November 2008

From fireworks to ice-rinks, London goes alfresco in November. Wrap up warm and exlore the city in the crisp cold. The Lord Mayor's Show is a fantastic outfoor celebration of the city, while heading to an art gallery offers an enriching indoor alternative. Christmas starts to kick in during this month too so look out for festive lights popping up over the capital.

Bonfire Night 2008

Venues across London
5th November 2008

November is the month that likes to go with a bang - and an explosive one at that. The 5th November marks Guy Fawkes' failed plot to blow up Parliament with the kind of pyrotechnics Mr Fawkes could only dream of. 2008 has the usual host of fireworks displays, processions, festivals and funfairs planned across the capital. There are always huge displays in Ravenscourt Park, Clapham Common and Victoria Park. Fireworks are also a very apt way to celebrate the Hindu festival Diwali, or 'Festival of Lights', and there are glittering displays taking place in Brent, at Barham Park and at the spectacular Neasden Temple, to mark the occasion in sparkling style. The biggest of the capital's fireworks is the finale to the Lord Mayor's Show when the newly appointed Lord Mayor takes office. With more than half a tonne of fireworks released in half an hour, sky rocketing over the Thames, it's an awe inspiring sight that can be seen for miles around. As always, there'll be a comprehensive feature on the site closer to the time, but aside from the dates, most of the details in last year's should still apply...

Fireworks in London 2007

Venue: Venues across London
Date: 5th November 2008
Time: Various
Pricing: Many events free

More info: Bonfire Night Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Photographic Portrait Prize 2008

National Portrait Gallery, WC2H 0HE
6th November 2008 - 22nd February 2009 *(dates to be confirmed)

Photos that tell a story, photos that build a mystery, photos that capture simple beauty, or terrible ugliness, the Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition features all these things and more. Now in its sixth year, this £12,000 prize has already achieved a significant place in the artistic calendar. This is a display of intelligent art, sometimes comic, often deeply moving, in which a very simple project - take a photograph that focuses on one or more human beings - has produced a glorious variety of work.

*NB: DATES TO BE CONFIRMED.

Photo: Sophia by Billy & Hells - the artist

More info: The Photographic Portrait Prize 2008 Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance

Royal Albert Hall, London, SW7 2AP
8th November 2008

Two moving events held annually at the Royal Albert Hall in memory of those who have lost their lives for their country, and in particular the servicemen of the First World War. The continuing conflicts in Afghanistan and the Middle East make this festival especially poignant. The first service of remembrance is held for the public, the second attended by veterans, military officers, HRH the Queen - patron of the Royal British Legion - and other royals. During the final moments of the event, a million red poppies are released onto the audience in memory of those who fought and died.

More info: Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Lord Mayor's Show

Central London, EC4N 8BH
8th November 2008

This annual event has been taking over the streets of London for nearly 800 years now. The parade involves over 6,000 people, bands, over 140 decorated floats, costumed performers, and a gilded State Coach that the Lord Mayor travels in. If you aren't sick of fireworks by this time, this event features possibly the most elaborate and amazing of all the public shows in the capital; river barges are piled high with explosives and set adrift on the Thames with several brave men on board. The best vantage points tend to be around the Embankment and Gabriel's Wharf. If you are really on the ball get there early and grab the best seats in the house in the public gallery of the Oxo Tower. The procession leaves Mansion House at 11am after an RAF flypast and travels via St Paul's , the Royal Courts of Justice and Victoria Embankment before returning from Victoria Embankment to Mansion House at 2pm and reaching Mansion House at about 4pm. Then for the grand finale, the day finishes with an impressive firework displays at 5pm, set off from a barge moored in the Thames between Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges.

More info: Lord Mayor's Show Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Cliff Richard 2008

Wembley Stadium, London, HA9 0WS
10th, 12th, 13th, 14th & 15th November 2008

The most clean-cut man in music takes to the stage for three weeks of gigs. The fact that he can expect to sell out a run of four shows in a venue of this size, with little support from radio or press speaks for itself. Number Ones in five decades and over 250 million records sold make him one of the biggest musicians of the twentieth century and nothing we say would ever stop thousands of people flooding into Wembley Arena.

