SPRING IN THE CITY FEBRUARY TO APRIL 2018
www.visitthecity.co.uk ART AND EXHIBITIONS FAMILY MUSIC SPECIAL EVENTS THEATRE WALKS AND TALKS
ART AND EXHIBITIONS
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FAMILY 10
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MUSIC 12
SPECIAL EVENTS
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FIELDS OF BATTLE
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THEATRE 22 WALKS AND TALKS
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PARTNER PROMOTION
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Fields of Battle p.21
As the cold melts away and the green shoots of spring creep through, leave your winter refuge and take advantage of the City’s plentiful offering of events. The City commemorates the centenary of the end of the First World War. Head to Guildhall Yard for Fields of Battle, Lands of Peace 1918–2018 (p.21), the final in a series of photographic exhibitions that capture how time and nature have healed
the scars of war. This instalment explores the global nature of the conflict. Commemorating one hundred years since women secured the right to vote, learn more about about the struggle for equality with a variety of events across the City (p.7, 10, 14, 18, 20, 25). Keep an eye out for more throughout the year. Soak up some of the City’s incredible culture at the Barbican, with two days of performances, activites and installations, all aimed at giving you a taste of what takes place within the brutalist cultural centre (p.18).
Culture seekers can also get their fix at the first ever London Landmarks Half Marathon (p.19). The charity run opens up a host of City attractions to runners and supporters, showcasing not only the finest landmarks, but also some of the quirkiest. Families won’t find themselves at a loose end in the City. Half-term and Easter see a heap of events to keep the kids entertained. Learn about Guildhall Art Gallery’s incredible collection, hear tales of incredible feats at Tower Bridge, craft at the Museum of London and see The Wind in the Willows brought to life at the Bank of England Museum (various events p.10).
For more events and information about the City go to www.visitthecity.co.uk or visit our City Information Centre by St Paul’s Cathedral, where our friendly, multilingual staff are ready to help you plan your days out: City of London Information Centre St Paul’s Churchyard London EC4M 8BX
The information in this leaflet has been researched and compiled in good faith and checked as thoroughly as possible with the relevant sources. It is correct to the best of the publisher’s knowledge at the time of printing (January 2018) and the publisher cannot accept any liability for errors and omissions howsoever caused. No payment was either solicited or received for inclusion of entries (with the exception of the back page advertisement) and it does not claim to be fully comprehensive.
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5 Art and Exhibitions
Ongoing Ongoing
Stories from the City - The Bank of England in Literature Discover the Bank’s literary connections, including how the Bank’s work inspired writers from Jane Austen (who features on the polymer £10 note) to Terry Pratchett, as well as famous authors who worked in the City. When: 10am-5pm (last entry 4.30pm) FREE Bank of England Museum Bartholomew Lane EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk/ museum T 020 3461 5545
Ongoing
Criminal Lives, 1780-1925: Punishing Old Bailey Convicts Between 1700 and 1900, Britain stopped punishing the bodies of convicts and increasingly sought to reform their minds. Exile and forced labour in Australia and incarceration in penitentiaries became the dominant modes of punishment. Trace the impact of these punishments on convict lives in this challenging exhibition. Mon 9.30am-4.45pm, Tue-Thu 9.30am-7.30pm FREE (booking recommended) London Metropolitan Archives 40 Northampton Road EC1R 0HB www.criminal-lives.eventbrite. co.uk T 020 7332 3820
Tower Bridge and the mysterious Bridge House Estates Uncover Tower Bridge’s connection to the Bridge House Estates, the mysterious institution that finances its upkeep along with four other bridges in London. When: 9.30am-5pm (until 31 Mar), 10am-5.30pm (from Apr) Admission: £9.80, child £4.20 Tower Bridge Tower Bridge Road SE1 2UP www.towerbridge.org.uk T 020 7403 3761
Ongoing
The City Centre The City Centre is the home of the City of London’s architectural model of the Square Mile. On a 1:500 scale, it documents the current make-up of the City and includes many new developments planned for the next 10 years. It offers a rare
insight into the future London skyline. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (City model exhibition Fri-Sat only) FREE The City Centre 80 Basinghall Street EC2V 5AR www.thecitycentre.london T 020 7600 8362
Ongoing
London Mithraeum London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE returns the Roman Temple of Mithras to the location of its discovery in the heart of the City. Situated beneath the site of Bloomberg’s new European headquarters, this new cultural space showcases the ancient temple, a selection of Roman artefacts found during excavation, and a series of contemporary art commissions responding to one of the UK’s most significant archaeological sites. Tue-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm. First Thu of every month 10am-8pm FREE London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE 12 Walbrook EC4N 8AA www.londonmithraeum.com
Until 2 March
Till Time’s Last Sand - A History of the Bank of England Delve into the history of the Bank in a display showing original archive documents and photographs illustrating some of the highlights of David Kynaston’s most recent publication. Founded in 1694, the Bank holds a variety of material which provides a compelling insight into its history. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm (last entry 4.30pm) FREE Bank of England Museum Bartholomew Lane EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk/ museum T 020 3461 5545
