Flash Briefing
This is your Weekly London flash briefing with Hazel, your London tour guide for the first week of February 2021. I have a combination of fun and business-related events for you this week. First up; the fun stuff... • PAY & PLAY: Street Art Tour (anytime) Watch and enjoy an hour-long London virtual street art tour from the comfort of your own home any time you choose! This is a recording of our live Street Art Tour where Hazel virtually takes you through the streets of Lon...

Flash Briefing
What: Advent Calendar Windows in Greenwich When: until Sunday, 3 January 2021 Website: http://adventwindows.com/ Advent Windows Map 2020 PDF: http://adventwindows.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Advent-Windows-Map-2020-PDF.pdf Please join us in December to see the 2020 Advent Windows in Greenwich, which is now a beloved Christmas tradition and is in its 14th year. This year’s theme is “Near & Far.” Every year St Alfege Church, in the heart of Greenwich, London, runs an...

Flash Briefing
Today’s place of interest is Dulwich. It’s one of those places that doesn’t look like it belongs in London and yet it’s only a 13 min train journey from Victoria.  2 Exhibitions at Dulwich Picture Gallery What: Unearthed: Photography's Roots When: 8 December 2020 - 9 May 2021 Opening times: Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–6pm. Closed Mondays except bank holidays. Where: Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, London SE21 7AD Tickets: Friends/Under 18s go Free Adults £16.50...

Flash Briefing
What: Christmas at Kew When: Friday 4 December 2020 – Sunday 17 January 2021, 4pm – 10pm Where: Kew Gardens, Entrances at Victoria Gate, Lion Gate and Brentford Gate Tickets: Standard advance adult: Off peak £19.50/ Peak £24.50 Family tickets available Ticket discount for Kew members For more info and booking: https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/christmas/everything-you-need-to-know As twilight falls, the magic begins… Join us for the most magical time of year ...

Flash Briefing
What: Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature When: 9 December 2020 - August 2021. Closed 24-26 December Where: The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Tickets: Adult £22 / Child (4-16 years) £13.25 / Concession £17.50 / Family £38.50 - £66.95 For more info and booking: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/fantastic-beasts-the-wonder-of-nature.html Discover where the real and wizarding worlds intertwine, and how the wonders of the natural world have in...

Flash Briefing
What: Christmas Lights Virtual Tour When: December 2020 Saturdays - 12, 19, 26 - 6 PM Mondays - 14, 21, 28 - 7 PM Where: Online stream Tickets: £15 per household Book here: https://www.londonguidedwalks.co.uk/christmas-lights-virtual-tour.php Explore London by night on this 60 minute virtual Christmas tour. • Get festive • Virtual tour with images and videos • Qualified guide who loves Christmas! Discover hidden passages, fashionable mews and meticulously decorated ...

Flash Briefing
What: A Spitalfields Christmas at Dennis Severs’ House When: 11-13, 17-20, 23-23, 27 December at 12pm - 6pm Where: 18 FOLGATE STREET LONDON E1 6BX Tickets: There will be no charge, but guests are asked to support the House by either a purchase or a donation. Recommended donation £10, plus purchases from the shop. Admission: No booking required. For more info: http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/ "The visitor is reminded that he doesn’t see 18 Folgate St - he CATCHES it. ...

Flash Briefing
What: Indulge yourself in a Fondue Feast at The Raclette Bar Pop Up When: Opened on 3 December 2020 Where: 409, Clapham Road, The Clapham North, SW9 9BT Cost: £25 per person Book here: https://www.designmynight.com/london/bars/clapham/the-clapham-north/the-raclette-bar-pop-up If there's one thing that will get us through 2020? It's gooey cheese. And luckily, the gang at The Raclette Bar pop-up are supplying plenty of it. Check out The Clapham North this December to melt you...

Flash Briefing
What: Jennifer Packer: The Eye Is Not Satisfied With Seeing When: 5-23 December 2020, 10am-3pm Where: Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens London W2 3XA United Kingdom Tickets: Free For more info: https://www.serpentinegalleries.org/whats-on/jennifer-packer/ Book here: https://www.serpentinegalleries.org/tickets-jennifer-packer/ The exhibition draws out timely and necessary discussions on care, racial politics, representation, and art history, revealing Packer as one of th...

Flash Briefing
What: Ecstatic Dance UK - Open Air When: Sundays, 6, 13, 20 December 2020 at 10am-1:30pm Where: Mabley Green Lee Conservancy Road London E9 5HW United Kingdom Tickets: varies from £13.52 – £19.99 Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ecstatic-dance-uk-sunday-open-air-tickets-111553290896 We are London's Sunday morning Ecstatic Dance. And we keep on dancing - in the park! As an 'organised wellness & fitness class', our events are fully compliant with the latest gover...

Flash Briefing
What: Hackney Christmas Market When: Weekends, 12pm-7pm: 5-6th of December, 12-13th of December, 19-20th of December Where: Bohemia Place London E8 1DU United Kingdom Tickets: Free (donation is optional) Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hackney-christmas-market-tickets-126705959937 Who said Christmas is cancelled? Our Hackney Christmas market is back for 2020 ❄️ ? ? 3 weekends of finest street food with fantastic vegan options ? Christmas decorations and artisa...

Flash Briefing
What: Artemisia at The National Gallery When: Reopening from 2 December to 24 January 2021 Where: The National Gallery Sainsbury Wing, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN Tickets: Members see all exhibitions for free.  Standard admission £20 (Artemisia tickets include Gallery entry) Book here: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions/artemisia "I will show Your Illustrious Lordship what a woman can do" In 17th-century Europe, at a time when women artists were not easil...

