The Somerset House ice rink returns for its 20th year, Corinne Bailey Rae performs at the London Jazz Festival, and Winter Wonderland transforms Hyde Park into a festive playground. All these and more feature in the LondonTown guide to the best London events in November 2019.
Harry Potter returns to the Royal Albert Hall for the fourth instalment of the Film Concert Series from J.K. Rowling with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert. Hear Patrick Doyle's unforgettable score played live by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra while the film is shown in high-definition on a massive 40-foot screen. The previous Harry Potter films, played as part of the Film Concert Series at the Royal Albert Hall have sold out so we expect this one will be equally popular.
Perched up high above North London with panoramic views across the city, Alexandra Palace is a great place to watch the spectacular display of fireworks set off in the grounds of the iconic building. But there's plenty more to do besides. Proving to be incredibly popular in previous years, the festival is going to be a two-day affair once again in 2019, with both days offering food and drink stalls, a bonfire, lasers, breathtaking hire wire circus performances, ice skating and a family friendly area with funfair rides. There's also an adults-only German Bier Festival inside (at an extra cost) with Bavarian waitresses serving premium German biers and traditional food until 11pm. The bonfire will be lit at 7pm on the Friday and 6pm on Saturday with the main explosive event following at 9pm on Friday and 8pm on Saturday.
David McVicar's classic production of Mozart's The Magic Flute gives the traditionalist's take on the magical fable and has proved highly popular. No wonder, then, that the Royal Opera House production, first seen in 2003, is revived for a seventh time. David McVicar's direction combines with beautiful designs by John Macfarlane - note the "back marbled Masonic halls replete with orreries and constellated night skies" (The Independent) - to create a magical production. British tenor Benjamin Hulett leads the cast as Tamino for this revival, the Prince who promises the Queen of the Night that he will rescue her daughter Pamina from the enchanter Sarastro. He begins his quest, accompanied by the bird-catcher Papageno but all is not as it seems.
More than 150 original artefacts from Tutankhamun's tomb go on display at the Saatchi Gallery offering a final chance to see these precious museum pieces before they return to Egypt forever. After this current world tour, the items will be permanently housed at the new Grand Egyptian Museum close to the Giza pyramids. Discover the legend of the boy king through the artefacts from his tomb, first uncovered 100 years ago. It remains the only Ancient Egyptian royal tomb ever found intact. Nine immersive galleries use digital content, contextual material, audio and custom soundscapes to put Tutankhamun's treasures, 60 of which are on their first journey outside Egypt, in context. NOTE: Tutankhamun's funerary mask is not part of the exhibition.
It's a double celebration at the annual Regent Street Motor Show this year as the UK's largest free-to-view motoring extravaganza marks the 200th anniversary of Regent Street. Over 100 machines go on display on Regent Street which is closed to through traffic from Piccadilly to Oxford Circus. Held the day before the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, the event features cars from the past, present and future as classic cars are parked up alongside the latest zero emission electric models. For a glimpse into the next 200 years of transport the motor show teams up with Illinois Route 66 to present futuristic vehicles and low carbon drivetrains. More than half a million people are expected to visit the show which includes stage shows, street entertainment, period costumes and live music making it a fun day out for families and car fans alike.
Benefitting from its elevated position, Crystal Palace Park has been the site of fireworks displays for more than 150 years and this year they've upped the ante with a laser show to add extra special effects to the fireworks display. As well as the cascading explosions, Arcadia's Lord of Lightning will shoot lightning bolts from their bodies in time to the music. Crystal Palace Fireworks offers a wealth of entertainment for the whole family. The Bonfire Night action begins from 5pm with entertainment from DJs and live bands as well as a fairground with rides for all ages. Within the Nocturnal Village you'll find more than 25 street food traders selling everything from Caribbean dishes to waffles. As well as Venezuelan arepas and Pakistani Rukshanas you can also buy drinks and London Craft beers. But everyone's here for the dazzling display and the high octane pyrotechnics and lasers by Arcadia's Lords of Lightning promises to be South London's finest.
A celebratory stage programme showcasing contemporary Asian music and dance, Diwali returns to Trafalgar Square in November. The colourful festival of lights, which has religious significance for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, is celebrated each year with a free concert of contemporary Asian music and dance, with traditional religious music and rites to open and close the show. You can also sample South East Asian vegetarian cuisine, enjoy children's activities, buy colourful trinkets, don a sari and see Lord Ganesh adorned with marigold garlands at this celebration of the victory of light over darkness.
