V&A Museum of Childhood

This event promises a wild and wacky journey through the childhood of Quentin Blake and Roald Dahl. This travelling exhibition shows off some of Roald Dahl’s best stories, with illustrations by Quentin Blake.

http://london.londinium.com/81446

Tate Britain

Tony Swain uses old newspapers as his canvas, layering on top of it with paint to create dream-like paintings. Any text that is let through takes on new meaning in his paintings.

http://london.londinium.com/91510

Tate Britain
Price: Free

This free exhibition showcases Turner’s exploration of methods and techiniques, of colour and line. It follows Turner’s travels through Europe and his responses to different places, lighting and materials available. This ongoing exhibition will change exhibits every 6 months.

http://london.londinium.com/91509

Victoria and Albert Museum

This exhibition by the Royal College of Art displays highlights from 2008 graduates’ final collections. It shows the garments themselves, and the process of designing them from ideas to complete clothes.

http://london.londinium.com/91338

Fashion and Textile Museum
Wed – Sun: 11am – 6pm

This Exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum(FTM) chronicles the changes in female underwear, from health garment to fashion ‘must have’. It explores different themes, styles, advertising and it’s impact on society and culture. At the exhibition are such classics as M&S, Triumph, La Perla, Christian Dior, Elle Macpherson, Myla, Wonderbra, and others.

http://london.londinium.com/64755

Glyndebourne

This year is the 75th anniversary of the Glyndeburne Festival, a great festival of Opera in the surroundings of Sussex. This year the operas being performed are Falstaff, Giulio Cesare, The Fairy Queen, Rusalka, L’elisir D’amore and Tristan und Isolde.

http://london.londinium.com/91335

Soho Theatre

This sell-out event is proving Russell Howard as a big star in the comedy world. The star from Mock the Week, Russell Howard is even better on stage. His new material is great, and when he gets on a roll his comedy is some of the best around!

http://london.londinium.com/73870

Royal Academy of Arts

This annual exhibition, now in its 241st year, continues to show new works by upcoming and known artists in a variety of media, including painting, photography, sculpture and other forms. This year, Royal Academicians Ann Christopher, Eileen Cooper and Will Alsop have selected works for the exhibition around the theme of ‘Making Space’.

http://london.londinium.com/90163

Saatchi Gallery

This exhibition showcases new paintings and sculpture from America, including works by upcoming artists Kristin Baker, John Bauer, Mark Bradford and many others.

http://london.londinium.com/90162

Imperial War Museum
Admission: Free

Marking the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the MV Empire Windrush to Britain, this exhibition tells the story of Black men and women from the West Indies and their involvment in WWI and WWII.

http://london.londinium.com/90056

Imperial War Museum
Price: Free

Breakthrough is an art exhibition showcasing British art from both WWI and WWII, focusing particuarly on non-official and contemporary work. Official works shown will include some by Paul Nash, CRW Nevinson, John Piper and Eric Ravilious. Until the 28th June an additional display ‘The Neo-Romantics At War’ will also be on show, exploring the rise of British Neo-Romanticism during World War Two.

http://london.londinium.com/90055

Spitalfields

Spitalfields Summer Festival is a two-week celebration of the people living in the area through music. Events occur throughout the area.

Events this year include:

• In the House, special performances featuring solo musicians from the Royal Academy of Music, performing in houses in and around Fournier Street
• I Fagiolini present Tallis in Wonderland, an exploration of poliphony
• The Schubert Ensemble perform a world premiere by Jonathan Dove alongside Mendelssohn’s Piano Quartet No. 2 in F minor and Brahms’s Piano Quintet in F minor Op. 34
• The Transgressive Gospel by Michael Finnissy
• Family Day at Idea Store, Whitechapel with junk percussionist Jim Cartwright and the Aurora Orchestra
• Diana Burrell’s Violin Concerto, performed by soloists David Alberman and Lore Lixenburg
• An evening of renaissance music to include Taverner’s Missa Corona Spinea
• Royal Academy of Music Baroque Orchestra and Chorus directed by Edward Higginbottom performing Bach’s St John Passion BWV 245
• And many more daily events

http://london.londinium.com/19479

Camden People’s Theatre

Running since 1997, the Sprint Festival has provided a platform for exciting new and old artists to exhibit their work to the public. This years festival includes Harriet Poole, Natasha Davis, Famous&Divine, Helsinki Syndrome, Kings of England, Song Theatre and many others.

