Mother's Day Events

There's still time to see the National Portrait Gallery's free, small scale exhibition on Marilyn Monroe, staged to mark the 50th anniversary of her death, before it comes to an end on Sunday 24th March 2013, two weeks after Mother's Day. Highlighting the actress's connections with Britain, the exhibition includes photographs and magazine covers, vintage prints and film stills including pictures of Monroe in a yellow bikini, and meeting the Queen as well as photographs by Cecil Beaton. While at the National Portrait Gallery, your mum can also see the first official portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge, the Man Ray exhibition and George Catlin: American Indian Portraits, a free display of portraits painted between 1796 and 1872 by the Pensylvanian-born artist, shown together outside America for the first time since the 1840s.

Mums who love nothing more than pottering about in the potting shed will be enchanted by the current exhibition at the Garden Museum, which is open on Mother's Day from 10.30am to 5pm. Beginning in 17th century Covent Garden, Floriculture tells the story of the cut flower trade from those early times, when the central London square was a flourishing fruit and veg market, to today's blooming £64 billion industry. The perfect way to spend Mother's Day, the exhibition includes paintings which reveal the art of floristry and their symbolism. If you really want to treat your mum, buy her a ticket to the Shane Connolly talk which takes place two days later, on Tuesday 12th March 2013. The man responsible for the floral decorations at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding talks about his work and the influences and inspirations. Tickets are £20.

This year, as part of the 200th anniversary celebration of its conservatory, the Chiswick House Camellia Festival includes an exhibition of early pictures and photographs showing the history of the 1813 building, culminating in its complete restoration in 2010. Known as the Queen of the Winter Flowers, the camellias at Chiswick bring a burst of glorious colour to season - from pinks to reds, whites to stripes. Throughout the festival, daily tours with expert festival guides are available to highlight the famous camellia collection, widely regarded as one of the best in the country and featuring many rare and historically important examples. Housed in the gardens of Chiswick House (which is closed until 1st April 2013), nearby attractions include the cafe and the newly restored nineteenth-century Italian Garden, which was replanted in 2012.

The National Gallery's "staggeringly ambitious and heartbreakingly beautiful" (The Telegraph) exhibition of Barocci's work is a wonderful exhibition that any mother with an eye for art appreciation cannot fail to enjoy. There are 20 pictures in the show - which may not sound like many, until you actually see them. Sixteen are spectacular altarpieces by Italian artist Federico Barocci in an impressive collection of works by the late 16th century artist who once created a fresco for the Casino of Pope Pius IV at the Vatican. Barocci: Brilliance and Grace gives visitors a chance to see important altarpieces, devotional paintings and portraits alongside preparatory drawings and oil sketches. Barocci, a native of Urbino in central Italy, is best represented by his Marchigian altarpieces, including the famous 'Entombment' from Senigallia on Italy's Adriatic coast and 'Last Supper' from Urbino Cathedral, which are being shown outside Italy for the first time.

The last day of the Women of the World Festival, the Southbank Centre's five-day celebration of feminism, falls on Mother's Day in 2013. The festival boasts a complete programme of gigs, films, comedy, classical music, theatre and poetry and this year includes performances by Mitsuko Uchida (6th March), and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment with Marin Alsop (8th March). On the final day, Sunday 10th March, Sandy Toksvig hosts the popular Mirth Control, a night of comedy, storytelling and music. This year the stars of the show include Sue Perkins who conducts an all-female orchestra playing the music of overlooked female composers, and Petula Clark who performs tracks from her forthcoming album, 'Lost In You'. A rousing finale to the WOW festival.

The annual Florimania weekend is a spring highlight at Hampton Court Palace, and this year they have created an extravaganza of flower displays along the Tudor route, inspired by Henry VIII's crown. Taking place on the Mother's Day weekend, Florimania is a lovely way to treat busy mums to some time off where they can enjoy stunning flower arrangements created by members of the National Association of Flower Arranging Societies. You can also see how it's done through flower arranging demonstrations at 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm on each of the days. Treat mum to afternoon tea in the Garden Room (booking recommended, 020 3166 6975) and she'll get a hot drink for free (when you present the promotional leaflet available on their website). Entry to Florimania is included in your palace admission ticket, so you and mum can admire the historic palace and enjoy a leisurely stroll around the 60-acre stately gardens, just starting to bloom.

Opening just the day before Mother's Day, the Victoria and Albert Museum reveals an extraordinary display of armour, textiles and silver in Treasures of the Royal Courts: Tudors, Stuarts and the Russian Tsars. Riches from the royal courts from Henry VIII to Charles II and from Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV) to the early Romanovs are gathered together from several state collections to create a narrative. At the heart of the exhibition, which marks the 400 year anniversary of the Romanov dynasty, is a showcase of spectacular British and French silver given to successive Russian Tsars. While you're there, leave time to explore other parts of the museum's wonderful permanent collection - the theatre and performance collections, for example, include new costumes from the Lion King. Or book in for a free guided tour. The tour of the stunning Medieval & Renaissance Galleries is free, non-bookable and drop-in; meet at the grand entrance at 11.30am.

Cheeky Essex lad Olly Murs plays live at Wembley Arena on Mother's Day, a great way to treat your mum if she's a fan of the pop star who has enjoyed huge success since he started out as an X Factor hopeful back in 2009 - losing out to Joe McElderry in the final. Crediting his career so far to 'Right Place, Right Time', the title of his third studio album, Murs has established himself as a singer/songwriter, sold out arena tours and turned his hand to TV presenting. His songs offer unashamed pop that provide light-hearted listening and with his charm, infectious grin and clear love for his trade, the Essex boy has succeeded at building a career from his personality as much as his music. This Mother's Day concert is part of his 2013 tour which sees him performing twice in London (he's at The O2 on Friday 29th March), and, if you're lucky, he may even split his trousers mid-performance again.

Clapham's hidden restaurant, Four o Nine, will be celebrating Mother's Day on the Saturday with an afternoon of cupcakes and cocktails. Mothers and daughters will be able to each feast on four handmade cupcakes while supping on cocktails that have been particularly chosen to compliment the drinks. There will also be the chance to learn from a mixology demonstration from the restaurant's head mixologist. On the day itself, a Mother's Day lunch will be available which includes a cocktail, three course dinner and coffee and truffles to finish.