7 Art and Exhibitions
Until 9 March
A book is many things: a box, bible, bling, expanding file, notepad, inadvertent container… used and abused, the older a book is, the greater the chance that someone has altered its material content in an unusual or thoughtful way. See how and why books are customised, adorned, despoiled and disguised and find out what happened to the biggest and the smallest books in Guildhall Library’s collections. Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm; Wed until 7.30pm; open alternative Sats FREE Guildhall Library Aldermanbury EC2V 7HH www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ guildhalllibrary T 020 7332 1869/1871
Until 28 March
The Centre for Russian Music: Inside the Collections The Centre for Russian Music at Goldsmiths, University of London, opens up its collections for display at Barbican Music Library. See rare Soviet scores, texts and vinyl, as well as stories of Soviet composers’ complex negotiations with political power, and of unusual lines of contact with the West. Mon, Wed 9.30am-5.30pm, Tue, Thu 9.30am-7.30pm, Fri 9.30am-2pm, Sat 9.30am-4pm FREE Barbican Music Library Barbican Centre, Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk T 020 7638 0672
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Books: Used and Abused
Until 2 April
From 2 February
Nature Morte Confront what it means to be human. Explore the transience of time and the challenge of mortality as the 16th-century tradition of still life meets modern art in Guildhall Art Gallery’s new exhibition Nature Morte. Featuring 100 works of art by major international contemporary artists - including Michael CraigMartin and Gabriel Orozco, as well as London-based artists - this exhibition goes beyond the two-dimensional and invites you to pause and look anew at the human condition. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12noon-4pm Admission: £8, concs £6 Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ naturemorte T 020 7332 3700
Votes for Women Until 19 April
City of London Heritage Gallery Discover historic letters sent between the City and America during the American War of Independence. Read correspondence from leading figures including John Hancock and Isaac Roosevelt showing the City’s support for the cause. Themes of freedom and selfdetermination are also explored in archives documenting the work and activities of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson; the first woman to qualify as a surgeon and physician in Britain and to serve as a magistrate and a mayor. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 12noon-4pm FREE Heritage Gallery Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ heritagegallery T 020 7332 3700
This new display is dedicated to those who campaigned tirelessly for over 50 years to achieve votes for women. Uncover the stories behind iconic objects from the Museum of London’s unique Suffragette collection, including Emmeline Pankhurst’s hunger strike medal. When: 10am-6pm FREE Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ votesforwomen T 020 7001 9844
From 7 February
Yto Barrada Be immersed in a series of art installations, including a mural, film, sculpture and performance from artist Yto Barrada. Inspired by a surreal text about the devastating earthquake in Agadir, Morocco, in 1960 Barrada explores how a city and its people might address the process of reinvention following a disaster. Various times available, see website for details FREE Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk T 020 7638 8891
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9 Art and Exhibitions
From 19 March
Under the Microscope
From 5 March 16 February
Nature Morte Late This is not your usual Valentines. For those looking for an ‘alternative’ date night or to reject the holiday entirely, come celebrate something we all have in common – life and death – at an evening of ‘ethical’ taxidermy, life drawing and immersive comedy theatre. All this and more accompanied by a killer playlist and still life-inspired cocktails. Curator-led tours of the art exhibition, Nature Morte, will also be on offer. When: 7pm-10pm Admission: £15 Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ naturemorte T 020 7332 3700
Historical Customers of the Bank of England Meet some of the famous individuals who held stock or accounts at the Bank during the 18th and 19th centuries in a display of detailed records from the archive and find out which of these would eventually feature on banknotes. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm (last entry 4.30pm) FREE Bank of England Museum Bartholomew Lane EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk/ museum T 020 3461 5545
Inspired by her mother’s 1930s brass microscope and her scientific research at Trinity College Dublin, view artist Mary Prichard’s homage to her mother Olive. Explore a mock-up of her laboratory, as the exhibition brings together a variety of media and archival material; biological slides, photographs, scientific papers, letters and stories to reveal the personal history of Olive the scientist. Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm; Wed until 7.30pm; open alternative Sats FREE Guildhall Library Aldermanbury EC2V 7HH www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ guildhalllibrary T 020 7332 1869/1871
Inside Abbey Road Home to some of the seminal popular culture moments of the last century, discover an exhibition of photographs, prints and artefacts looking back at the history of the world famous Abbey Road Studios. Mon, Wed 9.30am-5.30pm, Tue, Thu 9.30am-7.30pm, Fri 9.30am-2pm, Sat 9.30am-4pm FREE Barbican Music Library Barbican Centre, Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/ library T 020 7638 0672
From 24 April
Epiphany
From 28 February
Another Kind of Life: Photography on the Margins
Admission: £13.50, concs available, (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk T 020 7638 8891 Paz Errázuriz. From the series La Manzana de Adán (Adam’s Apple), 1983. © Paz Errázuriz. Courtesy of the artist.
