Highlights

The British Art Prize 2024
Posted in: Galleries & Museums, Highlights, Reviews, Shows & Exhibitions

The British Art Prize 2024: Interview with winner Samuel Owusu Achiaw                                                                                                                                                                                    The winner of the British Art Prize 2024 has just been announced. Samuel Owusu Achiaw took first prize for his exquisitely diaphonous and hyperreal graphite and charcoal portrait of his sister, titled ‘Looking’. We attended the awards ceremony at Southbank’s Gallery@oxo and were […]

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Features

London Place Names
Posted in: Features, Places

What’s in a name? London place names decoded We’re surrounded by street signs every day and casually type these sometimes odd-sounding addresses into Google Maps without a second thought about what they mean or where the name came from. The Romans founded the city of Londinium [London], so you’d expect a Latin root somewhere. Let’s […]

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Reviews

The British Art Prize 2024
Posted in: Galleries & Museums, Highlights, Reviews, Shows & Exhibitions

The British Art Prize 2024: Interview with winner Samuel Owusu Achiaw                                                                                                                                                                                    The winner of the British Art Prize 2024 has just been announced. Samuel Owusu Achiaw took first prize for his exquisitely diaphonous and hyperreal graphite and charcoal portrait of his sister, titled ‘Looking’. We attended the awards ceremony at Southbank’s Gallery@oxo and were […]

Read More

Places

  • Curtain Road, Shoreditch
    Curtain Rd, Shoreditch: Where the UK’s Theatre History Began
    Posted in: Drama & Theatre, Highlights, Photos, Places

    Curtain Road in Shoreditch has its place in British history as the location for Britain’s earliest theatres. In 1576 the first purpose-built modern playhouse was constructed on this road and given the succinct title of The Theatre. Nice name! It comes from the Latin term Theatrum used to describe a Roman playhouse and was the […]

  • Curzon Aldgate
    Curzon Aldgate
    Posted in: Highlights, Movies & TV Shows, Places

    Film lovers will be excited to know that a new Curzon cinema will be opening in Aldgate, East London in January 2017. With the Genesis Cinema just down the road in Whitechapel the East End will be spoilt for choice as its reputation as a cultural hub grows. It will form part of a cool […]

  • Henry Moore
    Henry Moore’s Sculpture Returns to East London
    Posted in: Highlights, Places

    A Henry Moore is returning to Tower Hamlets, East London, yes, even though he’s from Yorkshire and been dead for 30 years. A sculpture of his, that is. His Draped Seated Woman was created in 1957 to express his experience of the Blitz which of course also levelled much of the East End. Local cockneys […]

  • London Theatres
    London Theatres: Did You Know?
    Posted in: Drama & Theatre, Highlights, Places

    With the Christmas countdown in full effect it follows that panto season is in full swing. With the kids dragging you off to the theatre perhaps for their or even your first time here’s a few fascinating facts about London’s theatres.  London’s oldest theatre First built in 1663 on Bridges Street, the Theatre Royal Drury […]

  • St Paul's Cathedral
    December 2 1697: The Official Opening of St Paul’s Cathedral
    Posted in: Highlights, Places

    Britain’s greatest architect Sir Christopher Wren conceived of St Paul’s Cathedral in the aftermath of the Great Fire of 1666 which ravaged the capital. He drew up plans to resurrect a city which had only just recovered from the Plague, intending the cathedral as its centrepiece. Few people know that his skills were self taught […]

  • Theatreland
    Hot Picks This Week
    Posted in: Places

    As the week kicks off here’s a checklist of some eye-catching events across the capital which are certainly worth a look in. Keep a space for these in your social calendar. Museums: South Africa: The Art of a Nation (British Museum). An exhibit of South Africa’s rich artistic heritage including their earliest rock art From […]

  • Lord Nelson
    Sept 29th: Lord Nelson’s Birthday
    Posted in: Highlights, People, Places

    Britain’s greatest naval officer was born today September 29th in 1758 and no doubt the National Maritime Museum’s Nelson, Navy, Nation gallery on its 2nd floor will be paying tribute to his achievements in a fitting way. The humble son of a village rector became a Navy midshipman at an age when you were probably just into […]

  • Freddie Mercury
    Freddie Mercury Plaque
    Posted in: Highlights, People, Places

    Flamboyant Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara) has been honoured with an English Heritage blue plaque on the walls of his childhood home in Feltham, West London. Band member Brian May and Mercury’s sister Kashmira Cooke addressed the media outside at 22 Gladstone Avenue sharing memories of his early years and beyond, when […]

  • Theatreland
    London Comes Alive as All Night Tube Service Begins
    Posted in: Highlights, Places

    Night clubs have been losing business at a rapid rate, with a 50% increase in closures since 2008 but tonight’s introduction of all night Tube services may reverse the trend. Despite contention over how the stations would be manned and whether staff would receive equitable pay increases, the Central and Victoria lines will be the […]