Flash Briefing
What: AN AFTERNOON WITH ANTON DU BEKE When: 13 December at 15:00 UK time Where: Online Ticket: Stream & Book - UK only - £20 Stream only - £10 Book here: https://www.fane.co.uk/online-shows/an-afternoon-with-anton-du-beke To celebrate the publication of A Christmas To Remember by Anton Du Beke. Out now in hardback, eBook and audio (Zaffre). London, 1938. This Christmas, you are cordially invited to the wedding of the year! Household name and all-round entertainer Anton D...

Flash Briefing
What: Magnetic North: voices from the Indigenous Arctic When: 3 Dec 2020, 18.30–20.00 Where: Online Ticket: Free Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/magnetic-north-voices-from-the-indigenous-arctic-tickets-124114679347 Celebrate the cultural diversity of the Arctic and its importance to us all at this special Online Late, presented in partnership with Border Crossings' ORIGINS Festival. COVID-19 and the climate crisis are changing our way of life, offering a unique ...

Flash Briefing
What: TOAST | Traditional Tuscan Biscuits with Olivia Cavalli Williamson When: Sun, 6 December 2020 19:00 – 20:30 PST Where: Online Ticket: Free Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/toast-traditional-tuscan-biscuits-with-olivia-cavalli-williamson-tickets-127788210979?aff=ebdssbcitybrowse Join chef and food stylist Olivia Cavalli Williamson to learn how to make two of Tuscany's most iconic biscuits. During this workshop you will create crunchy cantucci for dunking in ...

Flash Briefing
What: A Christmas Celebration filmed at St Albans Cathedral When: Thursday 10 December 2020, 7.30pm GMT Where: Online Ticket: £10 (with additional donation options available) Book here: https://www.rpo.co.uk/whats-on/eventdetail/1497/121/a-christmas-celebration-with-john-rutter We're delighted to share the news of this very special project which was filmed at the Cathedral last month. On Friday 23 October, we welcomed the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to the Cathedral to fil...

Flash Briefing
What: A Night In with Sandi Toksvig When: Thursday 26th November 2020, 6:30 pm Where: Online stream Livestream ticket: £10 Livestream ticket + book: £20 (Includes UK delivery, books will be despatched the week after the event.) Book here: https://www.theatresonline.com/shows/online-stream/a-night-in-with-sandi-toksvig Join one of Britain's best-loved celebrities, Sandi Toksvig - writer, broadcaster, activist, comic on stage, screen and radio for nearly forty years, present...

Flash Briefing
What: JUNIOR BAKING CLUB by Bread Ahead Bakery When: Saturday mornings at 10am and 12pm Where: Online event, Zoom We’ve got the perfect activity to keep the kids entertained at the weekends, introducing our virtual Baking Club! Saturday mornings at 10am and 12pm we’ll be going live from the bakery, Rebecca will be teaching some of her favourite bakes for little bakers. How does it work? 1. Choose from our calendar of bakes, select the 10am or 12pm session. 2. Book onlin...

Flash Briefing
What: Happy Origami Wonderland When: Saturdays, 21 Nov and 19 Dec, 14:00 - 15:30 GMT Where: The Snooty Fox 75 Grosvenor Avenue London N5 2NN United Kingdom "Happy Origami Wonderland" , a wonderful "Origami" experience, learn about Japanese tradition and also purely makes you "Happy", "Calm" and "Smile" with folding papers! Japanese origami artist Toshiko will be teaching us to fold beautiful flowers like tulips and lilies, kimono book marks, lovely gift & jewellery boxes to...

Flash Briefing
What: #IamREMARKABLE (ONLINE WORKSHOP) When: Wednesdays, 18, 25 November at 11:00 - 12:30 GMT & 30 December at 20:30 - 22:00 GMT Where: Online event I am Remarkable celebrates what makes a woman remarkable, talks about how to establish personal branding and practise self-promotion. As October's Black History Month recently passed, we want to commemorate its vision by holding IAR workshops on Wednesdays starting October 28th up until November 25th. #IamRemarkable is a Googl...

Flash Briefing
What: Public Speaking & Presentation Skills: FREE Friendly ONLINE Weekly Classes When: Wednesdays, 18, 25 November and 2, 9, 16, 23 December, 18:25 - 20:00 GMT Where: Online event Speaking in public can be scary and challenging whether it’s live or online. Imagine how much more success you will achieve when you're able to confidently: ✔︎ Create and Deliver Presentations - Live and Online ✔︎ Lead and Fully Participate in Virtual Meetings ✔︎ Answer Challenging Q...

Flash Briefing
What: Condé Nast College Open Day-Short & Online Courses When: Wed, 18 November 2020 16:00 – 17:45 GMT Where: Online event Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design Virtual Open Day for: Vogue Intensive Summer, One week courses, Online courses, Vogue Teen Weekend Being mindful of social distancing and the well-being of you, your families and our campus community, we have moved the event online. Whether you have decided on a course, or are just investigating your options, ...

Flash Briefing
What: Redefining Living Series: Personal Growth for Women's Leadership When: Thursday, 12 November 2020, 20:00 - 21:00 GMT Where: Online event With so many talented and qualified women to fill leadership positions, why do we find that women are still having trouble gaining ground? This challenge seems to be common amongst BAME women. Redefining Living Series takes a holistic approach by exploring how the insidious and subtle religious, cultural, and societal beliefs can inf...