More info: Cliff Richard 2008 Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Country Living Magazine Christmas Fair 2008

Business Design Centre, London, N1 0QH
12th November 2008 - 16th November 2008

In preparation for Christmas 2008, Country Living magazine brings a taste of rural England to the Business Design Centre, with all the cosy traditionalism that goes with it. With over 400 exhibitors there's everything you need for a perfect Christmas. There are handmade toys, limited edition decorations, and, of course, plenty of seasonal food - from smoked salmon and tender ham to the delights of Cornish cheese, mulled wine, sloe gin, fudge, chocolate and traditional Christmas puddings. With all that tartan and tinsel, this is the perfect place to begin getting into the Christmas mood. It also gives you the chance to deal with all those traditional seasonal nightmares long before the last minute.

More info: Country Living Magazine Christmas Fair Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

London Jazz Festival

South Bank and around London, London, SE1 8XX
14th November 2008 - 23rd November 2008

If jazz is dead, someone forgot to tell the thousands of performers and fans who flock to London for this annual festival. The many venues on the South Bank lead the way, but there will be shows in venues throughout London, from fashionable clubs like Cargo to jazz stalwarts like 606 and even some in restaurants. A brilliantly diverse line-up every year proves that jazz is alive and well. Not only that, but it's also evolving and attracting loads more aficionados. The organisers manage to attract some rare performers and, given the obsessional nature of ardent jazz fans and small venues, tickets sell out nearly as soon as they come on sale.

More info: London Jazz Festival Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

London's Christmas Ice Rinks

Various venues across London
Mid Nov 2008 to early Jan 2009

The city gets its skates on in winter with the many of the capital’s most attractive and monumental landmarks putting up a temporary outdoor ice rink wherever there’s enough outside space. Somerset House was among the first to ice over their magnificent courtyard and remains one of the most beautiful places to glide around outdoors in the icy cold. The Natural History Museum, Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace also provide wonderfully scenic settings for a skate and usually come complete with a rink side café – perfect for spectators or for defrosting with seasonal fare like mince pies, mulled wine and hot chocolate. With most ice rinks opening from November to January, it’s a great way to get some exercise in the great outdoors during the chilly winter months. As always, there'll be a comprehensive feature on the site closer to the time, but aside from the dates, most of the details in last year's feature should still apply...

Christmas in London 2007: Ice Skating

London Children's Film Festival

Barbican Centre, EC2Y 8DS
22nd November 2008 - 30th November 2008 *(dates to be confirmed)

This is one of those events that makes you wish you were young again. London Children's Film Festival is the cinema equivalent of going to the Science Museum with opportunities galore for kids to explore, touch and see for themselves. This is a fairly new venture for the Barbican but it's the kind of thing the creative brains over there do so well that the screenings, events and workshops (taking place at venues across the city) are bound to bring alive the art of filmmaking in all its guises. From getting to grips with what happens behind the scenes to stealing the limelight, there are workshops to suit all tastes. The programme ranges from animated shorts for toddlers to stories about growing up for young teenagers.

*NB: DATES TO BE CONFIRMED.

More info: London Children's Film Festival Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show

Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, SW5 9TA
29th November 2008 - 7th December 2008

The Royal Marines abseiled from the roof of Earls Court to mark the opening of Whyte & Mackay Boat Show in spectacular style in 2007, with Penny Lancaster cutting the ribbon. Fashion Shows, wakeboarding demonstrations and a live link-up with British sailor Dee Caffari, the first woman to have sailed single-handedly non-stop around the world the 'wrong way' were just some of the events on offer at 2007's Whyte & Mackay big boating exhibition. One of the highlights of last year's show was the auctioning off of 'Cheeky Monkey', the Tide 28 yacht which carried Michael Perham, who was just 14 years old at the time, across the Atlantic Ocean singled handedly; he arrived on Wednesday 3rd January 2007, sailing into the record books. While details for this year's show are yet to be confirmed you can expect a similarly spectacular sea faring show.

Photo: Lloyd Images

More info: Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube