Unearth Travel Blog

This Week, London Top 10: 30th May

May 30, 2007

This week’s list: take a step back and realise what you have been missing.

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  1. Regents Park Open Air Theatre
    Regents Park, £16-40
    Open Air Theatre is a wonderful way to enjoy the long British summer evenings. This year Regents Park is putting on a series of performances, so whether you fancy the dark descents of Macbeth’s ambition, Roald Dahl’s quick witted Fantastic Mr Fox, the magical tale of miss-matched lovers in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lady Be Good or The Boy Friend, you are sure not to be disappointed.
  2. Trooping of the Colour
    Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade, 10:45-1:00, Free 17 June (Rehearsal 2/9 June)
    Each year in celebration of the Queen’s official birthday you can enjoy London’s most spectacular military tradition The Trooping of the Colour. The pageantry begins at 10:45 from Buckingham Palace and the procession heads towards Horse Guards Parade. Although on the Royal B-Day (17 June) you get a full royal gun salute, a RAF flyby and even a glimpse of the Queen you can avoid the crowds by going to one of the two rehearsals on either the 2nd or 9th of June.
  3. Antony Gormley
    Hayward Gallery, £8, until 19th August
    The Hayward presents Blind Light, the first major London showing of the work of British sculptor Antony Gormley. If you have wandered around London recently and noticed man-shaped sculptural casts standing on rooftops and walkways, you have already seen his work. Inside the Hayward there are a number of spectacular works including “suspended figures created in light-infused webs of steel”. The exhibtion shows off his beautifully balanced use of light to form searching portraits of man. It’s definitely worth a look.
  4. F1 British Grand Prix
    Silverstone, 8 July, From £99
    This season’s F1 Championship is hotly contended. Rookie Brit, Lewis Hamilton, is leading the pack by a narrow margin. Will Lewis Hamilton fly the flag for Britain and win his debut at the British Grand Prix, anything could happen. Listen to the roar of engine, the wizz of the cars, the pop of Champaign and pray for sunshine.
  5. Living with the Edwardians: 1901-1910
    Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising, Notting Hill, Tue-Sun, £5.80, Ends August 31st
    The Museum offers a beautifully disordered insight into the Edwardian consumer world. See chocolate boxes, half-penny postcards, whiff whaff (now known as table tennis), OXO, dresses, gramophones and board-games.
  6. Rafta Rafta…
    Lyttelton Theatre (The National Theatre), £10-40, Ends Sep 8th
    “The wedding feast is over and his father’s dancing the bhangra, but the groom himself is busy on the net and when it’s time for bed, he’s so woefully inhibited by the proximity of his parents, let alone his brother’s childish pranks, that his beautiful virgin bride remains just that. Six weeks later, the whole family start to panic.”
    “A hugely warm-hearted, comic tale of close-knit Indian family life in England by the author of East is East, Ayub Khan-Din. Bollywood actor Harish Patel, making his debut on the London stage, is joined by Meera Syal.”
  7. Monday Club - Harry Hill
    Tattershall Castle, Embankment, Monday 4th June, Doors 7.30pm, Show 8:30-11pm, £10
    The 4th of June sees Britain’s comic genius Harry Hill jump aboard the Tatershall Castle. Alongside the long running British staple are Stewart Lee, Greg Davies and MC Andrew Bird. The Tattershall Castle is a great place to grab a drink and watch the world go by as the river flows under you. So head here straight from work to get seats and fully lubricated before the show begins.
  8. Moving Africa 3
    Barbican, June 4-9, £12
    The Barbican continues ‘the bite’ contemporary African dance series with two new double bills, Umthombi/mpro-Vise_2 and Plasticization/C’est a Dire. The performances are certain to be beautifully choreographed, dynamic and full of energy and tell the poignant and evocative stories of rural African life.
  9. Boeing-Boeing
    Comedy Theatre, Until October 20, £15-45
    “Bernard, a successful architect living in Paris, thinks he can easily cope with his three air-hostess fiancées. It is all a question of timetables and a reliable, long-suffering housekeeper who reluctantly has the role of romantic air-traffic controller. When old school friend Robert arrives, Bernard relishes the chance to show his wide-eyed visitor his first-class operation at work. Unfortunately, schedules change, flights are delayed and a new turbo-charged Boeing aircraft is introduced: chaos ensues in this hysterical whirl of mayhem and matchmaking.”
  10. Take a trip to the Cinema
    Shiver Me Timbers. Jack Sparrow is loose, better catch the blighter.

