Best things to do in London in April 2024
Plan an amazing April 2024 with our selection of the best events, exhibitions and things to do in London
April is an underrated month if you ask us. Winter is finally over and we’ve all started to emerge from hibernation, ready to properly commit to socialising again. The sun has put in a few appearances, London’s parks and gardens are in full bloom and the city feels alive with all the possibilities of summer, but without all the sunburn and sweltering, sleepless nights.
There’s also a handful of spring music festivals, some cracking art exhibitions and theatre (including the first open-air shows of the year) and plenty more amazing things going on around the city.
1. The London Marathon
Running a marathon is a truly gruelling feat requiring countless hours of training, so the 50,000 brave souls who are taking part London Marathon on Sunday April 21 2024 very much deserve our support. Check out our route guide to find the best spectating spots and track down nearby pubs and bars for when all that whooping and clapping leaves you feeling nearly as thirsty as the runners. Remember: your presence at this monumental sporting occasion makes it absolutely fine to drink lager or rosé in the street at 10am on a Sunday.
2. Now Play This
Step away from the mess of consoles in your bedroom and get immersed in the latest experimental games from across the world at Somerset House’s video-gaming extravaganza Now Play This. Into 8-bit 1-uping or cutting-edge new releases? The fest is all about interacting with thoughtful, inventive games that draw from the world we live in. It’s the 10th addition this year and, as ever, it will be showcasing games around a particular theme – this year: ‘Liminal: Playing Between Worlds’.
3. In the Round Festival at the Roundhouse
Originally built as a railway turntable back in the 19th century, it turns out the shape of The Roundhouse’s cylindrical brick building gives it pretty stunning acoustics. This ten-day fest uses its tubular shape to full effect, staging a unique line-up of bespoke shows, one-off collaborations and surprise gigs designed to immerse you in eclectic sounds and get you closer to your favourite artists. Artists on the programme include Tirzah, Lucy Rose, Samara Joy and The Songs of Joni Mitchell featuring Emeli Sandé, Eska, Kate Stables (This Is The Kit), Lail Arad, Sam Amidon, and Vashti Bunyan, hosted by Cerys Matthews.
4. Brick Lane Jazz Festival
We all know by now that London’s jazz scene is young, cool, underground and genre-blending. Taking place across ten venues including Rich Mix, Rough Trade East and the Village Underground, the Brick Lane Jazz Festival may be in its early iterations, but it sums up just how exciting our city’s musicians are. Better yet, the event is also teaming up with Tomorrow’s Warriors, the pioneering talent programme responsible for the success of the likes of Moses Boyd and Ezra Collective. This year’s line-up features Oscar Jermone, Ego Ella May, Tara Lily and Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange.
5. Easter in London
London has an amazing energy on bank holidays and Easter weekend is particularly blessed, because it’s a rare double bank holiday, meaning we get four whole days of work-free fun from Good Friday on April 7 to Easter Monday on April 10.
The capital has plenty to keep you occupied over your extra-long weekend. Check out our top picks for Easter weekend 2023 below.
6. Earthfest
Ahead of Earth Day, taking place on April 22, non-profit organisation Camden Clear Air Initiative have organised the first-ever Earthfest. The event, taking place over the preceding weekend consists of a programme of speakers, workshops and immersive exhibitions to discuss the pressing issue of the climate in a way that’s engaging and interactive. A fashion zone will feature sustainable brands and upcycled masterpieces, and there’ll be talks by experts at the Future of Greentech summit. April 18 is invite only, and April 19 is an industry day, but all events on 20 and 21 are free to the public!
7. The best places to see cherry blossom in London
The capital’s special colourful spectacle that signals warmer days are on the way is here. Cherry blossom season in Japan is a major event, with vistors from around the world flocking over to get a glimpse of the petals in full bloom. If you can’t make it over for this year’s sakura season London has plenty of bloomin’ marvellous places to see the flowers.
8. Eid in the Square 2024
This celebration of Eid-al-Fitr, which marks the end of fasting for Ramadan, will take over Trafalgar Square for a family-friendly day of activities and events. Live music and performances will fill the main stage and street food stalls will offer fayre from India, Venezuela, Somalia and more. You’ll also find stalls dedicated to face painting and Mehndi, plus a ‘Creative Art Zone’ with calligraphy, storytelling and drama workshops.
Things to do in London March 2024 edition
Our guide to the best events, festivals, workshops, exhibitions and things to do throughout March 2024 in London
Say hello to March. Finally, the days are getting lighter and spring is here brightening up London with colourful flowers and plenty of opportunities for sunny park walks. The month also packs in a whole host of big events from St Paddy’s to Mother’s Day.
This means it’s time to finally come out of winter hibernation and set about exploring the city’s fantastic parks and gardens, world-class museums and galleries, and unbeatable restaurant offerings. Watch Oxford and Cambridge take each other on in the historic Boat Race; settle down and watch great LGBTQ+ cinema at BFI Flare and the UK’s biggest queer film event.
1. BFI Flare Film Festival 2024
The UK’s largest queer film event, BFI Flare returns to the BFI Southbank (and to the BFI Player online) over ten days this March to showcase the best new LGBTQ+ cinema from around the world. Watch this space for full details of this year’s programme.
2. St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival
The Irish are experts when it comes to partying. They’re so good, in fact, they even have a special untranslatable term – the craic – to describe their unique brand of conviviality. With Trafalgar Square as the setting for London’s official bash in celebration of their patron saint, a blast is pretty much guaranteed. This year, the London extravaganza takes place on Sunday March 17 and is set to see more than 50,000 turning out for Irish food, dancing and a huge parade featuring pageantry, floats and music that will wend its way from Hyde Park Corner along Piccadilly, St James’s Street, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street and Whitehall.
3. Enzo Mari at the Design Museum
Italian artist and furniture designer Enzo Mari’s simple but ingenious creations have inspired generations of creative types. This retrospective at the Design Museum is a comprehensive showcase of his resonant and timeless projects. Debuting at the Triennale Milano in 2020, just days after the designer’s death, the exhibition spans his 60-year career, bringing together furniture, product design, children's books and conceptual installations curated by influential art critic and Serpentine Galleries art director Hans-Ulrich Obrist, with Francesca Giacomelli.
4. Zheng Bo: ‘Bamboo as Method’
Fancy eating your sad office sarnies in a cacoon of bamboo? Somerset House is turning its bombastic neoclassical courtyard into a garden full of the panda food which you can frolic about in for free to enjoy a quick picnic, a moment of calm in your busy work day, or an inevitable photo-op. The immersive installation is a new large-scale commission from Hong-Kong based artist Zheng Bo that ‘invites visitors to temporarily disconnect from their fast-paced, hyper-connected everyday lives by immersing themselves in the biosphere’.
