![[LondonTown.com Header Image (Thames Scene)]](/LTtemplates/template_images/londontown.upper.logoheader.thamesscene-cc.jpg) |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
  |
|
The far more stylish take on March spring-cleaning is not clearing out clutter but adding beautiful touches to your home and the Ideal Home Show and the Country Living Spring Fair are just buzzing with ideas. This is also a great time of year to get out-and-about in London with the Head of the River Race and the Wetlands Easter Weekend providing brilliant opportunities to blow those winter cobwebs away.
 Westlife The O2 Arena, SE10 0AX | Wembley Arena HA9 0WS 1st & 2nd March 2008 | 28th March 2008 The record-breaking pop quartet from Sligo, Ireland play a number of surely sell-out London gigs at the O2 and Wembley Arena. Louis Walsh and Ronan Keating have a lot to answer for - since the music mogul and X-Factor judge teamed up with the former Boyzone lead singer to create their blandly competent cover versions, up has been the only way. Thirteen UK Number One singles later and undiminished by the departure of founder member Brian McFadden, Westlife are the last of the 1990s boy bands who have stuck to the formula and can still pull a crowd. Venue: The O2 Arena Address: Greenwich, SE10 0AX Phone: 0871 984 0002 Date: 1st March 2008 - 2nd March 2008 Time: Doors 18:30 Pricing: £34.50 Nearest Station: North Greenwich Tube Venue: Wembley Arena Address: Empire Way, HA9 0WS Phone: 0870 060 0870 Date: 28th March 2008 Time: Doors 19:30 Pricing: £34.50 Nearest Station: Wembley Park Tube Westlife - Information   Country Living Spring FairBusiness Design Centre, N1 0QH 12th March 2008 - 16th March 2008 Organised by the team behind Country Living magazine, this twice-yearly show is firmly pitched at Londoners who dream of having a country cottage with roses around the door. The closest you'll come is leaving here with a rose-covered cushions or possibly some rose bushes to put in your window box. There are plenty of ideas for interiors, gardens and bespoke gifts as well as one hundred and one ways to chintz-ify your house. Independent designers and craftspeople sell their wares in a celebration of all that is traditionally English. There are also sections on outdoor living, crafts lessons, and an impressive area showcasing regional and organic food, this is the place to go if you want to turn your sleek urban flat into a comfy, country home. Or if you're just searching for a nice birthday present for your grandmother. Venue: Business Design Centre Address: 52 Upper Street, N1 0QH Phone: 0870 126 1801 Date: 12th March 2008 - 16th March 2008 Time: Wed to Sat 10:00 - 18:00 | Sat 9:30 - 18:00 | Sun 10:00 - 15:00 | Gala Eve: Wed 18:30 - 21:00 Pricing: Advance: £11 (Standard), £6.50 (Children 5-16) | On the Door: £14.50 (Adults), £11 (Seniors), £8 (Children 5-16) | Free (Under 5s) Nearest Station: Angel Tube Country Living Spring Fair - Information  New York City BalletThe Coliseum, WC2N 4ES 12th March 2008 - 22nd March 2008 This illustrious ballet company hasn't graced the stages of London for over 25 years but the 90 (ish) dancers are making up for lost time by performing four programmes practically bursting at the seams with almost-revered choreography. The New York City Ballet has an unrivalled repertoire and the company has picked some real gems to showcase its world-class talent at the Coliseum, not least from the creative pool of choreographer and co-founder George Balanchine. The opening night will take the audience right back to the beginning in 1934 with Balanchine's first ballet created in America 'Serenade', born literally out of a ballet lesson with unexpected moments in rehearsal like a dancer arriving late incorporated into the choreography. After this, great names of dance and music abound - Jerome Robbins, Christopher Wheeldon and Stravinsky, Tschaikovsky, Verdi - and a night at the ballet explodes onto the scene with all the vibrancy and dynamism of a company well-rehearsed in the art of wowing audiences. Venue: The Coliseum Address: St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4ES Phone: 08701 450200 Date: 12th March 2008 - 22nd March 2008 Time: 19:30 | Sat & Sun Mat 14:00 | Mar 20th 14:00 Pricing: £20 - £95 Nearest Station: Charing Cross Tube / Rail New York City Ballet - Information  The Affordable Art FairThe Marquee, SW11 5TN 13th March 2008 - 16th March 2008 The Affordable Art Fair is a well-loved institution in Battersea Park, an event that strips away the pretension of the art world and gives buyers a chance to pick up some really great art at fair prices, ranging from £30 to £3,000. Previous years have seen some works sold for hundreds of pounds by artists who nowadays would not get out of bed for that kind of change. It's a fun, family event which is accessible to connoisseurs