Unearth Travel Blog

China Late: Moon Festival
British Museum, 4 October, 18:30-21:00, Free

The British Museum’s Great Court opens its doors in celebration the Chinese Moon Festival. There museum will be packed with entertainment: zither performances by Donna Ong, a connoisseur tea appreciation, a “guess the moon-cake flavour” game, burlesque fan dancing. If you visit the Chinese collection you can handle Chinese textiles, learn Mandarin, play Mah-jong, make folk art papercuts and try calligraphy. Fantastic!

Shaolin Monks – Kung Fu Masters Live
Peacock Theatre, 10 October - 3 November, £13-36

The Shaolin Legend comes to London! Twenty Shaolin Monks and five young trainees have travelled from the Shaolin Temple in China, to demonstrate their martial art expertise. The show will be jam-packed with incredible feats of strength and skill as Monks are “lifted aloft on sharpened spears, splinter wooden block with their bare hands, break bricks on their heads and fly through the air in a series of incredible backflips and spins.”

Robin Ince Vs Shark Attack III
Barbican, 3 October, £11

Nicko and Joe’s Bad Film Club returns to the Barbican by popular demand. This week sees guest curator Robin Ince flex his comedic muscles ripping apart Shark Attack 3. “Light on plot, heavy on rubbery shark action, Tom Cruise-a-like John Barrowman (Torchwood) and his blond no-name science chick sidekick battle for the title of ‘worst actor ever’, whilst a 60 foot prehistoric shark maniacally chows down on some tasty human bait. Come on in, the water’s hilarious!”

Ramadan Nights
Barbican, 10-16 October

Ramadan Nights celebrates music from Muslim cultures. Throughout the week there are a series of talks, performances and workshops ranging for classical concerts to freestyle events.

Did Mallory climb Mount Everest?
Royal Geographical Society, 3 October, £15

“Last year Graham Hoyland visited Mount Everest, wearing a replica of the clothing worn by George Mallory when he disappeared in 1924. Could the clothing worn by Mallory and Irvine have prevented their reaching the summit?” Another fantastic talk at the Royal Geographical Society!

Royal Festival Hall Revival
V&A, 21 June-14 October, Free

The Royal Festival Hall reopens its doors after two years of renovation. Now incorporated into the Southbank Centre brand, the building plays a pivotal role in the London Cultural scene. The V&A exhibition reveals how the landmark building has been painstakingly refocused to meet the demands of the next fifty years as a world-class concert venue and a vibrant public arena for the arts.

Carsten Höller
Gagosian Gallery, 21 August – 21 September, Free

You probably don’t remember Carsten Höller but many of you have enjoyed his work – the Tate Modern Slides. This exhibition focuses on a new series of his photographic works and his unique works capture intrigue through visual perception and through physical interaction.

Britain at War Experience

“The Second World War was the most turbulent and eventful period in the history of the 20th century. It affected the lives of millions of people all over the world, advanced technology and changed political boundaries and ideas of human behaviour. But what was it really like? How did it really feel to be a British citizen during the Second World War? What did people eat and wear? Winston Churchill’s Britain at War Theme Museum can answer these questions and many more.”

Pizza Express – Jazz Club Soho

Pop on down, grab a pizza and experience wonderful Jazz. See Curious Paradise blend Latin Heat, straight a-head jazz and universal folk or see Jon Regen entrance you on the piano with his lyrical gifts.

Candida Höfer – Palaces, Theatres, Churches and a Casino
Ben Brown Fine Arts, 21 Cork Street

A truly stunning photographic exhibition, demonstrating the similarities between form, perspective and colour in the worlds most glamorous buildings.

Great Gorilla Run
City of London, 22 September

London Goes Ape! On Saturday, 1000 runners will don their Gorilla Suits, stock up on bananas and take on the 7km course around the City of London. Unsurprisingly, the event is being organised by The Gorilla Foundation, a registered charity whose aim is to protect the remaining 700 mountain gorillas left in the wild, so: come down, have a laugh and save this amazing species.

Sake Evening – British Museum
British Museum, 5 October, £15

The British Museum is hosting a sake evening in conjunction with its new exhibtion “Crafting Beauty in Modern Japan”. Here, you will learn about sake, listen to talks as well as experience live Japanese music. The exhibition “will demonstrate how the beauty, skill and modernity found in these contemporary pieces draws on the strength of traditional crafts skills”.

Take a View – Landscape Photographer of the Year 2007
National Theatre, Until October 15th, Free

The UK’s Landscape Photographer of the Year award highlights the best of the British Isles. The imagery in this exhibition is amazing, with each piece capturing a different aspect of the dramatic, colourful and idyllic land we love. To tie in with the exhibition, Charlie Waite - doyen of British landscape art, is giving three informal talks (20 September, 21 September, 12 October - Free) amongst the works and will discuss the mental and aesthetic process behind identifying and executing a potential landscape photograph.