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run sees over 400 pre-1905 vehicles line up in Hyde Park as they prepare to make the 60 mile drive from central London to the Brighton seafront in Sussex, through some of Britain's loveliest scenery. It's a great day out for vintage car enthusiasts from all over the UK and beyond and it's also a bit of a spectacle. The day before the run, on Saturday, more than 100 of these beautiful old cars can be seen on Regent Street as part of The Regent Street Motor Show. You can get up and close to view them and it's free of charge. This annual event has taken place every November to commemorate the Emancipation Run of 1896, celebrating the passing into law of the 'Locomotives on the Highway Act'. This raised the speed limit from 4mph to 14mph and meant that cars no longer had to travel with a man walking in front. Key spectator viewing points include Hyde Park where the cars line up along the Serpentine from sunrise (around 6am) for a 6.56am start. There's no public access to the paddocks but you can admire the cars from the sidelines.
Inspired by the work and life of Austrian artist Egon Schiele, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company performs the world premiere of Staging Schiele. Schiele's world of colour, strong lines and unusual perspectives is brought to life by four dancers who take his models off the canvas, giving them a platform to express themselves through movement. Known for her award-winning choreography, Shobana Jeyasingh examines Schiele's anxieties, his self-confidence and the male artist's use and objectification of the female model to create this brand new dance piece.
Hailing from Norway, the three-piece best known for their hits The Sun Always Shines On TV and Take On Me performs live at the Royal Albert Hall. Magne Furuholmen, Pal Waaktaar-Savoy and the hunky Morten Harket will be performing in An Evening With format. For the first half of the concert they play new and old, familiar and less-familiar songs. Then, after returning to the stage, they play the ten songs of their 1985 debut album Hunting High And Low in the running order of the original release. Back in October 2010, a-ha played the whole of Hunting High And Low just twice, first at Oslo's Konserthus and then here at London's Royal Albert Hall. Nine years later they return as part of a wider tour and with a brand new show.
Olivier-nominated playwright Hattie Naylor brings her 'beautifully deft adaptation' (The Guardian) of Sarah Waters' Man Booker Prize-nominated novel, The Night Watch, to Richmond Theatre this winter following a well-received run at The Royal Exchange back in 2016. Set in 1940s London, during and after World War II, the story follows four ordinary people caught up in the aftermath of an extraordinary time. Running backwards in time from 1947 to 1941, the masterful story is both tender and tragic as it delves into the secretive love affairs of that tumultuous time.
The Sleeping Beauty holds a special place in The Royal Ballet's history - it was the first production at its new home in Covent Garden after World War II, and Margot Fonteyn danced the lead role. In this production, over 70 years after it was first staged, the classical beauty of Marius Petipa's original choreography presents an enchanted world of princesses, fairy godmothers, magic spells and a charming prince. The ballet includes many memorable moments including technically demanding choreography - the Rose Adage is celebrated as one of the most challenging solos in the classical ballet repertory - and a dazzling ballet that, like the fairytale it brings to life, lasts through the ages.
Neil, a resident from the Belfast Conway estate, sits lost in thought, a family ready for their day out on Whitley Bay beach and works from a series depicting LA photographer Pat Martin's late mother are the three shortlisted photographers for this year's Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize. Open to professionals, emerging artists and amateurs alike, the major international photography award - worth 15,000 pounds to the winner - goes on display at the National Portrait Gallery and is a highlight of the autumn arts calendar each year. The prize consistently attracts a high level of expertise yet the 'open to all' caveat means there's always an element of surprise. The exhibition also includes previously unseen prints from a new body of work by New York based photographer Ethan James Green, the subject of the In Focus display devoted to the work of one distinguished photographer.
Sustainability is at the heart of the Carnaby Street Christmas Lights this year with dolphins and whales creating an ocean scene where every element is made with recycled and reusable materials. The illuminated underwater seascape has been created from repurposed fishing netting, more than 500 metres of post-use bubble wrap and over 1,500 recycled plastic bottles, reused to make fish and bubbles. Cotton fabrics and over 100 litres of water-based eco-friendly, vegan paint have also been used for the installation, created in collaboration with ocean conservation charity, Project 0. The Christmas lights are switched on at 6pm during the Carnaby Christmas Shopping Party on Thursday 7th November 2019 which sees over 100 fashion brands, restaurants and bars throughout the 14 streets of Carnaby offer discounts and special in-store events. As well as the discounts there are DJs, live music and plenty of on-street activity. Tickets are free but you must register online in advance.