5. The Boat Race
The famous and historic London rowing contest between the UK’s oldest two universities returns for its 169th edition on Saturday March 30, when crews from Oxford and Cambridge go head-to-head in eight-oared rowing boats across the Thames.
Beginning in 1829 for chaps and 1927 for ladies, the annual fixture now attracts around 250,000 spectators to south-west London every year. The four-and-a-quarter mile course runs along the Thames from Putney Bridge to Mortlake and takes around 16 to 18 minutes (Cambridge’s men hold the course record of 16 minutes 19 seconds, set in 1998).
Spectators can watch the BBC’s coverage of the race large screens at two riverside Fan Zones in Hammersmith and Fulham, where they’ll also find covered seating, street food vendors, bars and toilet facilities.
6. British Science Week at the Royal Observatory
With 2024’s theme of ‘time’, this year’s British Science Week is promising a fascinating roster of workshops, events and behind-the-scenes adventures suitable for a range of ages. What better place to get stuck in than the home of Greenwich Mean Time, anyway? There’ll be an evening on ‘Astrophotography’ on International Women’s Day, showcasing the dazzling work of women in the industry. Astronomy & Islam, a planetarium show on how Arab navigators used stars to found thier way around the earth, will take place March 9. For more information on the brilliant events happening throughout March, have a look at the Observatory’s website.
7. Horniman Spring Fair
The Horniman Museum and Gardens’ Spring Fair is maybe the most efficient way to cram as much Easter fun into a single day as possible. The gardens will be taken over by a ridiculously busy programme, with everything from a Spring Time Disco (11.30 am - 1.30 pm) to an Easter Bonnet Parade (1 pm). But there’s plenty more: think circus skills, singalongs, fete games and seed planting, all fuelled by some cracking cuisine from the roster of food stalls. Maame T’s African inspired food, Lapecoraso Churros and Picks Organic Farm are just some of the kitchens that’ll be rustling up food – you better grab your ticket!
8. Kricket’s Fried Chicken Challenge
Got a thing for finger lickin’ chicken? Some of London’s best spots in the fried thigh biz are going head to head to battle it out for the title of the best fried chicken in the city. Hosted by top notch Indian restaurant Kircket Brixton, chefs from the likes of Coqfighter, Smoking Goat, Thunderbird Fried Chicken, Chicken Shop, Kanada-Ya, Studio Kitchen, Soho Hotel, Daffodil Mulligan, Tonkotsu and Black Bear will be trying their luck with judges including Top Jaw’s Jesse Burgess, Professor Green and Zena Kamgaing deciding who cooks up the best dish. Will Rogers, of sister bar Soma, will be on hosting duties, while guests will be able to chomp on an abundance of Keralan Fried Chicken and drink two complimentary beers courtesy of Harbour Brewing Company for the price of the £20 ticket.
Things to do in London this February
Can’t decide what to do with your two delicious days off? This is how to fill them up
1. Fill your eyes with sparkles at the Light Festival at Battersea Power Station
Europe’s largest brick building is no stranger to sparkling spectacles. The Grade II-listed Art Deco masterpiece has appeared in Hitchcock films and is on the cover of one of the most iconic albums of the last generation: Pink Floyd’s ‘Animals’. Now it’s playing backdrop again, and glowing up the gloomy London winter evenings in the process, as seven shining light installations designed by international artists pepper the building for its annual Light Festival. Look out for giant glowing blue butterflies, a series of intriguing-sounding ‘floating geometric matrixes’ and interactive installations like bicycle-powered glowing archways.
2. Think about the Roman Empire at British Museum exhibition ‘Legion: Life in the Roman Army’
This is a rollicking-looking new exhibition for the British Museum, which attempts to put you inside the daily life – both domestic and fighting – of the Roman Legions that controlled much of the world for half a century. It’s about how the elite troops fought: but also about how they lived, and the daily lives of the Empire’s many settled garrisons. Across the course of the exhibit, you’ll meet warriors from Egypt, Italy and England, with over 200 supporting objects, many on display in the UK for the first time, including the world’s oldest intact legionary shield and the world’s oldest set of Roman segmental body armour (which was only unearthed in 2018).
3. See work from British artists of the African, Caribbean and South Asian diasporas at ‘Entangled Pasts, 1768–Now’
Art isn’t always pretty pictures. Sometimes, art is politics; sometimes, art is power. ‘Entangled Pasts’ places work by contemporary British artists of the African, Caribbean and South Asian diasporas alongside paintings and sculptures by Royal Academicians of the past. The aim is to highlight how art has served to perpetuate racism and colonialism, or at the very least profit from it. It opens with depictions of Black figures by Gainsborough and Reynolds, portraits of former slaves, abolitionists, attendants and illegitimate children. And there are contemporary works by the likes of Yinka Shonibare and Sonia Boyce.
4. Get eight dishes, main and dessert at Atul Kochhar's Kanishka
Kanishka has launched a brand-new brunch menu focussing on PanIndian food, with a menu embracing the flavours of India’s various regions, from Punjab to Kerala, Kolkata to Delhi and everywhere in between. Kanishka’s skilled kitchen team, led by chef Atul Kochhar, have curated a symphony of new dishes, including Khari paneer tikka, Palak paneer and Chicken tikka pie. And the best bit? You’ll be greeted with a seasonal welcome Kanishka punch cocktail and two hours of bottomless wine or beer.
5. Have a tropical time at Kew Orchid Festival
The Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew Gardens is getting a Madagascanmakeover courtesy of the latest annual mind-bending orchid display that takes over the iconic glasshouse each year. The exotic display will celebrate Madagascar’s natural beauty and biodiversity – the place is home to 14,000 plants found nowhere else in the world. Look out for sculptures of native animals carved out of plants, including giraffe weevils and ring-tailed lemurs, installations on extinct species and learn more about the Malagasy orchids that grow at Kew.
6. 51% off bottomless dim sum and a glass of bubbly at Leong’s Legend
Never ending baskets of delicious dim sum. Need we say more? That means tucking into as many dumplings, rolls and buns as you can scoff down, all expertly put together by a Chinatown restaurant celebrating more than ten years of business. Taiwanese pork buns? Check. Pork and prawn soup dumplings? You betcha. ‘Supreme’ crab meat xiao long bao? Of course! And just to make sure you’re all set, Leong’s Legend is further furnishing your palate with a chilled glass of prosecco. Lovely bubbly.
7. Explore Japan’s myths and manga at the Young V&A’s new exhibition
The first temporary exhibition at Young V&A is a real delight, and should appeal to grown-up Nippophiles just as much as school kids. ‘Japan: Myths to Manga’ is a grab bag of the more eye-catching highlights of the past few centuries of Japanese pop culture, taking in everything from Hokusai’s ‘The Great Wave’ to copious Studio Ghibli appearances, to a draw-your-own manga craft corner (complete with arrows to reminds you to draw the cells from right to left). You’ll have gone in thinking Japan was cool; you’ll come out thinking it’s cooler.