Canary Wharf Jazz Festival
Canary Wharf, 19-23 September, Free

“This inaugural Canary Wharf Jazz Festival is solely dedicated to the innovative musical genre of Jazz, and will be presenting ten bands over a series of seven concerts, featuring a host of talented young musicians who are at the cutting edge of UK jazz today. This new festival aims to provide a platform for the most promising up and coming jazz musicians - the rising stars who will be regulars on the jazz scene for years to come.”

Olivier Films on the Fly Tower
National Theatre, Fly-tower, 19-23 September

Laurence Olivier is considered by many to be the twentieth century’s greatest actor. Now there is chance for fans to re-live whilst the unfamiliar experience for the first time a selection of Olivier’s world-renowed films projected onto the National Theatre fly tower: Rebecca (19 Sept), The Prince and the Showgirl (20 Sept), Henry V (21 Sept), Wuthering Heights (22 Sept), and Hamlet (23 September).

London Freewheel
Embankment, 23 September, Free

Although all places for the cycling part of the event have been filled, the organisers are keen for people to come to the Freewheel Festival in St. James’ Park where you can have a gentle picnic before marvelling at the Cycling Circus, cycling acrobats and face painters. You can also try your hand at riding some rather more unusual bikes, learn about bike maintenance or have a professional sports massage.

Little Black Dress Exhibition
Harrods, Georgian Restaurant, Fourth Floor - Free

Harrods pays homage to the “LBD”. It shows off some of the most spectacular and famous LBDs since Coco Channel’s first in 1926. If you feel flush you can even buy a made to measure copy of the infamous Liz Hurley, Versace, gold safety pin one for a mere £10,690.

Landmarks of New York
RIBA, 6 September – 3 October

Learn more about some of the architectural wonders of New York. A grid-structure, much like the layout of the city, is the setting for 81 photographs of iconic edifices such as the Guggenheim Museum, the Chrysler Building and the Statue of Liberty accompanied by text-based details about them.

The Body of Colour
Tate Modern, Ends 23 September

Hélio Oiticica was one of the most innovative Brazilian artists of his generation. Focussing on Oiticica’s uncompromising use of colour, central to his practice, the exhibition includes works from several key series from 1995 onwards, some of which have not been seen by the public for more than thirty years.

Amjad Ali Khan
Southbank Centre, September 21, £9-30

“Amjad Ali Khan is the undisputed master of the sarod, an ancient Indian classical instrument similar to the lute and second only to the sitar in it’s importance in Indian classical music. The sixth-generation sarod player in his family, he has had a successful career spanning over 40 years and continues to be one of India’s leading classical musicians. In this performance he sets out to examine the themes of love and peace, in a celebration of the relationship between India and England. He is accompanied by Rashid Mustafa on tabla.”

The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army
British Museum, 13 September – 6 April, £12

In 221 BCE, Qin Shi Huang unified China and became the First Emperor of the oldest surviving political entity in the world. The Terracotta Army was buried with the First Emperor in 210 BCE, with the purpose of helping him to rule over another empire in the afterlife. In March 1974, whilst digging a well, farmers cam across what was to be one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century. On display in the exhibition are a number of the world famous Terracotta Warriors from Xi’an.

London Open House Weekend
September 15-16, Free

Open House London is London’s largest architecture festival with over 600 buildings new and old all over London opening their doors at no charge to the public, all within 48 hours! This weekend you have the chance to peek into London’s finest structures and take in the breathtaking views. To find out what doors are open this weekend pick up the programme online for £3.

Thames Festival
Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, September 15-16, 12:00-22:00

“The Mayor’s Thames Festival celebrates London’s river with amazing open air arts, pyrotechnics, illuminations, river events, street theatre, massed choirs and music. This year marks the festival’s 10th Anniversary and they are celebrating in style – from the Al Fresco Ballrooms in unique riverside settings, to themed feasts on Southwark Bridge, to the festival’s climactic event, a spectacular Night Carnival and fireworks display.”

Bill Bailey
Riverside Studios, September 14 – October 6, £20

Bill Bailey returns to the stand-up world with a new show which is bigger, shinier, yet darker and more personal than before, with a gong and everything.

NSPCC City Conker Cup
Great Eastern Hotel (Liverpool Street) and Vinopolis, October 4, £195 (Team of Three)

This year the NSPCC City Conker Cup will take place simultaneously at two venues in London, one North of the River and one South. The winners of both, North and South, will compete against each other for the final trophy and the first prize, an all-expenses paid trip for the winning team of three to the Port Festival in Oporto. Go and find you champion conker and smash the opposition.

Learn to Fence

Learn to Fence, what a swashbucklingly good idea! Get ready your Épée, learn to quarte and lunge at your opponent. No previous experience is required, and it is a perfect opportunity to get fit and meet and beat some new friends.