Flash Briefing
What: Flow-Yoga with Gabi When: Tuesdays, 10, 17, 24 November 2020, 6pm Where: Online event Yogi Gabi will take you through a flow-yoga session to stretch out your body after a day of work.  “The purpose of yoga is to build strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body,” - Natalie Nevins Beginners are welcome! This class is now being held at Spitalfields but will still be live-streamed. Please take note of the new time, 6pm. You'll receive a Zoom link to t...

Flash Briefing
What: An evening with Caitlin Moran Award-winning writer Caitlin Moran discusses her latest book, More Than A Woman, with Sali Hughes. In 2011, How to Be a Woman, Moran’s fresh take on modern feminism was met with critical acclaim and was hugely popular with readers for its frankness and curiosity - and because it was very funny. Described as part memoir, part rant, it tackled the big subjects of modern womanhood - motherhood, work and marriage - as well as musing on subje...

Flash Briefing
What: Developing Your Photography Style with Jessica Kobeissi When: Saturday November 7, 2020 | 12pm - 1:45pm PST / 3pm - 4:45PM EST Where: ONLINE - Webinar Cost: FREE - RSVP to secure your spot. Join us on Saturday, November 7th for an online Socality x Canon Creator Lab workshop with instruction from portrait and fashion photographer Jessica Kobeissi (@jessicakobeissi) as she instructs a live online workshop on portrait photography and developing your photography style. Je...

Flash Briefing
What: Medieval London Walk Explore the City of London in Medieval times Discover Medieval London Meet other adventurous souls Qualified London tour guide When: Sun, 1 Nov 2PM (3 TICKETS LEFT AS OF 30 OCT) Sun, 15 Nov 1PM Sun, 29 Nov 1PM On this guided walk we will look at how Londoners made their livings, how religion permeated their lives, and how they had to put up with some pretty strong smells.

The medieval past reverberates through to today. Names like Ironmonger Lane a...

Flash Briefing
What: Severndroog Castle’s Outdoor Escape Trail An outdoor mission for all the family Humans of Earth! Half term is here and we have a message from Count Silvester of Severndroog from his Time Travelling Vessel, Severndroog Castle. Are you up for a family mission? Get your Family Mission Pack from the Tearoom this Thursday-Sunday, or download a digital version for just £2.50 from Tea Dance for Little People online shop https://www.tdlp.co.uk/shop/ Guidance Age 5+ Mor...

Flash Briefing
What: ADAM KAY: THIS IS GOING TO HURT (SECRET DIARIES OF A JUNIOR DOCTOR)  Adam Kay’s acclaimed NHS monologue reopens the West End Adam Kay – musical comedian and half of the Amateur Transplants – wrote a hugely successful book about the NHS and being a junior doctor. His live version of the show was due to run in the West End earlier this year, but got derailed for ‘obvious reasons’. However, it has the distinction of being the piece that will formally reopen Thea...

Flash Briefing What: MESMERIZED! #1 | Livestream + Physical
When: Tues, 27 October 2020. Doors open at 7:30 PM

‘To compel by fascination’. Discover some of the hottest emerging artists in town! MESMERIZED! is a monthly live night hosting some of the best up-and-coming artists, curated by YMX.

Live sets from Georgia Meek, Rebekah Fitch, Brioni & Louisa Maria.
Watch via a livestream or  as part of a small seated, socially distanced audience

Note: This is a 18+ show
Tickets: from £8-13
Where: P...

Flash Briefing
Halloween Themed Events What: Ghosts and Gallows Walk When: Sun, 25 Oct 2020 at 2 PM Discover the city's dark history… Retrace the final footsteps of the condemned, hear the curious case of the superstitious teenager and how ghosts from the civil war still haunt Fleet Street. Discover the city's dark history Meet other curious souls Qualified London Guide Suitable for all age groups. Please note all children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets: £12 adult / £10 chi...

Flash Briefing
Greenwich Events What: C-O-N-T-A-C-T – A unique, socially distanced theatrical experience
When: until Sunday, 22 November, 2020 @ 4:30pm | 6:00pm | 7:30pm
A young woman sits alone on a park bench, lost in her own thoughts. What is she thinking? Dive into her mind in this unique sensory and immersive theatre experience.

After taking the streets of Paris and London by storm with sell-out performances, C-O-N-T-A-C-T now journeys north to the streets of Salford and Manchester.

Be...

Flash Briefing
Family-friendly Events & Activities What: Paddington Bear's London - A family-friendly virtual tour
When: 27-30 October 2020

Come and join our exciting exploration of Paddington Bear's London. During this 60 minute virtual tour we will visit sites from both blockbuster films such as Windsor Gardens, Mr Gruber's antiques shop and the Natural History Museum.

Hazel, your London tour guide, will share her top tips on the film locations and what there is to do there if you want to vi...

Flash Briefing
2 EXHIBITS IN THE FOUNDLING MUSEUM What: The Covid Letters When: 24 Oct 2020 — 17 Jan 2021 This autumn Jonny Banger, designer and owner of subversive fashion label Sports Banger, shows the work he gathered from the nation’s children during lockdown. As the country went into lockdown, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, wrote a letter intended for every household in the UK, urging residents to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. In response, Banger invited young peo...

Flash Briefing
What: How Animals Saved My Life: Being the Supervet Online Events with Noel Fitzpatrick  When: 26 October at 18:30 What makes us connect with animals so deeply? Veterinary surgeon Professor Noel Fitzpatrick is the star of the hit Channel 4 television show The Supervet, and is globally recognised for his innovative surgical solutions for animals. But these animals have done as much for Noel as he has for them – they have saved each other’s lives. Noel’s journey from Ba...