If you have ideas for next week, or want to have your say, leave a comment or send me an email (info@unearthtravel.com) Jeremy Boote

This Week, London Top 10: 23th May

May 23, 2007

This week’s list: singing, dancing. A bit of a sting really!

  1. Friday Late
    Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A), 25 May, 18:30-22:00, Free
    The V&A invites you to Surrealist Ball, “A decadent night of the unexpected and inexplicable.” Experience “the beautifully orchestrated chaos” as it unfurls before you. Levitation, lobsters and an inverted psychoanalytical procedure are all on the roster. Plus, a museum raffle, a macabre booth and to get your mind in the mood, numerous bars.
  2. Carmen Jones
    Southbank Centre, 25 July – 2 September, £12-49
    The Southbank Centre celebrates the reopening of the Royal Festival Hall with a new production of the compelling musical, Carmen Jones. Oscar Hammersteins has brilliantly contemporized Bizet’s Carmen into an all black southern US setting whilst retaining the lust, love, jealousy and tragedy of the famous tale. With music provided by the World Class London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia, let yourself be whisked away into a world of spirit and charm.
  3. UBS Openings: The Long Weekend
    Tate Modern, 25-28 May, Ranging from Free - £18
    The Tate Modern plays host to four-days packed with “remarkable and unmissable one-off performances by celebrated international artists and musicians around the dramatic setting of the Turbine Hall”. Expect a fairground of entertainment, musical manipulative distortion, visionary film and the sensations of art licking. Please Note: One of the installations is surrounded by toffee apples (Beware if Hungry)!
  4. Sing-a-long Sound-a of Music
    Prince Charles Theatre, 25 May (Monthly), 7:30pm, £15
    “Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music is your chance to test your vocal range with several hundred other assorted nuns, Von Trapp family members and Julie Andrews look-a-likes.” Get into fancy dress and boo, bark, cheer and sing along to the Von Trapps as they skip thought the Alps.
  5. Luigi Colani Translating Nature
    Design Museum, Until 17 June, £5-7
    Colani, a great maverick of 20th Century design, has applied organic form to worldly items in an attempt to conceptialise the future of the transport industry, architecture and furniture. The exhibition puts on display a series of large scale prototypes: trucks, aircraft and cars as well as more homely items. A brilliant demonstration of how nature can influence and instruct us on design.
  6. Fly a Kite

    Let’s go fly a kite
    Up to the highest height
    Let’s go fly a kite
    And send it soaring

    Up through the atmosphere
    Up where the air is clear
    Oh, let’s go fly a kite
    Let’s go fly a kite!

    Good old Mary Poppins!

  7. Hidden London Theatres: SE1 and beyond
    National Theatre, Cottesloe Theatre, Friday 1 June, 6pm, £3.50
    “John Constable talks about the theatrical history of the ‘Outlaw Borough’ from Shakespeare’s Bankside to the present day South Bank. Chaired by Al Senter.”
  8. Become a Beekeeper
    Want a pet? Not a dog lover? Perhaps Bee keeping is for you. Apiculture is also great for the environment especially with the recent drop in the Bee population. So where to start? Buzz along to the North London Beekeepers who run a series of classes for beginners that can be followed by their “adopt-a-hive” programme for even more experience before venturing out on your own.
  9. Vernon God Little
    Young Vic, 30 April - 9 June, £21.50 (£9.50 Under 26s)
    “It’s Friday at the Sheriff’s office. Vernon sits in his underpants, staring at his Nikes. His best friend Jesus went and killed all their classmates, then himself. Normal times just ran howling from town. DBC Pierre’s Booker Prize winning darkly riotous, superbly fast-talking adventure hits the stage in a world premiere. It is directed by Rufus Norris whose Afore Night Come at the Young Vic and Festen in the West End both won Evening Standard awards.”
  10. African Music Festival
    South Bank Centre, 22 May-30 May, £10-20
    “The London African Music Festival takes inspiration from the whole African continent, which is heard through the variety of musical styles and traditions in the Festival. The Festival celebrates the fact that London is home to one of the largest African communities in Europe, with every African culture represented amongst the estimated one million Africans that live and work in the capital.”

Carmen Jones

Friday Late

UBS Long Weekend

Fly a Kite

Vernon God Little

Fly Tower

If you have ideas for next week, or want to have your say, leave a comment or send me an email (info@unearthtravel.com) Jeremy Boote

This Week, London Top 10: 16th May

May 15, 2007

This week’s list, yummy fast and fun.

  1. Red Bull Air Race - www.redbullairrace.com
    London, 29th July (Bookings Open 17th May)
    The world’s greatest pilots take to the skies in the hope of being triumphant. Flying against the clock, the pilots have to slalom through pylons, known as ‘Air Gates’ at speeds that can reach 400km/h and withstand forces of up to 10g. The pilots are using some of the lightest, most agile and responsive planes that exist, but ultimately it’s the pilot’s stamina and skill that determines who will be crowned the next Red Bull Air Race World Series champion. This year, the UK Stage will be held in London and with fast low level flying over a relatively compact course, spectators are guaranteed a treat.
  2. FA Cup Final
    Wembley Stadium or BBC1, Chelsea v Man U, Kick-off 15:00
    The FA Cup is in its 126th year and after a long wait it is returning to Wembley. Man United, newly crowned with their Premiership Title face Chelsea, desperate to pick up some silverware after a disappointing end to the season are out for revenge. The Cup Final, comes around once a year so enjoy it and get some mates round and enjoy the day.
  3. Buddha Birthday Festival - www.ibps.org.uk
    19-20 May, Leicester Square Gardens, Free
    Celebrate Buddha’s 2550 Birthday Party with a weekend full of Zen, Compassion, Wisdom, Beauty and Enlightenment. During the weekend check out the “Bathing of the Buddha” ceremony in which one can purify the mind, open the heart and beautify the body or take a journey of wisdom and watch the musical play “The Life of The Buddha”. There is also a Chinese Buddhist art exhibition, Chinese calligraphy rubbings and a Buddhist wishing fountain. However, for me the highlight of the weekend has to be the Annual Asian Vegetarian Food Fair, YUM.
  4. Star Wars Exhibition - www.starwars-theexhibition.com
    County Hall, Westminster, 15 May- 1 September, £16.50
    The exhibition unlocks the secrets of how the films were made. Whether you turn up to Jedi School, appear alongside you favourite characters or marvel at the life-sized Naboo starfighter you will be impressed. You can also appear in the sets using green screen technology or watch the documentary 30 Years of Visual Effects to uncover how the industry has evolved. May the Force be with you.
  5. The Drowsy Chaperone - www.novello-theatre.com
    Novello Theatre, 14 May- 14 June, £35-60
    Elaine Page returns to the West End to star in the Broadway smash-hit musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. The tale of a pampered star determined to get married and give up show-business and her ruthless producer’s struggle to sabotage it. Throw in a Latin lover, a dashing groom, a couple of pastry chefs (gangsters) and an inebriated chaperone, and the result is a world of entertaining high-kicking comical mayhem. (When booking Quote “Email Offer” to get a discount on limited seats)
  6. The Unknown Monet: Pastels and Drawings - www.royalacademy.org.uk
    Royal Academy, Sackler Wing, Green Park, 17 March - 10 June, £9
    “This exhibition is the first devoted to Monet’s drawings and pastels. It offers a ground-breaking exploration of the role of draughtsmanship throughout the artist’s long career, overturning the conventional notion that Monet painted his impressions of nature directly onto the canvas. New light is shed on Monet’s working methods by presenting a significant body of his preparatory studies, finished drawings and pastels, alongside representative examples of his paintings. In demonstrating the relationship between his works on paper and in oil, Monet’s hidden talent as a draftsman is revealed, a gift that he publicly disavowed.”
  7. Horniman Museum Aquarium - www.horniman.ac.uk
    Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, Free
    Let yourself become immersed in the wonderful underwater world. Visit ecosystems from around the world, from the familiar British pond life and rock-pools, to the mysterious mangrove swamps, tropical Fijian coral reefs and the underwater rainforests of South America. There are myriad fish, jellyfish, seahorses, frogs and more. The exhibition is so good it has been long-listed for the prestigious Gulbenkian Prize for museums and galleries, the largest single art prize on offer in Britain.
  8. Lyttelton Flytower - www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
    National Theatre, Platform 21 May, £3
    The exterior of the Lyttelton flytower will turn green over the next few weeks as the artists (Ackroyd and Harvey) along with a team of twenty assistants will plant the north and west face with nearly 2 Billion grass seeds. They hope to transform this landmark of the London Skyline into a living installation. You can see Ackroyd and Harvey discussing Flytower in a National Theatre platform on the 21 May, or just walk by the National and watch the building transform.
  9. Big Bang - www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/
    Science Museum, 03 March – 07 November, Free
    This exhibition focuses on the attempt to recreate the condtions of the universe at the time of the Big Bang. It looks at scientific research taking place at Cern and the use of their Large Hadron Collider (27km ring). If that does not whet your appetite then there is plenty more on offer in the Science Museum.
  10. Paul Chan - www.serpentinegallery.org
    The Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, 15 May – 1 June, Free
    Reflections on a variety of topics in Paul Chan’s presentation of the “sacred and the profane, and temptation and renunciation, in relation to the world” with “large-scale digital projections and drawings that ‘hallucinate’ the seven days of creation from dawn to dusk”.