The actor and comedian best known for Tiswas, Three of a Kind and The Lenny Henry Show - and more recently, his own perfectly pitched parody of Childish Gambino's This Is America - shares stories about his life and career. Hear the star, who co-founded Comic Relief, reveal what it was like growing up in the Black Country, his experience of puberty, school, friendship, family secrets and unashamed racism. In the second part of the show, Lenny is interviewed by friend, broadcaster and author Jon Canter, followed by questions from the audience. All the while Lenny is trying to figure out 'Who Am I Again?'
BAFTA-award winning Icelandic composer and producer Olafur Arnalds takes over the entire 17-acre Southbank Centre site on Friday 8th November 2019 to present the first edition of OPIA, a festival-style event which gathers his friends, collaborators and artists who inspire him. For the first half of the two-part event, Arnalds himself performs with special guests including Grandbrothers, made up of the duo of Lukas Vogel and Erol Sarp, Rhye, the R&B musical project of Canadian singer Mike Milosh, and British composer, pianist, violinistPoppy Ackroyd. Part two brings more of a club vibe as OPIA Lates continues until 2am in the Clore Ballroom and with Arnalds joined by techno partner Janus Rasmussen as Kiasmos in the Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer. Tickets are presented as wristbands which give you access to all the shows.
The festive feeling returns as Christmas in Leicester Square transforms the famous square in the centre of London into a wintery wonderland. There's a traditional Christmas market with stalls selling hand-crafted goods and delicious food and drinks. The man with all the presents takes up residence in Santa's grotto where children can meet the man himself, plus La Clique brings a whole host of shows to the beautiful surrounds of a traditional 1920s spiegeltent. Returning to the West End for the first time in more than a decade the variety show features an all-star cast including cabaret sensation and MC Bernie Dieter, gentleman juggler Florian Brooks, the fire-breathing, sword-swallowing Heather Holliday and aerialist Stephen Williams performing the Bath Boy act. For families, there's Captain Flinn and The Pirate Dinosaurs, a Journey through Jazz, Kids of the West End, Fun Kids Epic Roadshow, Showstoppers Kids Show and Shlomo's Beatbox Adventure for Kids. As well as an eight-week residency with appearances by Jess Robinson, Spice Gals and the Puppini Sisters, La Clique will be performing a one-off New Year's Eve Spectacular with a post-show party until 2am.
Two family shows are at the heart of this year's Winter programme at the Southbank Centre where the ever-popular winter market returns to the riverside. Black Beauty brings a five-star show combining storytelling, music and puppetry while new acts including the Brazilian Wheel of Death join Circus 1903 as the troupe returns. Fascinating Aida presents a brand new cabaret show, the Philharmonia Orchestra performs Grand Christmas Classics together with The Bach Choir while Rufus and Martha Wainwright sing A Not So Silent Night. You can also enjoy carols and festive tunes at Christmas with Alan Titchmarsh, The Alternative Carol Service at Organoke and Jonathan Cohen's Christmas Carol Singalong. Nadiya Hussain celebrates the publication of her memoir, Finding My Voice, and free events in the Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer include Caribbean Christmas with Just Vibez, Gamelan Winter Chimes and Kids Countdown with Ida Barr on New Year's Eve when the Southbank hosts A Vintage New Year's Eve Party. Book in for five floors of themed club nights, live acts, fifteen DJs, dance lessons and outdoor spaces offering the perfect view of the spectacular London fireworks.
The street dance troupe who won Britain's Got Talent in 2009, beating Susan Boyle to the £100,000 prize, performs all new routines to celebrate its 10 year anniversary with its Born Ready tour. Since winning, Diversity has been making a name for itself with live tours and performances around the world. Its creator and choreographer Ashley Banjo is a familiar face from ITV's Dancing on Ice where he judges alongside Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. Fellow Diversity member Jordan Banjo has hosted BBC 1's The Greatest Dancer alongside Alesha Dixon.
It broke box office records at Leeds Playhouse and now its production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe delivers a "dazzling trip to Narnia" (The Guardian) at the Bridge Theatre this festive season. Based on the novel by C. S. Lewis, the well designed adaptation is directed by Sally Cookson, who was responsible for the Olivier award-winning A Monster Calls at the Old Vic, with clever design by Rae Smith, also responsible for War Horse. Recommended as "a winter extravaganza with pantomime-style audience participation" (The Guardian), it captures the attention as a showy spectacle. Look out for striking visual scenes such as the glacial White Witch who "rises into the air, her dress extending down" (The Times) to cover the whole stage only to disappear, a second later, into a hole in the ground. Theatrical magic.
