April in London 2015

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McBusted
Circolombia
High Society
The Royal Ballet: La Fille Mal Gardee
Roald Dahl's The Twits
Alice's Adventures Underground
Matthew Bourne's The Car Man
Diana Vishneva: On The Edge
The London Coffee Festival
Sonia Delaunay
Cabbages and Frocks: Dog Day Afternoon
Sensational Butterflies
RHS London Orchid Show
RHS Great London Plant Fair
The Queen's Birthday Gun Salutes
World Woodland Garden
A Mad World My Masters
Oxford vs Cambridge Goat Race
Mike Wozniak, Stand Up For SIDS
London Easter 10K
Frames in Focus: Sansovino Frames
Good Friday Meeting
A Level Playing Field
Ravilious
All Of This Belongs To You
Dead Sheep
Opera North: Swanhunter
Shakespeare's Birthday
Rooftop Film Club at The Roof Gardens
Buttoned Down Disco's Easter Party at KOKO
Ah, Wilderness!
Golem
 

 

Kristin Scott Thomas plays The Queen and Enda Walsh adapts Roald Dahl's The Twits for the Royal Court in April 2015.

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World Woodland Garden

A half acre micro-forest filled with 150 new plants.

Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Garden, London, SW3 4HS

Tube: Sloane Square Station

 

Dates: 01st April - 31st October 2015

 

The World Woodland Garden, a new area of the picturesque Chelsea Physic Garden opens in April, creating a half acre micro-forest filled with 150 new plants and restoring this part of the garden as the wilderness area it was in the 1700s. Highlighting the importance of forests around the world and the medicinal and useful plants that they produce, the World Woodland Garden represents three geographic regions: Americas, Europe and East Asia. Take the serpentine path or join one of the volunteer guides and discover the new plants, forest trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and bulbs.

 
 
 

Dead Sheep

The story of how Margaret Thatcher was brought down by Geoffrey Howe.

Park Theatre, 11 Clifton Terrace, London, N4 3JP

Tube: Finsbury Park Station

 

Dates: 01st April - 09th May 2015

 

Dead Sheep at the Park Theatre tells the story of how Margaret Thatcher was brought down by her one time friend and political soul mate, Geoffrey Howe. In 1989 Thatcher sacked the Foreign Secretary, whose speaking skills were famously compared to those of a dead sheep. However, inspired by his Thatcher-hating wife, he soon overcame his limitations and went on to deal a political, mortal blow. Ian Talbot directs the Jonathan Maitland play while Steve Nallon of Spitting Image plays Maggie Thatcher.

 
 
 

All Of This Belongs To You

The V&A examines the role of public institutions in the days before the general election.

Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL

Tube: South Kensington Station

 

Dates: 01st April - 19th July 2015

 

A timely exhibition, with Britain about to go to the polls, All of this Belongs to You examines the role of public institutions - such as the V&A, where the exhibition is held - in contemporary life. The free exhibition includes four site-specific installations, three displays, two online commissions and a series of events, a special late opening on election night on Thursday 7th May among them. Over 40 new acquisitions made for the project go on display alongside loaned objects including the hard drives that held documents leaked by Edward Snowden to the Guardian newspaper.

 
 
 

Saint Saviour

The London-based singer-songwriter performs live.

Wilton's Music Hall, Graces Alley, Off Ensign Street, London, E1 8JB

Tube: Aldgate East Station

 

Dates: 01st April 2015

 

London-based singer-songwriter Becky Jones, aka Saint Saviour, will perform live at London Wilton's Music Hall on Wednesday 1st April 2015. It comes in support of her latest album In The Seams, which sees her depart from the electro, pop structures of her earlier albums and instead present twelve heartfelt stories about her Teesside upbringing.

 
 
 

Frames in Focus: Sansovino Frames

Free National Gallery exhibition puts early-baroque frames centre stage.

National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN

Tube: Charing Cross Station , Leicester Square Station, Embankment Underground Station, Piccadilly Circus Station, Covent Garden Station

 

Dates: 01st April - 13th September 2015

 

For once it's the frames that take centre stage in this free exhibition in Room 1 of Level 2 at the National Gallery. 'Frames in Focus: Sansovino Frames' brings together 30 exquisite examples of the distinctive Sansovino style which originated with architect and sculptor Jacopo Sansovino whose early-baroque style was so enduringly popular that the term 'Sansovino' was coined in the late 19th century to describe frames created under his influence. This small but fascinating exhibition marks the first in a series of exhibitions at the National Gallery which will explore different frames, inviting us to look not only at paintings but at the frames that surround them.

 
 
 
 

Ravilious

A fine wood engraver and designer, Ravilious saw painting as his true vocation.

Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, Dulwich Village, London, SE21 7AD

Tube: Denmark Hill Station

 

Dates: 01st April - 31st August 2015

 

Over 100 watercolours by British artist Eric Ravilious, well known for his work for Wedgwood, including Train Landscape and Westbury Horse and rarely seen works from private collections. While acknowledged as a fine wood engraver and designer, Ravilious saw painting as his true vocation. His 1939 London show, at the prestigious Tooth and Sons' Gallery, was greeted by critics as "almost untranslatable" and "magic, almost mystic" and two-thirds of the twenty-seven paintings displayed then are included in this Dulwich Picture Gallery exhibition, 76 years later.

 
 
 

Visions of War Above and Below

A look at the history of war in the air.

IWM London (Imperial War Museums), Lambeth Road, Elephant and Castle, London, SE1 6HZ

Tube: Lambeth North Station

 

Dates: 02nd April - 25th September 2016

 

A long-running exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, on display from 2nd April 2015 until 25th September 2016, Visions of War Above and Below examines the history of war in the air, and how it was viewed by artists from above and below. Highlights from the museum's art collection including Paul Nash's Battle of Germany and Alison Wilding's contemporary Drones drawings show varied and imaginative responses to conflict, from surreal depictions of aircraft as creatures, to abstract views of bombing raids and detailed drawings of life in submarines.

 
 
 

English National Ballet: My First Ballet: Swan Lake

Traditional ballet for a young audience.

Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, London, WC2A 2HT

Tube: Holborn Station , Covent Garden Station, Temple Station

 

Dates: 29th March - 07th April 2018

 

English National Ballet continues its tradition of presenting its My First Ballet series at The Peacock each spring with an adaptation of Swan Lake. This traditional ballet offers audiences as young as three the chance to see a performance created just for children. English National Ballet's Associate Artist George Williamson has choreographed the production which is performed by second year students from English National Ballet School.

 
 
 

The Subways

A one-night gig from the English rock trio.

Shepherd's Bush Empire, Shepherd's Bush Green, London, W12 8TT

Tube: Goldhawk Road Station , Shepherd's Bush Market Station (Hammersmith and City Line), Shepherd's Bush Station (Central)

 

Dates: 02nd April 2015

 

English rock trio The Subways perform one night at the Shepherd's Bush Empire this April. Hailing from Welwyn Garden City, the band - made up of vocalist Billy Lunn, bassist Charlotte Cooper and drummer Josh Morgan - will be embarking on a 40 date European tour in support of their fourth studio album, The Subways. The album continues the heavy rock that they have become known for and sees Lunn take on full engineering, production and mixing responsibility.

 
 
 

The London International Ska Festival

Four days of live performances to celebrate the ska genre.