IMAX: Lord of the Rings (All night Screening)
BFI (IMAX), September 15, £25

How big a LOTR fan are you? Well the IMAX is showing all three, overnight, in their original theatrical 35mm glory. That is 558 minutes of goblin slaying, hobbit hunting and spell binding entertainment! So all you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.

Deckchair Dreams
Royal Parks, London

Summer is already at an end. This is your last chance to sit back and relax in one of the especially commissioned deckchairs.

Shakespeare’s Globe

The Globes season ends in October, but there are still tickets available for ‘The Merchant of Venice’, ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’, ‘Holding Fire!’ and ‘We are the People’ so take advantage of the fantastic value £5 standing tickets.

UBS Openings: Live - Alvin Curran: Maritime Rites
Tate Modern, September 14, 17:30-19:00

“Performed by members of the London Symphony Orchestra, maverick composer Alvin Curran’s Maritime Rites is a sculptural sound piece staged on a barge on the Thames and on the banks of Tate Modern. At this UK premiere, the LSO lead improvisers and volunteers who join in with the bells of St Paul’s and Curran to present a rich collage of harbour sounds, foghorns and music associated with the river.”

Gamelan Wayang or Opera Jawa Film Screening
Southbank Centre, (Gamelan Wayang: 8 September, Free) (Opera Java Film: 7-20 September, £8.60)

Gamelan Wayang is an all-night session of storytelling, shadow-puppetry and music. This special event is based on an episode from the Mahabharata epic - the play follows the Javanese tradition incorporating contemporary characters and themes.
Opera Java Film: is an updating of The Ramaya, directed by directed by Garin Nugrogo with a soundtrack by Rahayu Supanggah.

Great River Race
The Thames, 8 September, 12:55-16:10

The Race is run over a challenging 22-mile course from Richmond to Tower Hamlets. Any traditional-style coxed boats propelled by a minimum of four oars or paddles, without sliding seats or rigger may take part. However, the race is handicapped so however unusual a boat may be it “should have” an equal chance”. The winners will receive the Challenge Trophy of The Company of Watermen and Lightermen of The River Thames and become the 2007 UK Traditional Boat Champions. Sounds like fun.

The Ronnie Scott’s Big Band
Ronnie Scott’s, 21-22 September, £26

“Formed last summer to coincide with the re-launch of the club, under the musical directorship of Pete Long, the Big Band has fast become one of the most popular in the country. Over these two nights, the big band will be featuring some of the music it has performed over the past 6 months. This will include music from the shows dedicated to the music of Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Harry James, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, Tubby Hayes and the Rat Pack.”

Tree-Athlon
Battersea Park, 15 September

Lace up your running shoes and plant an urban tree. The Tree-Athlon is a three-part event: a 5km run, a chance to tell the world what your urban tree wish is and a fashion swap. Go green!

Bakelite Bop
Notting Hill Arts Club, 8 September, £6/£8

“Natty Bo, the leader and producer of Ska Cubano - London’s leading Cuban and Jamaican revivalist bands, presents Bakelite Bop. Natty will be digging out his bakelite 78s for a heal shaking blend of Cuban, latin, Jamaican and ska rhythms as only he can. Expect to see him as finely turned out as his name suggests and the music to blend like sugar and mint in a magical musical cocktail that has been setting dance floors ablaze from London to Tokyo.”

The Funny Side - Covent Garden

“The Funny Side…of Covent Garden is an upmarket yet friendly alternative to the usual London comedy experience. Exciting bills; mixing top UK acts with the very best of visiting international talent in a truly great atmosphere. Every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday.”

Freediving the mysterious undersea world of Galapagos
Royal Geographical Society, 26 September, £25

Tanya Steeter, World Champion Freediver, talks about her experiences in the mysterious underwater world of the Galapagos islands.

Dutch Portraits

Following the Dutch Republic’s independence from Spain in the 17th century it experienced an era of unprecedented wealth. Portraits were used to express the newly found self-confidence and desire for representation among the middle class, and artists responded by developing new types of portraits to meet the demands of this clientele. This exhibition has been jointly organised with the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis (The Hague) and is the first international loan exhibition in 50 years to provide a survey of the unprecedented range and variety of painted portraiture in the Netherlands at this time.

Miller’s Gin and Pimm’s Party
Miller’s Academy, 9 September, 18:00, £40

Miller’s Academy hosts a later Summer evening of Gin, Pimms and nibbles to the sounds of live romantic classical music in a candlelit atmosphere.

The Last night of the Proms

“The Last Night of the Proms is one of the most popular classical music concerts in the world, watched and listened to by an audience of many millions around the globe. While it lives up to its reputation of a fun Last Night party celebrating British tradition, it equally encapsulates the spirit of the Proms, with leading international artists and an all-embracing programme, introducing new works alongside much-loved classics and bringing together the different themes of the season.”