Flash Briefing
What: Summer Exhibition 2020 When: 6 October 2020 — 3 January 2021, Mon – Sun: 10am–6pm For the first time in history, the Summer Exhibition will fall in winter. But at the RA, summer is a state of mind, not a time of year. Discover a myriad of works by household names and emerging artists inside our joyous festival of art. 252 years ago, a group of artists made it their mission to form an annual exhibition to support artists and architects, by showcasing art of the mo...

Flash Briefing
What: Art is why I wake up in the morning SKT Gallery is excited to collaborate with Paper Dress Vintage, a multi-functional venue that combines art gallery, boutique store and live music events. The exhibition offers contemporary artists the opportunity to celebrate their creative drive. It will focus on the necessity of art. For many people, art can be an indispensable lifeline that helps us make it through the day. Art can help us shape our lives and view the world in sig...

Flash Briefing
What: Parallax Art Fair October 2020 When: This weekend Sat-Sun, 17-18 October 2020 Where: Kensington Town Hall, London Embed video: Parallax Art Fair is Europe's largest entretive fair for creative entrepreneurs. Average 7000+ pieces of wholesale fine, decorative and applied art from around the world are there with 0% commission on EVERY piece No VAT tax on some UK/EU exhibitors and No entrance fee for visitors. Restaurant facilities for hot & cold foods and beverages ...

Flash Briefing
What: Chess Valley Challenge 2020 - October Challenge Challenge yourself, friends and family to walk the 10 mile Chess Valley Way and raise funds for Hertfordshire Wildlife Trust on this sponsored walking event. When: Thursday 1 October 2020 - Saturday 31 October 2020 The challenge? To walk along the waymarked 10-mile Chess Valley Walk, between Rickmansworth and Chesham. Discover the beautiful River Chess, stroll through our stunning Frogmore Meadows Nature Reserve, explore...

Flash Briefing
What: At Home Acrylic Painting Kit About Paintvine Drink. Paint. Just don’t drink the paint.™ You don't have to be an artist to be creative. It's ok if you've never painted anything but your walls — there is no experience necessary and fun is our only requirement. With the At Home Acrylic Painting Kit, you'll have everything you need to paint 2 of our paintings, along with full access to our Paintvine On-Demand library of paintings for 90 days, Paint anything you want...

Flash Briefing
What: Kensington and Chelsea Art Week Kensington and Chelsea Art Week is now on. There’s a temporary Public Art Trail at landmarks across eight zones of the borough, creating an evolving discovery trail, explored on foot and through digital experiences. Each year, KCAW presents thought-provoking installations and murals, which in the past have included work by Terry O'Neill, Laura Ford, Amanda Parer, James Capper and Richard Woods. This year the trail will include artists:...

Flash Briefing
What: Greenwich London Walk Come and see some of the finest and most important buildings in England. Explore Greenwich’s magisterial and its seedy sides, and hear about its literary connections on this fascinating public walking tour. Greenwich was for centuries the ceremonial entrance to the capital from the river Thames. It was the site of one the most important Tudor palaces, and later of the Royal Naval Hospital where a collection of the greatest names in English archi...

Flash Briefing
What: London Cocktail Week - extended to a month! London Cocktail Week is an enormous celebration of our capital's fantastic cocktail scene and the biggest e  kind in the world with £6 signature cocktails and immersive experiences in hundreds of the best bars in the city! Our self-guided Cocktail Tours can be taken at your own pace and so are fully compliant with the new government guidelines. All participating venues are strictly sticking to policy and so wearing a London ...

Flash Briefing
What: Live from the Barbican When: Sun 4 Oct—Sun 13 Dec 2020 Twelve live-streamed concerts featuring incredible artists from across our music programme. Music returns to the Barbican’s Concert Hall as they bring you a series of concerts in front of a socially-distanced, reduced audience that will be live-streamed directly into your living room. From a musical voyage through space and time with the BBC SO and Professor Brian Cox to Richard Dawson's dystopian songcraft, an...

Flash Briefing
What: Summer in the City Not quite ready to shake off the summer colour and head into the muted tones of autumn? You’re in luck – Brookfield Properties are keeping the City fresh and colourful with two summer spaces in the Square Mile. There’s plenty to do and explore at Colourpoint at Citypoint (with food trucks every Weds & Thurs) and at Principal Pavilion at Principal Place – so if you’re heading back to the office, enjoy some safe, socially-distanced spaces to r...

Flash Briefing
What: Filthy Lucre: Whistler's Peacock Room Reimagined This immersive installation by contemporary artist Darren Waterston presents a detailed and decadent interpretation of James Abbott McNeill Whistler's famed Peacock Room, a sumptuous 19th-century interior. The Peacock Room – a sumptuous 19th-century dining room once housed just a stone's throw away from the V&A, and now installed at the Freer Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Cost: Free Wh...

Flash Briefing
What: Leighton House Museum

Leighton House Museum is the former home of the Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). The only purpose-built studio-house open to the public in the United Kingdom, it is one of the most remarkable buildings of the nineteenth century, containing a fascinating collection of paintings and sculpture by Leighton and his contemporaries.

Built to Leighton’s precise requirements, the house was extended and embellished over the 30 years that...

Flash Briefing
What: Architecture for Dogs
Bringing dogs to the exhibition It is quite unusual for dogs to be allowed into a gallery, so we have put in place the following rules to ensure everyone’s enjoyment of the exhibition.