Star Wars Exhibtion

Red Bull Air Races

Drowsy Chaperone

Monet

Paul Chan

Fly Tower

If you have ideas for next week, or want to have your say, leave a comment or send me an email (info@unearthtravel.com) Jeremy Boote

This Week, London Top 10: 9th May

May 8, 2007

This week’s list, fun fun fun…

  1. May Fayre & Puppet Festival - www.punchandjudy.com
    13th May, St Paul’s Church Gardens, Covent Garden, Free, 10:30-17:30
    The annual commemoration of the first sighting of Mr Punch in England by Samuel Pepys in 1662. The day begins at 10:30 as people assemble for the Grand Procession around Covent Garden. At 11:30, a special church service is held with Mr Punch in the pulpit. From 12:00, there are continuous performances of puppet shows (including Punch & Judy) plus workshops, stalls, folk music and dancing. Pull up a pew and reacquaint yourself with Punch and Judy.
  2. Radio 4’s 40th Birthday Celebration - www.bbc.co.uk/tickets
    5 June, 7:15pm, Drill Hall, Free
    A celebration of Radio 4 turning 40, hosted by Stephen Fry and ’surprise guests’. The show has been written by Britain’s best comedy writers inducing Bill Dare, Tom and Nev (Dead Ringers), Jon Holmes (The Now Show), John Finnemore (The News Quiz) and Stephen Punt. The evening is certain to get you rolling in the aisles with the BBC promising “a star-studded hilarious and irreverent night”. Make sure you apply for tickets quickly.
  3. Cricket at the Oval - www.surreycricket.com
    The domestic Twenty20 season hasn’t even started but tickets are going fast. Twenty20 is a short, fast paced version of Cricket, with each team only having 20 overs to score as many runs as possible. It is the perfect introduction to cricket, with all the tension, but with the game only lasting 5 hours rather than 5 days. The Oval, situated in South London, is the home of Surrey Cricket Club and a venue for international cricket. Matches that might interest you are… Surrey v Hampshire Sunday 24th June, Surrey v Middlesex 22 June, Surrey v Sussex Thursday 5 July, Surrey v Kent Friday 6 July (Book before Friday 11 May and tickets are £12 rather than £15). There are still tickets available for England v India Test Match (12/13 August, Day 4/5) but beware, England might not make it to Day 4 let alone 5!
  4. Email Britain - www.newhotmail.co.uk
    “Throughout May 2007, Windows Live Hotmail is creating the first ever national archive of emails in conjunction with the British Library. The Email Britain book, recording a snapshot of British life by email, will be permanently archived for generations to come.” Take part, you don’t even have to leave your seat!
  5. Isabella Plantation & Richmond Park - www.royalparks.gov.uk
    “Richmond Park, at almost 1000 hectares (2500 acres), is the largest Royal Park in London and is home to around 650 free roaming deer. The pastoral landscape of hills, woodlands, ponds, gardens and grasslands set amongst ancient trees offers a peaceful respite to visitors. The Park is designated as a National Nature Reserve (NNR), a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). ” Gather up some friends, get a picnic hamper and visit the nearest thing to countryside in London.