© Mary Pritchard
Another Kind of Life: Photography on the Margins shines a light on the stories of those living on the fringes of society, presenting the outsider as an agent of change. Touching on themes of gender and sexuality, drugs and addiction, youth culture and minorities of all kinds, the show features 20 photographers who spent months, years or even decades with their subjects, creating authentic and empowering bodies of work. Various times available, see website for details
From 9 April
Using art, archaeology, music and cutting-edge technology, Epiphany celebrates the cycle of life. Hear the music of Paola Prestini, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Francisco Nuñez and pianist Mischa Dohler accompanied by the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. Ali Hossaini’s surreal video transforms the Roman Amphitheatre into tunnels of light pulsating with epic chronologies and ritual constellations. Various times available, see website for details FREE Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ epiphany T 020 7332 3700
Hear the fantastic stories from The Wind in the Willows brought to life by a costumed storyteller in these fun and engaging sessions. When: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm (last entry 4.30pm) FREE Bank of England Museum Bartholomew Lane EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk/ museum T 020 3461 5545
3 – 4 February
Votes for Women Weekend Join a weekend of activities commemorating the centenary of the Representation of the People Act of 1918 which gave some women the right to vote for the first time. Create banners inspired by the iconic designs of the Suffragettes and discover the hidden stories of the women and men behind the Suffragette movement through performances, digital workshops, poetry and more. Activities recommended for those aged 10-14. When: 11am-4pm FREE Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844
Family Activities at Guildhall Art Gallery Join Guildhall Art Gallery for free themed family activities. A revolving programme may have you heading into the Roman Amphitheatre and hearing tales of Roman conquests, or creating crafts inspired by the Victorian paintings surrounding you. Various times available, see website for details. FREE Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ guildhallartgallery T 020 7332 3700
10, 17 February, 18 March & 14 April
Great Fire Family Walk
Was the baker of Pudding Lane to blame? What did Samuel Pepys bury in his garden? Find out on our 45-minute interactive family walk exploring how the Great Fire started, spread and was finally stopped. Take part in mini challenges as you visit sites including Pudding Lane, the Monument and London Bridge. When: 11am-11.45am Admission: £7 adults, £5 child Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844
14 February
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The Adventures of Toad
10 February, 10 March 7 April
11 Family
2 – 16 February
Half Term at Guildhall Art Gallery Keep the little ones entertained this holiday with family activities at Guildhall Art Gallery. Inspired by works in the exhibition Nature Morte, create your own Still Life, or head down into the Roman Amphitheatre and find out about the foods that fuelled the Roman Empire. Various times available, see website for details. FREE Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ guildhallartgallery T 020 7332 3700
17 February, 17 March & 21 April
Free Family Activities at Tower Bridge
31 March – 14 April
Easter Holiday Fun Explore the future of London at free family events. Join the Museum of London for workshops, performances and large-scale arts and crafts. When: 11am-4pm FREE Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ families T 020 7001 9844
Come and find out the hidden stories of Tower Bridge at monthly family activity days. Hear tales of jumping buses, crazy pilots and more. When: 10am-4pm Admission: £9.80, child £4.20 Tower Bridge Tower Bridge Road SE1 2UP www.towerbridge.org.uk T 020 7403 3761
3 – 13 April
Easter Eggs-travaganza Join the hunt to find the hidden chicks and golden eggs by following the trail around the Museum before decorating an Easter animal mask or finger puppet to take home. Each child receives a chocolate egg. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm (last entry 4.30pm) FREE Bank of England Museum Bartholomew Lane EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk/ museum T 020 3461 5545
13 Music
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26 February – 5 March
Dialogues des Carmélites
9, 16, 23 February 9, 16, 30 March, 6 & 13 April
BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts 8 February
Elgar’s Symphony No 1 with Sir Mark Elder Join Sir Mark Elder, pianist Francesco Piemontesi and the LSO for this concert of pieces by three master composers. Opening with Janáček’s comedy Schluck und Jau, telling the tale of drunken vagrants and a case of mistaken identity, Bartók’s serene Third Piano Concerto follows with a piece inspired by American birdsong. The concert closes with Elgar’s First Symphony, considered by many to be the most perfect and lyrical of all of Elgar’s works. When: 7.30pm-9.40pm Admission: £15-£55 Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.lso.co.uk T 020 7638 8891