Kew Gardens & Wakehurst Place

There are many great events happening to celebrate Kew Garden’s 250th Anniversary this summer. Events will be held in both Kew Gardens and Wakehurt Place to mark this momentus occasion.

Exhibitions and attractions at Kew Gardens include:

• Kew around the World
• Timeline and Broadwalk
• Seed Walk and ‘Banking on Life’ Exhibition
• The International Garden Photographer of the Year Exhibition
• The Power of Plants Exhibition
• Guided Tours
• Behind the Scenes Guided Tours
• Plant Spy Thinking Walk
• Kew Social
• Garden Open Evenings
• Many Talks and Lectures

Exhibitions and Attractions at Wakehurst Place include:

• Dispersal Exhibition
• Giant 10%
• Meadows Exhibitions and Events
• Guided Tours
• Summer Holiday Activities
• Millenium Seed Bank Activity Days
• Members Open Evening
• Early Morning Walk
• Coffee Mornings
• Talks and Lectures

http://london.londinium.com/89844

British Museum
Cost: Free

This exhibition features coins, images and other objects illustrating Isfahan’s rich history, from its pre-Islamic foundation until the present day.

http://london.londinium.com/88710

British Musem
Cost: Free

The Indian landscape is vast and has many diverse regions – from the rocky environment of the Himalayan Mountains to the tropical zones of southern India and temperate zones in the plains. This unique partnership between the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the British Museum has resulted in this wonderful landscape at the British Museum.

http://london.londinium.com/88711

Natural History Museum
Daily: 10am – 6pm

This exhibition takes you on a magical journey from the deepest depths of the jungle to the tops of the trees, experiencing butterflies and other jungle creatures along the way.

http://london.londinium.com/88694

Science Museum

In this exhibition, Wallace and Gromit guide you through a world of inventions – some simple ideas that a life changing, some wacky objects, and some of the first ever patented inventions from the Science Museum’s collection.

http://london.londinium.com/88639

Science Museum
Cost: Free

The exhibition has four sections focusing on 100 years of making plastics: The Birth of Plastics, Plastic Dreams, Plastics Now, and Plastic Futures.

http://london.londinium.com/88638

Science Museum
Cost: Free

This temporary exhibition showcases 20 examples where F1™ technology is impacting on our lives, from changing the way we look after patients and design our sports equipment, to maintaining the heating systems in our homes.

http://london.londinium.com/88637

Science Museum
Cost: Free

This exhibition showcases ERNIE 1 – the first random number generator machine created for premium bonds. It explores its development and popularity, its link to the first digital electronic computer – the code-breaking Colossus – and the role of random numbers in computing today.

http://london.londinium.com/88636

Science Museum
Cost: Free

This exciting new temporary exhibition explores the role played by technology in creating post-war Britain.

http://london.londinium.com/88635

London Excel
Thu: 10am – 7pm
Fri: 10am – 5pm
Sat: 10am – 6pm
Sun: 10am – 5pm

The UK’s biggest music show features the world’s top rock stars and an exhibition of the best musical instrument brands. With a range of exciting concerts, seminars, activities, it is the ultimate day out for anyone interested in music.

http://london.londinium.com/69593

Singleton Park
Sat: 12-11pm

Wales’ biggest festival, Escape into the Park is a great festival taking place in Singleton Park, Swansea. The Lineup includes many great names, including Eric Prydz, Scratch Perverts, Utah Saints, Judge Jules, Andy C, High Contrast and many others!

http://london.londinium.com/88300

Conway Hall
Fri: 11am-4pm, 7pm-11pm
Sat – Sun: 11am-5pm, 8-11pm

This three day media arts festival aims to bring together a diverse group of speakers, musicians and films from many different cultures to create an experience quite unlike any other, delving deep into contemporary spiritual discovery and mystical tradition.

http://london.londinium.com/88298

Hampton Court Palace

Food and drink, picnics and music, perfect for summer. Highlights include José Carrerras, Jools Holland, Beverly Knight and Lemar, James Morrison, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performing Best of Broadway, the RPO performing a Beethoven Festival Finale.

http://london.londinium.com/82754

Olympia Two
Friday: 10am-5pm
Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: 10am-5pm

Due to phenomenal demand for tickets, global superstar Britney Spears has added another 6 dates to her forthcoming tour â??The Circus Starring Britney Spears’ at London’s O2 Arena. Britney’s sixth studio album, ‘Circus’, was released on Monday, and has become her fastest selling album in the UK to date.