  6. Battersea Park Children’s Zoo - www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk
    Battersea Park, London, SW11 4NJ
    This small charming zoo is home to the usual rabbits, goats, sheep and chickens but also a number of more exotic creatures. Go and see species such as meerkats, lemurs, Asian short-clawed otters, a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig, monkeys, emus, tortoises and talking mynah birds. Battersea park is also an ideal place to have a picnic, wander throught the gardens and sit by the Pagoda overlooking the river.
  7. Chinese Revolution Posters - www.thechambersgallery.co.uk
    11th May - 15 June, 23 Long Lane, London
    The Chambers Gallery has assembled a collection of Chinese propaganda posters dating from the Great Leap Forward of the late 50’s to the height of the Cultural Revolution in the 70’s and the beginning of the Open Door Policy in the early 80’s. The exhibition offers a insightful look at modern Chinese society and the Birth of a Global superpower.
  8. Dancing though the War: The Royal Ballet 1939-1946 - www.cwr.iwm.org.uk
    Ends 20 May, £11, Churchill and Cabinet War Rooms
    A chance to find out about the experiences of those involved with The Royal Ballet during wartime as well as entrance to the rest of the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms.
  9. How to Draw a Hand - www.nationalgallery.org.uk
    Sunday May 20, National Gallery, £45
    “Tackling the archetypal artist’s stumbling block of drawing realistic-looking hands, this day-long workshop begins by looking at slides of paintings in the gallery to see which artists get it right. Then it’s into the studio to study the anatomy, structure and movement of the hand, and learn from painters who didn’t quite get it right.” No previous experience required, but if you are keen to go, book early.
  10. Camouflage - www.iwm.org.uk
    £7, Ends 18 November, Imperial War Museum
    This is the first major exhibition to explore the impact of camouflage on modern warfare and its adoption into popular culture. The exhibition explores the development of military camouflage, including Dazzle patterning designed to confuse German U-boat commanders and Andy Warhol’s famous camouflage prints. A fascinating theme for what is sure to be a stimulating exhibition.

Email Britain

Mayre Fayre Puppet Festival

Battersea Park Children’s Zoo

Oval

Cabinet War Rooms

Chambers

Radio 4 - 40th Anniversary

If you have ideas for next week, or want to have your say, leave a comment or send me an email (info@unearthtravel.com) Jeremy Boote

This Week, London Top 10: 2 May - 9 May

May 2, 2007

This week’s list, ten more things that might take your fancy.