O2 Academy Islington, N1 Centre, Parkfield Street, Camden Town, London, N1 0PS

Tube: Angel Station

 

Dates: 09th - 12th April 2020

 

Lee Scratch Perry plays at the Jazz Cafe on the opening night of The London International Ska Festival, getting the festival off to a strong start. Originally launched in 1988, this four-day festival returns to the capital over the Easter weekend (2nd to 5th April 2015) and invites 50 acts to perform at the Jazz Cafe, The Forum, The Forge and the Dixie Queen cruiser in celebration of all things Ska. Confirmed acts for the 2015 festival include Sir Horace Uptown Ska Collective (from The Specials), Rhoda Dakar from The Bodysnatchers, Everett Morton from The Beat's new band Beat Goes Bang, and DJ Don Letts who is credited with bringing dub and reggae to the London punk Mecca, The Roxy, in the 1970s.

 
 
 
 

Sensational Butterflies

Walk among hundreds of free-flying tropical butterflies.

Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 5BD

Tube: South Kensington Station , Gloucester Road Station

 

Dates: 29th March - 16th September 2018

 

From chomping caterpillars to beautiful butterflies, the Natural History Museum comes alive this summer with the erection of a tropical butterfly house on the museum lawn. Visitors to Sensational Butterflies will be able to take on butterfly challenges, try out games and activities as they explore one of the planet's most amazing life cycles and experience the magic of walking among hundreds of free-flying tropical butterflies. Not only offering the chance to see butterflies and moths usually seen in Africa, Asia and South America, the display also a hatchery window where visitors can watch butterflies emerging from their chrysalises.

 
 
 

Sadler's Wells Family Weekend

A two-day dance festival aimed at all ages.

 

There's something for every member of your troupe at the Family Weekend at Sadler's Wells, an annual two-day dance festival aimed at audiences aged 4 to 104. For the 2015 festival there are two main shows, Varmints, a dance piece based on the award winning book by Helen Ward, and Constelaciones, a new piece inspired by the work of Barcelona born painter Joan Miro. These shows on the Sadler's Wells and Lilian Baylis Studio stages are complemented by fun activities taking place across the entire building including a specially added interactive post-show discussion and family dance workshops exploring some of the images, themes and movement motifs from the Miro show.

 
 
 

Good Friday Meeting

The world famous cycling event comes to the Lee Valley VeloPark.

Lee Valley VeloPark, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E20 3EL

Tube: Leyton Station

 

Dates: 03rd April 2015

 

The world famous Good Friday Meeting, one of the most iconic track cycling competitions in the calendar, comes to the Lee Valley VeloPark for the first time in 2015. The race, which dates back to 1903 when the meeting was held at Herne Hill, brings Olympic standard cyclists together to compete in two sprint competitions with the 15k Golden Wheel scratch race as the grand finale. As an added bonus, the first 250 ticket holders get to meet the cycling stars including two-time Olympic Gold medallist Ed Clancy at this family friendly event.

 
 
 

McBusted

The six-piece super group perform two nights on the back of their new album.

The O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0BB

Tube: North Greenwich Station

 

Dates: 04th - 05th April 2015

 

Making the most of their surprise success after forming in early 2014, super group McBusted perform two nights at the O2 in April 2015. Forming after a rapturous response at a surprise joint 10th anniversary gig, Busted and McFly officially came together to form the six-piece group and have since gone on to play to 350,000 people across 35 arenas before culminating their tour with a headline performance at Hyde Park British Summer Time. As well as performing classic Busted and McFly hits together, they have also released a self-titled album which reached number nine in the UK album chart.

 
 
 

Opera North: Swanhunter (Over 7s)

The Nordic story of Lemminkainen told through music, puppetry and visual storytelling.

Linbury Theatre, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD

Tube: Covent Garden Station , Leicester Square Station

 

Dates: 04th - 11th April 2015

 

Opera North and The Wrong Crowd present Jonathan Dove's family opera, Swanhunter, for everyone from children aged eight to adults. The Nordic story of Lemminkainen, a ladies' man determined to travel to the icy north in search of a bride, against his mother's wishes, is told through a beguiling blend of music, puppetry and visual storytelling. Jonathan Dove, "one of Britain's most prolific opera composers" (Telegraph), has written the score in collaboration with the librettist Alasdair Middleton, thus reuniting the team of Opera North's 2007 hit, The Adventures of Pinocchio. Both works were written with a young audience in mind and offer those over seven an ideal introduction to opera.

 
 
 
 

Buttoned Down Disco's Easter Party at KOKO

Giant balloons on the dancefloor, free easter eggs, badges and face painting.

KOKO, 1A Camden High Street, London, NW1 7JE

Tube: Mornington Crescent Station , Camden Town Station, Camden Town Station

 

Dates: 04th April 2015

 

As well as all the regular Buttoned Down Disco indie/electro/pop anthems there will be giant balloons on the dancefloor, free easter eggs, badges, face painting at this Easter Party. Christian Laing, Lydia Butler and Richard Titchener spin rock, electro, indie, kitsch pop and remixes at KOKO, home of their monthly residency, where there's a large smoking courtyard and gallery bar. It's invite only entry, so make sure you request invites at www.buttoneddowndisco.com.

 
 
 

London Easter 10K

The fundraiser returns to Regent's Park for a fourth time in 2015.

Regent's Park, Inner Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4NR

Tube: Regent's Park Station

 

Dates: 06th April 2015

 

Earn the right to feast on a year's worth of chocolate in one weekend this Easter by taking part in the London Easter 10K. A fundraiser for The Children's Trust, this special event returns to Regent's Park for a fourth time in 2015. Held in the surroundings of the park, runners are treated to Easter eggs and other seasonal goodies, plus a well-deserved medal, as a reward for taking part. Or, if 10K seems a little daunting, the day also includes a one mile Easter egg scurry for adults and children.

 
 
 

Roald Dahl's The Twits

Enda Walsh adapts Roald Dahl's The Twits for the Royal Court.

Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AS

Tube: Sloane Square Station

 

Dates: 07th April - 31st May 2015

 

Irish author and director, Enda Walsh, who penned Ballyturk and Once, adapts The Twits, Roald Dahl's darkly comic fable about grotesques Mr and Mrs Twit, who come to rue the day they hold a family of monkeys hostage in a cage and force the animals to stand on their heads. The Royal Court's production of Dahl's beloved book "is bound to be a sell-out given how adored the story is around the world" according to Vanity Fair. The production directed by John Tiffany comes to the theatre in time for Easter 2015.

 
 
 

James Bay

The 24-year-old singer-songwriter gives Ed Sheeran some real competition.

Shepherd's Bush Empire, Shepherd's Bush Green, London, W12 8TT

Tube: Goldhawk Road Station , Shepherd's Bush Market Station (Hammersmith and City Line), Shepherd's Bush Station (Central)

 

Dates: 08th - 09th April 2015

 

"At last, Ed Sheeran and Jake Bugg have some real competition" wrote John Aizlewood in the Evening Standard, reviewing James Bay's live show at London's Scala in late December last year. The 24-year-old Hitchin-based singer-songwriter who has an incredible 8m views on YouTube has gained prominence since being announced as the winner of the 2015 Brits Critics Choice award and now plays Shepherds Bush Empire ahead of his big Somerset House concert in July. Known for his catchy, guitar-based ballads, Bay performs his indie-pop tunes Let It Go, stadium anthem Hold Back the River and Sparks - "not the only nod to Michael Jackson's Billie Jean" (Standard).