The true story of two young climbers who get into trouble has already been told in a BAFTA-winning film and now it comes to the stage via Tom Morris' well received production. The first theatre version of Touching the Void, adapted by The Lyceum's David Greig from Joe Simpson's award-winning memoir, charts the extraordinary struggle for survival when Simpson breaks his leg in a fall, leaving his climbing partner, Simon Yates, facing the agonising decision of whether to save himself and cut the rope that binds them. Giving the play five stars in The Guardian for its run at the Bristol Old Vic, Mark Lawson writes, "David Greig finds humour amid the horror" in this staging, "creating such tension and jeopardy that theatregoers must remember to breathe".
A colourful parade of over 6,000 people, marching bands, military groups, carriages and dance troupes makes its way through the streets of London at the annual Lord Mayor's Show. There are no fireworks this year but the procession, one of highlights of the show, remains and there's free family entertainment at Bloomberg Arcade, Paternoster Square next to St. Paul's Cathedral. Gog and Magog - the symbolic protectors of the City of London - are part of the parade as is the gilded State Coach which carries the newly elected Lord Mayor. It's a spectacle and celebration that goes back 800 years and a wonderful day of pomp and pageantry. Family friendly activities at Bloomberg Arcade and Paternoster Square include a funfair, food market, street artists and dancing wheelie bins. Several companies show the skills and technology related to their particular specialism. To see the street procession, watch the outward journey from 11am to 12noon between Bank and St. Paul's. For a quieter version, watch the return leg from 1.15pm to 2.30pm in the Embankment area. Head through St. Paul's churchyard to the Paternoster Festival Zone to see some strange and wonderful acts.
Get an insight into the mind of Leonardo da Vinci and explore his masterpiece, The Virgin of the Rocks, through this immersive exhibition in the ground floor galleries of the National Gallery. Divided into four distinct spaces, Leonardo: Experience a Masterpiece opens with a landscape populated by the thoughts and ideas of Leonardo, 500 years after his death. You'll then discover his studio in a projection-filled space which unlocks the mysteries of how The Virgin of the Rocks was painted and, using the latest and conservation methods, reveals the lost composition hidden beneath the surface. An entire room has been given over to an experiment where you'll discover the dramatic effects of light and shadow on Leonardo's composition. Finally, you will come face to face with the original masterpiece where it hangs on the walls of an imagined chapel, showing the painting in its original setting as part of an elaborate altarpiece.
Each year, on the second Sunday of November, members of the Royal Family join current and former members of the services as well as members of state at the Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday, a time to pay tribute to the dead of the UK and Commonwealth. Once the wreaths have been laid there follows by two minutes' silence at 11am, both here and across the country. While thousands of people line the streets along Whitehall and Parliament Street, leading to the Cenotaph, there are usually other events marking Remembrance Sunday including a Ceremony of Remembrance at London's Imperial War Museum, a day of activities at the National Army Museum and a weekend of events at the Royal Air Force Museum.
April De Angelis' adaptation Elena Ferrante's bestselling novels is re-worked for the Olivier Theatre following a sell-out run at the Rose Theatre Kingston with the entire original cast, including Niamh Cusack and Catherine McCormack, returning. The five-and-a-half-hour production spans 50 years and "combines an intimate study of female friendship with a panoramic picture of postwar Italy" (The Guardian). My Brilliant Friend is "a breathless, breathtaking love story" between two young women, the studious Elena and impulsiveLila. The two leads "are beyond praise" (The Guardian) with Cusack using her "natural likeability and vulnerability" (The Stage) asLenu while McCormack's inner fury within Lila makes her "a fantastically complex anti-hero".
Joe Thomas, James Lance, Summer Strallen and Alex Gaumond come to London this winter to star in international smash hit What's In A Name at Richmond Theatre. Adapted by British theatre director, writer and translator Jeremy Sams from award-winning French film Le Prenom, the comedy follows father-to-be Vincent and his partner Anna when they are invited to dinner by his sister Elizabeth and her husband, Peter. Their childhood friend, Carl, also joins and they all sit down for what should be a mature and sophisticated evening. But when egos, childish resentment and unspoken feelings are exposed, the dinner soon takes an unexpected turn. The staging comes as part of a UK tour before transferring to the West End.
In preparation for Christmas, the Country Living Magazine Christmas Fair 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, stocking fillers, 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.