Featuring a collection of architectural designs for dogs by world-class architects and designers, the internationally acclaimed Architecture for Dogs makes its European debut at Japan House London from 19 September with the addition of a brand new piece by eminent UK...

Flash Briefing
The King & Queen’s State Apartments Website: https://www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/#gs.gtu7mi Twitter: @HRP_palaces Instagram: @historicroyalpalaces

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What: The King’s State Apartments
Explore these sumptuous rooms, each grander than the last The first thing you will notice about these opulent rooms is that they are surprisingly sparse. This is because, unlike domestic rooms, the State Apartments were u...

Flash Briefing
Online photography exhibitions from The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG, located in London) We are the UK's learned society and professional body for geography, supporting geography and geographers across the world. Website: https://www.rgs.org/ Twitter: @RGS_IBG Instagram: @rgs_ibg

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What: What the traveller saw: The photographs of Eric Newby An online exhibition displaying a selection of stunning photogra...

Flash Briefing
What: HYUNDAI COMMISSION KARA WALKER at Tate Modern Acclaimed artist Kara Walker presents one of the most ambitious Hyundai Commissions to date. Fons Americanus is a 13-metre tall working fountain inspired by the Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace, London. Rather than a celebration of the British Empire, Walker’s fountain explores the interconnected histories of Africa, America and Europe. She uses water as a key theme, referring to the transatlantic slave ...

Flash Briefing
What: Titian: Love, Desire, Death at The National Gallery In 1551, Prince Philip of Spain, the future King Philip II, commissioned Titian, the most famous painter in Europe, to produce a group of paintings showing Classical myths primarily taken from the Roman poet Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’. In this exhibition you can explore Titian’s sensuous interpretation of Classical myths of love, temptation, and punishment. It reunites all six paintings in the series, from Boston...

Flash Briefing
What: Members Online talk and Q&A: Happy families - The National Gallery Caroline Smith discusses the portrayal of families in some of our paintings Join Caroline Smith from the National Gallery's Learning department to explore the ways artists have shown family groups both conventional and dysfunctional. Caroline Smith is our Programmer for Schools and Teachers and has lectured at the Gallery since 2003. She studied at the University of London, specialising in Early Italia...

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What: ENO Drive & Live Park up at our drive-in theatre and find yourself immersed in the modern day bohemia of London.  When the struggling writer Rodolfo meets his neighbour Mimì, it’s love at first sight. But as the youthful couple and their friends indulge in life’s pleasures, their happiness is quickly dashed by the realities of their precarious living situation. This new 90 minute production of Puccini’s tragic romance is performed live – both on stage and on...

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What: ROOM 43 Room 43 is a collection of all the small things we enjoy in life… music, laughter, carpentry, herbal tea, healthy home cooked Persian food, cocktails and craft beer. ​ Our passion for jazz led us to create jam sessions every Fri, Sat and Sun where a number of top musicians in London get together and have fun. Our love of laughter led us to create stand up comedy every Wed where some of the funniest comedians in London get together and have us in stitches. ...

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What: Thames Festival Trust: Totally Thames 2020 Celebrating the River Thames with arts events, active adventures, environmental initiatives, heritage and education programmes. Live streamed shows and performances from the Thames Festival Trust Fri 18th - Wed 30th Sep 2020 9am - 8pm Tune into talks, see an online photo exhibition and join a tour of the River Lea as part of the Lighting up the Lea virtual activities. Cody Dock will host the following virtual events in Septe...

Flash Briefing
What: Tower Bridge See inside London's Defining Landmark Tower Bridge will transport you to Victorian London, telling the story of the city’s defining landmark from the very beginning. Immerse yourself in the architecture and engineering, and watch city life unfold in panorama from its high-level Walkway and Glass Floor. 40,000 people cross Tower Bridge each day. Now you can see inside it. From the high-level walkways, take in stunning panoramic views and experience the ...

Flash Briefing
What: Coq d’Argent Coq d’Argent is a D&D London restaurant that serves classic French food in a spectacular rooftop setting at No.1 Poultry in the City of London. In addition to the main Restaurant, the Grill offers a more casual menu at lunchtime, while the outdoor terraces and gardens provide a verdant oasis in the heart of the Square Mile. D&D London stands for Des Gunewardena and David Loewi – our two founders – who led the buyout of Conran Restaurants in Septem...

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What: Open House Festival 2020 When: Open House London 2020 will be 19 & 20 September, with additional events taking place until the 27 September Celebrate London's architectural wonders as Open House London throws open the doors of more than 800 buildings and spaces around the capital. Enjoy free access to buildings which are not usually open to public, private houses of the rich and famous, churches, museums, schools and offices, and join tours, guided walks and activitie...

Flash Briefing
What: London Fashion Week When: Thursday 17th - Tuesday 22nd September 2020 London Fashion Week September 2020, announces its provisional line-up featuring both womenswear and menswear, featuring Burberry, Richard Quinn, Matty Bovan, Emilia Wickstead, RIXO, Phoebe English, Bianca Saunders, and more. The event will include both digital activations on londonfashionweek.co.uk and physical, under government social distancing guidelines. Designers, partners and brands come toge...

Flash Briefing
What: Up at The O2 Up at The O2 has announced it will officially reopen its doors on 4th July offering a more intimate and memorable experience than ever before and with enhanced health and safety measures in place. In line with social distancing guidelines, each climb has been reduced to less than half the capacity previously in place (from 30 to 10 people), giving a more exclusive experience to visitors. Up at The O2 is an exhilarating 90 minute experience that takes you ...