 
 
 

Alice's Adventures Underground

An immersive, theatrical adaptation to mark the 150th anniversary of the novel.

The Vaults, 10 Leake Street, London, SE1 7NN

Tube: Waterloo Station , Lambeth North Station

 

Dates: 09th April - 30th August 2015

 

Les Enfants Terribles present an immersive, theatrical adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland in the Vaults deep underneath Waterloo Station to mark the 150th anniversary of the novel. Invited down the rabbit hole in intimate groups of 52, Alice's Adventures Underground presents each audience member with a choice of 'Eat Me' or 'Drink Me', which affects the way their show unfolds. A fusion of puppetry, music, storytelling and modern circus-theatre, where the audience finds itself in the midst of the action, the show has been in production for three years. Not suitable for children aged below 11.

 
 
 
 

Udderbelly Festival

Mind-boggling circus skills, stand-up and music in an upside down purple cow.

Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London, SE1 8XX

Tube: Waterloo Station , Embankment Underground Station

 

Dates: 07th April - 17th July 2016

 

Look out for an upside-down purple cow as you're crossing over the Golden Jubilee footbridge to the Southbank Centre from mid-April - failing that, just listen out for the belly laughs - and you'll find your way to London's funniest summer event. The colourful, comic, curvaceous cow marks the spot of the Udderbelly - a two-month festival of comedy, cabaret and theatre from around the globe. This year you can see nerdy and super-smart Circus Geeks showing off their mind-boggling skills, circus skills from the Bromance boys, The Horne Section are back with their signature mix of spontaneous stand-up, spectacular performance and outlandish music, while pop-culture obsessed Katherine Ryan comes to the cow hot off the heels of a slew of TV appearances including BBC 1's Live At The Apollo, BBC 2's Mock The Week, QI, and Nevermind The Buzzcocks. In short, there's a huge variety of entertainment taking place both in and outside the bulbous bovine - which also appears at the Edinburgh Festival - with something going on almost every night.

 
 
 

RHS London Orchid Show

Discover remarkable displays of orchids from all over the world.

Royal Horticultural Halls, 80 Vincent Square, Westminster, London, SW1P 2PE

Tube: St James's Park Station , Victoria Station

 

Dates: 07th - 08th April 2020

 

The world's finest specialist orchid growers put their best work on display at the RHS London Orchid Show at the Royal Horticultural Halls and this year London hosts the European Orchid Show and Conference, four days of lectures and practical sessions. At the show you can discover remarkable displays of tropical and hardy orchids from all over the world, hear from a selection of esteemed orchid experts and shop from a wide variety of species and hybrids. Social events include a preview evening and a four-course gala dinner at the Royal College of Physicians when guests can take a tour of the physic garden.

 
 
 

Carmen Disruption

Acclaimed playwright Simon Stephens adapt Bizet's opera.

Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, London, N1 1TA

Tube: Angel Station

 

Dates: 10th April - 23rd May 2015

 

Part of a series of plays at the Almeida that look at materialism, money and what we value, Carmen Disruption reimagines Bizet's opera by asking questions about how we love in a fractured urban world. Adapted by acclaimed playwright Simon Stephens - whose Birdland was a sell-out success at the Royal Court last year and his critically acclaimed take on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time is soon to open in Broadway - this UK premiere of the murderous tale takes audiences to urban cityscapes.

 
 
 

Bugsy Malone

Sir Alan Parker's world famous musical reopens the Lyric Hammersmith.

Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, 2 King Street, London, W6 0QA

Tube: Hammersmith Station

 

Dates: 11th June - 04th September 2016

 

Sir Alan Parker's world famous musical Bugsy Malone comes to London in 2015. With the creator giving rare permission for a professional production of the gangster film, it will reopen the Lyric Hammersmith after a £16.5 million redevelopment, transforming the stage into Fat Sam's speakeasy. Olivier Award-winning director Sean Holmes will bring the loving musical pastiche of the 1920s Chicago gangsters-and-molls' scene to life while Drew McOnie will choreograph.

 
 
 

English National Opera: Between Worlds

The highly anticipated operatic debut from composer Tansy Davies.

Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Tube: Barbican Station , Moorgate Station

 

Dates: 11th - 25th April 2015

 

The highly anticipated operatic debut from composer Tansy Davies, Between Worlds is inspired by the events of 9/11. A sensitive but uplifting piece, it tells the story of a disparate group of individuals trapped high up in one of the Twin Towers, caught between life and death. English National Opera have teamed up with Barbican Artistic Associate Deborah Warner, who has enjoyed recent theatrical success with Testament of Mary, Death in Venice and Eugene Onegin, for the opera and the libretto is by Nick Drake.

 
 
 
 

The BNY Mellon Boat Race: Oxford vs Cambridge

Oxford and Cambridge battle it out once again in the gruelling rowing race.

Putney Bridge, Between Fulham and Putney, London, SW6 3JD

Tube: Putney Bridge Station

 

Dates: 27th March 2016

 

This year, for the first time ever, the women's and men's Oxford v Cambridge boat races will be held on the same day. One of London's oldest sporting events, first raced in 1829, The Boat Race sees England's two elite universities take to the water in a nail-biting rowing race between Putney Bridge and Chiswick Bridge in southwest London. Thousands of fans line the Thames each year to see Oxford (78 wins) battle against Cambridge, who are currently in the lead with 81 wins. For spectators, there's a great view - and some great pubs - around Furnivall Gardens on the north side of the Thames near Hammersmith Bridge. Alternatively, you might like to watch from near the start at Putney Bridge, where the big screens on both banks allow spectators to monitor the race as it heads its way around the first bend. Nearby, at Bishop's Park behind the South Stand of Fulham football ground Craven Cottage, you'll find food stalls, family attractions and a large beer tent, while the banks of the river around Barnes are another popular spot. This year the Newton Women's Boat Race will begin at 4.50pm and BNY Mellon Boat Race at 5.50pm with the reserve crew race between Isis and Goldie held before the main event but the build-up at the river bank starts well before, from 12noon at Bishop's Park and Furnivall Gardens.

 
 
 

Oxford vs Cambridge Goat Race

Two feisty goats - one named Oxford, the other Cambridge - embark on the annual race.

Spitalfields City Farm, Buxton Street, Shoreditch, London, E1 5AR

Tube: Whitechapel Station

 

Dates: 07th April 2019

 

The stakes are high as Oxford and Cambridge once again come head-to-head in a nail-biting and highly competitive race. No, this isn't the famous Boat Race but the equally prestigious (okay, maybe not quite) Oxford vs Cambridge Goat Race. Two feisty goats - one named Oxford, the other Cambridge - embark on the annual race, which takes place at Spitalfields City Farm on the same day as the Boat Race. This year, there's entertainment from the Radical Dandy Animal Intelligentsia Salon as well as food and market stalls, live music, beer and cocktail bars, arts and crafts stands and a bookie and sweepstake tent.

 
 
 

Circolombia

The Colombian circus company returns to the Roundhouse for the first time in four years.

Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, London, NW1 8EH

Tube: Chalk Farm Station

 

Dates: 14th April - 03rd May 2015

 

Circolombia, the Colombian circus company who took the Roundhouse by storm back in 2011, are back in 2015 with the UK premiere of a new production. Fourteen talented performers from across Colombia - who together make up "one of the world's most exciting youth circus troupes" (The Telegraph) - present a mix of spectacular circus and dance, taking terrifying risks and delivering gravity-defying performances, all to an original soundtrack.

 
 
 

Diana Vishneva: On The Edge

The Russian leading ballerina began studying dance at the age of six.

London Coliseum - English National Opera (ENO), St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4ES

Tube: Charing Cross Station , Leicester Square Station, Covent Garden Station, Embankment Underground Station

 

Dates: 14th - 18th April 2015

 

The Russian leading ballerina, Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theatre and a star of the Mariinsky Ballet, Diana Vishneva performs commissioned works including Jean-Christophe Maillot's pas de trois, Switch, and Carolyn Carlson's solo created especially for Vishneva, Woman In A Room. At the London Coliseum for just three performances, Diana Vishneva: On the Edge gives dance lovers a chance to see a rare talent graced with extraordinary technique and versatility.

 
 
 

Joyce DiDonato: Into The Fire

The mezzo soprano performs the European premiere of Into the Fire.

Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Tube: Barbican Station , Moorgate Station

 

Dates: 14th April 2015

 

The mezzo soprano who has performed in the world's major opera houses, won a Grammy and sung at the Last Night of the Proms in 2013 is joined by the Brentano String Quartet for the climax of her Artist Spotlight series at the Barbican. Joyce DiDonato performs the European premiere of a new song cycle written specially for her by Jake Heggie, who created Camille Claudel: Into the Fire for his friend and now joins her, at the piano. The performance also includes Debussy's String Quartet and Renaldo Hahn's Venezia.

 
 
 
 

RHS Great London Plant Fair

Nurserymen and growers show their spring-flowering plants, seeds and bulbs.

Royal Horticultural Halls, 80 Vincent Square, Westminster, London, SW1P 2PE

Tube: St James's Park Station , Victoria Station

 

Dates: 14th - 15th April 2015

 

Stock up on plants and seeds and get ready for your spectacular summer display at the RHS Great London Plant Fair. The Royal Horticultural Halls will light up with the colour and unmistakable scent of spring as nurserymen and growers gather to show off their finest horticultural essentials at this festival of flowers. Members of the RHS Advisory will be on hand to answer questions and planting queries, and guests will have the opportunity to get their hands on spring-flowering plants, seeds and bulbs. At the same venue, the RHS Spring Fair Late on Tuesday 14th April is an elegant English Garden Party, complete with classical music, lawns and bunting, Pimms, and cucumber sandwiches as well as late night shopping.

 
 
 

A Level Playing Field

Eleven teenagers star in a tale of hope, identity and shattered dreams by Jonathan Lewis.

Jermyn Street Theatre, 16B Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y 6LT

Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station , Leicester Square Station

 

Dates: 14th April - 09th May 2015

 

An eleven-strong teenage cast portray their own generation in a tale of hope, identity and shattered dreams written by Jonathan Lewis, the playwright who won critical acclaim for his one man show I Found My Horn when it played at the Trafalgar Studios last year. With A Level Playing Field the drama is set in the music room of a top fee-paying London school where a group of unsupervised 18-year-olds must sit out an hour of 'isolation' to cover a clash of exams and avoid the risk of cheating. But as the time unfolds the pupils gradually reveal a darker side to the pressures they are under.

 
 
 

Mrs Roosevelt Flies to London

The public and hidden life of one of the most extraordinary women of the 20th century.

The King's Head, 115 Upper Street, London, N1 1QN

Tube: Angel Station

 

Dates: 14th April - 09th May 2015

 

Alison Skilbeck's one-woman show explores the public and hidden life of one of the most extraordinary women of the 20th century, a woman beset by deep personal insecurities and tragedy, but one who never lost her passionate belief in the strength of the human spirit. Mrs Roosevelt Flies to London uses Eleanor's writings to reveal her private thoughts during a dangerous trip to visit US troops in war-time London in 1942, including her interactions with a "not east to talk to" Churchill.

 
 
 

Ah, Wilderness!

Eugene O'Neill's comical portrait of a Connecticut childhood is at the Young Vic.

The Young Vic, 66 The Cut, London, SE1 8LZ

Tube: Southwark Station , Waterloo Station, Lambeth North Station

 

Dates: 14th April - 23rd May 2015

 

Janie Dee and George MacKay star as mother and son in Eugene O'Neill's comical portrait of a Connecticut childhood about a teenager navigating young love in his home town over the busy Independence Day weekend. The Young Vic's artistic director, David Lan, described this "relatively obscure (in the UK at least)" comedy as "working drawings" for the playwright's later masterpiece, 'Long Day's Journey into Night' in an interview with the Financial Times.

 
 
 

Measure For Measure

Declan Donnellan directs this Russian version of Shakespeare's drama.

Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Tube: Barbican Station , Moorgate Station

 

Dates: 15th - 25th April 2015

 

Cheek by Jowl presents Measure for Measure at the Barbican this April. Hailed in Moscow as a 'shattering portrait of contemporary Russia', the new production of Shakespeare's drama delves into the depths of an unpredictable city in order to dissect the nature of government, love and justice. Directed by Declan Donnellan and performed in Russian with English subtitles. Not suitable for under 16s.

 
 
 
 

Sonia Delaunay

Groundbreaking paintings, textiles and clothes by the European doyenne of abstract art.

Tate Modern, Bankside Power Station, 25 Sumner Street, London, SE1 9TG

Tube: Blackfriars Underground Station

 

Dates: 15th April - 09th August 2015

 

The first UK retrospective to assess the breadth of Sonia Delaunay, a key figure in the Parisian avant-garde who became the European doyenne of abstract art. Tate Modern looks at the artist's practice across a wide range of media, from groundbreaking paintings to textiles and clothes, as well as innovative collaborations with poets, choreographers and manufacturers. The exhibition shows how the artist dedicated her life to experimenting with colour and abstraction, whether embroidering poetry onto fabric, turning her apartment into a three-dimensional collage, or creating costumes for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.

 
 
 

Caitlin Moran

The author talks about men, women, David Bowie and big hair.

Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London, E8 1EJ

Tube: Bethnal Green Underground Station

 

Dates: 15th April 2015

 

Her hugely successful novel 'How to Build a Girl', a Number One bestseller in hardback is now out in paperback and now you can meet author Caitlin Moran as she tours the country talking about men, women, David Bowie, big hair, feminism and shares some appalling anecdotes about Benedict Cumberbatch. Last year's publication tour saw her have over 7,000 fans standing on their chairs and shouting "I AM A FEMINIST!" Now's your chance to get in on the fun.

 
 
 

Sting & Paul Simon: On Stage Together

The two legendary musicians perform 30 of their well-known songs.

The O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0BB

Tube: North Greenwich Station

 

Dates: 15th April 2015

 

Sting, the Wallsend-born singer-songwriter, activist and former lead singer of The Police gets together with another legend of equal status, Paul Simon. The pair of singer-songwriters perform around 30 of their well-known songs together for about a third of the two-hour-and-40-minute set, leaving the rest for solo hits including Mother & Child Reunion, The Boxer, Every Breath You Take and Fields Of Gold. The two musicians came up with the idea of the On Stage Together tour in 2013 when they performed together for the first time at a benefit for the Robin Hood Foundation. Reviews for the tour so far have been good, with Craig Rosen writing in The Hollywood Reporter in 2014: "The two veteran singer-songwriters have launched one of the most surprising, daring, and rewarding double bills we're likely to see this year".