and the merely curious. There's a creche, printmaking workshops and a specialist collection of Fine Art photography. There's a free shuttle bus from Sloane Square every 15 minutes. Photo: Headstand by Sarah Harvey (detail) Venue: The Marquee Address: Battersea Park, SW11 5TN Phone: 0870 777 2255 Date: 13th March 2008 - 16th March 2008 Time: Fri to Sun 11:00 - 18:00, Thu 11:00 - 17:30 Pricing: £10 (Adults), £8 (Concs), £1 off ticket price for advance booking. Free (Children Under 16) Nearest Station: Battersea Park Rail The Affordable Art Fair - Information  Ideal Home ShowEarl's Court Exhibition Centre, SW5 9TA 14th March 2008 - 6th April 2008 Make yourself at home at the Earl's Court Exhibition Centre, celebrating its 100th year this year. The Ideal Home Show is the world's largest of its kind and never fails to surprise and inspire. Filling up both Earl's Court I and II, this gargantuan exhibition includes everything essential to know about refitting your home in 2008 - and a whole lot more besides. The eco issue is a hot topic - so get ready to learn how to go green in style, with all the best tips on recycling and making use of household waste. Among the eye-catching designs there are three stunning house designs - a Dream Home, Guest House and Eco House as well as an entire street looking back over the past 100 years of the show. With over 800 exhibitors there are ideas galore and products to suit all styles and tastes. There are whole sections dedicated to kitchens and gardens, and even a gadget zone to streamline your living spaces. March is traditionally the time for a spring clean - so why not spruce up your home while you're at it? Visit the show after 5pm and tickets (available on the door only) are just £6. Thursday are late nights when the show is open till 10pm. Venue: Earl's Court Exhibition Centre Address: Warwick Road, SW5 9TA Phone: 0844 415 4144 Date: 14th March 2008 - 6th April 2008 Time: Opening day: 10:00 - 20:00 | Weekdays 10:00 - 19:00 (Thu till 22:00) | Weekend 10:00 - 20:00 (final Sunday till 18:00) Pricing: In Advance: Weekdays: £11 (Adults), £7 (Over 60s) | Weekends: £13 (Adults), £8 (Over 60s) | On the Door: Weekdays: £14 (Adults), £8 (Over 60s) | Weekends: £16 (Adults), £9 (Over 60s) | Free (Children Under 16) Nearest Station: Earl's Court Tube Ideal Home Show - Information  China Design NowVictoria and Albert (V & A) Museum, SW7 2RL 15th March 2008 - 13th July 2008 We can expect to see plenty of Chinese related exhibitions throughout the year as part of the China Now Festival - go to www.chinanow.org.uk for full details. But this exhibition at the prestigious V & A promises one of the most thorough explorations of new design coming out of China. Starting with the 2008 Olympic stadium and going right through to the latest fashions and graphics, all aspects of design are included and the three cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen are given particular focus. China is certainly a force whose growing influence cannot be ignored; the V & A's Director, Mark Jones, is all too aware, citing China's unrivaled consumption of mobile phones and vast appetite for luxury consumer goods. For him, this exhibition is "a snapshot of the development of design in today's China". Through it, he hopes, we'll come to a better understanding of what is happening in China today. Venue: Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum Address: Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL Phone: 0870 906 3883 Date: 15th March 2008 - 13th July 2008 Time: Thu to Tue 10:00 - 17:45, Wed and last Fri of every month 10:00 - 22:00 Pricing: £8 (Adults), £6 (Concessions), £4 (Children 12-17) Nearest Station: South Kensington Tube China Design Now - Information  Head of the River RaceChiswick Bridge, W4 2SH 15th March 2008 The Head of the River Race is one of the classic races on the rowing calendar, a warm up for the Oxford vs. Cambridge Boat Race that follows the exact same course backwards, from Mortlake to Putney along the Thames. There are 420 crews in all, rowing down the 4.25 mile course, testing their willpower and teamwork in this uniquely macho sport. It is also a particularly nice stretch of the river, so even if you are not that excited by rowing, this is a really nice spot to enjoy a walk or a pint, and watch the boats glide past - though tides have dictated that this year's race is horribly early in the morning. Venue: Chiswick Bridge Address: Great Chertsey Road, W4 2SH Phone: 01932 220 401 Date: 15th March 2008 Time: Starts at Mortlake at 9:45 Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Gunnersbury Tube Head of the River Race - Information  St Patrick's Day ParadePark Lane, W1K 1BE 16th March 2008 London's Irish community have always celebrated St Patrick's Day in the traditional manner, with church services, music, dancing