This spring, discover two new series of chamber music concerts. The first explores the links between Debussy and Pizzetti, with concerts by pianist Cédric Tiberghien, the BBC Singers and more. In the second series, clarinet virtuoso Michael Collins presents a four-concert residency performing works by Mozart, Schumann and Brahms among many others. When: 1pm-2pm Admission: £14, concs £12 LSO St Luke’s 161 Old Street EC1V 9NG www.lso.co.uk T 020 7638 8891
23 February
Guildhall Chamber Orchestra Experience Beethoven’s mighty Eroica symphony, a landmark piece of music that signalled the turning point from the Classical to Romantic period. Its expressive extremes – ranging from funeral march to virtuosic scherzo and exhilarating finale – make it an awe-inspiring listen. It forms the heart of this programme from the Guildhall Chamber Orchestra, led by Guildhall professor and violinist Roberto González-Monjas. When: 7pm Admission: £15, concs £5 Milton Court Concert Hall Silk Street EC2Y 9BH www.gsmd.ac.uk T 020 7638 8891
Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, Poulenc’s sublime masterpiece follows the harrowing story of Blanche de la Force, a shy young aristocrat who joins the Carmelite convent. This dramatic and powerful tourde-force, based on a true story, explores faith and redemption, fate and sacrifice. When: 7pm Admission: £25, concs £15 Silk Street Theatre EC2Y 8DT www.gsmd.ac.uk T 020 7638 8891
27 February – 1 March
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis Hear one of the finest big bands on the planet for three special shows. The first sees the group look at the moment Jazz announced itself on the big stage in a tribute to Benny Goodman’s renowned 1938 show at Carnegie Hall. The second show is dedicated to one of the preeminent musical minds of yesterday as JLCO present both Bernstein standards and underappreciated rarities. Also jetting over from the Big Apple are the Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra for a special gig, Miles Ahead. When: 8pm Admission: £30-£45 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk T 020 7638 8891
2, 23 March, 27 April
LSO Free Friday Lunchtime Concerts Make the most of your lunchbreak with a free, 45-minute informal concert at LSO St Luke’s - an ideal introduction into classical music. Join presenter Rachel Leach and delve into the works of composers who revealed their identities and inspirations through their compositions. With music that speaks of time, place and memory, these concerts give a tantalising glimpse into the minds of composers as distinct as Brahms, Stravinsky and Steve Reich. When: 12.30pm-1.15pm FREE LSO St Luke’s 161 Old Street EC1V 9NG www.lso.co.uk T 020 7638 8891
15 Music
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8 March
Insula Orchestra: Beethoven and Farrenc To mark International Women’s Day, Laurence Equilbey conducts the music of Louise Farrenc, and is joined by a trio of charismatic soloists for Beethoven’s Triple Concerto: Alice Sara Ott, Natalie Clein, and Alexandra Conunova. When: 7.30pm Admission: £15-£35 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk T 020 7638 8891
9 – 10 March
John Cale (2018-1964): A Futurespective with the London Contemporary Orchestra Nimbly navigating both the experimental and pop worlds, John Cale performs a careerspanning set with help from the London Contemporary Orchestra. The set will see him exploring the enormous scope of his musical output; playing selections from the Velvet Underground, the protominimalist songs of The Dream Syndicate – his collaboration with La Monte Young and others – and the richly enigmatic music from his landmark solo albums. When: 7.30pm Admission: £35-£45 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk T 020 7638 8891
20, 27 & 29 April
La Linea 2018 11 March
Schumann’s Symphony No 2 with Sir John Eliot Gardiner Join Sir John Eliot Gardiner as he launches an exploration of the works of Robert Schumann, beginning with a rare glimpse of his only opera. The opera Genoveva evokes a medieval legend, and is rarely played in concert. Heavily influenced by Wagner, the music of the Overture – performed in this concert – sets the mood for a dark story of murder and revenge. Schumann’s Second Symphony follows; its rousing feel speaks of triumph over adversity. When: 7pm-8.50pm Admission: £15-£55 Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.lso.co.uk T 020 7638 8891
14 March
Guildhall Symphony Orchestra Guildhall alumnus Ben Gernon has quickly earned a reputation as one of the finest and most exciting young conductors working today. This season, he became Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, making him one of the youngest conductors to have held a titled position with a BBC orchestra. Join him as he makes a welcome return to the School to conduct the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s tragic last symphony. When: 7.30pm Admission: £10-£15, concs £5 Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.gsmd.ac.uk T 020 7638 8891
12 March