8. Get ready to take on the UK’s most daring aerial park
Our Table for Two restaurant box is back, baby. And there really is no better way to go out and explore the city than with 50% off some of its most sought-after destinations. This limited-edition digital box of goodies includes seven, yes seven, vouchers for a handpicked selection of restaurants around the city. Sign up, receive a code and book your spot.
Brilliant London events to help beat the January 2024 blues
Cheap stuff, secret stuff and heavy-hitting cultural stuff to fill your calendar with for January 2024 in London
Hello, 2024! It is truly great to see you. January is the ideal time to discover London on a budget and without the crowds. Many of city's very best theatre and musicals, restaurants and bars – ranked definitively by Time Out's crew of expert local editors – offer discounted tickets and cheap meal deals.
Spend cold, clear days walking off your post-Christmas malaise in glorious parks and spectacular walking routes. Cosy up with drinks on a beautiful heated winter terrace, or in one of the 100 best pubs in the city. And catch up on magical lights, winter wonderlands and Christmas shows before they disappear.
1. Winter Lights
The bright lights of Canary Wharf's towers are quite the spectacle after dark, but the business district will glow brighter than usual for 11 days in January thanks to the addition of sparkling illuminations created by artists from around the world. All 27 of the artworks are free to visit and a map showing their locations will be available to download before it opens. There’ll also be food and drink stalls along the trail and many of Canary Wharf’s shops, restaurants and bars will be running special offers and discounts.
2. ‘Cute’
From emojis to plushie toys Somerset House is exploring the irresistible force of cuteness in its latest exhibition. Collecting together contemporary artworks and cultural phenomena including music, fashion, toys, video games and social media, the show attempts to find out how cuteness has become so influential.
3. The best mocktails in London
4. Take a bracing winter walk in London
Yes, it's cold out. It's also quite wet. The leaves have fallen from the trees and turned the pavements into a slimy, slippery ice rink. But we're lucky to have some amazing, huge, parks in London, and walking around in them on a crisp winter's day is genuinely one of life’s great joys. Whether you're a Royal Parks stan or a fiend for Hampstead Heath, there are loads of parks to choose from. So, get out there.
5. Just for One Day
Surely the most famous concert(s) in history and with a ready-made soundtrack of ’80s stadium rock hits, a musical adaptation of Bob Geldof’s 1985 Live Aid concerts does seem like a screechingly logical idea as soon as you think about it.
With a book by satirist and writer of the smash ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ musical John O’Farrell and direction by ‘& Juliet’ man Luke Sheppard, ‘Just for One Day’ sounds like an agreeable jukebox romp that aims to tell the story of the duel London and New York mega-concerts that raised $127m for famine relief back on July 13, 1985.
Supported by the Geldof, performed by the permission of the Band Aid Charitable Trust, and with the rights to perform songs by the likes of Bob Dylan, David Bowie, The Who, U2, Queen, The Police, Elton John, Paul McCartney, The Pretenders, The Cars, Status Quo, Paul Weller, Sade, The Boomtown Rats, Bryan Adams, Diana Ross, Ultravox and more, it feels like a solid crowd-pleaser.
It will, however, be interesting to see if there's any sense of reflection on the project's legacy - while Live Aid has come in for less stick as an endeavour than the Band Aid single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', there have undeniably been very legitimate questions asked in the years since about the project’s white saviorism and how effectively the money was distributed. Sure, it sounds like a light-hearted musical romp. Bu it would be a shame if ‘Just for One Day’ ducked these questions entirely.
Julie Atherton, Ashley Campbell, Jackie Clune, Craige Els, James Hameed, Naomi Katiyo, Hope Kenna, Freddie Love, Emily Ooi and Rhys Wilkinson star.
London events in December
Your guide to the best activities, events and fun stuff happening in London throughout December 2023
Can you hear those sleigh bells jingling? Yes, it’s December, and Christmas in London has begun in earnest. See the city skies sparkling with glimmering Christmas lights, fill your ears with Christmas songs, scoff down an indulgent Christmas sandwich, get luxurious festive treats from London restaurants and liven up a winter walk with a trip to a heated pub garden.
Read our guide for the lowdown on the events, parties, cultural happenings, and things to do taking place in London in December 2023.
1. Wander around Southbank Centre Winter Market
2. Childhood fave ‘The Witches’ hits the stage
It’s been years since the National Theatre produced a truly great new musical, but this certainly looks promising. Top Brit playwright Lucy Kirkwood and cult US composer Dave Malloy have joined forces to tackle Roald Dahl’s classic kids’ novel about a young boy and his grandma who uncover a terrifying conspiracy of witches at a seaside hotel. Lyndsey Turner directs her first ever musical, with a cast headed by Katherin Kingsley as the Grand High Witch and Daniel Rigby as Mr Stringer.
3. Hit up Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
The Grinch would have a real job stealing all the Christmas from Hyde Park’s huge tribute to festive fun. The annual favourite is back for its sixteenth year in 2023. Head along for cheerily lit fairground rides, a child-friendly Santa Land (including Santa’s grotto) and quaint Christmas markets. It’s a real treat for anyone wanting to get into the festive spirit – as long as you’re ready to hear all those songs as you potter around.
3. Try your luck getting tickets to Christmas at Kew
The mother of all light trails, Christmas at Kew has become a key date in London’s festive calendar as the 300-acre botanic garden is lit up with glistening lights and illuminations. This year’s route will take you past glass houses emblazoned with kaleidoscopic projections, through shimmering tunnels of light and trees drenched in jewel-bright colours. As usual, there’ll also be warming winter snacks and a grotto where you can say hello to Father C himself. Be warned, Christmas at Kew tends to sell out quickly, so look sharp to secure your place.
3. Eat up at the Maltby Street Christmas Night Market
Maltby Street Market’s Festive Fridays are back. Guzzle Christmas dishes from around the globe as the iconic food market’s finest traders set up their stalls after dark beneath Bermondsey’s fairy-light-festooned Victorian railway arches. There’ll be carolling, hot mulled wine, mince pies, wreath-making and responsibly sourced Christmas trees to buy. You’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a cosmopolitan Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’.
4. Try your hand at Christmas curling
The sport of curling – the one you watch on telly during the Winter Olympics and find curiously engaging – has arrived in King’s Cross, with a pop-up outdoor arena set among the restaurants and bars of Coal Drops Yard. Curl the night away on one of six synthetic curling lanes in groups of up to six, and then once you’ve finished your 45-minute session, warm up with a toasty cocktail at the Curling Club bar. This year it's back with a '90s twist, so the fun and games will be soundtracked by a programme of DJs curated thanks to Voices Radio.