and plenty of Guinness and whisky. In recent years, the capital has also hosted a major weekend celebration - an event that has now grown so big that it rivals the parades in New York and Chicago. London's parade has floats from every Irish county, with hundreds of stalls along the route. There's also a stage in Trafalgar Square with live performances, and a big ceilidh in Leicester Square where everyone can join in with the arms-by-the-sides Riverdance fun. An Irish food market in Covent Garden sells the country's famous beef, salmon and soda bread, accompanied by live acoustic music, and there are dozens of other events throughout the capital. Of course, the best places to celebrate are the pubs and Catholic churches throughout London, with their mix of religion, music and good cheer. Keep an eye on where the real London Irish go after the parade and you could be in for a memorable evening. Venue: Park Lane Address: Westminster, W1K 1BE Phone: 020 7983 4000 Date: 16th March 2008 Time: 12:00 - 18:00. Parade starts from Park Lane at 12:00, finishing at 15:00 in Whitehall Place Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Hyde Park Corner Tube St Patrick's Day Parade - Information  Wetlands Easter WeekendLondon Wetland Centre, SW13 9WT 22nd March 2008 - 23rd March 2008 Spring is the time when Mother Nature wakes up, dusts off the hangover of winter and new life starts to grow. To get a close-up view of nature's re-birth in action take your youngsters along to the Easter Weekend at the Wetland Centre in Barnes. A rare chance for Londoners to feel like they're in the countryside, you'll get to witness the miracle of birth and see cute, fluffy ducklings break out of their shells. In addition to the free daily guided tours (at 11:00 and 14:00), you'll meet Mr Heron. The striking marshmen's harnser (as herons are known in Norfolk) like to sit on their 3ft nests which they return to year-in, year-out. Sir Rabbit will also be hopping in and he might even have a supply of special Easter presents. Venue: London Wetland Centre Address: Queen's Elizabeth Walk, Barnes, SW13 9WT Phone: 020 8409 4400 Date: 22nd March 2008 - 23rd March 2008 Time: 9:30 - 17:00 (last admission 16:00) Pricing: £8.75 (Adults), £6.60 (Concs), £4.95 (Children 4 -16), Free (Children under 4) Nearest Station: Barnes Bridge Rail Wetlands Easter Weekend - Information  Stuttgart Ballet - Romeo and JulietThe Coliseum, WC2N 4ES 25th March 2008 - 30th March 2008 Romeo and Juliet's entourages have grown considerably since Shakespeare's day with all 70 dancers of the Stuttgart Ballet taking to the stage in John Cranko's acclaimed ballet adaptation of this most famous of love stories. We can therefore expect some breathtaking spectacles from this brilliant ensemble. Premiered in 1962, the production is a finely-tuned wok of exuberant classical choreography and technical precision, both of which can be seen in the company's impressive Stuttgart lifts. Surely being able to fly through the air comes in handy for a balcony-climbing Romeo. The story of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers lends itself perfectly to the ballet (falling in love, a masked ball, impending tragedy) with Sergei Prokofiev's soaring score conjuring up the heartbeat of Romeo and Juliet's plight and releasing the dancers into the medieval courts of Verona. Venue: The Coliseum Address: St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4ES Phone: 08701 450200 Date: 25th March 2008 - 30th March 2008 Time: 19:30 | Matinees Mar 27th & 29th 14:00, Mar 30th 15:00 Pricing: £15 - £75 Nearest Station: Charing Cross Tube / Rail Stuttgart Ballet - Romeo and Juliet - Information  Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race 200829th March 2008 England's most famous universities square-off in this rowing race which inaugurates the summer season in London. This will be the 154th annual Boat Race and Cambridge currently lead by 79-73 (there was a controversial dead heat in 1877), after a fairly comfortable win in 2007. While the result means little to most Londoners, it's a spectacular display of strength and teamwork, and around a quarter of a million fans line the banks of the river to roar their encouragement. There's a great view - and some great pubs - on the north side of the Thames before Hammersmith Bridge. South Londoners might like to watch from or near Putney Bridge, where the big screen on the opposite bank allows spectators to monitor the race as it heads its way around the bend. Address: River Thames between Putney and Mortlake Bridges, W6 9TD Phone: Not Available Date: 29th March 2008 Time: Race begins at 17:15 Pricing: Free Nearest Station: Putney Bridge Tube or Hammersmith Tube Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race 2008 - Information |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|