The grand 18th-century courtyard of Somerset House makes for a spectacular backdrop for one of the most popular ice rinks in town, and 2019 will see the rink return for its 20th year. Skating around under the 40-foot Christmas tree with a hot toddy to keep out seasonal chills is one of London's most appealing winter rituals - and a superb way to ease yourself into the festive spirit. If your youngsters need guidance there's the Polar Cub Club for under 8s. But if you're looking for something altogether more grown up, Skate Lates brings a specially curated programme of music to the rink on nights with takeovers from hot names in the contemporary music scene - this year welcomes Nabihah Iqbal, RockersLDN and Eat Your Own Ears. Get your Christmas shopping done while you're there at The Christmas Arcade, a pop-up version of Fortnum & Mason's occupying 15 rooms in the West Wing of Somerset House filled with hampers, tea caddies, stocking fillers, gifts and games. What's more, to celebrate the launch of major exhibition 24/7, this year will host London's first-ever 24-hour skating event.
A secret London location is transformed into the suburban town of Hawkins, Indiana, as Secret Cinema give the Duffer Brothers modern masterpiece the immersive treatment. Prepare to enter the supernatural world of 'The Upside Down' and a 1980's nostalgia fest - littered with references to blockbuster films - when you go to Secret Cinema Presents Stranger Things. Expect new storylines, characters, locations as well as much-loved episodes and memorable fan moments concerning the pupils of Hawkins High School. It's the first time Secret Cinema has turned its attention to a TV programme, rather than a film, so the masters of immersive cinema have come up with new ideas for the screening, storylines and scenes. Usually the experience feels as if you're on the film set, being sent on mini missions and having interactions with characters, but this time they've promised you'll have more time to explore and go even deeper into the storylines with more interactive participation. Things are about to get strange.
Following the success of ETM: Double Down, performed at Sadler's Wells two years ago and named one of the Guardian's Top Ten Dances of 2017, award-winning New York ensemble Dorrance Dance returns from 14th to 16th November with a UK premiere - the critically acclaimed Myelination, alongside two shorter works. A triple bill of tap from choreographer, performer and Artistic Director Michelle Dorrance, the show features Three To One, performed to the music of Aphex Twin, the humorous Jungle Blues and Myelination where dancers dart rapidly like firing electrons. Come for modern tap which mixes the genre with break-dance and hip-hop.
See Corinne Bailey Rae at the Southbank Centre, Ashley Henry at the Hackney Arts Centre and Herbie Hancock at the Barbican, all appearing in the city as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, returning in 2019 for its 27th year. Presenting 2,500 artists across 60 venues over the course of the 10-day festival, more than 250 shows take place in London's best concert halls and arts centres including the Southbank Centre, Royal Albert Hall, Barbican Centre, Ronnie Scott's, 606 Club, The Forge, the Rich Mix Centre, Artsdepot, Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall and Kings Place. Further highlights include the Marcin Wasilewski Trio 25th Anniversary Tour at Cadogan Hall, the Trevor Watts Quartet at the Southbank Centre and Makaya McCraven at Village Underground. It all kicks off with the Jazz Voice opening gala on Friday 15th November.
George IV, who became king in 1820, was famous for his extravagant lifestyle and his Royal Pavilion in Brighton. Much of his impressive collection of art remains in the Royal Collection and his Dutch and Flemish masterpieces and magnificent portraits by Sir Thomas Lawrence and Sir Joshua Reynolds are brought together in George IV: Art & Spectacle. Delicate French porcelain is shown alongside intricate goldsmiths' work and elegant books and drawings in an exhibition at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, which presents his life through the art he collected.
It earned five star reviews when the Lyric last staged Cinderella here in Hammersmith in 2015. Now the fairytale of the downtrodden stepsister who can go to the ball is back and this time it's getting a brand new script written by Jude Christian with Tinuke Craig directing. "The Lyric has always been neck and neck with the Hackney Empire in London's annual homegrown pants wars" says The Telegraph and we love the Lyric's festive shows for their topical humour and play-on-words puns. So put on your glass slippers and arrive by carriage made from a pumpkin to meet the Fairy Godmother and enjoy a modern twist on wicked stepmothers, ugly stepsisters and magical mice.
Rona Munro brings her adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic gothic masterpiece, Frankenstein, to Richmond Theatre this winter. In the new reimagining of the story, which sees a young scientist breathe life into a gruesome body only for it to turn against him and threaten to obliterate his family, Munro places Shelley among the action as she wrestles with her creation and the realities facing revolutionary young women. Eilidh Lohan (Me and My Left Ball) stars as Mary Shelley.
