Sunday, 9 September 2012

Athletes Parade - Monday 10th September 1.30-4pm

As a glorious sporting summer comes to an end, up to 830  Team GB and ParalympicsGB  athletes who competed at the Olympic and Paralympic Games will parade through central London to celebrate their achievements with the public. Our Greatest Team are due to set out from Mansion House in the City at 1:30pm, with up to 830 athletes travelling on 21 floats, organised by sport and with medal winners across the length of the parade. They will travel along Queen Victoria Street and Cannon Street, passing by St Paul's Cathedral, continuing along Fleet Street, past Aldwych and into The Strand. It is expected to take about 50 mins from Mansion House to Trafalgar Square  The final stretch of the parade in the Mall is a ticketed area and is a big thank you to volunteers and others who have made a contribution to the Games and supported the athletes. 


The parade will consist of up to 21 floats, each able to carry around 40 athletes. At the head of the parade will be a specially commissioned carnival group fronted by 2 giant lion heads, each representing the motifs of Team GB and Paralympics GB. The parade is expected to travel at approx 2 mph and take up to 15 mins to pass any given point.

The Parade is the perfect opportunity for us all to celebrate the achievements of fabulous British athletes following their participation in the Games, and for the athletes to say thank you to the United Kingdom for supporting them through these memorable Games. With an unparalleled medal haul, we as a nation are understandably immensely proud of the achievements of Our Greatest Team. 

Why is the Parade taking place on Monday 10  September?
By staging the parade the day after the Paralympic Games, the participation of the maximum number of athletes is assured, in particular the Paralympic athletes who will be coming directly from the Olympic Park to the Parade start. If the date is delayed further many athletes may not be able to take part because of other commitments. 

Who is expected to watch the parade?
The parade is the finale after the Games and an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of all the British Athletes. Many thousands of people may come out for this unique occasion. including people working in the City and West End, as well as visitors to the capital. 
      
     Pat yourself on the back London!
      Inside the Games venues and at hundreds of cultural events across the capital, London has put on an amazing show - this is the final free event organised by the Mayor of London as part of citywide celebrations organised for the London 2012 Games.

Travel information for 10 September
Roads:
Roads in the City (in area surrounding Guildhall / Gresham Street) will be closed from 6am with further road closures in central London from 11.00am onwards, with a number of bus services diverted or not running their full routes. Please use public transport if possible, but allow more time for your journey if essential to drive.
Buses:
Because of road closures in the City from 6am and further closures around central London from 11.00am, a number of bus services will be diverted or not run their full routes.
Tube:
Tube services will operate a normal weekday service with no planned engineering work across the whole network. However, lines and stations close to the parade will be busier so you should allow more time for your journey.
Docklands Light Railway:
A normal weekday service will operate on the DLR but Bank station will be busier than normal so allow more time for your journey.
London Overground:
All services will operate normal weekday service. 
National Rail:
Due to the close proximity of the Parade route to Charing Cross and City Thameslink Stations, it is likely that these areas will become busy at the time of the Parade passing by. Some journey times may be impacted, so allow more time for your journey or consider using alternative stations.
Barclays Cycle Hire:
Barclays Cycle Hire Docking stations will remain available, but it is likely that due to crowds and road closures some central London stations will not be replenished.


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Saturday, 8 September 2012

World record breaking music marathon this Sunday!

Everyone’s invited to their local bandstand this Sunday afternoon to celebrate the last day of the Paralympic Games. 

Bandstands across the city will come to life on Sunday 9 September for the biggest bandstand concert this city has ever seen. As part of the Showtime Festival finale, enjoy an afternoon of live music, bands and choirs. At 2pm, Viva La Vida by Coldplay will be played simultaneously at all bandstands.

There will be fantastic free live music performances all afternoon. Visitors to Broomfield Park, Palmers Green can expect the Afro-Caribbean beats of The Harambe Drummer, while Regent’s Park will host a festival of Jewish music.

There will be much more happening across London. So pack a picnic, meet up with family, friends and neighbours and head down to your local bandstand for a world record breaking music marathon! 

Participating bandstands include:
East London

  • Albany Park, Hertford Road, Enfield, EN3 5PA
  • Barking Park, Longbridge Road,Barking, IG11 8TA
  • Coronation Gardens, Oliver Road, Leyton, E10 5NE
  • Hillyfields, Cooks Hole Road, Enfield, EN2 0UD
  • Ponder's End Park, Ponders End High Street, Enfield EN3 4EY
  • Pondfield Park, Pondfield Road, Dagenham, RM10 8DE
  • Springfield Park, Springfield Mansion, Hackney, E5 9EF
  • Valentines Park, Cranbrook Road, Ilford, IG2 6EW
  • Victoria Park, Corner of Old Ford Road and Grove Road, Tower Hamlets, E9 7DE

