A Free Evening of Romance on the Southbank

There is so much fantastic free stuff going on this summer in London, especially on the Southbank.Pick and choose from the selection below or London Lovers can do them all!
- Watch the action on large screens
- See the seven illuminated London bridges- Soak up the Southbank atmosphere- Houses of Parliament projection showWatch the action on large screens Potters Field by City Hall has a large screen which is showing paralympic action throughout the day from 10am to 10pm . There is also a food market offering hog roast sandwiches, Lebanese mezze and English pies. You can always wash it down with some homemade lemonade if you don't fancy anything a little stronger.
Evening schedule for Thurs 30 August6:30pm: Swimming7:30pm: Swimming, wheelchair basketball and table tennisIf you fancy a change from the sport, the other entertainment lined up includes everything from Bollywood dance to short films by young Londoners, walkabout characters, steel pan and the Extreme Postal Force, Potters Fields has a packed line-up of entertainment too.

See the seven illuminated London bridges9.30pm- 5am from now till 10th Sept. Each night seven of London’s most famous bridges light up in a dazzling display of technicolour.
These spectacular light displays will last from 9.30pm until 5am, with a special moment taking place on the hour, every hour at:Tower Bridge
London Bridge
Southwark BridgeMillennium BridgeBlackfriars BridgeWaterloo BridgeGolden Jubilee footbridge


Soak up the Southbank atmosphereWalk along the river, down to the Houses of Parliament, taking in more dazzling bridge light shows along the way. You will also come across a number of mascots on your walk. There are 82 mascots in total.The ‘Wenlocks and Mandevilles’ have been customised by leading artists and will be joined by a host of other exciting Olympic memorabilia chosen to help raise cash for the Mayor’s Fund for London, and help create a lasting legacy for disadvantaged young Londoners. Bid for a piece of Olympic history yourself.

Experience the Houses of Parliament projection show

End your evening enjoying giant visions of the greatest paralympic moments in history projected onto the Houses of Parliament each night of the Games from 8.30pm-midnight. Find out more.



Houses of Parliament Projection Show

Experience the Houses of Parliament projection show

Houses of Parliament Projection Show

Yesterday saw the start of the Houses of Parliament projection show with sound. Don't miss this unique opportunity to see one of London's most well known buildings lit up as never before, all in honour of the Paralympic Games.

Each night (excluding 3 - 6 September), between 8:30pm and midnight until 9 September the projections will feature the greatest moments from the first Paralympics in 1948 through to the modern day.

Shows will take place every 15 minutes, lasting approximately 9 minutes and will be accompanied by a special soundscape that can be heard from Albert Embankment in front of St Thomas’ Hospital.

When I saw it last night I was covered in goosebumps of national pride. If you have the chance to head down to the Southbank this is something not to be missed, especially if you have a special person to share it with.

See the Paralympic agitos in London

Agitos at in Trafalgar Square, London

As part of celebrations for the start of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, giant Paralympic agitos have been unveiled at Tower Bridge and the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square, two of London’s most famous landmarks.

The agito ("I move" in Latin) is a symbol of movement in the shape of an asymmetrical crescent. Coloured in red, blue, and green, the three agitos, shaped as asymmetric crescents around a single central point, symbolise motion and emphasise the role of the Paralympic movement in bringing athletes together from across the globe.  The shape also symbolises the Paralympic vision "To Enable Paralympic Athletes to Achieve Sporting Excellence and to Inspire and Excite the World". 

Measuring 16m by 12.5m the Paralympic agitos at Tower Bridge will be displayed until 15 September and offer a perfect photo opportunity throughout the Paralympic Games, whilst those at the National Gallery (shown above) will hang from the entrance until 12 September.

Things to Do this Bank Holiday in London

It's the last Bank Holiday until Christmas and the weather is set for rain - fabulous. The Swedes do say that there is no such thing as bad weather just the wrong clothing. 
So, with that in mind here are some suggestions of things to do this weekend:

• Afternoon Tea at Dukes Hotel, St James, London
• Fill your kitchen with the heavenly scent of baking
• Visit the Tower of London and learn about the 7 Traitors of the Tower
• Visit Dr Samuel Johnson's House
• Visit Windsor Castle, where Henry VIII hid when Anne Boleyn was executed

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Hampstead Village, London

Hampstead Village has a rich history of intellectual and artistic associations and, of course, Hampstead Heath. 
The area has been popular with film and TV show makers with Hampstead Heath being used in BBC's Spooks, the cult film Scenes of a Sexual Nature (2006) and Notes on a Scandal (2006). The old Hampstead Town Hall on Haverstock Hill was used in the filming of the world famous Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994).