5. Hitch up on a cheery winter horse carriage ride
Live out all your dark Dickensian dreams on a winter outing that sleighs the competition. Explore Richmond Park or Bushy Park on a traditional carriage ride drawn by a pair of majestic Shire horses from the last working herd in London. Snuggle up in a blanket and clip-clop your way around the park while sipping on sloe gin, eating mince pies and learning about your surroundings from guides and carriage riders that look straight out of ‘Great Expectations’, dressed in smock coats and bowler hats. The private rides in Richmond Park aren’t cheap, but all the money raised supports the equine therapy services of Operation Centaur, who manage the horses. If you want a more wallet-friendly option, book one of the group rides in Bushy Park.
6. Dine at a cosy winter terrace
It is cold, so cold. Head to the nearest cosy outdoor space in London immediately. Luckily, some of our favourite bars and restaurants have been thinking on their frozen feet. So wrap up warm and check out these new outdoor terraces for drinking and dining decked out in wintry decor and adorned with roaring fire pits, patio heaters and enough faux fur to make you think you got stuck in the wardrobe on your way into Narnia.
7. Skaters gonna skate
Ice skating season is back baby, and we can’t wait to whizz around one of London’s many excellent slabs of ice. Winter Wonderland’s rink is the biggest, Canary Wharf’s is open for the longest period (18 sweet weeks!) and Somerset House’s is the most fabulous. Take your pick, lace up your boots and get swishing.
8. Grab last minute presents at London’s best Christmas markets
Markets, eh? They’re pretty nice to wander around at nearly every time of year. But, at Christmas? Well, that’s when London’s markets really come into their own. Every year the capital fills with the kind of markets that host fairy-light-lined stalls, festive street-food sellers and community tombolas, with a playlist of Christmas songs on loop in the background. In fact, whether you’re looking for tasty treats, traditional decorations and cutting-edge arts and crafts or are just shopping for a last-minute present, the capital’s selection of Yuletide stalls are here to help.
9. Don’t miss out on any NYE events
New Year’s Eve in London means you’re faced with some choices. Sometimes there’s so much choice, in fact, that you end up spending the night indoors with a few loved ones and plenty of booze. We’ve all been there, but London boasts loads of great New Year’s Eve events that should coax even the most reluctant NYE fan out of the house this year.
London events in October 2023
London comes alive in October, with a host of Halloween celebrations, cultural events, and Black History Month commemorations to enjoy.
October nights bring crisp air, pumpkin spice, and the urge to turn on the central heating. But don't let the cooler temperatures keep you from enjoying all that London has to offer this month.
Halloween fans will be thrilled with the city's many spooky festivities, including family-friendly frights, movie screenings, pumpkin-picking fun, and scary nightlife.
Culture vultures will also be in their element, with the return of the BFI London Film Festival, the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre, and the Bloomsbury Festival across Bloomsbury.
And October is also Black History Month in the UK, so many of London's major institutions will be staging special events to mark the occasion.
Art, theater, food, and drink: London has it all in October 2023.
Art lovers can rejoice at Tate Britain's big new exhibition about Young British Artist Sarah Lucas and the long-awaited Marina Abramović retrospective at the Royal Academy of Arts.
Theatergoers will love Penelope Skinner's new play "Lyonesse," starring Lily James and Kristen Scott Thomas, and a big new adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's bestselling novel "Hamnet."
And those not embarking on Sober October can enjoy Oktoberfest celebrations galore, plus London Cocktail Week.
There's also plenty more to do in London in October, from visiting museums and galleries to exploring the city's many parks and gardens. Check out our list of the best cultural happenings and things to do throughout the month.
1. Let down your synthetic wig at one of these Halloween events in London
When the days are a-darkenin’, London is being over-run with giant arachnids and the supermarkets are filling up with pumpkin-plastered merch, it can only mean one thing: Halloween, Tuesday October 31 2023, is almost upon us. So dust off your cape, comb out your synthetic wig and get searching for a ‘beginner friendly’ face painting tutorial on YouTube. Here are the best Halloween events happening in London this year.
2. Celebrate Black History Month in London
October isn’t just the time of year when the leaves turn brown, the clocks go back, yet another installment of the seemingly unkillable ‘Halloween’ franchise is released and sugary pumpkin syrup suddenly starts appearing in absolutely everything. It’s also Black History Month, and as usual there’s plenty going on around the capital to mark the occasion. Check out our roundup of some of the best stuff going on throughout the month here.
What is Black History Month?
Black History Month is an annual month of observance honouring the history, traditions, arts and culture of Black people both in the UK and across the globe. Founded in the United States in 1970, it was first celebrated in the UK in 1987.
When is Black History Month 2023?
In the UK and Ireland, Black History Month takes place in October, with talks, exhibitions, screenings and plenty more events taking place nationwide throughout the month. Don’t get it mixed up with the US and Canadian version, which is celebrated in February. Yes, it’s another one of those needlessly confusing disparities between our calendars, just like Mother’s Day.
3. Sip on delicious tipples at London Cocktail Week
The biggest cocktail festival in the world, London Cocktail Week, is back this October with a special focus on the city’s reputation as a global capital of cocktail culture. This year you can check out the fancy sounding Connoisseaur’s Collection of unique events with intimate tastings and masterclasses by award-winning bartenders. Plus, there's the return of the Curated Cocktail Tours, where London's top bars are shaking up delectable drinks for just £8 (with the wristband).
4. Check out our roundup of perfect autumnal days out in London
Is that the saccharine scent of pumpkin spice in the air? Surprised to see lots of orange orbs taking over your local supermarket? It can only mean one thing: autumn is upon us in all its crispy-leafed, russet splendour.
From glowing sunsets, to bracing walks and cosy pubs, there are lots of things that make up the ultimate autumnalday trip and London has them in spadefuls. Whether it’s nestling up in an old-school whisky tavern with a wee dram, collecting up armfuls of pumpkins from the city’s premier markets or exploring Gothic cemeteries.
So dig out a jumper and don your most fetching hat: autumn in London is here, and we've got eight autumnal outings in the city guaranteed to get you in the mood for smashing conkers. Summer, we’re so over you.
a. Kew Gardens
They’ve got a tree or two down at Kew Gardens – actually, around 14,000 of them – so if you want to see autumnal colours across the skyline, it’s the place to be. Climb the 118 steps up to the Treetop Walkway to watch nature’s greatest art show.
Get the full autumn effect
Dig out the wellies and go on a rainy day for that primo autumn smell.
b. Richmond Park
More than 600 deer call Richmond Park home, and come autumn they’re feeling amorous. Keep an eye out amid the rust-coloured leaves and long grass, and you might witness stags bark and roar as they clash antlers to impress the ladies. Bit like a night out in Clapham.
