Who doesn’t love a sneak preview? It was a late night opening at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and most visitors were enjoying the very loud and upbeat band playing in the main entrance. However, I was there to use my members only entry to the reopened Cast Courts and as I flashed my card at the entrance, I found I had them to myself – what a treat. Continue reading
Painted portraits or photographic portraits – is one medium better than the other for capturing a person, is there more skill in the painting or the photograph? I was pondering these questions as I approached the National Portrait Gallery to view the annual Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize. Earlier in the year I had enjoyed their exhibition of painted portraits and here’s my blog about it so you can compare the two: BP Portrait Award. I had really enjoyed many of those pieces still remembered them so was slightly apprehensive that I would not be as impressed, a little unfair I know, but there it is! Continue reading
London has so many museums and galleries, from the world-famous ones such as British Museum and Natural History Museum, V&A and National Gallery through to fascinating smaller and niche ones such Sir John Soane’s, Denis Severs, The Fan Museum and the Museum of Brands and Packaging – and so many more… However, we do love a new opening so we were excited to hear that after a couple of years of preparations, the Science Gallery was finally ready to visit. Continue reading
It’s been a mammoth undertaking! This was the introduction from Jane Alison, the co-curator of the Barbican’s new exhibition, Modern Couples, which explores how all the relationships featured in the exhibition have changed art and how society viewed these relationships. This is not art seen as it so often is through the lens of the single male genius but instead it opens up our thinking about what emerges from collaborations between couples and it makes a particular point of putting the women first in each couple (where there is a man/woman couple) making her the lead, not the muse or supporter. A refreshing viewpoint, which feels very much in tune with our times. Continue reading
The first member of the royal family to visit India was Edward when he was Prince of Wales in 1875. The purpose of the tour was to establish and strengthen diplomatic links with the independent rulers of Indian Subcontinent who were not under the British crown. He visited more than 21 places over 8 months and met over 90 rulers and the gifts mounted up. Continue reading
I’ve been looking through all kinds of listings to pick out some good stuff for you for the next 3 months in London. Scroll through for Special Events, Theatre, Art Galleries, Shopping, Fashion and Markets, Museums and Exhibitions, Foodie Things, Parks, Gardens and Royal Palaces, Sport and Music.
Getting a table at London’s no reservations restaurants can be a real pain but usually well worth it when it happens. Check out my review of The Barbary to see one recent success. Hoppers is another venue I’d been wanting to try out for months but their Frith Street site was always surrounded by crowds of people wondering whether 2 hours was a reasonable time to wait for a table. I decided not, so went right to the source and visited Sri Lanka instead! Hoppers there are everywhere, even on the breakfast buffet in our hotel and I found I really like them.
Once a year London lets us into its hidden treasures, the many fine buildings which we usually can only see from the outside. Open House weekend is when it happens and it’s one of my favourite times to be exploring London. Some of the buildings are accessible all year, some only for an entry fee but during Open House weekend, a huge list of buildings are there for us to enjoy and it’s all free!
If you fancy seeing royal carriages, fine horses and trying on some costumes, then the Royal Mews is well worth a visit. It’s just around the corner from Buckingham Palace but most people walk past it without realising the treasures inside. So, join me on a visit… Continue reading
The V&A has a second museum in Bethnal Green which is dedicated to celebrating childhood, full of beautiful exhibits that take you right back to when you were little. Their special exhibition is just that, special, and is all about the extraordinary work of Michael Morpurgo. Called a Lifetime in Stories, it takes us on a journey through his life and his incredible body of work, including of course his most famous book War Horse. Continue reading