Flash Briefing
What: 14 Hills 14 Hills is a restaurant, bar and deli situated in the heart of London’s Square Mile. An all-day dining destination that transitions throughout the day: from the daytime grab and go deli, to lunches in the restaurant be it business or pleasure or after-work cocktails in the bar, before the sun sets on a sophisticated dinner in the restaurant. Head Chef, John Barber’s menu focuses on modern British cooking with a touch of French flair. Dishes include Tuna ...

Flash Briefing
What: Sea Life London Which sea creatures do you love the most? Magnificent Sharks, colourful Clownfish or perhaps inquisitive Sea Turtles? Maybe you simply can’t decide! Here at SEA LIFE you can make up your mind and see them all - from the curious and the rescued to the rare and the enigmatic. And you’ll be able to get closer to them than ever before. Many of our creatures are on the endangered list, have been rescued and cannot be released into the wild or have been ...

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What: Illuminated River in 360 - Virtual Tour Illuminated River is the first artistic and cohesive vision for the central Thames bridges, celebrating them as architectural, social and historical landmarks, and creating a symbolic link across the capital. Once complete, at 2.3 miles in length, along 4.5 nautical miles of the Thames, it will be the longest public art commission in the world, seen over 130 million times each year. Free and publicly accessible for all to enjoy, ...

Flash Briefing
What: Sleepless: A Musical Romance
SLEEPLESS is a new musical with a book by Michael Burdette and music and lyrics by new British writers Robert Scott and Brendan Cull and will feature a 12-piece jazz orchestra. Jay McGuiness, Kimberley Walsh and Daniel Casey will star as Sam, Annie and Walter respectively in SLEEPLESS, A Musical Romance, based on the original screenplay Sleepless in Seattle. They are joined by Harriet Thorpe as Eleanor, Tania Mathurin as Becky and Jake Shar...

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What: Join the Docks 2020 The Royal Dock's annual celebration of culture and creativity - Join the Docks - is open for submissions. Taking place across the 4km stretch of London’s historic Royal Docks last year we worked with local partners and individuals to host over 150 creative and cultural events. Now for autumn 2020 and spring 2021, we need your help! Building on last years’ event, we’re looking to collaborate with artists, organisations, and local collectives to...

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What: Chelsea History Festival JOIN US FOR A CELEBRATION OF HISTORY FROM THE HEART OF CHELSEA This year’s Chelsea History Festival will bring the past to life through a series of talks, tours and events, both physical and virtual. The immersive programme will reveal history in all its variety, and demonstrate its ongoing resonance and relevance today. The past will be brought to life in an immersive mixture of digital and physical events for the Chelsea History Festival 2...

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What: Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium Poke your head down the rabbit hole and enjoy your very own tea party in our cat wonderland! Established in 2014, Lady Dinah’s is the UK’s longest running Cat Cafe. Guests can enjoy a drink, cake or a full High Tea service in our Wonderland-themed tearooms, joined by our clowder of wonderful rescue cats. Cost: It costs £15 to visit our café for a 90-minute session. This is the price of admission and does not include food or drink. Open...

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What: Thames Festival Trust: Totally Thames 2020 Celebrating the River Thames with arts events, active adventures, environmental initiatives, heritage and education programmes. Live streamed shows and performances from the Thames Festival Trust 1st event: A River Runs Through It When: Wed 2nd - Sun 6th Sep 2020, 11am - 8pm This year A River Runs Through It is proud to present an exciting online blend of art in a unique virtual exhibition, intriguing podcasts and films abou...

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What: Selfie Factory - The UK's First Instagram™ Inspired Funhouse The quirky interactive pop-up experience for selfie-taking where you can fill up your camera roll with incredible photos of you and your friends at the O2. The exhibit features unique photo-friendly environments to up your Instagram™ game, including a new PINK TUBE TRAIN, a pink safe and a bath full of balls you can get into! Come along and spend 60 minutes in our funhouse, you’re free to float around an...

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What: Crooks 1926 by Colab Theatre IT IS 1926, AND IN LONDON, THERE IS TOTAL WAR…

Plunge deep into the cockney criminal underworld of Elephant and Castle as you are immersed in one family’s brutal battle for supremacy. Nothing is certain, violence is rampant and bargains are made to be broken. You can shape it all. COLAB Theatre’s most ambitious immersive production yet will grant you complete autonomy to shape the experience. Fix a horse-race, hire thugs and plan the ...

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What: HYPER BEAT THE SUMMER BOREDOM AND HEAT VISIT LONDON'S CYBERPUNK INSPIRED DRY-BAR AND IMMERSIVE GAMING EXPERIENCE Virtual Reality is a simulated reality which can transport you into unlimited new worlds. An experience unlike no other, a Hyper Reality. Once inside a headset you will have left everything you understand about reality behind. Here at Hyper we are trying to deliver VR a little differently. We have created a chill lounge, filled with retro games and boar...

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What: Build-Your-Own-Burger Kits by PERK’D UP Become a master of the burger game from the comfort of your own kitchen with our Build-Your-Own-Burger Kits. Simply select your BYOB Kit option and we will deliver to your doorstep. Each kit is prepared & delivered by our trusted team, minimising personal contact by following strict health and safety procedures. *Check their website for options and if they deliver to your area Cost: £30 for 4 burgers Website: https://www.perk...

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What: Midnight Apothecary Voted one of London’s best outdoor pop-up cocktail bars since 2012, we specialise in lovingly prepared seasonal botanical cocktails made by Midnight Apothecary founder Lottie Muir AKA The Cocktail Gardener. We built the garden in 2012 as an oasis where we invite you to cuddle up, watch the sunset surrounded by your friends, lovers and local wildlife. We use ingredients grown in our rooftop garden or foraged close by. The menu changes frequently ba...