Clare Hammond Winner of the 2016 Royal Philharmonic Society’s Young Artist Award, pianist Clare Hammond returns to the Guildhall School to showcase contemporary approaches to the piano, alongside more familiar masterpieces. The concert includes Haydn’s Fantasia, three etudes by Unsuk Chin and three by Guildhall professor,
Julian Anderson. Followed by Beethoven’s Op. 109 Sonata, Scriabin’s second sonata and Stravinsky’s Petroushka Suite and a new work by Guildhall alumnus Edmund Finnis. When: 7.30pm Admission: £15, concs £10 Milton Court Concert Hall Silk Street EC2Y 9BH www.gsmd.ac.uk T 020 7638 8891
London’s Latin music festival returns with three shows exploring different facets of this glorious musical culture. Sonorama looks at the influence of Latin composers on Hollywood, featuring the music of Esquivel, Lalo Schifrin and more. Mexrrissey - a team of musicians from Mexico’s finest bands reinvent Morrissey’s songs – presenting a rendition of The Smiths’ classic album The Queen is Dead – and Senegal’s Orchestra Baobab bring their Afro-Cuban rhythms to the Barbican. When: 7.30pm Admission: £15-£30 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/ tag/la-linea T 020 7638 8891
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17 Special Events
3, 21 February, 3 & 21 March
Yoga in the Walkways
8 February
Monument Masterclass: Celebrating the Centenary of the Representation of the People Act Explore how the lives of women in the UK have changed over the last century in an evening talk with leading women’s rights campaigner Dr Helen Pankhurst and London historian Dr Matthew Green. The event will cover the enduring legacy of the suffragette movement and the extraordinary moment in 1913 when suffragettes tied to the viewing platform railings a banner proclaiming ‘Death or Victory’. When: 7.15pm Admission: £20 The Monument Fish St Hill EC3R 8AH www.themonument.org.uk
20 February
The London Salon: Queer Night Scenes Explore queer urbanism and speculate on the future of the capital’s LGBTQ+ built heritage at a ball which celebrates London’s queer spaces. The event will feature a rendition of the 1931 Beaux Arts Ball, with performances from a group of urbanists and artists personifying London’s lost LGBTQ+ nightlife venues, wearing architectural models and dresses made of town planning applications. This will be followed by a panel discussion on the history and value of London’s queer spaces. Entry includes a drink. When: 7pm-10pm Admission: £15 Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844
Science on Screen: Her (15)
Queer night scenes © Rafael Pereira do Rego, 2017
Kickstart your day with a sunrise yoga class 42 metres above the River Thames. Back by popular demand, daring yogis can position themselves on the Glass Floor for a suspended view of road and pedestrian life as they perfect their poses. Wed 7.30am-8.20am, Sat 8am- 8.50am Admission: £25 Tower Bridge Tower Bridge Road SE1 2UP www.towerbridge.org.uk/yogain-the-walkways T 020 7403 3761
13 February
14 February
Valentine’s Day Service Join St Lawrence Jewry for a celebration of marriage. Renew your wedding vows with a special service before you head out for a romantic date with your partner. When: 5.30pm FREE St Lawrence Jewry Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AA www.stlawrencejewry.org.uk T 0207 600 9478
Join theoretical physicist Sander Bais (University of Amsterdam, Santa Fe Institute) as they deal with the philosophical questions raised by Spike Jonze’s film, Her, in which a man develops a relationship with an Artificial Intelligence. When: 6.30pm Admission: £9.50-£10.50 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre EC27 8AE www.barbican.org.uk T 020 7638 8891
8 March, 25 April
Guildhall Yard Lunch Market Ditch the packed lunch and feast on some proper Greek wraps, Jamaican jerk chicken, cracking Korean dumplings and more, all in the glorious surrounds of Guildhall Yard. Market stalls sell tasty foodstuffs from around the world. When: 12noon-2.30pm FREE Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ yardevents 10 March
Tour the Thames: Art and History of the River Take a cruise down the River Thames from Westminster to Greenwich and back again, and see London through the eyes of some of the many artists and photographers who have used the river as inspiration for their work, from Fox Talbot and Whistler to Nevinson and Alvin Langdon Coburn. Using the museum’s extensive historic and contemporary art collections as reference, you’ll learn about the history of the river and the Port of London, and how they have helped make London the city it is today. When: 2.15pm-5pm Admission: £38 Starts from Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844
19 Special Events
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23 – 25 March
13 March
Blackout - Guildhall School at Tower Bridge
The London Salon: Wearable Resistance What role will clothes play within future cityscapes? This salon, curated in collaboration with Fashion Space Gallery, London College of Fashion UAL, will feature talks, performances and film screenings by designers and thinkers. Talk fashion in an age of pervasive surveillance, strategies to protect future urban identities and sartorial responses that tread the fine line between safety and trust. Entry includes a drink. When: 7pm-10pm Admission: £15 Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844