Get the full autumn effect
Hire a bike from Roehampton Gate and pedal off into the wilds.
c. Pumpkin picking
Do you have ambitions to cover your mantelpiece in ornate gourds, Martha Stewart style? Or are you just planning an epic pumpkin risotto? Either way, Sainsburys' selection just won't cut it: you've got to go right to the source. Take a day trip to Stanhill farm in Kent or Garson Farm in Surrey and you'll find pumpkins galore that are ready for picking in your very own harvest festival.
Get the full autumn effect
Why stop at pumpkins? Find a nearby hedgerow and go foraging for sloe berries and elderberries for use in homemade gin concotions.
d. Greenwich Park
Kick your way through the fallen leaves from the many horse chestnut trees in Greenwich Park. And once you’ve stocked up on conkers, check out the dreamy views across the river Thames and the amazingly autumnal red deer in the Deer Park.
Get the full autumn effect
Grab a freshly baked treat from the White House Café – time it right and it’ll still be warm.
5. Pay a visit to a free art exhibition
Looking at great art needn't cost the same as buying great art. With a shed-load of free art exhibitions in London, wandering through sculptures, being blinded by neon or admiring some of the best photography in London needn't cost a penny. Here's our pick of the best free art exhibitions this week and beyond.
Amazing Things To Do in London in September 2023
September in London may be ‘back to school’ time, but it’s also when the city comes alive. A lot of London’s cultural scene goes into semi-hibernation mode over the summer, but come autumn it kicks back into gear with landmark museum exhibitions, new theatre and art shows and brand new food and drink openings.
There’s also a whole host of city-wide fests taking over the capital, including Open House London – giving us a chance to get a sneak peek inside usually private buildings – London Design Festival and Totally Thames – the brilliant celebration of London’s watery main artery complete with an illuminated flotilla installation.
1. Celebrate London’s watery main artery at Totally Thames Festival
🌟 Festivals 📍 Bloomsbury 📅
This month-long annual celebration of the Thames makes a splash with its mix of art festivals, community events, regattas, river races and environmental activities. This year look out for an immersive exhibition about the planet’s simultaneous beauty and fragility with satellite views and a live performer, plus free walking tours, a kayak taster session, creative workshops and a climate cabaret.
2. Step into beautiful immersive installations at London Design Festival
🌟 Festivals 📍 South Kensington 📅
Once again the world’s best designers interrogating the boundaries of what can be constructed are taking over London with a bunch of inventive events, exhibitions and installations. 2023 marks 300 years since the death of Sir Christopher Wren (aka the bloke who designed St Paul’s Cathedral), so expect plenty of projects celebrating his contribution to the capital’s cityscape, plus the usual events at the V&A and across designated Design Districts all over London. With new destinations in Dalston, Fitzrovia, Chelsea and Battersea, it’s likely some fantastic contemporary exhibitions will be cropping up near you.
3. Regent’s Park becomes an huge outdoor gallery for Frieze Sculpture 2023
🌟 Art ✪ Sculpture 📍Regent’s Park 📅 20 Sept to 29 Oct 2023
Frieze Sculpture is transforming Regent’s Park into a massive outdoor gallery again. Fatoş Üstek takes the curation reins for the first time, and visitors can appreciate the new works by leading international artists, including Ayşe Erkmen, Ghada Amer and Hank Willis Thomas. Look out for performances and talks enhancing the art which will also be free to the public. Slap on the sun cream (or a raincoat) and go soak up some sculpture.
4. Go to a gig inside a big, colourful and inflatable tunnel
🌟 Quirky events 📍Clapham 📅Until 17 Sept 2023
Colourscape’s labyrinth of polychromatic tunnels is returning to Clapham Common. Never been? Just wander around its big inflatable labyrinth to see what musicians you can find inside. You might happen upon a flautist, a classical guitarist or maybe some bloke playing a conch. Who knows!? Those kaleidoscopic innards are designed to surprise. One of the few upsides of the post-covid era is that you have to pre-book, doing away with the long Colourscape queues of yore. Check their website for more info on opening times and ticket releases.
5. Music and politics meet at boutique fest HowTheLightGetsIn
🌟 Festivals 📍 Hampstead Heath 📅 23 Sept to 24 Sept 2023
You don't see many festivals billing themselves as a blend of ’philosophy and music’ but that’s exactly what you get at this weekend of ideas, with over 100 events planned at Kenwood House in Hampstead Heath. Dine with some of the world's leading thinkers, listen to debates, including discussions on ‘the Danger of Safety’, and ‘Peace for Our Time’. Once you’re ready to take your thinking cap off, there are the comedy and music sets.
6. Two-step to electronic tunes at Waterworks Festival
🌟 Music ✪ Music festivals 📍 Acton 📅16 Sept 2023
It's not time to hang up your dancing shoes just yet, as there is one final day festival coming to the capital, and it's going to be a corker. Created by the gang behind Percolate and Croatian festival Love International, Waterworks returns to Gunnersbury Park this autumn and the line-up is banging. Make sure to catch Saoirse, Peach, Moxie and Shanti Celeste, AKA SASS, doing their only UK show this year, taking over the Orbit stage for 4.5 hours. Then there are sets from dance music heavyweights like Call Super, Palms Trax, SHERELLE and Francesco Del Garda. Plus a whole load of other top DJs including Josey Rebelle, Yung Singh, salute, Lukas Wigflex, Angel D'Lite, Eliza Rose, HAAi, the list goes on. See you in the dance.
Things to do in London in August 2023
It’s the height of summer, but the weather is anything but balmy. Raincoats and jumpers are the order of the day, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a good time in London this weekend. The city is always buzzing with energy, no matter what the weather, and there are plenty of things to do to keep you entertained.
1. Dance in the W11 streets at Notting Hill Carnival
Dancing, music and masquerade – make the most of the Notting Hill Carnival with our full guide to all the info, dates, timings details and tips.
For a lot of Londoners, Notting Hill Carnival on the August Bank Holiday Weekend flashes by in a blaze of feathers, Red Stripe and tinnitus. To those who make it happen, it’s a year-round operation to create one of the biggest and oldest street parties in the world. This Carnival weekend, it’s expected that more than two million people will flock to west London to dance in the streets of W11. It’s free to join family day on the Sunday and the Monday which is for the hard partiers. It’s a celebration of freedom and Caribbean culture, with an iconic parade showcasing the best of mas, soca, calypso, steel bands and soundsystems. What are you waiting for?
When is Notting Hill Carnival 2023?
West London is getting taken over again with dazzling floats, kaleidoscopically dressed performers, rib-shaking soundsystems, the sweet, smoky smell of jerk chicken and steel bands over the August Bank Holiday weekend from Sunday August 27 to Monday August 28.
When is family day for Notting Hill Carnival?
Family day is on Carnival Sunday August 27 2023. The official opening ceremony will take place from 10am to 10.30am on Great Western road, before the children’s day parade and Carnival Parade kicks off and runs until 5pm.