 
 
 

Golem

Colourful and philosophical show from the theatre collective 1927.

Trafalgar Studios, 14 Whitehall, London, SW1A 2DY

Tube: Charing Cross Station , Embankment Underground Station

 

Dates: 15th April - 22nd May 2015

 

Following its successful run at the Young Vic last Christmas, Golem, a "satirical swipe at the iPad generation" (Telegraph), comes to Trafalgar Studios for a six week run this spring. Written and directed by Suzanne Andrade, this colourful and philosophical show from the theatre collective 1927 cleverly uses original animation blended with music and performance to question what happens when man and machine become intertwined. "A witty collision of knowingly antiquated aesthetics, wide-ranging cultural influences and modern-day sensibilities," says Dominic Cavendish, writing in the Daily Telegraph.

 
 
 

Ben Howard

The Devon born singer-songwriter performs tracks from his number one album, I Forget Where We Were.

Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, London, N22 7AY

Tube: Bounds Green Station

 

Dates: 16th - 18th April 2015

 

After two sell-out nights at the Brixton Academy in December 2014, Ben Howard performs three nights at Alexandra Palace this April. The Devon born singer-songwriter added the third date after the first two sold out within 24 hours. His latest album, I Forget Where We Were, debuted at number one in the UK album chart and was praised by the critics - the Guardian stated that he has 'made a stylistic leap forward' and The Telegraph claimed the album 'evokes something more ambiguously potent' than his debut album, Every Kingdom.

 
 
 
 

The Royal Ballet: La Fille Mal Gardee

A charming story of young love, danced by The Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House.

Royal Opera House, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD

Tube: Covent Garden Station , Leicester Square Station

 

Dates: 16th April - 05th May 2015

 

Set in a storybook village with dancing hens and merrymaking locals, La Fille Mal Gardee is a charming story that has proven to be increasingly popular within the Royal Ballet repertory. A story of young love, it follows Lise and Colas as they arrange secret meetings behind Lise's protective mother's back. "A comedy in the Shakespearean manner, with real dark clouds passing across its sunny good humour", said the Guardian's dance critic Judith Mackrell of this production when it was last performed at the Royal Opera House in 2012.

 
 
 

American Buffalo

Damian Lewis and John Goodman are small-time crooks in Daniel Evans' production.

Wyndham's Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0DA

Tube: Leicester Square Station , Covent Garden Station, Charing Cross Station, Piccadilly Circus Station

 

Dates: 16th April - 27th June 2015

 

Homeland star Damian Lewis stars in Daniel Evans' production, of David Mamet's drama, American Buffalo, in which three small-time crooks plan a big heist, but a number of errors lead to divided loyalties and a much-wanted, Buffalo nickel. Homeland fans who have been missing Brody - the marine turner prisoner of war turned congressman - in the latest series of the hit American TV drama, will jump at the chance of seeing seeing Damian Lewis live on the London stage - his first such appearance in five years. Lewis stars as foul-mouthed crook Walter 'Teach' Cole at London's Wyndham Theatre from 16th April until 27th June 2015.

 
 
 

Chelsea Art Fair

The fair returns with a younger, fresher feel.

Chelsea Old Town Hall, Kings Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 5EE

Tube: South Kensington Station

 

Dates: 16th - 19th April 2015

 

The Chelsea Art Fair has been bringing quality contemporary and 20th-century art to London's Chelsea Old Town Hall for close to 20 years. Now with a younger, fresher feel to the format with new layouts, organisers, selection committee, and marketing teams introduced two years ago, the 2015 fair promises to build on that progress with many of the galleries returning this year. For four days visitors can expect a selection of galleries offering paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures and ceramics to peruse and purchase. Prices usually range from £500 to £20,000 and are independently vetted so you can be sure you're paying the approximate market value. The Chelsea Old Town Hall is a pleasant venue in which to admire works of art and is very welcoming to casual browsers and amateur art buyers. The nearest station is South Kensington Tube, and there are plenty of great hotels near Chelsea Old Town Hall.

 
 
 

Wild Gardens

Amateur gardener and best-selling author Tania Pascoe comes to the Garden Museum.

Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7LB

Tube: Lambeth North Station

 

Dates: 16th April 2015

 

Since 1930, Britain has lost a staggering 97 per cent of its traditional meadows. Step forward the new wild garden movement which amateur gardener and best-selling author Tania Pascoe has spent the last five years documenting. She brings a passion for nature, biodiversity and food to the Garden Museum and shares some of her favourite secret gardens, wild flower meadows, kitchen garden cafes and places to stay across the UK.

 
 
 

Deutsche Borse Photography Prize

An exhibition of work by the four artists shortlisted for the annual prize.

Photographers' Gallery, 16-18 Ramillies Street, Soho, London, W1F 7LW

Tube: Oxford Circus Station

 

Dates: 21st February - 07th June 2020

 

An exhibition of work by the four artists shortlisted for the annual Deutsche Borse Photography Prize shows images by Nikolai Bakharev, Zanele Muholi, Mikhael Subotzky and Patrick Waterhouse, and Viviane Sassen. Bakharev images are of Russian bathers on public beaches in the 80s and 90s, at a time when photographs of nudity were forbidden. The personal and political are also interwoven in Zanele Muholi's tender, unflinching portraits and testimonies of the South African LGBTI community. South Africa also inspires the work of Mikhael Subotzky and Patrick Waterhouse while Viviane Sassen's African childhood has given her "a daring and original eye as a fashion photographer" (The Guardian). The winner of the £30,000 prize will be announced a month after the exhibition opens, on 28th May 2015, rewarding the living photographer, of any nationality, who has made the most significant contribution to the medium of photography during the past year.

 
 
 
 

Ceramic Art London

One of the leading international fairs for contemporary ceramics.

Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, South Kensington, London, N1C 4AA

Tube: King's Cross Station

 

Dates: 08th - 10th April 2016

 

Held annually at the Royal College of Art, Ceramic Art London, now in its eleventh year, is one of the leading international fairs for contemporary ceramics, with over 75 ceramic artists displaying their work. Held in the Henry Moore and Gulbenkian Galleries, all works at the three-day exhibition are for sale, offering collectors an opportunity to see the latest works and buy directly from the maker. For gallery owners and collectors it's an opportunity to snap up new talent, and for enthusiasts and visitors it gives an insight into this niche art form. For those who want to learn more, there's a free programme of demonstrations, talks and discussions while an exhibition by RCA Ceramics students shows the future of studio ceramics.

 
 
 

Stand Up For SIDS

Mike Wozniak, Aisling Bea and Tim Key perform, compered by Canadian comedienne Mae Martin.

Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AH

Tube: Euston Square Station , Euston Station, Warren Street Station

 

Dates: 17th April 2015

 

Head to the Bloomsbury Theatre for a night of comedy compered by Canadian comedienne Mae Martin linking stand-up routines from Mike Wozniak, who starred alongside the late Rik Mayall in Channel 4's Man Down, and winner of the British Comedy Award 2014, Aisling Bea. Joining them is BAFTA award nominee and Never Mind the Buzzcocks panellist Tim Key for a night of comedy with a serious aim - to raise funds for and awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

 
 
 

Edible Stories, a Culinary Adventure

A culinary adventure with food, drink and props inspired by top West End shows.