3rd June – O2 Arena, London
4th June – O2 Arena, London
6th June – O2 Arena, London NEW DATE
7th June – O2 Arena, London NEW DATE
10th June – O2 Arena, London NEW DATE
11th June – O2 Arena, London NEW DATE
13th June – O2 Arena, London NEW DATE
14th June – O2 Arena, London NEW DATE

http://london.londinium.com/46275 : 02 arena

Thu 23rd Apr  – Sun 6th Sep  2009

PACCAR Gallery, British Library

Price: Adults £9 (concessions £7 / £5)

This unique exhibition looks beyond the myths and stereotypes surrounding Henry VIII, to address the inner intellectual journey of Henry’s monarchy and re-examine our perceptions of the great Tudor monarch. Through fresh interpretation of rich source material the exhibition will examine the extraordinary transformations – personal and political, intellectual and religious, literary, aesthetic, linguistic – of Henry’s reign. Books, manuscripts and letters written or annotated by Henry will offer an unprecedented insight into the mind of the king, revealing the driving forces behind his actions, and telling the story of his reign from his own perspective.

“This exhibition draws on the British Library’s rich collections – including the books that Henry himself chose, read and annotated – which outline the revolutionary change in ideas that took place during the reign of Henry VIII and take us, as nothing else can, into the King’s own mind.”

Dr David Starkey

Learn more about Henry VIII through the Library’s vibrant and engaging events programme: a rich mix of performances, talks, family events, screenings and more. Highlights include: a Henry VIII Day – an open house for all the family featuring Tudor re-enactments, sports, games and workshops; a celebration and late opening with live music by Alamire marking 500 years since the coronation of Henry; and a series of three lectures by Dr David Starkey.

http://london.londinium.com/78008

FASHION, JEWELLERY & ACCESSORIES
Magnificence of the Tsars, Magnificence of the Emperors: From The Moscow Kremlin Museums Collection

10 December 2008 – 29 March 2009, Fashion, Room 40,
The grandeur of Imperial Russia is captured in this display of the dress and uniforms of Emperors and officials of the Russian court. Starting in the 1720s with the lavishly embroidered coats and elaborately patterned silk banyans from the wardrobe of Tsar Peter II, the display spans a period of almost two centuries.

Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones.

24 February – 31 May 2009, The Porter Gallery
Working with radical hat designer, Stephen Jones, the V&A presents an ‘anthology of hats’. Drawn from V&A and international collections and ranging in style and period from a 17th-century Puritan’s hat to a 1950s Balenciaga couture piece to hats by Jones and his contemporaries including to the latest creations by young milliners such as Noel Stewart, the exhibition investigates the cultural and historic importance of millinery. The exhibition is arranged in four main themes – Inspiration looks at the myriad of sources including historicism, exoticism and the natural world; Creation explores the techniques, materials and processes; The Salon focuses on the buying and selling of hats and the millinery shop; and The Clients which examines the wearing and etiquette of hats and features headgear worn by well known clients of some of the world’s top milliners including Audrey Hepburn, Anna Piaggi, Dita von Teese.

The Olympic Stadium Project – Le Corbusier and Baghdad
9 October 2008 – 29 March 2009,  Architecture, Room 128a
This display examines one of the last projects by Le Corbusier, begun in 1957, his fascinating design for a sports stadium in Baghdad. With specially commissioned models, it gives a sense of what this marvellous structure would have looked like had the project come to fruition. The stadium was planned around a set of innovative radially arranged ribs or “voiles”, the designs for 20 of which also feature in the display.
Le Corbusier regarded athletes as metaphors for modern man, and with Pierre Jeanneret he created an experimental design for a huge stadium for 100 000 people for athletic/cultural use. Le Corbusier referred to it as a “civic tool for a modern age.”