Which is the better day at Carnival?
If you’re after a more chilled NHC experience, go for family day on Sunday, or if you like the sound of a hard-partying parade, make sure to go on Carnival Monday. The festivities kick off with an opening ceremony on Sunday morning, with the parade starting at 10am. Monday’s adult’s day parade starts at 10.30am and afterparties run until after dark. There’s nothing stopping you from going both days, of course.
Do I need a ticket for Notting Hill Carnival?
The NHC parade is free for anyone to attend and everyone is welcome. But, if you want to join in with the parade, you need to be part of a group authorised to do so, or pay to join the procession. If you want to continue the festivities into the night, you will need to buy a ticket for one of the countless afterparties across the city.
Travel by tube:
As Notting Hill’s roads will be closed off throughout the Bank Holiday weekend, you won’t be able to get an Uber or catch a bus into the heart of the action. But there are plenty of nearby tube stations are within walking distance of the main event including Notting Hill Gate, which will be ‘exit only’ from 11am to 7pm each day, to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people using the station that day. FYI: there will be no interchange between the Circle and District line and Central Line on both days.
Royal Oak and Westbourne Park will be ‘exit only’ from 11am to 6pm, with Royal Oak closing thereafter and Westbourne Park closing after 11.30pm. Also don’t forget: Latimer road will be closed from 11.30pm on both days. Avoid Ladbroke Grove and Holland Park as they’re both closed on Sunday and Monday.
Want a Carnival hack? Don’t forget to pick a meeting point in advance for when you inevitably lose your mates in the crowd.
2. Glowing animatronic swans will fill the Thames at this year’s Greenwich + Docklands Festival
London’s spectacular free outdoor Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is back for 2023. The free line-up once again features the sort of spectacular installations that have become its hallmark since the pandemic moved the focus away from street theatre. Look out for ‘Cygnus’ by Denis Bivour and Florian Giefer, which will see illuminated animatronic swans fill the Thames at the Royal Docks (Aug 31-Sep 3), the festival opener ‘Open Lines’ (Aug 25) and the return of GDIF regulars Greenwich Fair (a big Greenwich-wide family fun day on Aug 26).
3. Dance to Stormzy, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, HAIM, Erykah Badu and more at All Points East
Since its inception in 2018, All Points East has earned a reputation for a varied blend of musical styles and genres. Back in Vicky Park for another instalment, it’s confirmed big-hitting headliners Stormzy, HAIM, The Strokes, Jungle and Dermot Kennedy. The support acts are just as enticing, with the likes of Erykah Badu, Amyl and the Sniffers, Confidence Man, Angel Olsen, Tove Lo and more warming up the stage. This all comes bookended with free activities around the local area from In The NBHD.
Line-up: Stormzy, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, HAIM, Erykah Badu, Dermot Kennedy, Jungle.
This year’s headliners are Stormzy (August 18), Field Day (August 19), The Strokes (August 25), Jungle (August 26), Dermot Kennedy (August 27) and Haim (August 28).
The rest of the line-up features a huge range of artists, from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Erykah Badu to Angel Olsen, Confidence Man, Sampha and Kehlani.
How to get tickets
You can get tickets for each day on the official website here.
Ticket prices differ depending on the tier and entry time you choose. Some dates still have primary entry available, and ticket prices can start from £57.05. However, it looks like it’s selling out, so be sure to book now to avoid disappointment.
4. Tuck into six-course tasting menu inspired by fantastical tales at Six by Nico
Get a nostalgic captivating dining experience, inspired by fantastical tales
Word about Six by Nico has spread across the country thanks to its novel concept: its ever-evolving six-course tasting menu changes every six weeks each time with a different theme inviting you on a journey of discovery to experience new flavours. Whether you are a food novice or connoisseur, enjoy a carefully curated experience with everything from an amuse-bouche to an indulging dessert. Right now you can tuck into the ‘Once Upon A Time: Chapter II’ menu inspired by fantastical tales.
Highlights
- A carefully curated six-course tasting menu inspired by nostalgic memories
- Offer also includes a glass of Prosecco
- Vegetarian menu also available
- Over 30% off
Time Out says
Famed for its ever-evolving restaurant concept, where the menu changes every six weeks, Six By Nico invites you on a journey of discovery to experience new flavours. Whether you are a food novice or connoisseur, enjoy a carefully curated experience with a six-course tasting menu with everything from an amuse bouche that pleases the palate to an indulging dessert. Enjoy the ‘Once Upon A Time: Chapter II’ menu, a captivating dining experience, inspired by fantastical tales that are sure to delight with every bite.
What’s on the menu?
Once Upon A Time: Chapter II
Course One
Bird Pie – The Twits; Chicken & Duck Leg Ragu, Pickled Celeriac, Prune & Caramelised Puff Pastry
Course Two
Just Right Porridge – Goldilocks; Spaetzle, Barbecue Maitake, White Turnip, Black Garlic Dressing
Course Three
I Like Them, Sam-I-Am! – Dr. Seuss; Smoked Ham Hough Sandwich, Garden Pea Pesto, Egg Yolk Jam
Course Four
Dip Face, Have A Carrot – Matilda; Sole Ballotine, Tandoori Baked Carrot, Carrot Top Pesto, Lobster Jus
Course Five
I’ll Huff, And I’ll Puff! – Three Little Pigs; Pork Roulade, Pumpkin, Sweet & Sour Choucroute, Smoked Ash Emulsion, Bourguignon Jus
Course Six
Brucey! Brucey! – Matilda; 54% Chocolate Cremeux, Miso Caramel, Mango & Passion Fruit
Need to know
- This voucher is valid for six courses and a glass of Prosecco at Six By Nico.
- To redeem, please book here, with your preferred date and time. Please include your voucher, and security code in the comments section.
- The Once Upon A Time: Chapter II menu will be available to book during the valid dates of this voucher. Please visit Six by Nico to view all menu options at both Fitzrovia and Canary Wharf locations.
- The six-course tasting menu is priced at £48 per person with the option to enjoy an expertly selected wine. Specialist drinks pairing for an additional £35 at each restaurant.
- All Six by Nico menus can cater to dietary requirements and can be made vegan upon request and if enough notice is given to our team of chefs.
- Voucher valid until September 24, 2023.
- Please present your voucher upon arrival.
- Offer not valid on Saturdays.
- Maximum booking of six people.
- One voucher per person.
- Menu subject to change.
- The restaurant must be informed of any changes/cancellations – if the booking is cancelled within 24 hours of your booking, the voucher will be deemed to have been redeemed for the current booking and cannot be used towards a new booking.
- Location(s): Six by Nico Fitzrovia, 41 Charlotte Street, London W1T 1RR and Six by Nico Canary Wharf, Chancellor Passage, London E14 5EA.
- This voucher cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer. For full terms and conditions.