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What: Chelsea Physic Garden Tucked away beside the Thames, Chelsea Physic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in London and houses around 5,000 different medicinal, herbal, edible, and useful plants. The Garden’s location feels special and secret. It is nestled behind walls and positioned close to the River Thames. The ideal Thames location is no accident as back in 1673 the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries chose their Chelsea village site for its proximity to the river ...

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What: DISCOVER THE CRYSTAL MAZE LIVE EXPERIENCE IN LONDON The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience is 70 minutes of frantic, frenetic, silly team fun that’s open to those everybody aged 13 and over. Your goal is to get as much time in The Crystal Dome and score as many points as you can. You and your friends run around four different zones – Industrial, Futuristic, Medieval and Aztec. In each zone, test your skills, solve mysteries and face mental and physical challenges. All o...

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What: @TheDriveIn Suzuki presents @TheDriveIn is a fully loaded drive in cinema experience that brings a whole host of drive in activities to several cities across the UK. 80's classics and 2010's blockbusters films will be preceded by a range of entertainment that includes stand up comedy, car karaoke or silent car discos. @TheDriveIn provides a retro experience with a modern touch. Using the radio transmission kit from the biggest US Drive in Cinemas, the sound will be br...

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What: LONDON’S FREE, ANNUAL OUTDOOR PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL GDIF is set to be the UK’s first full festival to take place since lockdown began in March. Much of the programme reflects the challenges and embraces the positives to come from the last few months, whilst incorporating social distancing, ticketing for capacities, and some inventive reimagining of public space to keep everyone safe. Installations running over several days celebrating the NHS, togetherness, a...

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What: RAF’s Virtual Spitfire 10K Chocks away! Get ready for the Spitfire 10K! We are bringing the race day feeling to you in a new virtual experience. We are starting the Museum's Battle of Britain commemorations with our annual Spitfire 10K event, but in a slightly different format. To ensure the health and wellbeing of all those involved, Spitfire 10K is going virtual! Whether this is your first 10K race or you are regular at running races, you are invited to be part of t...

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What: The Design Museum The museum is partially reopening from 31 July 2020 with a major new exhibition, Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers and temporary installation, Fountain of Hygiene. Permanent display, Designer Maker User, and other areas of the museum will reopen at a later stage. What to expect from Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers? Evoking the experience of being in a club, the exhibition will transport you through the people, ar...

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What: Visit the Painted Hall in Greenwich The iconic Old Royal Naval College, part of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, reopened on 13 July, once again offering public access to its buildings and expansive grounds. The magnificent Painted Hall, King William Undercroft and interpretation gallery are now open with limited tickets each day, so advanced booking is recommended. Cost: £11 Opening times: The grounds will be open daily from 7am-7pm, while The Paint...

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What: Electric Playbox, Southwark Electric Playbox, the futuristic group entertainment platform, has reopened the doors to its Southwark venue. The newest addition to London’s quirky experience scene, Electric Playbox is a first-of-its-kind immersive experience, offering a choice of four virtual adventures, from throwing players back to 1984 to outwit an alien race taking over the globe, to a trip to the future to rescue a royal family in need.  The state-of-the-art ‘Pla...

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What: Visit Guildhall Art Gallery When: Guildhall Art Gallery will reopen on Saturday 1 August, for weekends only. The Gallery shows a changing display of about 250 artworks from its collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture, in addition to a programme of temporary exhibitions. The Gallery is also responsible for significant works of art held elsewhere including the monuments in the Guildhall, statues in the Old Bailey and further sculptures and the Harold Samuel Collec...

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What: Art for Everyone - Sky Arts to become a free to air channel Sky Arts, the UK’s only channel dedicated to arts and culture, is to be made free for everyone this September, supercharging its mission to increase access to and drive participation in the arts, at a vital time for the cultural sector. With a renewed focus on bringing more of the arts to more people, Sky Arts will embark on an ambitious programme of activity to support and champion the arts – putting arti...

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What: UK Parliament’s free online talks Note: At the end of the talks, 15 minutes are available for you to ask questions. This is an online event and will be hosted on Microsoft Teams Live Events which you can access through your web browser. You do not need a Microsoft account to join the event. We will send full details of how to join the event online following registration.
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What: My Prudential RideLondon The first ever virtual edition of Prudential RideLondon – the world’s greatest festival of cycling – to celebrate cycling and raise funds to help save the UK’s charities. My Prudential RideLondon is an exciting, free event that will enable riders of all ages and abilities to cycle a range of distances, based on the events included in the traditional Prudential RideLondon weekend from wherever they are in  the world, have fun and raise c...

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What: The Blues Kitchen, Brixton Weekends at The Blues Kitchen are all about live music. Resident musicians provide the soundtrack to your evening with funk & soul classics from Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones & more. To help with social distancing rules you and your friends will be allocated a table on entry, so make sure you book ahead to secure the best spot. Live music starts from 9:30pm. When: August 7-8, 2020 Cost: Starting at £56.54 ...

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What: Secret Garden Concerts, Streatham London Concertante has launched Secret Garden Concerts, a new socially distanced alfresco summer concert series. With London Concertante’s spring-summer season wiped out, this new exciting series allows the chamber ensemble to reach audiences in a new way before concerts are allowed to resume.  Taking place in a newly-formed outdoor garden venue at London Concertante’s HQ in Streatham Hill throughout August, the series of five outd...

