed London with a rich and diverse architectural heritage of stations and other structures. More information: visit www.tfl.gov.uk/tube150 50 years since The Beatles debut album launched ‘Please Please Me’ 2013 marks 50 years since The Beatles first album was recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London. Released on 22 March 1963, the album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and includes famed track ‘Love Me Do’. 100 years of Chelsea Flower Show The ‘greatest flower show on earth’ celebrates its centenary this year. Expect an extra special event in 2013. The show will run from 21 to 25 May. More information: contact Erin O’Connor on +44 (0)20 7821 3364 or email [email protected] 50 years of the National Theatre Company October 2013 marks 50 years since the National Theatre Company opened at the Old Vic with its first production of Hamlet starring Peter O’Toole and Michael Redgrave. A permanent exhibition, Stage by Stage, on the history of the theatre will be open on the third floor. More information: contact Lucinda Morrison on +44(0)20 7452 3333 or email [email protected] 60 years since the Queen’s Coronation 2 June 2013 marks 60 years since the Queen's coronation in 1953 at the age of just 26. The formal ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey in London followed by a street procession and was the first coronation to be televised. More information: visit www.royal.gov.uk 125 years since the days of Jack the Ripper Jack The Ripper was the name given to an infamous serial killer who was active around Whitechapel in 1888, where the gruesome unsolved murders provoked widespread fear. Many of London’s walking tour companies provide themed Jack The Ripper walks around East London to follow in his footsteps. More information: visit www.walks.com
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175 Anniversary of Queen Victoria’s Coronation 20 June Queen Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from June 20, 1837 until her death in 1901. From May 1, 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India. Her reign of 63 years and 7 months, which is longer than that of any other British monarch and the longest of any female monarch in history, is known as the Victorian era. It was a period of industrial, cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom, and was marked by a great expansion of the British Empire. More information: visit www.royal.gov.uk 50 Years since C. S. Lewis’ Death – Memorial Unveiled in Westminster Abbey 22 November To mark the 50th anniversary of his death a memorial stone to honour writer and scholar CS Lewis is to be placed in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey in 2013. Lewis will join such greats as John Keats, William Blake and TS Eliot in a tradition going back 600 years. Lewis (1898-1963) is best remembered for writing The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of books that has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. More information: visit www.westminster-abbey.org If you experience any issues making contact with any of the above, please email Michelle McCracken on [email protected], who will help put you in touch.
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Marketing Team: Louisa Jackley Corinna May Senior Marketing Manager – Travel Trade Head of Consumer Marketing & Industry Relations [email protected] [email protected] Sandra Rogat Louise Maher Marketing Manager – Europe & UK Marketing Manager – North America & [email protected] Australasia
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