London is hot, and here's why...
Wherever you are, you’ve probably heard that London is pretty hot right now. And that’s not a sentiment reserved just for the temperature - cultural icons and happenings are making the city come alive, from theatre shows to carnivals and once in a lifetime exhibitions. So we thought we’d round up some of the hottest events and secret spots in London this summer.
Not too far from The Pilgrm is Regent’s Park – one of London’s best known Royal Parks, along with the equally as iconic Primrose Hill, it covers 197 hectares and was appropriated by Henry VIII. Once known as Marylebone Park, not only is Regent’s Park a striking commitment to landscaping and natural beauty – it is also home to a series of events open to the public. The Open Air Theatre at Regent’s Park runs from May to September and during August its line up includes Little Shop of Horrors and Dinosaur World Live. Tucked away in the centre of Regent’s Park – it feels like a secret.
On the other end of the cultural spectrum is Notting Hill Carnival. West London’s best loved carnival returns this August Bank Holiday weekend. Originally starting in 1966, the two-day event takes place on the streets of Notting Hill, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is one of the largest street festivals in the world, attracting over a million attendees every year the carnival is led by members of the British West Indian local community.
Meanwhile, street art in London reached fever pitch long ago, and at the forefront – Banksy. Time Out recently stated that “In 2017, his now-iconic image of a little girl letting go of a heart-shaped balloon was voted the nation's favourite artwork, second place, in case you're wondering, went to a scene of Ye Olde Englande painted by Constable.” And by way of honouring his long-time collaborator Lazinc is diving into the gallery's street-art roots, showcasing an exhibition featuring Banksy’s most iconic images. The powerful show will explore the anonymous artist’s most well-known artworks, including Girl and Balloon until August 25th in the Mayfair based gallery.
A firm favourite for culture mavens both near and far, the Serpentine Galleries attract 1.2 million visitors every year. Established in 1970 names like Anish Kapoor, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and the great Jean-Michel Basquiat have all exhibited there. This summer the Galleries are proud to have yet another legend Christo Vladimirov Javacheff exhibit his newest installation. He, along with late wife Jeanne-Claude are credited with the wrapping of the Reichstag in Berlin as well as the Pont-Neuf bridge in Paris, the 24-mile-long artwork named Running Fence in Sonoma and Marin counties in California, and of course The Gates in New York City's Central Park. This summer the Serpentine Galleries are proud to have yet another legend Christo Vladimirov Javacheff exhibit his newest installation, The London Mastaba. Taking its name from Egyptian tombs found in Mesopotamia, The Mastaba, is a 20-metre-tall sculpture floating atop London’s Serpentine Lake. Dezeen recently referred to it as representing “his and late wife Jeanne-Claude's determination to make art free”. Anchored in the lake and made from 7506 reclaimed painted barrels, each is held together by concealed scaffolding. The exhibition is on until 9 September 2018 and is free to visit.
If these cultural happenings happen to tickle your fancy, then why not book our summer promotion rate, which offers 15% off the best available rate and includes English Breakfast - available from 1st August to 9th September.
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For more information:
openairtheatre.com/whats-on
thelondonnottinghillcarnival.com
lazinc.com
serpentinegalleries.org