The Best Upcoming Events in London in July 2023
The Best of London in July 2023: Your Ultimate Guide to Events and Things to Do.
July is a great time to be in London. The weather is warm and sunny, the city's parks are lush and green, and there are plenty of exciting events happening.
1. The BBC Proms is back with a whole load of classical treats
☆ Music, ☆ South Kensington, ☆
Another year, another spectacular line-up of classical music, kicking off with a series of Nordic music and a world premiere from Ukrainian composer, Bohdana Frolyak on July 14, and waving us off in the traditional flurry of Union Jacks and bow ties on September 9. In 2023 the BBC Proms will be treating us to a huge range of programming featuring composers and orchestras from Berlioz to Bollywood, large scale symphonic and choral work, as well as intimate chamber concerts and exciting debuts. Look out for big classical hitters like Sir Stephen Hough, Sir Simon Rattle and Chineke! orchestra as well as more off-the-wall editions like orchestral collaborations with non-classical artists, including Rufus Wainwright, Self Esteem and Jon Hopkins, the first Bollywood Prom, Northern Soul Prom and the first concert featuring fado with Portuguese singer Mariza. For little ones, the Horrible Histories present ‘Orrible Opera, while unusual experiences for young and old include a late night Moon and Stars Prom and the Fantasy, Myths and Legends Prom featuring music from film, TV and gaming. Booking ahead is recommended.
2. Head to London Zoo after dark" with "Embark on a unique adults-only adventure
☆ Zoo Nights are back for 2023!
A reincarnation of Zoo Lates (which ended in 2015), Zoo Nights brings ‘after hours’ fun to ZSL London Zoo. Explore the zoo without crowds or kids in the way (this is an adults only experience), hear the Birds and The Bees guided tour where expert guides reveal what animals get up to after dark, play animal-themed games, graze on delicious international street food (there’s plenty for herbivores and carnivores alike) or grab a drink at one of the bars. Time to unpack that elephant onsie?
Highlights
- See the zoo without the kids or the crowds!
- Animal-themed games
- Street food and bars also available
- Get tickets now for just £19.50
When and where?
Fridays, June 9 until July 28 from 6 pm at London Zoo
Need to know
- This is valid for a ticket to Zoo Nights at London Zoo.
- This event is restricted to those aged 18 and over.
- This booking is only valid for your selected date/time option.
- Arrival from 6 pm, last entry at 9 pm, event ends at 10 pm.
- Please note the majority of the animal exhibits will close at 9 pm, with some exceptions closing at 9.30 pm.
- *Additional charges apply for the Birds and The Bees guided tour.
- Please present your booking confirmation upon arrival.
- Location: Outer Circle, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY.
- This ticket cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer.
3. Immerse yourself in the excitement of Wimbledon on a giant screen
☆ Things to do
Missed out on tickets in the Wimbledon Tennis Championships ballot? Can’t face camping out on the street for day tickets? No problem. London is a city that gives back and this summer it will be peppered with big screens showing all the Murray Mound (okay, Henman Hill) action in so much blown-up high-res glory that you might as well be court-side.
This year the tournament (which started in 1877!) runs from Monday 3rd July 2023 to Sunday 16th July 2023 and you’ll catch screens across the capital showing most matches on each day of the event, so there are plenty of opportunities to spend an afternoon or evening in a sweet viewing spot.
There will be more big screens announced nearer the time, many of which will also have extras such as special edition cocktails, food offers and even pop-up tennis coaching. Take that Centre Court.
4. Ballie Ballerson: The ultimate adult playground for kidults
Highlights
- Ticket includes all-night entry, two-hour ball pit session and a cocktail
- Ball pits, dance floor & more
- Just £6!
Need to know
- This voucher is valid for a two-hour ball pit session, all-night bar entry and 1 signature cocktail at Ballie Ballerson.
- Availability: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6 pm until close.
- Please present your Time Out booking confirmation to the door team upon arrival to claim your cocktail.
- To book your ball pit session, select your preferred time slot and enter the unique voucher code from your Time Out booking confirmation, here.
- Voucher must be purchased and ball pit session booked before entry to the venue.
- Voucher valid until 30 September 2023.
- This offer is restricted to those aged 18 and over. Valid ID is required for entry.
- Offer not valid on student nights.
- Ballie Ballerson reserves the right to offer another cocktail choice of the same value if necessary.
- Location: 97-113 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3BS.
- This voucher cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer. For full terms and conditions, please see here.
5. Sit down and tuck into a grand Italian feast at the Museum of the Home
☆ Things to do, ☆ Food and drink events ☆ Hoxton, ☆
Think of your dream dinner party... then dial that vision up to 11 because mightly quaffable Italian beer Birrificio Angelo Poretti is offering Londoners a seat at it’s very own summer banquet and you can expect something straight out of your tablescaped dreams. Poretti has teamed up with Insta famous Mob Kitchen for the feast with recipe developer Jordon Ezra King creating an authentic three-course Italian menu that pairs perfectly with, you guessed it, ice-cold carafes of Poretti beer.
The beautiful Museum of the Home in Hackney will be hosting a huge banqueting table where 100 guests will sit down and tuck in over three sittings (12.30pm-2.30pm; 4pm-6pm; 7.30pm-9.30pm). Expect dishes you’ll want to photograph for posterity, the chance to chat to new people and decorations that’ll transport you straight to northern Italy. Bellissimo.
Buy Ticket
Experience an array of unmissable events and things to do in London June 2023.
Discover a vibrant lineup of exciting events taking place in London throughout the month of June. Immerse yourself in the cultural, entertainment, and artistic offerings that the city has to offer during this time.
June in London is one of those months that’s filled with a sense of excitement. It’s that ‘school’s out!’ feeling, until you remember that you left school years ago, and ‘summer holidays’ don’t really exist for adults. Shame.
June is also the start of summer in London, which means the capital’s beer gardens are at their prime, the city parks are at their prettiest, the open-air theatre season gets into full swing and eating alfresco is on the cards at some of London’s best restaurants. Plus, expect to see long queues in south west London as tennis fans line up to bag a place at the epic Wimbledon championships.
1. Summer Exhibition 2023
it’s back. The RA’s annual showcase of all the artists you need to know about right now returns for its 255th edition to brighten up the summer holidays. The world’s oldest open submission exhibition (which means anyone can enter their work to be considered for inclusion), the artist with the big job of sifting through the works and curating them this year is David Remfry. He’ll be exploring the theme ‘Only Connect’, inspired by a quote from the novel ‘Howards End’ by E. M. Forster.
Here are the three things you'll see at the Summer Exhibition
Big names
Now in its 255th year, the Summer Exhibition still knows how to get the big art names in. Expect work from the likes of Frank Bowling, Michael Craig-Martin, Tracey Emin, Gillian Wearing and the late Paula Rego, as well as Honorary Royal Academicians Mimmo Paladino, Pipilotti Rist and Kiki Smith. Newly elected Royal Academicians Roger Hiorns, Hew Locke, Veronica Ryan and Barbara Walker will be submitting works, as well as newly elected Honorary Royal Academician Kara Walker.