  1. The 02 Arena - www.theo2.co.uk
    The Millennium Dome has been transformed. From the 24th June London’s most dramatic structure plays host to world class musical performances from the likes of Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones and The Scissor Sisters. As well as eminent sporting events from the NBA and NFL there is the hugely anticipated exhibition “Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs”. With such a number of diverse events on offer, it is worth taking a look so see if there is anything you fancy.
  2. How the KGB Disposes of its Enemies: Oleg Gordievsky in Conversation with Jack Hamilton
    2nd May, 7:30 pm (doors 6.45pm), Limited Tickets
    Over the past year the Russian Secret Service has been busy. From Anna Politkovskaya in October to Alexander Litvinenko in London last November, the FSB (formerly the KGB) has been handing out health warnings freely. Oleg Gordievsky, the highest ranking KGB agent to defect to the west during the Cold War talks about his unrivalled knowledge of the KGB; covering espionage, assassination and covert foul play.
  3. Watch Television being Made - Graham Norton, Have I got News for you …
    If you love live performances, but tend to find them a bit expensive, television recordings are great. They are Free! There are a number of different production companies and each offers tickets to their own shows. Three of which are SRO Audiences (Mock the Week, Graham Norton), Hattrick Productions (Have I got News for You) and BBC Tickets (Lots). It is easy to apply for tickets but bear in mind that studio space is limited, so apply early.
  4. Swan Lake - www.royalalberthall.com
    Royal Albert Hall, 13-23 June, £20-50
    “Derek Deane’s critically acclaimed production caused a sensation at its world premiere in 1997 and has since been enjoyed by over 300,000 people, captivating audiences worldwide. Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score will be performed by the Orchestra of English National Ballet. With some of the most beautiful music in the classical ballet repertoire, a dramatic story line and spectacular sets and costumes, this romantic ballet will entertain and captivate you.”
  5. Sizwe Banzi is Dead - www.barbican.org.uk
    Barbican, 9 - 26 May, £17.50
    ‘Sizwe Banzi is Dead’ is the second in a series of three ‘Township Plays’, based on the everyday life of the urban black community in South Africa during the Apartheid. Sizwe Banzi, who is unable to find work because his passbook contains the wrong information, is driven to desperate means to provide for his family. Along with his new friend Buntu, he stumbles across a corpse lying beside the side of the road. With no end of his troubles in sight, he steels the dead mans papers and opens the doors to a new life in this engaging production.
  6. Brigton Festival - www.brightonfestival.org
    Brighton, 5-27th May
    Brighton is less than an hour from London by train, so a day trip to the seaside is not out of the question. Brighton Festival is the largest cultural festival in England with a sensational programme of theatre, dance, music, debates and family shows. This year is no different, so pick one of the three festival weekends, book a few events and pray for sunshine.
  7. Gilbert & George - www.tate.org.uk/modern
    Tate Modern, 15 Feb- 7 May, £10
    Gilbert & George are two of Britain’s foremost contemporary artists; they place themselves, their thoughts and their feelings at the centre of their art. Although their work is somewhat egocentric, gin induced and often aptly but unappealingly named ‘flying shit’, their work can not be dismissed. It is a powerful, impressive and intriguing expression of British society; the way we live and who we are.
  8. Green the New Black - www.fashion.arts.ac.uk
    London College of Fashion, Monday 30 April - Friday 4 May 2007
    London College of Fashion asks ‘Can eco fashion ever go mainstream?’, it unravels what the future could hold for the fashion industry and examines a few of the key complex issues surrounding ‘Green’ clothing.
  9. Cabaret Mechanical Theatre & The Ride of Life - www.kinetica-museum.org
    Kinetica Museum, 6 April - 5 May
    Cabaret Mechanical Theatre began in 1979, when a handful of artists, mechanics, satirists and craftsman began work on their automaton. Once again the Kinetica Museum brings us a fun, interesting and interactive exhibition for the whole family.
  10. Historic Almshouse Tours - www.geffrye-museum.org.uk/
    First Saturday of the Month (5 May), £2, Tours 11am-4pm
    Set in an historic almshouse in Shoreditch, the Geffrye museum presents a series of period rooms dating from 1600 to modern day displaying the furniture, textile, painting and art of English middle class society. There are a number of period gardens surrounding the building.

Gilbert & Goerge

Sizwe Banzi

The O2 Arena

Green The New Black

Brighton Festival

Kinetica

If you have ideas for next week, or want to have your say, leave a comment or send me an email (info@unearthtravel.com) Jeremy Boote

Photos, photos everywhere…

May 1, 2007

I have just been told about the site Big White Box which allows those with good travel photos sell them with some of the money going to charity. Such perfect examples of self-referential altruism are rarely seen so get going! We also need photos and would appreciate them of any and all locations around the planet - a good chance to get your name in print as we reference all photos where we can identify the copyright holder.

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