Library, 112 St Martin's Lane , London, WC2N 4BD

Tube: Leicester Square Station , Charing Cross Station, Covent Garden Station, Embankment Underground Station, Piccadilly Circus Station

 

Dates: 17th April - 15th May 2015

 

Edible Stories is hosting a Culinary Adventure at private members club Library this April. Inspired by some of the top West End shows, it will present guests with unique menus made up of surprises inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Matilda, with a week dedicated to each show. Each week will highlight key moments through food, drink and props, with highlights including a shape shifting cocktail inspired by childhood legend Matilda; a French vermouth and buffalo trace induced mullet and mint sage bite taking guests back to the barricades of the French Revolution for Les Mis; and Wonka's handmade treats that can be enjoyed without a golden ticket for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Competition:

LondonTown.com has got one pair of tickets to the Edible Stories Culinary Adventure to give away, with the meal for two and a bottle of wine included in the prize. To be in with a chance of winning, simply email competitions@londontown.com with 'Edible Stories' in the subject line by midday on Tuesday 14th April 2015. The winner will be able to choose which date they attend (subject to availability).

 
 
 

Record Store Day

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is the official ambassador for this year's Record Store Day.

 

Dates: 18th April 2020

 

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is the official ambassador for this year's Record Store Day, a one-day event which marks the importance of old fashioned vinyl records. Music has now been purchased online for more than ten years; however, despite the clear change in the music industry, recent years have also seen a rise in the sale of vinyl records. Music shops across London will join in on the occasion with a number of events, gigs, workshops and promotions. Among the special events taking place in the city is the return of the legendary hip-hop Deal Real record shop. The Real Deal Legacy pop-up shop launches at 14 Newburgh Street, Carnaby with the first in-store curated by grime pioneer Kano who returns with his first official release in nearly three years, Hail / New Banger.

 
 
 

The Paper Dolls

A little girl cuts out a string of paper dolls in this puppet show for children aged 3 to 7.

New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, London, SW19 1QG

Tube: Wimbledon Station

 

Dates: 11th December - 05th January 2020

 

Julia Donaldson's magical tale of a little girl who cuts out a string of paper dolls and goes on a fantastical adventure with them is brought to life at the Little Angel Theatre through puppetry and music. Ticky, Tacky, Jackie the Backie and Jim fly through time and tear across worlds of fun and excitement in this new co-production between Little Angel Theatre and Polka Theatre suitable for ages 3 to 7. Our adventurers face a toy dinosaur and the snapping jaws of the oven-glove crocodile but then a boy with very real scissors threatens to snip their adventure short.

 
 
 
 

Shakespeare's Birthday

The Globe hosts a free day of Hamlet-themed birthday party games in honour of the Bard.

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, Bankside, London, SE1 9DT

Tube: Mansion House Station

 

Dates: 19th April 2015

 

Shakespeare's Globe opens its doors for the biggest birthday party on Bankside in honour of the Bard. This year's Shakespeare's Birthday party is Hamlet-themed, with an Elsinore bouncy castle, sword fighting and a grave digging ball pool complete with skull. Actors who have played Hamlet through the ages will be on the Globe stage attempting to deliver the quickest reading of the play ever, and different film adaptations of Hamlet will be screened throughout the day, whilst mitts can get sticky in edible ghost-making workshops.

 
 
 

Rooftop Film Club at The Roof Gardens

See The Beach and Pretty Woman in the spectacular Roof Gardens in Kensington.

The Roof Gardens, 99 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London, W8 5SA

Tube: High Street Kensington Station

 

Dates: 19th - 20th April 2015

 

For movie fans who can't wait until May, Rooftop Film Club are hosting two advanced movie screenings at the spectacular Roof Gardens in Kensington on the 19th and 20th April 2015. Rooftop Film Club - the people behind the hugely successful Rooftop Film Club at the Queen of Hoxton and Bussey Building - are hosting screenings of Leonardo DiCaprio backpacker adventure movie 'The Beach' (Sunday 19th April) and romantic comedy 'Pretty Woman' on Monday 20th April. At £22, tickets are almost twice as expensive as the Hoxton and Peckham prices - but they do include a serving of fish and chips, or a burger or hot dog from the BBQ as well as the wonderful setting - with its Italianate gardens, mature trees, ducks and flamingoes it's certainly worth splashing out extra for.

 
 
 

The Audience

Kristin Scott Thomas takes the role of The Queen, performed by Helen Mirren last year.

Apollo Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7EZ

Tube: Piccadilly Circus Station , Leicester Square Station

 

Dates: 21st April - 25th July 2015

 

Kristin Scott Thomas plays The Queen in an updated version of The Audience, the role which Helen Mirren originally starred in last year. While Scott Thomas takes on the regal role in London, Helen Mirren reprises the role on Broadway at the same time. Peter Morgan's Olivier Award-winning drama - "the first surefire, unstoppable hit of the year" last year (The Guardian) - was inspired by the weekly private audiences between Elizabeth II and her 12 Prime Ministers at Buckingham Palace. Stephen Daldry, the man who brought Billy Elliot to the London stage, brings "giant flair" to the production which avoids a chronological list and instead hops from John Major back to Churchill then forward to Wilson and so on. "Wonderfully funny", said The Telegraph of the original production, "but also genuinely moving".

 
 
 

Matthew Bourne's The Car Man

The dance thriller tours before a four week summer season at Sadler's Wells from 14 July 2015.

New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, London, SW19 1QG

Tube: Wimbledon Station

 

Dates: 21st - 25th April 2015

 

Fifteen years since its premiere, Matthew Bourne's "sweaty, oil-spattered version of Carmen" (The Guardian) is back. The internationally acclaimed award-winning dance thriller is loosely based on Bizet's popular opera with one of the most instantly recognisable scores in New Adventures' repertory, arranged by Terry Davies. Described as "vivid, shocking, speedy" by The Guardian, the set design by Lez Brotherston recreates small-town America where a stranger, Luca, arrives and takes a job as a car mechanic at Dino's garage.

 
 
 

The Queen's Birthday Gun Salutes

21st April is marked by the ceremonial firing of cannons in central London.

Hyde Park, Rangers Lodge, Hyde Park, London, W2 2UH

Tube: Knightsbridge Station

 

Dates: 22nd April 2019

 

The Queen celebrates her actual birthday on 21st April privately, but the occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London. The 41-gun Queen's Birthday Gun Salute in Green Park takes place at midday, a 21-gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62-gun salute at the Tower Of London at 1pm. At Green Park the salute is carried out by the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery who ride into the park, line up abreast and gallop. The Troop itself arrives at around 11.45am ready to fire the first round at midday. The guns are then unhooked and the salute is fired off. The band arrives separately and can usually be seen from about 11.30am. It is a spectacular show of pomp and ceremony and it's also the only time when you will see horses legally at a full gallop in a Royal Park - with a ton and a half of cannon in tow. The Queen's Birthday Gun Salutes are held to celebrate her actual birthday on 21st April, and there are further celebrations for her official birthday in June which is marked by Trooping the Colour.

 
 
 
 

Disney On Ice Presents Magical Ice Festival

Anna and Elsa from Frozen feature as special guests in the ice-dancing extravaganza.

