FORTHCOMING  EVENTS

Until 19 February 2012

Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2011 at the Royal Observatory: The exhibition will display the spectacular winning images from this year's competition, and will announce the winner on 8 September. From distant galaxies to the Milky Way and neighbouring planets, the entries to this year's competition reflect our enduring fascination with the night sky. Images on display include the winners from four main categories: Earth and Space, Our Solar System, Deep Space and Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year, as well as three special prize winners.

Until 29 February 2012
Words Words Words at Selfridges: This event will see a 15,000-book library in store, with unique celebrity contributions. There will also be a concept store within Selfridges' Wonder Room, selling wordy goods from stationery to accessories and jewellery collections. Jewellery designers Tatty Devine will be offering bespoke made on-the-spot pieces alongside three unique designs made to order only for this event. Less sartorial delights include a bookworm-pleasing retreat with rare, early and first edition books brought in by The Idler; cult Notting Hill publisher, academy and bookstore. You can also swot up on lectures, grammar and Latin lessons.

Until 8 April 2012
David Hockney: A Bigger Picture: This exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts tells the story of how and why the prodigal son returned from Los Angeles to East Yorkshire to paint the windswept landscapes, long lanes and impenetrable woods of his childhood. As well as giant multi-panel paintings created specifically for the galleries, the ever-restless Hockney has enlarged 50 iridescent iPad drawings for the occasion and experimented with film documentation using a bank of 18 cameras to create a moving split-screen experience, in place of the static wall-mounted canvases.

1-18 February 2012
Evening with the Stars at Royal Museums Greenwich: A planetarium show, along with the chance to look through the Royal Observatory's giant telescope to see what the night sky has to offer and spend time on the Prime Meridian with a hot drink. Astronomers are on hand to answer questions.

1 February-13 May 2012
David Shrigley: Brain Activity at Hayward Gallery: The first UK survey of popular artist David Shrigley, who is best known for his humorous text-and-image works on paper, which comment on life's trials and tribulations through a cast of often oddball characters. The exhibition features 175 works, many of which are new or never before shown in the UK, including drawings, paintings, photographs, sculpture and animated films.

4 February - 4 March 2012
Kew's Tropical Extravaganza: Displays of exotic tropical flowers and foliage in the Princess of Wales Conservatory form the centrepiece of Kew's colourful annual festival. The theme for 2012 is 'Forces of Nature', with displays inspired by the elements air, fire, water and earth, and arranged according to colour - including hanging baskets filled with blooms in aquatic hues and arches decorated with reds, yellows and oranges to represent fire.

8 February-22 April 2012
Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration at the V&A: The Queen was a teenage princess when she first sat for the photographer Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) and his portraits over the following decades show her changing role as a mother and monarch. To mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, around 100 of these images are on display, alongside Beaton's diary entries and letters, press cuttings and film and radio footage. Featuring formal shots of significant occasions as well as more casual photos featuring the Queen with her children, the show examines the relationship between the pair. It also looks at the extent to which Beaton controlled the use of his photographs and how they were selected by the Palace.

9-26 February 2012
Vault at the Old Vic Tunnels: A three-week arts festival held in the underground vaults of the Old Vic Tunnels. Covering theatre, film and music, performances include a reboot of 'La Bohème' as a silent disco, digitally interactive theatre, satirical puppetry, an album of short plays set to music, the B-Movie Ball and a late night programme of cabaret, comedy and live music.

15 February-15 July 2012
Picasso and Britain: Including over 150 works this exhibition looks as Picasso's lifelong connections with Great Britain. Themes explored include his influence on British artists, seen through the work of Modernists such as Duncan Grant, Ben Nicholson and Francis Bacon and also his impact as a figure of controversy and celebrity through the ways in which his work was shown and collected during his lifetime. The exhibition will include over 60 paintings by Picasso from all periods of his career.

19-26 February 2012
Maslenitsa Russian Festival: The Russian Sun Festival is a celebration of the beginning of spring and features events across London including a fashion show at the V&A and masterclasses with Russian chefs, culminating in a day of celebration in Trafalgar Square on February 26, with performances by the Folk State Academic Pyatnizky Choir, pop band Balagan Limited, Siberian folk music and dance by ‹lger ensemble and others. This London event is the largest celebration of Russian art, culture and food outside Russia and the climactic party in Trafalgar Square will include a live video link-up with Moscow's Red Square.