Filming aside, here are a few things I learned when walking through Hampstead Village on a blazingly glorious Saturday afternoon.

What's in a name?

The name Hampstead comes from the Anglo-Saxon words ham and stede, which means, and is a cognate of, the Modern English "homestead".

Home of a Romantic Poet

John Keats lived in Hampstead for less than 2 years where he wrote his major works of poetry. The house was built in 1815 though an extension had been added later in the C19th.   Hampstead was a village in those days and had alleged health giving attributes.  Tuberculosis was rife and consumption or “decline” was a common cause of death.  It seemed to run in Keats family.  He had been trained as an apothecary surgeon and when he identified drops of blood which he had coughed up as “arterial blood” he knew he was not long for the world.  Keats moved to Italy as was popular in his time and died aged 25 in Rome where he is also buried. Some letters say that Keats was inspired to write his Ode to a Nightingale in the garden.  

20 years on...

And there is a plaque to commemorate the five years Jacqueline Du Pre lived in Hampstead. On good days, the couple would entertain at home. "We had some very nice evenings at Pilgrim's Lane," Barenboim later recalled. However, by late 1972 even this became too challenging for du Pré. Her last London concert was held at the Festival Hall in late 1972.

What a way to go!

The Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson is known the world over for his literary talents in Treasure Island, Kidnapped and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. What the world may not know was that he had never been a well man and died on a small Samoan island in the Pacific while opening a bottle of wine. The effort caused a blood vessel to burst. 

Sing about cake

In 1898 a baby girl was born over a fish and chip shop in Rochdale, Lancashire. The little girl grew up to be an actress, comedienne and a singer who sang about cake! Here name was Dame Gracie Fields. She lived in a house in Hampstead which she built in 1934 and died in 1979 at the age of 81.

You might also like: 

Explore The Lost River Fleet on Hampstead Heath
Historical Hampstead - Cannon Hall & Parish Lock-up
Kensington, a Royal Village

Guided Walks website

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When is does it become Art?

When does it become art?

I was walking along the Thames river in Putney I cam across Deodar Road which had been covered in 2000 toy cars, round and over the walls, pavements and street lamps. In some of the cars there were tiny speakers so that when viewers leant in, they were able to hear the sound of real, funny, mundane and unguarded conversations going on inside the cars.These car conversations were recorded by the residents of Deodar Road. Over fifty households got involved with the project and many people walking along the road seemed bemused to say the least. With many of these toy cars were on the floor, at the end of numerous drives. I did wonder as to how the Health and Safety aspect of this event had been signed off as it seemed to be something similar to a road littered with banana skins.

Car conversations was awarded one of the 2012 ‘Shimmy’ commissions to make a piece of public art on Deodar Road as part of the Wandsworth Arts Festival.
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If you are in London before 10th of September check out the London Invasion

Watch the Olympics at Hyde Park & Victoria Park for Free!

Jessica Ennis, Gold Heptathlon winner at BT London Live, Hyde Park yesterday

Loving the Olympics? Love live music? Then BT London Live is the event for you! Whether you want to see the best of the sporting action live on a big screen, see our TeamGB or enjoy an evening of music, BT London Live has it all, and bonus - it's FREE!
There are two BT London Live sites during the Olympics one at Hyde Park and the other at Victoria Park. There will be a live site at Trafalgar Square for the Paralympic Games.
BT London Live Hyde Park: 28 July – 11 August 2012
BT London Live Victoria Park: 27 July – 12 August 2012
BT London Live Trafalgar Square: 29 August – 9 September 2012

Tonight Lemar will be on the Main Stage at Hyde Park at 5.40pm followed by Soul II Soul at 6.55pm.

Find our more  

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London Invasion - Have you seen them?

London has been invaded by 82 Olympic mascots. Their names are Mandeville and Wenlock. Six walking routes totalling 22.1Km have been created through London's historical centre highlighting the greatest sights and sounds the city has to offer. Each of the 82 mascots have been individually designed and some of them, I' sure you will agree, are rather cute!

Where can I see the Olympic mascots in London?