SSE Arena, Wembley, Arena Square, Engineers Way, London, HA9 0DH

Tube: Wembley Park Station

 

Dates: 23rd - 26th April 2015

 

Join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as they introduce a number of well-loved characters in this ice-dancing extravaganza. Within a colourful wonderland, Sebastian from The Little Mermaid, the loyal servants from Beauty and the Beast, and special guests, sisters Anna and Elsa from Frozen, will be amongst the characters entertaining all the family.

 
 
 

The London Original Print Fair

The fair celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2015.

Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Mayfair, London, W1J 0BD

Tube: Green Park Station , Piccadilly Circus Station

 

Dates: 25th - 28th April 2019

 

The London Original Print Fair, the world's longest running specialist fair dedicated to prints, celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2015 with a programme of events including a curated loan exhibition from a prestigious collection. Offering the chance to see 50 specialist dealers from around the world displaying their etchings, engravings, linocuts and lithographs in the grand setting of the Royal Academy of Arts, the fair covers all periods of printmaking from the early woodcuts of Durer and his contemporaries through 18th and 19th century painters (Hogarth, Goya, Sickert) to top names from the contemporary scene such as Royal Academicians Gary Hume, Grayson Perry and Tracey Emin. Prices start from £100 and rise to £1,000,000 for an Old Master print by Rembrandt or Durer.

If you're planning on visiting the Fair from outside of London, have a look at our hotel deals near the Royal Academy of Arts for all your accommodation needs.

 
 
 

The Other Art Fair

The fair moves to a larger venue in 2015.

The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, Marylebone, London, E1 6QL

Tube: Aldgate East Station

 

Dates: 19th - 22nd March 2020

 

For the eighth edition of The Other Art Fair the fair moves to a larger space in the magnificent Victoria House in the heart of Bloomsbury. A chance to see 130 emerging artists, hand-picked by selection committee, and snap up some original art from some of London's most promising emerging artists, the artist-led fair is fun to visit, even if you're not buying. As well as art, live performances and curated walks, there are interactive art sessions for children, a mentor programme and pop up food stalls.

 
 
 

Pick Me Up

Illustration, graphic design and the UK premiere of Made You Look.

Somerset House, Strand, Covent Garden, London, WC2R 1LA

Tube: Temple Station

 

Dates: 21st April - 02nd May 2016

 

Returning to the spectacular Somerset House for its 6th year in April 2015, graphic art festival Pick Me Up asks artists to 'Tell Your Story' for this year's fair. Responses to this - visual or conceptual - are presented through all the graphic arts in a diverse range of media. At the heart of the 12-day festival in 2015 is Pick Me Up Platform, a programme of debates, demonstrations and discussions on current trends and issues facing graphic art communities. A particular highlight for 2015 will be the UK premiere of Made You Look, a thought-provoking documentary on some of the UK's top creative talent. The fair also showcases affordable artwork and limited-edition prints from as little as £10, and there's a lively series of events and activities including creative workshops, late-night art and music mash-ups, quirky family-fun events and interactive shopping spaces.

 
 
 

Public London

See how London's everyday spaces have been transformed in the last ten years.

The Building Centre, 26 Store Street, London, WC1E 7BT

Tube: Goodge Street Station , Tottenham Court Road Station

 

Dates: 23rd April - 11th July 2015

 

Inviting us to take a look at the public spaces of the city, Public London explores how London's everyday spaces have been transformed since the city won the bid to host the 2012 Olympics 10 years ago. From grand projects such as Trafalgar Square, Exhibition Road and the Olympic Park, to a wealth of smaller-scale interventions, including high streets, pop-ups and green spaces, the past, present and future of public realm in the capital is assessed. At the same time, temporary installation Never Mind the Bollards, a playful take on street furniture, will appear outside the NLA Galleries at The Building Centre.

 
 
 
 

The Vote

Set in a fictional polling station, this play is performed in real-time for theatre and television.

The Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, London, WC2H 9LD

Tube: Covent Garden Station , Leicester Square Station, Tottenham Court Road Station

 

Dates: 24th April - 07th May 2015

 

Performed in real-time for theatre and television, The Vote takes audiences to a fictional polling station between 8.30 and 10.30pm on 7th May 2015, the day of the real general election. A collaboration between James Graham and Josie Rourke, who enjoyed recent success together with Privacy in 2014, the play will be staged at the Donmar Warehouse and broadcast on More4.

 
 
 

Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition

Award-winning and shortlisted works from amateurs and professionals.

Somerset House, Strand, Covent Garden, London, WC2R 1LA

Tube: Temple Station

 

Dates: 17th April - 04th May 2020

 

The very best professional and amateur contemporary photography from around the world goes on display at Somerset House for the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition. From over 130,000 entries, winning and shortlisted works have been chosen in professional, youth and Open Competition categories - for amateurs and enthusiasts - showcasing the best photo-journalism, fine art and commercial photography. The overall winner follows in the footsteps of last 2014's winner of the L'Iris d'Or/ Photographer of the Year, American photographer Sara Naomi Lewkowicz whose 'Shane and Maggie' series takes an unflinching look at domestic abuse.

 
 
 

What Is Luxury?

An exploration of what luxury means today.

Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL

Tube: South Kensington Station

 

Dates: 25th April - 27th September 2015

 

What is Luxury? at the V&A will explore the ideas of luxury today, asking how it's made and understood in a physical, conceptual and cultural capacity. Craftsmanship on display will include a couture gown by fashion designer Iris van Herpen, fine examples of haute horlogerie by British watchmaker George Daniels, and works that explore the cultural value of materials including gold, diamonds and plastic. There will also be a nod to the future of luxury, questioning how time, space, privacy, well-being and social inclusivity will determine our choices and aspirations.

 
 
 

Feast of St George in Trafalgar Square

Flag waving is encouraged at this event held in recognition of England's patron saint.

Trafalgar Square, Central, Westminster, London, WC2N 5DS

Tube: Charing Cross Station , Leicester Square Station, Embankment Underground Station, Piccadilly Circus Station

 

Dates: 18th April 2020

 

Though St George's Day is always on 23rd April, in 2015 it falls on a Thursday so the London celebrations in Trafalgar Square will take place two days after the saint's day, on Saturday 25th April. Flag waving is encouraged at this free event held in recognition of England's dragon-slaying patron saint with live bands playing on the main stage and food stalls surrounding the square. This year's event is inspired by the 13th century origins of St George's Day as a national day of feasting with an English farmer's market with stalls selling hog roast, homemade pies and delicious cakes. All of which you can enjoy in a splendid banqueting area between the square's iconic fountains. You can also watch live demos from leading London chefs who'll prepare English dishes from past and present in Cook's Corner, enjoy live music and a join in for a good old fashioned sing song.

 
 
 

Vogue Festival

The two-day fashion extravaganza is back for its fourth year.

Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, South Bank, London, SW7 2AR

Tube: South Kensington Station

 

Dates: 21st - 22nd May 2016

 

The Vogue Festival returns for a fourth year in 2015, moving back to its original month of April and partnering with Harrods once again for the two-day fashion extravaganza. This year's festival will take place across two venues. The prestigious Royal College of Art will host talks, masterclasses, workshops, cover shoots and make-overs - all led by the key players in the fashion industry - as well as the famous Vogue gift shop. An exciting addition to this year's schedule is the career masterclasses held at the festival's second venue - the Royal Geographic Society, just a two-minute walk away. These classes will give attendees the chance to meet fashion experts for one-on-one time.