Little names
The great thing about the Summer Exhibition is that it’s open to all, and the selectors pick from thousands of entries. That means that your mate’s mum’s weird little whittled sculptures of George Michael might be shown alongside something by Antony Gormley. It’s a good opportunity to spot an art star of the future. And also see weird stuff by your mate’s mum.
And a huge amount of art
There are usually hundreds of works in this sprawling show. From miniature paintings to enormous canvases, architectural models to photography, there’s something for everyone. And hey, most of it is for sale, so you may just be able to nab a bargain.
2. Serpentine Pavilion
As sure as the sun will rise and winter will turn into spring, Hyde Park will play host to a new Serpentine Pavilion every year, and 2023’s has just hatched into the world. This one was designed by French-Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh and is inspired by the Mediterranean urge to sit around a dining table and put the world to rights. The name of the pavilion is ‘À table’, French for ‘sit the f**k down at the dinner table or you’re going to get a whack around the ear’. The idea is that it’s meant to make visitors think about the table as a place of discussion, engagement, dialogue and exchange, all while sharing a meal.
3. River Stage
4. Pub in the Park
5. ‘Newsies’
✡ till June 25 at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, Wembley
Highlights
-
- Olivier Award-winning musical now in the UK
- Performing at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
- Tickets from just £16.50!
Imagine a cross between ‘Annie’, ‘Les Miserables’, and one of those elaborate gymnastic-based spectacles staged by communist countries and you’re halfway there to imaging Disney’s cult classic musical ‘Newsies’ about striking that has finally hit the UK. The Troubadour Theatre’s high-octane production captures all its vigorous spirit, sending its huge cast of plucky, rebellious paperboys tumbling and leaping across its mammoth stage as they stand up to the big bosses who are determined to grind them down.
Need to know
- This is valid for a ticket to Disney's Newsies at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre.
- This booking is only valid for your selected date/time option and band.
- E-tickets will be sent directly from the box office via email, please present your tickets upon arrival at the venue. If you do not receive your e-tickets by the day of your performance, please contact the box office via wptboxoffice@kxtickets.com, for assistance.
- Time Out booking confirmations cannot be used to gain entry as seats are allocated by the box office and not by Time Out. Customers purchasing multiple tickets in the same transaction under the same name will be sat together.
- Doors open 30 minutes before each performance. The show runs approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including interval.
- Location: 3 Fulton Road, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 0SP.
- This voucher cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer.
6. ‘Crazy for You’
The legendary Susan Stroman directs this massive new West End production of the beloved retro musical
‘Crazy for You’ is a golden age musical comedy that’s actually from 1992: writer Ken Ludwig took a load of classic songs by George and Ira Gershwin – largely from the 1930 musical ‘Girl Crazy’ – and spun them into a shimmeringly delightful retro confection that’s almost indistinguishable from the era it’s paying homage to, the odd knowing flourish aside. Following Bobby Child, a rich banking scion who must – for complicated reasons – stage a successful musical in a backwater Nevada town in order to win over the woman he loves, it’s a loving tribute to a bygone era of great American musicals that probably seemed more distant in the Lloyd Webber-dominated early ’90s than it does now.
The original production was choreographed by the great Susan Stroman; for this revival – which has already played to great acclaim at the Chichester Festival Theatre – she also directs a cast headed up by Charlie Stemp and Tom Edden.
Details
- Event website: www.CrazyForYouMusical.com
- Address: Gillian Lynne Theatre. 166. Drury Lane (corner of Parker Street), London. WC2B 5PW
- Transport: Tube: Covent Garden/Holborn
- Price: £25-£250
7. Gouqi
Chef Tong Chee Hwee, who helped earn Mayfair Chinese spot Hakkasan its Michelin star is back on the London food scene cooking up elevated and refined dishes using techniques and ingredients from across China at Gouqi. Try the Angus tenderloin beef with black pepper sauce, sautéed crystal jumbo prawns with yellow chive in XO sauce, or clay pot silken egg tofu with wild mushroom and vegetable for yourself with this eqclusive deal letting you enjoy top-tier dining for just £45 per person.
Highlights
- Three courses of Chinese fine dining from seven Michelin-starred chef Tong Chee Hwee
- Plus a glass of wine
- Now just £45 per person (minimum booking of two required)
Everyone loves a comeback. This restaurant marks a return to London’s restaurant scene for Chef Tong, who worked across Singaporean and Malaysian restaurants, before securing a spot at Hakkasan (when the restaurant earned its Michelin star). Now, he’s cementing his place as a figurehead at Gouqi, where he creates elevated and refined dishes using techniques and ingredients from across China. Enjoy top-tier dining for just £45 per person, where you indulge in dishes like Angus tenderloin beef with black pepper sauce, sautéed crystal jumbo prawns with yellow chive in XO sauce, or clay pot silken egg tofu with wild mushroom and vegetable. How dreamy does that sound?
What's on the menu?
Starter - choose one:
Crispy aromatic duck salad
Lotus root salad with courgette and black fungus (V)
Main - choose one:
Angus tenderloin beef with black pepper sauce
Sautéed crystal jumbo prawns with yellow chive in XO sauce
Claypot silken egg tofu with wild mushroom and vegetable (V)
with seasonal vegetables and steamed Jasmine rice (V)
Dessert - choose one:
Banana, Miso, Caramelised White Chocolate and Coffee
Mango, Passion Fruit and Coconut (V)
Need to know
- This voucher is valid for three courses and a drink at Gouqi.
- Minimum of two people to book
- Availability: Monday to Friday noon - 2.30 pm, daily 5.30 pm - 6.30 pm / 9.30 pm - 10 pm. Blackout dates may apply. Subject to availability.
- To redeem, please send your booking confirmation to reservations@gouqi-restaurants.co.uk or call 0203 771 8886 with your preferred date and time. Your voucher, security code and QR code must be clear.
- Please present your voucher upon arrival.
- Voucher valid until > July 30, 2023.
- Menu subject to change. Offer includes house wine only.
- Please inform the restaurant of any allergies or dietary requirements in advance.
- The restaurant must be informed of any changes/cancellations within 48 hours of your booking. If the booking is cancelled after this time, the voucher will be deemed to have been redeemed for the current booking and cannot be used towards a new booking.
- Dress code is smart casual.
- Prices and menus online are subject to changes.
- Gouqi is located opposite the Canadian Embassy on Cockspur Street, and next to Trafalgar Hotel.
- Location: 25-34 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5BN.
- This voucher cannot be cancelled, amended, exchanged, refunded or used in conjunction with any other offer.