21 February-1 April 2012
The Big Egg Hunt: A London-wide hunt to discover ceramic Easter eggs designed and decorated by artists, designers, architects and jewellers including Polly Morgan, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Vivienne Westwood, Henry Holland, Nicky Haslam and Mat Collishaw. This fundraising event for Elephant Family and Action for Children challenges the public to try and spot the 200, two-and-a-half foot high eggs, which are placed on special plinths around the capital. At the end of the hunt the eggs will be auctioned for charity.

8 March-20 September 2012
Titanic Remembered: The centenary of the sinking of RMS Titanic is celebrated in this small exhibition, which highlights the stories of some of those who survived the disaster through letters, photographs and personal objects gathered by Walter Lord while researching his 1955 book 'A Night to Remember'. Lord's account, which was made into a 1958 feature film, was influential in fixing the story of Titanic in public consciousness. He worked closely with James Cameron on his 1997 blockbuster. Artefacts on display include a woollen cape worn by Elizabeth Mellenger during the disaster, a whistle which was reportedly used by survivors clinging to Lifeboat B and slippers worn by Edith Russell, along with a musical toy pig which she used to entertain children in Lifeboat 11.

28 March-1 July 2012
Christian Louboutin: A retrospective of shoemaker, examining the evolution of the French designer's famous red-soled shoes from the launch of his label in 1991. The exhibition takes visitors through every stage of the design process, from initial drawing to production. On show alongside Louboutin stilettos, boots and sneakers are objects and images reflecting the designer's inspiration, including art, architecture, cabaret, fairytale and film. A section of the show is dedicated to shoes designed for the 'Fetish' exhibition held in Paris in 2007, a collaboration between Louboutin and David Lynch.

27-29 April 2012
London Coffee Festival 2012: This festival at the Old Truman Brewery celebrates London's coffee culture, with artisanal coffee for sale and barista demonstrations taking place in zones dedicated to the art and science of coffee production, as well as treats for foodies.

1 May - 30 June 2012
The English Flower Garden at Chiswick House: An outdoor installation by ceramic fine artist Paul Cummins that celebrates the quintessential English garden. Cummins has created a 'garden' of individually hand-thrown ceramic blooms mounted on metal rods, each design chosen because of a historic relationship with its location. Part of the London 2012 Festival.

22-26 May 2012
RHS Chelsea Flower Show: Green-fingered folk will delight again as this annual horticultural show returns to the grounds at Royal Hospital. Over the 11 acres, the event invites visitors to explore a wide range of spectacular gardens and floral exhibits. It's strictly advance-booking only, with no admission on the gate. The first two days are reserved for RHS members and it's probably worth joining just to see everything at its freshest. On the final day the show closes at 5.30pm and from 4pm there are great bargains to be had when exhibitors start to sell off their plants.

2-5 June 2012
Queen's Diamond Jubilee: Queen Elizabeth celebrates 60 years on the throne in 2012 and to mark the occasion a host of events are planned.

25 June - 8 July 2012
Wimbledon Championship: Seats on Centre and Number One courts are distributed by ballot the preceding year, although enthusiasts who queue on the day may gain entry to the outer courts. Around 500 tickets are available daily for Centre (except for the last four days) and Number One and Two Courts, in addition to 6,000 Ground Admission tickets. You can also turn up later in the day and pay a reasonable rate for seats vacated by spectators who have left early.

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE ART GALLERIES and MUSEUMS

THE NATIONAL GALLERY Gossaert's Renaissance

Until 5 February 2012  Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan.

14 March-5 June 2012 Turner Inspired: In the Light of Claude
4 April-2 September 2012 Titian's First Masterpiece: The Flight into Egypt
11 July-23 September 2012 Metamorphosis: Titian 2012 

THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS

Until 9 April 2012 David Hockney: A Bigger Picture

4 February-17 June 2012 Nicholas Hawksmoor: Architect of the Imagination

THE VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM

31 March-12 August 2012 British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age

Until 26 February 2012 The House of Annie Lennox

Until 19 August 2012 Japanese Enamels: The Seven Treasures

TOUR: This daily tour is a free, non-bookable drop-in event. The one hour tour describes the history of the V&A and introduces a selection of treasures from the Museum's outstanding collections. The tours leave from the Meeting Point, Grand Entrance, at half past every hour from 10:30 to 15:30. Sound enhancement equipment is available for visitors with hearing impairments.5

Un4 September 201

TATE BRITAIN

Until 30 April 2012 Colour and Line: Turner's Experiments.

