What's On in London
Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace
Catch this stirring ceremony starting at 11.27am (not in very wet weather). For best views stand in front of the Palace railings or by the Victoria memorial.
You will get many opportunities to photograph the Guards, the best time is not actually during the Guard change but before or after.
Wellington Barracks to the left of Buckingham Palace as you face it, it is best just after the ceremony.St James' Palace before or after the guard change at Buckingham Palace.
During the ceremony (at about 10.45am and again at 11.40am), the mounted guards will ride past, firstly going up 'The Mall' and then returning back down.
Want a picture standing next to a guard? Go to St James' Palace, walk past the courtyard of the Palace and turn left around the corner (into Pall Mall) and there is a guard standing all on his own, you can go and stand right next to him!
Go to Horse Guards Parade and in Whitehall you can get a picture standing next to a guard mounted on their horse!!
www.changing-the-guard.com
Chelsea Flower Show
Royal Hospital Chelsea
20th - 24th May 2008
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the gardening Mecca of Europe. It sets the latest gardening trends, features the newest and most desirable gardening products and creates an explosion of colours and scents.
There are around 600 exhibitors in total. The show will feature around 50 gardens and more than 100 floral exhibitors in the Great Pavilion.
International exhibitors come from countries as far away as the Sweden, Barbados, Sri Lanka, France, Holland, Germany, Australia, Jamaica, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago and Zimbabwe.
Some exhibitors such as Nottcutts, Kelways and McBean’s Orchids have exhibited at the show since its early days.
Among the top garden designers creating show gardens this year are Jinny Blom, Andy Sturgeon, Diarmuid Gavin, Sarah Eberle, Marcus Barnett, Philip Nixon and Gabriella Pape and Isabelle Van Groeningen.
Opening Hours: Tue-Fri 8am-8pm; Sat 8am-5.30pm
Please note: the first two days are for RHS members only
www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea/2008/index.asp
Red Bull Flugtag
7th June 2008
Never one to miss out on a good marketing opportunity, Red Bull makes full use of its "...gives you wings" slogan by hosting this year's Flugtag in London's Hyde Park.
Anyone wondering what a Flugtag is should refer to the famous Bognor Birdman event. If you're still in the dark, it's basically about man's eternal battle with gravity, coupled with an extraordinary willingness to look stupid.
Forty teams take part and spectators can see the daredevil pilots "flying" their man-powered craft from a 20-foot high ramp over/into the murky waters below.
Opening Hours: 1pm
Trooping The Colour
14th June 2008
Come and join in the Queen's birthday celebrations at Trooping the Colour in June.
The Queen's birthday is officially celebrated with the Trooping the Colour. The Queen's actual birthday is on 21 April, but it's traditional to celebrate the Sovereign's birthday in the summer, when the weather's better.
Trooping the Colour involves more than 1400 officers and soldiers on parade, together with 200 horses, 400 musicians from 10 bands and the corps of drums.
The parade route extends from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and back again.
At 11am, the royal procession arrives. The Queen takes the royal salute and inspects the troops.
After the event, the Royal Family gathers on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch an RAF flypast. Make sure you're there too!
Royal Ascot
17th - 21st June 2008
Most people, even if they have no interest in racing, have heard of Royal Ascot. Over the past 300 years, Royal Ascot has established itself as a national institution; the centrepiece of the British social calendar. It's also the ultimate stage for the best racehorses in the world.
The 5-day festival takes place in London in mid-June and attracts royals, celebrities and commoners alike.
Royal Ascot in London, dating back to 1768, is an internationally renowned sporting and social occasion.
Tradition, pageantry, fashion and style all meet in a glorious setting.
The Queen's own horses race and the ladies wear the most outrageous hats at London's annual society bash.
The pomp and ceremony, the outrageous dressy outfits and the excellent racing are all perfect excuses to visit.
Wimbledon 2008
23rd - 6th July
The world of tennis descends on Wimbledon in London for 2 weeks' excitement every summer.
The tournament attracts around 500,000 spectators and millions of television viewers worldwide.
During the first week, the early rounds of the Men's and Ladies' Singles, Men's, Ladies' and Mixed Doubles are played; the top seeds' matches played on the show courts. On the middle Saturday, the Veterans' and Juniors' events start and are played on the outside courts as well as on some of the show courts.
Players from more than 60 nations compete in front of a crowd of millions worldwide, through the press, radio, internet and television.
Come and watch some great sporting heroes play and indulge in a traditional snack of strawberries and cream.
90th Birthday Concert
Hyde Park
27th June 2008
Nelson Mandela has asked Will Smith to host his 90th birthday party, to be held in London's Hyde Park this summer, it was reported today.
Annie Lennox and Queen have signed up to play alongside Brit bands Razorlight and Keane, and U2, the Spice Girls and Sir Paul McCartney have also been invited to perform at the event, which will raise funds for Mandela’s campaign against Aids.
Organisers are also trying to persuade controversial rapper Eminem to come out of retirement to play the June 27 gig, which is expected to be one of the biggest concerts of the year, and will coincide with Glastonbury festival.
Would-be concert-goers have been asked to register on the campaign’s official website www.46664.com to buy the 45,000 tickets for the show.
Hard Rock Calling 2008
Hyde Park
28th and 29th June
Legendary concerts in London's Hyde Park are back for 2008, under a new name: Hard Rock Calling...
The legendary Eric Clapton will headline Saturday 28th June with special guests Sheryl Crow and John Mayer, more acts to be announced shortly.
The Police are to headline on Sunday 29th June with special guests KT Tunstall and Starsailor, again with more acts to be added to the bill.
Gates will open at 14:00 and are currently scheduled to end at approximately 22:30.
Set times will not be available until the week of the event.
London Hyde Park
3rd - 6th July 2008
The coolest festival in the heart of the city. Summertime, and London's Hyde Park plays host to 4 nights of incredible line-ups and cutting edge bands.
Thurs: JAY Z - Mark Ronson - Hot Chip & more
Fri: Morrissey - Beck & more
Sat: Fatboy Slim - Underworld & more
Sun: Counting Crows - Ben Harper & more
Gates will open at 14:00 on the Thursday and Friday, and at 12:00 on the Saturday and Sunday of this festival.
The event is scheduled to finish at 22:30 on all days.
This year the Last Night celebrations in Hyde Park include the grand finale of BBC Two’s series Maestro. Join Terry Wogan and a host of international stars, including José Carreras, accompanied by Proms in the Park favourites the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Martin Yates.The party gets under way with Abba tribute band Björn Again and all-male vocal group Teatro.
Gates open 4.00pm
Entertainment on stage from 5.30pm
It’s a blast from the past as the first major exhibition on Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun heads to London for nearly 35 years. Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of Pharaohs is already attracting millions of visitors on its tour of the US and it’s set to head for the capital. If the last Tutankhamun London exhibition during the 1970s is anything to go by, visitors will be queuing for ages to get a glimpse of the life of the famous pharaoh.
The Tutankhamun London exhibition is scheduled for November 2007 at the O2 Dome. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday 12th September 2007.
Ticket prices are expected to be £15.00 for adults, £7.50 for children, £12.50 for concessions and £45.00 for families on weekdays, and £20.00 for adults, £10.00 for children, £16.00 for concessions and £50 for families on weekends.
www.kingtut.org
|