South London

  • Battersea Park, Battersea, SW11 4NJ
  • Clapham Common Bandstand, Windmill Drive, SW4 9DE
  • Croydon Road Recreation Ground, Beckenham, BR3
  • Diamond Jubilee Gardens, The Embankment, Twickenham, TW1 3DY
  • Queen's Gardens, Croydon, CR9 1SA
  • The Walnuts, Orpington, BR6 OTW

West London
  • Dukes Meadow, Riverside Drive, Chiswick, W4 2SH
  • Haven Green, Ealing Broadway, W5 2NX
  • Merton Abbey Mills, Merantun Way, Wimbledon, W19 2RD
  • Paddington Recreation Grounds,Westminster, W9
  • Shenley Park, Ruslip Manor, HA4

South East London
  • General Gordon Square, Woolwich, SE18 6HB
  • The Albany, Douglas Way, Lewisham, SE8 4AG
  • Tudor Barn, Well Hall Pleasaunce, Well Hall Road, Eltham SE9 6SZ


North London
  • Broomfield Park, Alderman's Hill, Palmers Green, N13 4RB
  • Northampton Square, Islington, EC1 V0

North West London
  • Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill Lane, NW2
  • Harrow Recreation Ground, Roxborough Road, Harrow, HA1 1PB
  • Regents Park, NW1 4NR
For more info visit the official websiteYou should follow me on twitter here

Friday, 7 September 2012

Enjoy Thames Festival This weekend - 8-9 September 2012


Join the end of summer party by the banks of the Thames at London’s biggest free outdoor arts festival and part funded by the Mayor of London. This was enjoyed by over 800,000 visitors in 2011 and this year it's promised to bigger and better than ever!

This weekend spectacular brings together Londoners of all ages and communities to celebrate their city and the River Thames with music, dance, feasting, carnival, river races, art installations and more.

Highlights of the Thames Festival which I am looking forward to experiencing are Circolombia, XX Scharnhorst and All Eyes on Korea.

Circolombia (Saturday 12-10pm) Immerse yourself in a day of Colombian culture with exuberant young artists.
12 noon DJ session
1pm Zumba workshops – Come and join in!
2pm Circolombia - A performance of solo acts by some of the best talents from Circolombia´s troupe.
2.45pm Zumba workshops – Come and join in!
3.30pm Circolombia - Carnival des Animales -  awe-inspiring acrobatics
4.30pm Luis Lema - Colombian singer performing some of the best music from the Pacific coast of Colombia such as: currulaos, jotas & abozaos
5.30pm Circolombia - A performance of solo acts
6.15pm Criminalz Dance Crew - New Style Dance
6.45pm Circolombia - 
Carnival des Animales -  awe-inspiring acrobatics  
7.45pm Angelica Lopez - queen of Colombia's Caribbean coast music in London.
9pm Circo – Cabaret - DJs, live percussion & surprise circus performers



XX Scharnhorst - World Premier (Sunday 8 & 9.15pm) 
Featuring live choirs and young percussionists on HMS Belfast. A breathtaking performance is created by a womens' choir, a German choir and a percussion ensemble of young men who drum against the fabric of the vessel itself.

All Eyes on Korea  (Sat & Sun 12 noon - 10pm)  
A showcase of Korean culture, pop music, sport and theatre and a smorgasbord of beautiful boats at St Katherine’s Docks.  Before each live performance, audiences can see a selection of stunning large-scale projections by Lee Lee-nam. For all you brides to be who are wanting something a little different you may be inspired by a traditional Korean wedding celebration - all part of the show.
Sat 8 Sept
1.10pm Babbling Comedy 2 by Perfordian Factory
2.20pm Traditional Korean Wedding Demonstration & Stage Performance
4.40pm Taekwondo Demo by Kukkiwon Taekwondo team and GB National Poomsae Squad
5.50pm Traditional Korean Music by Yeonheedan Palsandae
7pm K-Pop Contest
Sun 9 Sept
12.10pm Babbling Comedy 2 by Perfordian Factory
1.20pm Traditional Korean Wedding Demonstration & Stage Performance
3.40pm Taekwondo Demo by Kukkiwon Taekwondo team and GB National Poomsae Squad
4.50pm Yeonheedan Palsandae
5.50pm Babbling Comedy 2 by Perfordian Factory
6.50pm Kukkiwon Taekwondo Display Team
8.10pm Screening of Jeong Yoon-chul’s film Marathon

Watch fireworks this weekend along the ThamesAs with tradition, the finale to the Thames Festival is a magical illuminated Night Carnival along the south and north banks of the Thames.  This years Night Carnival will feature over 1,500 dancers, drummers and costumed masqueraders, followed by the traditional river-based fireworks spectacular never fails to impress! The fireworks will be lit from two barges on the river between Blackfriars and Waterloo Bridges. There's plenty of opportunity to find a space after watching the the magical illuminated Night Carnival procession on Victoria Embankment on the north bank of the river. You can also get a good view from Blackfriars and Waterloo Bridges themselves. 

For more information about the Thames Festival 2012 visit the official website.