Red Route- 4.8Km
See London’s political heart before heading to the South Bank, the city’s centre of culture. Map
Blue Route - 4.4Km
Feast your eyes on St Paul’s Cathedral, The Guildhall, and The Monument as you stroll along the banks of the Thames. Map
Yellow Route 3.2Km
Explore London’s historic East End whilst wandering through the lively Spitalfields Market and vibrant Brick Lane. Map
Pink Route - 2.6Km
Encounter the hustle and bustle of London’s West End with its hive of shops, theatres and some surprising hidden gems. Map
Purple Route - 3.4K
Piccadilly and Oxford Street are the stars of this trail which offers views of the city’s grand architecture and historical squares. Map

Green Route - 3.7Km
Discover one of London’s most famous green spaces, the beautiful Regent’s Park. Map

***Please note that there will be no access to the Blue, Red and Yellow trails during 12th August & 9th Sept due to Olympic/Paralympic marathon dates.***

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Rose Garden in Regents Park

By-products of Roses

In the UK the most commonly grown are the Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, Miniatures, and Dwarfs.
Rosa Alba a rose of uncertain origin that may have been introduced to Britain by the Romans. The rose isa thought to be the White Rose of York of Wars of the Roses fame and was crossed with existing gallicas and damasks to produce hybrids with very scented flowers-the alba roses.

Visit the rose garden in Regents Park, London

There is a rose garden in Regents Park and if you hurry you will be able to enjoy the last of the roses there, some of which have rather unusual names including Keep Smiling, Grand Hotel and Thelma Barlow.......enjoy!
Back to London Guided Walks website

What is the world's favourite flower?

Today there are over 30,000 varieties of roses world wide and they have quite a complicated but interesting family tree. Most roses today derive from about 100 species of rose, few of which are grown today. Most of our modern garden roses are hybrids but there are still a few species roses in cultivation. 

Wild roses were used in the production of rosewater, scented oils and other fragrances long before they were cultivated. Many uses can be traced back to Iraq in 2000 BC. Deliberate cultivation of roses was well under way in China by 500 BC and undoubtedly the Romans and other early European civilisations also grew large quantities for commercial use.

Fit for Roman Emperors

Some Roman emperors filled their swimming baths and fountains with rosewater, and sat on carpets of rose petals for their feasts and orgies. Roses were used as confetti for celebrations, for medical purposes, and as a source of perfume.

One Roman emperor used to enjoy showering his guests with rose petals which tumbled down from the ceiling during festivities. Roses became synonymous with the worst excesses of the Roman Empire when the peasants were reduced to growing roses instead of food in order to satisfy the demands of their rulers. 

In the UK the most commonly grown are the Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, Miniatures, and Dwarfs. Rosa Alba a rose of uncertain origin that may have been introduced to Britain by the Romans. The rose is thought to be the White Rose of York of Wars of the Roses fame and was crossed with existing gallicas and damasks to produce hybrids with very scented flowers-the alba roses.

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When Elizabeth Streb came to London

On Sunday 15 July, Brooklyn’s visionary choreographer Elizabeth Streb and her team of ‘action heroes’ thrilled London with a stunning series of daredevil feats. Taking over seven London landmarks, for one extraordinary day these performances stretched the limits of the human body and left spectators in awe.

Streb and her company push the human body to the boundaries of the possible, creating daredevil feats of extreme athleticism, positioned somewhere between dance, free-running, gymnastics and circus. These pictures should give you an idea of the day experienced by 1000s of people throughout the day.

Waterfall - What better way to start your Sunday than by bungee jumping off the Millenium Bridge!

Skywalk - Elizabeth Streb walks down City Hall, More London with two of her dance troupe. They violate the pull of gravity as they float into the air and touch down back on the building in a soaring run along its curvature. Over and over, lower and lower, appearing and disappearing as the crowd gathered watches a deceptively ordinary move achieve ever-changing perspective. This odd and heralding run continues until the noses of the runners, lightly touch the ground beneath the crowd’s feet.

Turn - As the metal structure turns the dancers confront ever-changing centers of gravity, and rapidly shifting directional forces. The Action Heroes discover new spaces for motion on this movement invention, erected in front of St. Paul’s Cathedral, in Paternoster Square.

Ascension - As the Ascension ladder turns, and the forces wreak their confusing havoc on the climbers, it becomes difficult to recognise if the performers are climbing up or down at any given time. One by one they hop on and begin their endless climb, around and around and around all nine bodies go.