Carlos Acosta's acclaimed Cuban dance company returns for a second time to Sadler's Wells performing a mixed bill which includes a special appearance by its famous founder. He makes a guest appearance in Rooster, choreographed by Christopher Bruce to music by the Rolling Stones. Acosta Danza, the Havana-based dance company, also performs Paysage, Soudain, La Nuit choreographed by Pontus Lidberg, Satori by Raul Reinoso and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's Faun set to Debussy's original score with additional music from Nitin Sawhney.
The Icelandic singer-songwriter, known for her eclectic music style that gambols through electro, art-pop and avant-garde, comes to The O2 for one night only as part of her Cornucopia Tour. Presenting a sci-fi pop concert, Bjork will play songs from her "exceptionally beautiful" (The Guardian) 2017 album, Utopia, plus well known songs from her huge catalogue amassed over thirty years working in the music industry. Lucrecia Martel, a celebrated Argentine filmmaker, has created a striking stage show with videos by Tobias Gremmler projected onto curtains while Bjork and seven Icelandic flutists wears intricate golden masks made by regular collaborator and co-creative director James Merry.
From fairy lights to food, gifts to winter garden advice, the Ideal Home Show Christmas has everything you need for seasonal entertaining under one roof. With over 600 exhibitors selling everything from toys to gadgets you'll find presents for the whole family. Join workshops on wreath making, Christmas decoration upcycling and centrepiece arrangements. Get styling inspiration and top tips from Good Homes magazine and other experts. Plus, discover essential winter advise for the garden with Lee Connelly while The Skinny Jean Gardener gives tips on how to involve the whole family. Rosemary Shrager, Theo Randall, Aldo Zilli, Rachel Green and Ed Baines offer their top tips and expert advice on perfecting a festive feast as, for the second year, the show shares its Olympia home with the Eat & Drink Festival - free with your Ideal Home Show ticket.
After dusk in winter a mile long path at Kew Gardens is lit up by more than a million twinkling fairy lights, giant light sculptures, hundreds of shining petals, gigantic flower pots and light projections on the Palm House for Christmas at Kew. Each year they add different light installations so even if you've been before - and it has become an annual tradition for many Londoners - there's something new to see. Stop by the singing holly bushes, pass under the tunnel of light and feel the glow of the flickering fire garden. You can also stop off to see Santa and his elves performing panto along the route, enjoy carousel and helter skelter rides as well as mulled wine, mince pies and traditional festive fare. If you want to sit down to a traditional Christmas dinner you can enjoy a feast at Kew's Botanical restaurant.
The Surrealist artist and photographer Dora Maar, lover to Pablo Picasso for eight or nine years, is celebrated as an artist in her own right at Tate Modern. More than 200 of her works, including rarely seen, privately-owned canvases such as La Conversation 1937 and La Cage 1943, and never-before exhibited negatives, feature in this first UK retrospective of her work. Her documentary style photography from the 1930s, when she was active in left-wing revolutionary groups, shows the effect of Europe's economic depression on the streets of Barcelona, Paris and London. The exhibition also reunites over 20 works from the second half of her life - the camera-less photographs that she made in the 1980s, four decades after all but abandoning the medium.
Discover the secret history of London's Royal Parks this winter with a new exhibition at the Garden Museum. Through the display of paintings, drawings and photographs from the likes of the Royal Collection Trust and Royal Museums Greenwich the exhibition explores how the Royal Parks - Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Richmond Park, Bushy Park, St James's Park, Green Park, Regent's Park and very first Royal Park, Greenwich Park - have been used as everything from wartime training grounds to the backdrop for plays, illustrating their important social role in society. Visitors will also learn about the suffragette rallies that took place within the Royal Parks along with how they are cared for and maintained to this day.
Be enchanted by the epic legend of the city of Troy, the place which inspired Greek myths about a horse full of hidden soldiers, Homer's Iliad and stories of Troilus and Cressida as the British Museum opens the gates to the ancient city. Through beautifully painted classical Greek vases and and later Bronze Age discoveries, the exhibition wades in on a debate on the history of Troy that is still ongoing today. It shows how the remarkable archaeological evidence from excavations in the 1870s persuaded the world that Troy had existed and was not just a myth. The extensive exhibition also looks to literature to reveal how Troy's story has been reworked and retold in the literary world, through the works of Virgil, Chaucer and Shakespeare.