Inspired by the photography of the Blitz by two City of London Police Officers, be immersed in a light and sound installation that transforms Tower Bridge’s Bascule Chamber – a unique, subterranean space normally out of bounds to visitors. Using archive material from the LMA and City of London Police Museum, Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s production provides thoughtful and poignant insight into the life of a police officer, during one of London’s most dramatic periods. When: 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm & 9pm. Admission: £28.50, concs £19.50 Bascule Chamber of Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Road SE1 2UP www.gsmd.ac.uk 020 7638 8891
25 March
London Landmarks Half Marathon
17 March 17 – 18 March
Deeds not Words with Tatty Devine
Dip into a mix of free events and activities from pop-up performances to interactive installations, and ticketed events such as film screenings, gigs and contemporary dance to get a taste of everything that happens at the largest performing arts centre in Europe. When: 12pm Prices may vary, see website for details Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS barbican.org.uk T 020 7638 8891
Join independent British jewellery company Tatty Devine in a jewellery masterclass inspired by the Museum of London’s incredible collection of Suffragette objects and memorabilia. No experience necessary and all materials will be provided to create your own piece of jewellery to take home. When: 10.30am-1pm & 1.30pm-4pm Admission: £45, concs £40-£42 Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844
Barbican OpenFest
Not your average half marathon, this race is a flat and fast route that offers participants and spectators fabulous view of London’s most iconic landmarks. As well as highlighting the likes of St Paul’s and the Gherkin, the race will also unearth the City’s hidden and quirky history, bringing it to life around the route. Cheer on the runners with Romans, chat with Dick Whittington and maybe even spot a giant grasshopper. FREE for spectators The race starts on Pall Mall, finishes by Downing Street, and specators will be able to watch and participate across City locations. Cheer station located at Guildhall Yard and various City locations. See website for details. www.llhm.co.uk T 020 7398 3422
25 March
London on Wheels: a Story of Women’s Suffrage Join Rachel Kolsky, author of Women’s London, aboard a vintage Routemaster for a tour around the capital, following in the footsteps of some of the major players in the suffrage movement. You’ll discover the difference between suffragists and Suffragettes, see the sites of key campaigns and rallies, and hear the stories behind such names as the Pankhursts, Millicent Fawcett, the Pethick-Lawrences and Emily Wilding Davison. When: 10am-1.30pm Admission: £28 Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844
21 Special Events
10 April
Marking the 50th anniversary of Time Out magazine, this salon features talks and screenings from Time Out contributors and other writers and photographers who’ve documented youth tribes in London and beyond. How do subcultures form, and does counterculture have a future in the city of tomorrow? When: 7pm-10pm Admission: £15 Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7030 3300
14 April
Games Character Parade Join Mario, Pac-Man, Lara Croft and a whole host of other classic characters from video games for the second annual Games Character Parade, part of London Games Festival. Kicking off from Guildhall Yard, heroes and villains will tour some of the City’s iconic sites, finishing back in Guildhall Yard for a climatic on-stage masquerade, music and entertainment, as well as family day activities and live games. Participation in the parade is free and open to all. Registration required. From 12.30pm FREE to join/view Parade starts in Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.games.london/parade2018
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The London Salon: Counterculture
18 – 24 April
Nevertheless, She Persisted: Suffrage, Cinema and Beyond Learn about the female political pioneers and the price paid by those who have made incredible contributions to women’s rights across the globe over the last 100 years, in a Barbican Cinema season. The programme includes Chisholm ’72 – Unbought and Unbossed (2004), a portrait of Shirley Chisholm, who ran for President of the United States long before Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Various times available, see website for details Admission: £9.50–£13.50 Cinema 2 & 3, Beech Street Barbican Centre EC2Y 8AE www.barbican.org.uk T 020 7638 8891
From 30 April
Fields of Battle, Lands of Peace: 1918 – 2018 The City commemorates the 100 year anniversary of the end of the First World War with an exhibition that remembers those who contributed to the war effort. Acclaimed photographer Michael St Maur Sheil returns with an exhibition highlighting the global nature of the conflict - including battlefields in Africa, the Middle East and the Eastern Front - and explores themes of reconciliation. Discover images of dramatic landscapes that caputre how time and nature have healed the scars of war.