The Human Fountain - A scaffold structure four stories high is planted between the Trafalgar’s famed fountains. From this structure 32 performers will manifest the power and beauty of falling water. From three meters, from six, from 10.50m – they leap and fall freely to hit the ground below.

Speed Angels - An anti-gravitational ballet where 3 STREB Action Specialists fall at 9.7536 meters per second, the speed of gravity. They plummet 31 meters and then reverse gravity to rise again at the same breakneck speed.
www.streb.org

Enjoy an Evening Walk along the Thames tonight

Houses of Parliament projections during summer 2012

Thanks to the Olympics taking an evening stroll along the Thames is now even more memorable. 

Suggested Southbank Evening Experience:
7-9.30pm Potters Field - Olympic Live Screening
9.30 - 10.03pm Tower Bridge Illuminations
10.03pm Rings on Tower Bridge light gold (if @TeamGB win a gold)
10.05pm+ Illuminated Bridges - walk West along the Thames, see the newly lit up Shard.
Continue walking and enjoy the next 6 bridges lit up. End at Houses of Parliament and enjoy the projections with inspirational soundtrack.

Potters Field Live Site

Potters Field Live Site
Potters Field by City Hall has a large screen which is showing the Olympic action. There is also a food market offering hog roast sandwiches, Lebanese mezze and English pies. You can always wash it down with some homemade lemonade.
Saturday 4th August programme:
7pm+ Athletics

Sunday 5th August programme:

10am - 7pm Badmington, Cycling, Tennis & Sailing

7pm+ Athletics

Millenium Bridge Illuminated

Bridge Illuminations

Seven of London’s most famous bridges are being lit up in a dazzling display of colour to celebrate the 50 evenings of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Spectacular light displays can be seen from 9.30pm until 5am, with a special moment taking place on the hour, every hour at:
Tower Bridge
London Bridge
Southwark Bridge
Millenium Bridge
Blackfriars Bridge
Waterloo Bridge
Golden Jubilee footbridge

Houses of Parliament Projections

Each evening until 12 August you can experience a show illustrating Olympic history projected onto one of Britain’s most recognisable buildings, the Houses of Parliament, in Westminster. The projections run from 9.30pm until midnight, with the show starting every 15 minutes and lasting approximately 14 minutes.

Back to London Guided Walks website

Travel Photographer of the Year Exhibition, Kensington

The Travel Photographer of the Year Exhibition returns to Royal Geographical Society. If you find yourself in Kensington before 2 Sept then I'd recommend you pop in for some captivating and often thought provoking photography. There is an indoor section then a rather nice green area extends the exhibition. Don't worry if it's raining, large umbrellas are on hand so you won't miss any of the photos on display.

Admission is FREE
Opening times: 9.30am-5pm Mon - Sat, 10am-4pm Sunday
Late opening until 8pm from 28th July to 11th August.                                                                                   

Travel Photographer of the Year Slideshow on BBC website

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Doing the Lambeth Walk - Oi!

The Lambeth Walk is the famous song ending Act I of the 1937 musical 'Me and My Girl'. The story line of Me and My Girl concerns a Cockney barrow boy who inherits an earldom but almost loses his Lambeth girlfriend, very similar to that of the musical 'Half a Sixpence'. Lambeth Walk was turned into a 1939 film The Lambeth Walk which starred Lupino Lane. The name of the song came from the name of a road; Lambeth Road which was an old market street and residential area before most of the area was destroyed during the blitz in 1940.


Now, history class over...forward 75 years to Exhibition Road, Kensington, London 2012. Due to the Olympics there was an outdoor festival on the newly renovated Exhibition Road. Gi Jive (Ian and Sheilagh) were on hand to demonstrate some very fine jive dancing which would have made a couple in their twenties worn out. They then proceeded to give us a lesson in doing the Lambeth Walk. Boys formed an inner circle and us girlies formed an outer circle and off we went! Everyone wore a smile as round and round we go, singing or humming as we went and all wholeheartedly joining in with the "Oi!" - hardly ladylike but a great deal of fun. Thanks Gi Jive for turning a semi grey Sunday into a fun bloomin' marvellous afternoon.

Lambeth Walk Lyrics:

Any time you're Lambeth way,

Any evening, any day,

You'll find us all

Doin' the Lambeth Walk. Oi!

Every little Lambeth gal,

With her little Lambeth pal,

You'll find 'em all

Doin' the Lambeth Walk. Oi!

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