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What: Join the National History Museum and Pukka Herbs this summer for a free, online, family-friendly festival inspiring you to connect with nature and learn about the importance of life on Earth. Plant Club Sometimes plants can be easy to miss, but when we take time to look a little closer, we see how exciting and important they really are. These three activities will help you get to know plants better and use some of your scientific skills to investigate them: - How plants...

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What: Cao Fei: Blueprints Exhibition opens tomorrow (4 August)  Where: Serpentine Galleries This project at the Serpentine Galleries is Cao Fei’s first large-scale institutional solo exhibition in the UK. She has several pieces in New York’s Guggenheim.  Cao Fei‘s is a multimedia artist, predominantly using video. Her work is underpinned by an ongoing exploration of virtuality, how it has radically altered our perception of self and changed the way we understand realit...

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COVENTRY CATHEDRAL - ICON AND INSPIRATION
What: In this online lecture, Alexandra Epps gives an illustrated talk on the extraordinary story of art and the artists who helped rebuild an icon. Online event facilitated by the Barbican Library
Discover the extraordinary story, a symbol of peace and reconciliation and its inspiring commitment to the modern. Experience the work of many of the world-class artists associated with its treasures, including Jacob Epstein, Elisabeth Frink...

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THE ROYAL ACADEMY The Royal Academy of Arts, or as it is often abbreviated, the RA, was founded in 1768 by a group of artists headed by portrait painter Joshua Reynolds. Under Reynolds, the academy functioned as a school aimed at teaching drawing, painting, and sculpture to young artists. It was in 1868 where the RA made its final move to permanent quarters at Burlington House where it remains today. The largest work in the Collection is a series of three murals by Sir James T...

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ROYAL AIRFORCE MUSEUM LONDON What & when: Reopened on July 6.The Royal Air Force Museum London (Colindale) celebrates and commemorates the Royal Air Force. Three new innovative galleries explore the first 100 years of the RAF, its role today. Visitors are invited to imagine its future contribution and technology. Multi award-winning First World War in the Air Galleries, Historic Hangars and Bomber Command Hall are also open. What’s new: Please refer to our London homepa...

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LONG VIEWS OF LONDON: OUT OF THE MAW

What: London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) is home to an extraordinary range of documents, images, maps, film and books about London. This is an online video event, please check the organiser for details about how to watch.

20th century London was a place of extremes: wealth and want, war and peace, destruction, and rebuilding... In this talk we look at the tumultuous London of the 20th Century. Through LMA’s picture archive we will visit a L...

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TATE GALLERIES
What & when: All four of our galleries are reopening today 27 July and you can now book a ticket to visit!

What’s new: To make sure we can open safely, all visitors will need to book a timed ticket online for both the free collections and the paid exhibitions.

Price: Free entry in galleries. Check their website for exhibits’ rates.

Become a member: Join as a Tate Member for a year of free entry to our shows.
Reopening FAQs: https://www.tate.org.uk/about-us/freque...

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Dickens Museum When: Excited to be reopening our doors tomorrow, Saturday 25th July! Price: Adult: £9.50 Concessions (Students and Seniors): £7.50 Child 6-16 years: £4.50 Children under 6 years: Free

Opening hours: We are opening Friday to Sunday from 10am until 5pm with staggered entry at 15 minute intervals. Please note, it is essential to book tickets online in advance. Last admission into the historic house is at 4pm. Please note, the shop closes at 5pm. Link: https:/...

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ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST THE ROYAL MEWS, BUCKINGHAM PALACE What: Home to historic royal carriages and one of the finest working stables in existence. The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace is responsible for all the road travel arrangements for The Queen and members of the Royal Family. When: Discover this living part of Britain's heritage, open from February to November each year. We will be welcoming visitors again from 23 July. Price: Adult - £13.00 / Combined visit to The Q...

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Somerset House reopening
What: Somerset House has re-opened to visitors. This includes the critically acclaimed free exhibition Mushrooms: The Art, Design and Future of Fungi extended through the summer, the magnificent courtyard, and the on-site café Hej (takeaway only). Re-opening plans meet all current government guidelines, which will be reviewed and updated regularly. It’s a beautiful building and is a popular film location. You may recognise it as the London home of t...

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The Barbican Centre Art Gallery and Conservatory are now open.
The Art Gallery will welcome visitors back with Masculinities: Liberation through Photography, a photography and film exhibit that explores the ways in which masculinity is experienced, performed, coded and socially constructed.

In line with government guidelines, new safety measures will be in place and tickets will need to be booked online.
Who: Nick Adams, nick.adams@barbican.org.uk
Link: https://www.barbican.org.u...

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Today we are looking at some of the world’s best music available: Support UK’s grassroots music venues with #saveourvenues What: There are over 400 grassroots music venues in the UK that are at imminent risk of being closed permanently. #saveourvenues brings together artists who want to help, with the venues they love, and provide an easy way for music fans to financially support the resultant live streams. When: ongoing Who: info@musicvenuetrust.com Link: saveourvenues.co...

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Osterley Park Surrounded by gardens, park and farmland, Osterley is one of the last surviving country estates in London and is a National Trust property and has now reopened. Described by Horace Walpole as 'the palace of palaces', Osterley was created in the late 18th century by Robert Adam for the Child family (owners of Child's Bank, the oldest independent financial institution in the UK) Osterley Park was created as a place to entertain and impress their friends and client...

Flash Briefings The Garden Museum The Garden Museum has now reopened. It explores and celebrates British gardens and gardening through its collection, temporary exhibitions, events and garden.