Snow-filled forests, marshmallow toasting fire pits and a line up of top chefs are all part of the winter edition of Taste of London which presents a festive treat at Tobacco Dock. Twenty or so of London's hottest restaurants come under one roof including the newly-opened Middle Eastern Bubala and Neat Burger - Lewis Hamilton's plant-based burger spot. Soho favourite Berenjak, Thai barbecue masters Smoking Goat and Taiwanese legends BAO and XU as well as Master Wei, with its legendary noodles, are also newcomers to the festival. Taste of London's legendary Fire Pit returns and top chefs including Great British Menu winners Elliot Cunningham and James Cochran will be showing us how to put a new twist on Christmas classics. Daily Specials include appearances from restaurant of the moment, Tou. More than 120 artisan producers line the warehouse, transforming it into a winter wonderland with workshops on alcoholic jam and paella cooking. Book in for a Feast in the Forest on Thursday evening - an exclusive banquet for 30 in a winter forest. Laurent-Perrier keeps the bubbles flowing in its Apres Ski Club and you can meet River Cottage's Steven Lamb in a festive grotto where he makes the ultimate Christmas feast.
David McVicar directs a brand new Royal Opera House production based on Britten's opera about an older writer who becomes obsessed with a young man. Mark Padmore and Gerald Finley feature in the ensemble cast of this major new production of Death in Venice. In this atmospheric staging, Vicki Mortimer's spectacular set, complete with a Venetian gondola, brings Venice to life. Based on a novella by Thomas Mann, which also inspired the multi-award-winning 1971 film starring Dirk Bogarde, the story sees Aschenbach become increasingly obsessed with a Polish boy staying at his hotel. As the Traveller, Canadian bass-baritone Gerald Finley, who celebrates 30 years performing with The Royal Opera, takes on a plethora of different roles.
Throughout late November and December a large area of Hyde Park near Hyde Park Corner is transformed into a Winter Wonderland, complete with fairground rides, giant wheel, circus, Christmas market, food and drink stalls, Santa's grotto and, of course, an ice rink. Now in its 12th year, Winter Wonderland has become a favourite in many Londoners' calendars. There's a huge choice of things to do from the ice rink to the Magical Ice Kingdom where you can go on a Deep Sea Adventure. Other popular features are the 53-metre-high Observational Wheel, Zippos Circus - always a hit, especially when temperatures plummet - and traditional Christmas Market with wooden chalets and Bavarian-style bars and cafes. (Remember: advanced booking on the main attractions is advised while you'll need to buy tokens from kiosks dotted around the fair for the many rides.) Additionally, new to this year is The Snowman Experience with Backyard Cinema. Celebrating 40 years of the classic festive book, the experience will bring the story to life through a multi-roomed, multi-sensory adventure. Free entry to the site means you can just walk around and absorb the festive ambiance - but it will take a strong will not to succumb to the smells and fun on offer.
Putting the first-ever production car and an autonomous flying car on display, the V&A travels from the past through to the present and into the potential future with its latest blockbuster exhibition, Cars: Accelerating the Modern World. Putting forward the idea that the automobile has had more impact on our society than any other design object, quite literally accelerating the pace of the 20th century, the exhibition examines the influence that the creation of the car has had on our lives. From a new obsession with speed to the introduction of automated factories and new shopping habits to the shaping of local subcultures, a wide range of topics are covered. A showcase of 15 cars, including a 1950s concept car, a converted low-rider and a futuristic flying car, are showcased alongside 250 objects. Highlights include a sculpture depicting a human that's evolved to withstand car crashes, a Michelin Guide from the 1900s, and a range of fashion items linked to motoring.
Last staged here at Hackney in 2012, this new adaptation of Dick Whittington and His Cat sets the classic rags-to-riches tale in Jamaica where young 'Dickens' Whittington is boarding the Empire Windrush. Dreaming of a new life and seeking to make his fortune in the gold-paved streets of glorious London, our hero - played by Tarinn Callender, who made his West End debut with the original London cast of Hamilton playing Hercules Mulligan and James Madison - embarks on the adventure of a lifetime: reuniting with his Mum, fighting rodent royalty, meeting an eccentric fairy and winning the heart of his true love, all with his trusted feline friend at his side. Annette McLaughlin as Queen Rat, Christina Tedders as Alice Fitzwarren and Sue Kelvin as Fairy Bowbells star alongside Hackney stalwarts Clive Rowe, this year starring as Sarah the Cook, Kat B as Vincent the Cat and Tony Whittle as Alderman Fitzwarren. This Christmas offering from the acclaimed Hackney Empire panto team will be an all-singing, all-dancing adventure with topical gags, boo-able baddies and festive cheer.