 
 
 
 

Crafty Fox Market

Tea, cake, stalls and crafting.

The Dogstar, 389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, London, SW9 8LQ

Tube: Brixton Station

 

Dates: 25th - 26th April 2015

 

This April the Crafty Fox Market comes to Peckham and Brixton with a weekend off in between. Following the Crafty Fox Market in Peckham on 11th and 12th April, the market comes to Brixton's The Dogstar on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th April bringing tea, cake, stalls and crafting to south London. Entry is free and the market takes up all three floors of the old Victorian pub where you'll discover around 80 stalls selling unique and designer items. You can also try your hand at making your own gifts with workshops on crafts like origami, knitting and card making.

 
 
 

Indulge With Oz Clarke

An afternoon of education and exploration as Oz selects his favourite wines.

Vinopolis, 1 Bank End, London, SE1 9BU

Tube: Cannon Street Station

 

Dates: 25th April 2015

 

Join wine connoisseur Oz Clarke for an afternoon of education and exploration as he shares his wine picks for 2015. There are three individual sessions - Indulge With Oz, Taste With Oz and Taste and Talk With Oz - with Oz selecting his favourite five wines and giving advice on food and wine pairing at each. The sessions last between an hour and two hours and offer varying degrees of interaction with the connoisseur alongside tickets to the self-guided wine experience at Vinopolis. The cavernous wine vault under the railway arches at London Bridge is closing its doors permanently on 31st December 2015 to make way for a luxury shopping complex. If you've never been, or you're a fan, this wine tasting with Oz is a good reason to go.

 
 
 

Cabbages and Frocks: Dog Day Afternoon

Will your pooch be the best 'bit of ruff' or the dog with the waggiest tail?

Cabbages and Frocks Market, St Marylebone Parish Church Grounds, Marylebone High Street, London, W1U 5BA

Tube: Baker Street Station , Regent's Park Station

 

Dates: 11th May 2019

 

The weekly Cabbages and Frocks Market hosts the Dog Day Afternoon this Saturday, bringing together canine couture, dog toys, food, fashion. One of the highlights of the day will be the Good Boy Dog School headed by TV personality Dima Yeremenko, who appeared on 'Britain's Got Talent' and 'That Dog Can Dance!', presenting the same dog display as he did on Britain's Got talent at 12 noon and 2pm. If you want to enter your pooch, competition categories include 'A bit of ruff' for mixed breeds, best dog trick, waggy tail, miniatures and toy breeds, matching pairs, new kid on the block - best puppy, lookalike (dog and owner) and best in show. Each will be judged by Chamois Rose-Wood of the Independent and Rob Alleyne of the Dog Owners club, as seen on BBC3's 'Dog Borstal. You can also stock up on accessories for your pet, commission a dog portrait or treat your hound to a special stew. There will also be the usual fashion and food stalls for which the market is well known, including the famous vintage stall selling second hand Hermes and Gucci handbags.

 
 
 

Virgin London Marathon 2015

Serious competitors, celebrities and charity fun runners take part in the world's largest fund raising event.

The Mall, Westminster, London, SW1Y 5AH

Tube: St James's Park Station

 

Dates: 04th October 2020

 

The largest fund raising event in the world, the London Marathon, returns to the capital in April 2015. One of the top five international marathons, it sees around 30,000 runners - serious competitors, celebrities and charity fun runners - flood the streets of London to tackle the gruelling 26.2 mile route. Paula Radcliffe will also end her marathon career at this year's London Marathon, running it for the first time since 2005. Attracting thousands of spectators, the course comes alive to the sounds of bands, cheering crowds and pounding feet. The race kicks off at Greenwich Park and Blackheath with a loop around Charlton and Woolwich, continues through Rotherhithe and Bermondsey, crosses the Thames on Tower Bridge before circling Canary Wharf and the City ahead of the showpiece finish along the Embankment, past Parliament Square and onto The Mall in the shadow of Buckingham Palace.

 
 
 

A Mad World My Masters

Sean Foley's critically acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company production comes to the Barbican.

Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

Tube: Barbican Station , Moorgate Station

 

Dates: 27th April - 09th May 2015

 

Sean Foley's critically acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company production of Thomas Middleton's Jacobean comedy, first seen in 2013 in the Swan theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, is revived in for a national tour culminating in the production coming to the Barbican in April 2015. Set in London's Soho during the mid-1950s, A Mad World My Masters presents the handsome yet cash-strapped Richard Follywit who is on the lookout for some quick money and a good time, but finds he has to live on his wits. Co-presented by English Touring Theatre and the RSC, not suitable for ages below 14.

 
 
 
 

Hay Fever

Felicity Kendal plays recently-retired matriarch Judith in this West End transfer.

Duke of York's Theatre, St Martins Lane, London, WC2N 4BG

Tube: Leicester Square Station , Charing Cross Station, Covent Garden Station, Piccadilly Circus Station, Embankment Underground Station

 

Dates: 29th April - 01st August 2015

 

The Good Life actress Felicity Kendal plays recently-retired matriarch Judith in the West End transfer of Theatre Royal Bath's acclaimed production of Noel Coward's Hay Fever, a comedy of familial bad manners set during one outrageous weekend in Berkshire. Lindsay Posner, who recently worked with Felicity on Relatively Speaking and also directed Speed the Plow starring Lindsay Lohan as well as current comedy Harvey directs Coward for the first time with this production.

 
 
 

High Society

Maria Friedman directs the Cole Porter musical staged in-the-round at the Old Vic.

Old Vic Theatre, 103 The Cut, London, SE1 8NB

Tube: Waterloo Station , Southwark Station, Lambeth North Station

 

Dates: 30th April - 22nd August 2015

 

Maria Friedman directs this latest production of the Cole Porter musical, High Society, staged at the Old Vic in the round, in which the socialite Tracy Lord finds that three suitors add to the general chaos of pre-wedding proceedings. Busy planning her wedding, the bride-to-be is sidetracked when her ex-husband C.K. Dexter Haven appears to try and win her back. Tabloid reporter Mike Connor, there to cover the nuptials, also takes a shine to the Long Island socialite and husband-to-be, George Kittredge, is also vying for her affections. Featuring hit songs including 'True Love', 'You're Sensational', 'Well did you Evah?' and 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?', this promises to be a sparkling musical celebration.

 
 
 

The London Coffee Festival

Over 250 artisan coffee and food stalls, and the official UK Barista Championships.

The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL

Tube: Aldgate East Station

 

Dates: 23rd - 26th July 2020

 

The London Coffee Festival returns with new features include a pop up coffee shop, a roastery tour and the official UK Barista Championships. The new Coffee Masters competition is a fast-paced barista competition which will see sixteen world-class baristas compete for the much coveted title and a £5,000 cash prize. Across the Old Truman Brewery site over 250 artisan coffee and gourmet food stalls, tastings and demonstrations, interactive workshops, street food, coffee-based cocktails, live music, DJs and art exhibitions are staged, all centred on the caffeinated drink. Visitors also gain access to Milk & Sugar, a new event feature showcasing some of London cutting edge fashion, design, art, lifestyle and wellbeing brands.

 
 
 

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