‘Seasons through the Looking Glass’ Tunnel Installation
28 March 2008 – 29 March 2009, Tunnel Entrance
Alice’s adventures began when she fell into a tunnel that unexpectedly twisted downwards to form a deep well. She landed abruptly on a heap of sticks and dry leaves. This notion of mythical underground spaces is the subject of CJ Lim’s installation, a multi-sensory and tactile intervention which explores the spatial possibilities of a subterranean garden.

Libraries of Light: Photographic Books from the V&A Collection
24 April 2008 – 19 April 2009, Photography, Room 38a
Photographic books are almost as old as photography itself. Indeed, one of the inventors of photography, William Henry Fox Talbot, was also author of one of the very first books to include photographs, The Pencil of Nature (1844). This display features highlights of historic, classic and contemporary photographic books from the Museum’s library alongside prints from the photographs archive.

The Booker Prize, 6 September 2008 – 17 May 2009
This display celebrates the 40th anniversary of the leading literary award, The Booker and Man Booker Prize. It presents winning and shortlisted books from the past forty years, alongside promotional material and the original Booker trophy, created by the artist Jan Pienkowski. It explores the practice of collecting Booker Prize books, featuring signed limited first editions and proof copies from the collection of the literary agent and book collector Peter Straus. The display demonstrates how the design of book jackets has changed since the first prize was awarded in 1969 and includes examples of bespoke bindings of shortlisted books created by members of one of the foremost societies devoted to the craft of fine bookbinding, the British Society of Designer Bookbinders.

Capturing the Moment. Photographs by Reg Wilson
18 March 2009 – 10 January 2010, Theatre and Performance Temporary Exhibition Gallery, Room 104
Reg Wilson is one of Britain’s most prolific performance photographers.  From the 1960s he has recorded four decades of the performing arts in all their richness and variety, capturing the great and the good on stage, backstage and in the studio. This selection from Wilson’s archive, chosen by the artist, shows every aspect of the performance process from the studio to the finished product.  It also demonstrates a range of techniques, from the staged photo-call to the snatched backstage shot and includes some of the earliest stage photography and colour productions.

Contemporary Drawings ‘Wine, Women and Song 1′, Martin Fuller,
7 March – 30 July 2009,Leighton, Room 102
The V&A has recently acquired an extensive group of contemporary drawings by artists who work across all the fine art disciplines: painters, sculptors, printmakers, photographers and installation artists. The drawings in this display are very diverse, ranging from the figurative, to the abstract, to the conceptual. What connects them is the versatile medium of drawing itself, the essential foundation of all art practice.

Medieval & Renaissance highlights – Makers and Markets
26 March 2007 – 27 April 2009 Sculpture, Room 117
This small display highlights the growing market in 16th century Europe for decorative goods – from costly lustreware, enamels and sculptures to more modest domestic stoneware pots. Works by some of the greatest sculptors of the period, such as Michelangelo, Benvenuto Cellini and Giambologna, are included. These artists were celebrated figures in their own lifetimes and princes, popes and the rising merchant classes were keen to acquire works by such celebrated masters.

Cultural Connections: Africa
July 2008 – June 2009, Sackler Centre, Room 220
This display presents a diverse group of objects with links to the African diaspora interpreted by an invited artist. Maria Amidu is interested in the relationships between people and public collections. Here she reflects on the role museum curators play in determining what appears on display and how it is presented.

The Art of Drinking
26 September 2007 – 26 April 2009, Room 66,
For the past 500 years drinking has stimulated a rich material culture. Specific situations and drinks require particular vessels, from stoneware beer mugs to jade wine cups and silver goblets. This display explores the varied and often curious designs of drinking vessels in order to explain their function and importance.

Fragments
10 November 2008 – 8 November 2009, Room 116, The Belinda Gentle Metalware Gallery
The metalwork collection includes fragments of objects. These are often beautiful, intriguing and revealing in their own right. On first seeing them, we often wonder what they are. By examining a detail we can understand more about the whole object, what it is made of, and how it was made. This display showcases fragments of objects and looks at how they were made.

http://london.londinium.com/1833