Paterson Joseph (who has starred in the Peep Show and Green Wing) fills the shoes worn by Stephen Tompkinson and Rhys Ifans before him, playing the curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge in Matthew Warchus' staging of Charles Dickens' timeless classic. A Christmas Carol has become of a fixture at this time of year at the Old Vic where Jack Thorne's adaptation is revived for a third year. Dickens' beloved tale is safe in the hands of the Harry Potter playwright who has penned a "superb retelling" (The Guardian). Those familiar with the story will know, four ghosts visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve and shepherd the curmudgeon between past, present and future. Music and cheer abound as Scrooge races against time to thaw his heart in time for yuletide merriment.
This winter, Shane Richie takes the role of Archie Rice (made famous on screen and stage by Laurence Olivier) in The Entertainer at Richmond Theatre, starring alongside Diana Vickers and Olivier Award-winning Sara Crowe. Set in 1982, the story follows washed-up entertainer Archie Rice, whose soldier son sails with the Task Force to liberate the Falklands. When his daughter Jean returns from campaigning against the war, Archie's profession and personal lives collide. In this new production by Sean O'Connor, John Osborne's classic work will be given a vibrant new setting and new vision for the first time since its 1957 premiere.
James McAvoy returns to the West End starring as the soldier and poet with a nose as huge as his heart, Cyrano de Bergerac. With Jamie Lloyd directing Martin Crimp's adaptation of Edmond Rostand's 1897 comedy, the classic story of love and the distraction of superficial appearances is in good hands. Our hero falls under the spell of the beautiful Roxanne but fears his large nose will stymie any attempts to woo her. Will a society engulfed by narcissism get the better of De Bergerac? Or can his mastery of language win Roxane's heart? The inventive adaptation is the opening production in a new season by The Jamie Lloyd Company at the Playhouse Theatre which runs from November 2019 until August 2020.
The London Illustration Fair returns at the end of November and can usually be found taking over the Bargehouse, a four-storey warehouse by the Oxo Tower on the South Bank. The fair showcases the work of illustrators, designers, print makers, publishers and crafty businesses for a three-day illustration extravaganza. Exhibiting alongside the artist-led stands are handpicked creative partners and a packed programme of workshops, artist-led talks and workshops, live DJs and a fully stocked winter-warming bar. Last year's workshops included the history of record sleeve illustration, graphic novels, paper cameras and a multitude of printmaking techniques which visitors got to try out.
A musical adaptation of the 2001 Oscar-nominated film starring Audrey Tatou and Matthieu Kassovitz, Amelie The Musical is the story of a unique young woman who uses small acts of kindness to spread a little happiness. But when a chance at love comes her way, Amelie realises that to find her own contentment she'll have to risk everything and say what's in her heart. With music by Hem's Daniel Messe who co-wrote the lyrics with Nathan Tysen and book by Craig Lucas, this new musical adaptation starring French-Canadian stage and screen star Audrey Brisson is directed by Michael Fentiman. Amelie comes to The Other Palace this Christmas following a successful UK tour.
Fun family entertainment for the over threes, Oi Frog & Friends! is an action-packed play with songs, puppets, laughs and rhymes. The new musical, adapted by Kenny Wax Family Entertainment from Kes Gray and Jim Field's children's picture books, makes its West End premiere at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue this winter. Set in Sittingbottom school, the sing-song rhyming appeal of the book translates to the stage - "Cats sit on mats, hares sit on chairs, mules sit on stools, gophers sit on sofas and frogs sit on logs". The cast of animal characters includes Frog, the new kid at school, Cat - the prefect - and kindly, helpful Dog who is doing as he's told. But star of the show is Cheetah whose appearance includes a man dressed in fringed tassels, maracas and giant beach balls. In the spirit of Dr. Seuss, this is the most fun you'll have with rhyming pairs this winter.
Following their headline slot at Glastonbury Festival - their fifth time on The Other Stage - The Chemical Brothers embark on their biggest ever UK headline show, stopping at The O2 Arena for one night only. Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons have have played at the largest crowd in Glastonbury history (2000), a historic sell-out show at Olympia (2008) and became the first electronic act ever to play in Trafalgar Square in 2007. This November, the big beat duo is back with a new album, No Geography - "their best since the '90s" (NME). It opens with Eve Of Destruction, a staple of the band's DJ sets for the last two years which features vocals from Norwegian singer Aurora and Japanese rapper Nene. At this arena concert you can expect their trademark sensational visuals as well as support from special guests 2ManyDJs.