As part of the exhibition, walk in the footsteps of the City men and women who went off to the Great War on a free guided tour across the Square Mile. Walks: 11am, 2pm. FREE Walks start from Bishopsgate EC2 7PY Exhibition FREE to view anytime Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ fieldsofbattle
23 Theatre
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12 – 17 February
The Memory of Water Guildhall School of Music & Drama presents Shelagh Stephenson’s first stage play, a poignant family drama that won Best Comedy at the 2000 Olivier Awards. Three estranged sisters meet for their mother’s funeral. In the face of such a momentous event, will they be able to reconcile the very different versions of their shared childhood or are they bound to fail at distinguishing false memories from true? When: 2pm, 7.30pm Admission: £10, concs £5 Milton Court Theatre Silk Street EC2Y 9BH www.gsmd.ac.uk T 020 7638 8891
23 – 28 March
Paradise Lost Experience a rarely-produced play by one of America’s great playwrights, portraying the unravelling world of a solidly middle-class family whose aspirations are thwarted by events outside their control, leaving them with not much more than primal survival instincts. When: 2pm, 7.30pm Admission: £10, concs £5 Silk Street Theatre EC2Y 8DT www.gsmd.ac.uk T 020 7638 8891
28 February – 3 March
Smile Upon Us, Lord
5 February – 3 March
Marchland
Lost kingdoms and frozen conflicts, melting pots and museum pieces, grey areas between the black and white of competing nationalisms… Welcome to Marchland, Théâtre Volière’s season of performance and interdisciplinary events from Europe’s borderlands. Welcome to the crossroads. Various times available, see website for details Admission: £8-£15 Bridewell Theatre 14 Bride Lane EC4Y8EQ www.marchlandseason.co.uk T 020 7353 3331
At times fantastical and dreamlike, at others expressive and skilfully comic, Smile upon Us, Lord illuminates the Jewish experience in the first half of the 20th Century while speaking of love and compassion for all mankind. Adapted from two novels by Lithuanian-born writer Grigory Kanovich this show features an all-star Russian cast with a 40-plus ensemble.
Vakhtangov’s esteemed Artistic Director Rimas Tuminas and producer Oksana Nemchuk return to the Barbican following the success of Eugene Onegin in 2015 When: 7pm Admission: £16-£55 (plus booking fee). Premium seats £100 Barbican Theatre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/theatre T 020 7638 8891
From 14 April
The Encounter This is the true story of National Geographic photographer Loren McIntyre who, lost in a remote area of Brazil in 1969, had a startling encounter that changed his life forever. Simon McBurney’s solo performance threads scenes of his own life with details of McIntyre’s journey, plunging audiences into a visceral voyage. Combining storytelling with groundbreaking binaural sound design, transmitted direct through provided headphones, Complicité’s The Encounter has collected multiple awards following hit Barbican and Broadway runs and an international tour. Tue-Sun 2pm, 3pm, 7.30pm (see website for details) Admission: £35-£45 (plus booking fee) Barbican Theatre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/theatre T 020 7638 8891
Learn something new about London, history and literature – and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine – at one of Guildhall Library’s regular evening events. Highlights include: The First Iron Lady: A Life of Caroline of Ansbach (1 Feb); Finding Fred: The Story of City of London Police’s Blitz Photographer (8 Mar); As Good as Gold (15 Mar); Septimius Severus in Scotland (12 Apr); To Kill a King (26 Apr). When: 6-8pm Admission: £7 plus booking fee, please book in advance via our Eventbrite site www.ghlevents. eventbrite.co.uk Guildhall Library Aldermanbury EC2V 7HH www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ guildhalllibrary T 020 7332 1871
Gresham College Lectures Each week you can pop into free public lectures on a huge variety of subjects at Gresham College. This season’s highlights include: If Humans Are So Great, Why is the World Such a Mess? (20 Feb), The 19th-Century Craze for Stereoscopic Photography (26 Feb), Architecture and the Edwardian Era (13 Mar), Is ‘Green Business’ a Contradiction in Terms? (22 March), Air Pollution: Its Impact on Health and Possible Solutions (15 Apr) and What Really Happened at the First Moving-Picture Shows (30 Apr). Dates, times and locations vary; check website for full listings FREE Gresham College Holborn Viaduct EC1N 2HH www.gresham.ac.uk T 020 7831 0575
Ongoing
Open-City Architecture Tours
Ongoing
Afternoon Talks Find out something fascinating about London at one of Guildhall Library’s free talks. Highlights include: London in Four Suits: Hearts (8 Feb); Social Thinking in the Stock Exchange (19 Mar); History of the English State Lotteries (22 Mar); Under the Microscope: Meet the Artist (12 Apr). When: 2pm-3pm FREE (please book in advance via our Eventbrite site ww.ghlevents. eventbrite.co.uk) Guildhall Library Aldermanbury EC2V 7HH www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ guildhalllibrary T 020 7332 1871
27 March
Explore some of the best architecture in the City with specialist guides on foot and through the lens with a weekly programme of photography and walking tours. Various times available Admission: £25.50-£35.50 www.open-city.org.uk/tours
Shakespeare’s Ghosts and Spirits with Sir Jonathan Bate
28 February