15 February-15 July 2012 Picasso and Britain

TATE MODERN

Until 31 March 2012 Photography: New Documentary Forms
4 April – 9 September 2012 Damien Hirst

THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Until 21 October 2012  The Queen: Art and Image

Every Sunday  Magic carpet story-telling for the under-5s, free of charge 10.30–11am and 11.30–12pm. Meet in the Education Centre Foyer.  Fly away on the magic carpet as it comes to land in front of a different painting each day. Each story ties in with the theme of the workshops for ages 5-11. Please note that places are limited and are allocated on arrival. Children must be accompanied to all events

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR VISITORS TO LONDON

We are able to provide you with advice and information on various services in London to make your visit to London more enjoyable and more helpful if you are here on business.

Please note that we have no financial connection with anything we may recommend and it is only based on our experience and  opinion of using that service. This applies also to events such as theatre, cinema and art galleries etc.

For first time visitors we suggest a London sightseeing bus tour, followed by specific trips to the Tower of London, the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National and Tate Art Galleries, Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, and especially if the sun is shining, the London Eye.  

For return visitors we can offer more specific advice according to your needs.

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE MARKETS  

Portobello Road near Notting Hill Gate underground station.  A mix of antiques and bric a brac, suitable for the serious collector or browser, and some shops and stalls open during the week but Saturday is the day.

Camden Lock in Camden Town. Busy on Saturdays and even busier on Sundays, an eclectic mix of antiques, modern and vintage clothes, modern, 60-70s and ethnic furniture, wide range of meals to purchase, great buzz.  Recently undergone an amazing transformation.

Borough Market near London Bridge underground- a marvellous selection of organic and fresh food.  Buy or just look.

Covent Garden - shops, restaurants and an undercover market of quality goods and bric a brac.

Columbia Market - famous flower market in East London which opens only on a Sunday.  Also charming antique and bric a brac shops to browse in and pretty cafes.

Spitalfields market open 6 days a week and closed on Saturday. Sunday is the largest market day 9am-5pm.  Brushfield Street, Spitalfields,  London E1.

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE PARKS  http://www.royalparks.org.uk

Regent's Park near Baker Street.  It is wonderful to watch the changing seasons, wander around the glorious Rose Garden, have a boat ride on the pond and find the secret garden.

Holland Park with 22.5 hectares of gardens, children’s play facilities, sports areas, a cafeteria and large areas of woodland abundant with wildlife. Contained within the park is the beautiful Kyoto Garden; a Japanese garden donated by the Chamber of Commerce of Kyoto in 1991.

Hampstead Heath is just the place to enjoy a good walk - to Kenwood if you can with its open air concerts in the summer, beautiful landscaped gardens and stately home. This elegant villa, remodelled by Robert Adam in the 18th century, houses a superb collection of paintings, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Turner and Gainsborough, as well as the Suffolk collection of rare Elizabethan portraits. 

Kew Gardens is located in 300 acres of beautiful landscape and sits beside the river Thames between Richmond and Kew in south-west London. These Royal BotanicGardens are a World Heritage Site with six magnificent glasshouses, and are home to a remarkable collection of plants from all over the world including over 14,000 trees. Don't miss the 19th-century Palm House, the tropical atmosphere of the Princess of Wales Conservatory, a walk to the iconic pagoda, and a climb up for a birds-eye view at the new Xstrata Treetop Walkway.  There is an entry charge to Kew Gardens.

Golders Hill Park near Golders Green underground station offers lots of space for running round and ball games, exceptionally well planted formal gardens, ponds, a good playground and a great Italian cafe serving home-made ice-cream.  There is also a mini-zoo.

Richmond Park which is lovely to drive through and a delight to walk in.  I can highly recommend the magnificent Isabella Plantation in the park which I only discovered a few years ago. However you need to visit in late April or early May when the azaleas and rhododendrons are in bloom and you can imagine yourself in the middle of a painting.