Military Training in Violence, 1914 to the Present with Joanna Bourke Join Joanna Bourke, Gresham College Visiting Professor in History, as she explores social and cultural life in the barracks, including ‘rites of passage’ in preparing soldiers for battle. How have the British and American armed forces been taught to fight and kill in conflicts from 1914 to the present? What role have psychology and technology played in military training? How do combatants contribute to, and endure, harsh military drills? When: 6pm-7pm FREE Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.gresham.ac.uk
Sir Jonathan Bate, Gresham Professor of Rhetoric, will summon up the ghosts of Old Hamlet, the victims of Richard III and Julius Caesar, revealing their origins in the bloody plays of Seneca. He will then show how figures from classical mythology with supernatural powers, such as Theseus and Medea, inspired Shakespeare’s work. When: 6pm-7pm FREE Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.gresham.ac.uk
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Evening Talks
Ongoing
25 Walks and Talks
Ongoing
24 March
22 February & 21 March
Attend a panel discussion which explores the legacy of the suffrage campaign through the eyes of writers today. The discussion will be followed by book signings by the authors and an exclusive presentation of the museum’s Suffragette collection. When: 2pm-5pm Admission: £10 Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844
Join a panel of leading thinkers, writers and practitioners exploring technology and the city. Chaired by The Guardian, the talks will chart the role of technologies – from historical innovations to future speculations – in transforming and disrupting the city and the lived experience of our urban environments. When: 7.30pm-10pm Admission: £12 Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844
The Suffragette Legacy
Futureshocks
Take a tour of the iconic Guildhall complex, including the Great Hall and its crypt. When: 10.45am Admission: £8 Meet guide at Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondonguides.com T 020 8398 4715
15 – 16 March
London’s Roman Amphitheatre Tours and Roman Object Handling
What is it that makes you who you are? Research tells us that people are more afraid of dementia than cancer because loss of identity is the worst thing we can imagine. Beginning from the experience of people whose identity is seemingly dissolving in dementia, John Swinton and Rowan Williams will consider what it really means to be a human being. When: 6.30pm-8pm FREE (booking recommended) St Paul’s Cathedral St Paul’s Churchyard EC4M 8AD www.stpauls.co.uk/identity T 020 7246 8337
Join a 40-minute tour of the Amphitheatre or handle some genuine Roman antiquities with resident archaeologist Andrew Lane. Find out more about the capital’s oldest sports arena and one of the most important buildings in Roman London. No booking necessary. Tours: 1.15pm, 2.15pm (15 Mar) Roman object handling: 1.15pm-3.15pm (16 Mar) FREE Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ romanamphitheatre T 020 7332 1868
Explore this fascinating insight into ancient City life and discover the remains of the Roman Bathhouse which lies hidden beneath office buildings.
4 March
The Big Half Marathon and Festival in Greenwich The Big Half is a new one day festival centred around the half marathon distance, starting at Tower Bridge and finishing with a fantastic party in Greenwich Park. Enjoy food from around the world and some of the best young music acts the capital has to offer. Up to 20,000 people will be running the Big Half. There’s also a Little Half, relay and other events for participants of all ages and abilities. When: 9am-10pm FREE Race starts at Tower Bridge and finishes in Greenwich www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/ events/big-half-marathonfestival-greenwich T 087 0608 2000
An exhibition looking at our changing national relationship with the place the British like to be beside – the seaside. Find out how the Great British Seaside has changed over the last sixty years through a collection of striking images captured by photographers who share a mutual love of the seaside, including Martin Parr, Tony Ray Jones, David Hurn and Simon Roberts. The exhibition also includes images from the photographers’ archives, news film, and some never before seen images. 10am-5pm FREE National Maritime Museum Park Row, Greenwich SE10 9NF www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/ events/great-british-seaside T 087 0608 2000
14 February
A Valentine’s Evening with the Stars
1 April
Billingsgate Roman House & Baths Weekend Tours
The Great British Seaside
Who am I? Identity, Faith and Being Human
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Guildhall Tours
From 23 March
16 April
27 Partner Promotion
8 March & 19 April
When: various times available; check website for full listings Admission: £9,concs £7 Billingsgate Roman House & Baths 101 Lower Thames St EC3R 6DL www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ bathhouse
A beautiful evening of Valentine events at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, including a romantically-themed planetarium show and the opportunity to look at the moon through an incredible 18-tonne Victorian telescope. You’ll also get the chance to chat with Royal Observatory astronomers and to spend some time in the Meridian Courtyard with a glass of fizz, standing with one foot in the east and one in the west, on the Prime Meridian of the world.
When: 5:25pm-7:25pm, 5:30pm-7:30pm, 6:45pm-8:50pm, 6:50pm-8:50pm Admission: £40, concs £34 Royal Observatory Blackheath Ave Greenwich SE10 8XJ www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/ events/valentines-evening-stars-2 T 087 0608 2000
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PARADE VIDEO GAMES COME TO LIFE ON THE CITY STREETS!
12.30pm onwards, Guildhall Yard
14 APRIL 2018
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