City Events Winter 2015 by DesignRaphael Ltd

Winter in the City WINTER EVENTS 2015 November to January

ART AND EXHIBITIONS FAMILY MUSIC SPECIAL EVENTS THEATRE WALKS AND TALKS

ART AND EXHIBITIONS

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FAMILY 8

MUSIC 10

SPECIAL EVENTS

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THEATRE 20

WALKS AND TALKS

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Leadenhall Market p19

There’s no better place to soak up the festivities of the season than the Square Mile. However you wish to spend your holidays, we’ve a huge range of events and activities this winter, whatever your taste. Check out our bundle of Christmas specials and the many events we’re hosting to mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare.

A City favourite, the Lord Mayor’s Show (p15) is set to be bigger and better than ever before, as the iconic event celebrates its 800th year. Witness the pomp and pageantry as the incoming Lord Mayor takes to the streets in a glistening golden coach, flanked by marching bands, hundreds of of floats for community groups, charities, civic groups and institutions. Meanwhile, in a first for the Museum of London, neverbefore-seen objects from the Metropolitan Police’s Crime Museum go on public display in a major new exhibition. Real-life case files take you on a journey through some of the UK’s most notorious crimes (p4).

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. As the days get shorter and cooler, Christmas merriment gets into full swing in the City. From church services and carolling performances in St Paul’s Cathedral (p16) to the Guildhall Christmas Market in Guildhall Yard (p17) and the Lord Mayor Christmas Lights Switch-on at Leadenhall Market (p15), the City is the perfect place to frolic in the fun of the season.

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 jollity doesn’t end after Santa has been and gone. The popular Broadgate Ice Rink remains a feature of the City right through the cooler months (p15). Get your skates on!

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 (October 2015) 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.

www.visitthecity.co.uk

@visitthecity

/visitthecity

Tower Bridge Glass Floor Experience a unique view of London life through the spectacular glass floor in the highlevel walkways. Look down to see the Thames, road and pedestrian life, all moving at pace 42 metres below. Lucky visitors may even witness the magic of the Bridge raising for a river vessel beneath their feet. Daily 9.30am-5pm Admission: £9; concs £6.30; children £3.90; under 5s free Tower Bridge Exhibition Tower Bridge Road SE1 2UP www.towerbridge.org.uk T 020 7403 3761

Until 3 December

Art at the Bridge #6

Unveiling the Crystal Sceptre

Enjoy the local London art on display in Tower Bridge’s atmospheric Engine Rooms. Art at the Bridge #6 explores ‘Tides of Change: charting life’s ebbs and flows’ through the work of eight artists aged over 55 from Southwark Arts Forum. Daily 9.30am-5pm Admission: £9; concs £6.30; children £3.90; under 5s free Tower Bridge Exhibition Tower Bridge Road SE1 2UP www.towerbridge.org.uk T 020 7403 3761

On-going

The World of Charles and Ray Eames This extensive new exhibition surveys the careers of Charles and Ray Eames. From furniture designs, to products, films and graphic design, it showcases the the Eames’ work and the designs we still use tho this day. Various times, check the website for details. Admission: £14.50 Barbican Gallery Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/artgallery T 020 7638 8891

On-going

Sculpture in the City This popular public art exhibition features a selection of contemporary art pieces in and around the Square Mile. Set amongst iconic architectural landmarks like the Gherkin and the Lloyd’s Building, the open-air exhibition transforms an area known for insurance and finance into an art space. This year’s exhibition includes works from the internationallyrenowned artists Ai Weiwei, Damien Hirst, Laura Ford, Adam

On-going

Chodzko, Xavier Veilhan, Sigalit Landau, Tomoaki Suzuki and Keita Miyazaki. In the four years since it started, Sculpture in the City has placed more than 20 iconic pieces on the City streets. FREE to view anytime Around St Botolph without Bishopsgate, Lime Street, St Mary Axe, Great St Helen’s and Undershaft EC3 www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ sculptureinthecity Copyright Ai Weiwei. Courtesy of Lisson Gallery. Photography: Nick Turpin

A true City treasure, the Crystal Sceptre is displayed for the very first time in an exhibition celebrating the City’s unique history. Used in the Lord Mayor’s annual Silent Ceremony, the sceptre was given to the City by Henry V in thanks for funding the Battle of Agincourt, 600 years ago. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 12noon-4pm FREE Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ guildhallartgallery T 020 7332 3700

Arts and Exhibitions

Never-before-seen objects from the Metropolitan Police’s Crime Museum go on public display in a major new exhibition at the Museum of London. Real-life case files take you on an uneasy journey through some of the UK’s most notorious crimes from Dr Crippen to the Krays, the Great Train Robbery to the Millennium Dome diamond heist. Daily 10am-6pm Admission: from £10 online Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ crimemuseum T 020 7001 9844

On-going

The Crime Museum Uncovered

On-going

Until 8 January

Talbot House: ‘An Oasis in a World Gone Crazy’ In 1915 army chaplain Philip ‘Tubby’ Clayton established the Everyman’s Club at Talbot House in the small town of Poperinge, only a few miles from the front line in Ypres. In this house, rank was irrelevant, orders were prohibited and all soldiers were encouraged to forget about the war. This exhibition includes the memoirs of Tubby and the actual hut in which he wrote them after fleeing the Germans. Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm; Wed until 7.30pm. Open alternate Sat FREE Guildhall Library Aldermanbury EC2V 7HH www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ guildhalllibrary T 020 7332 1870

London Dust: Recent Work by Rut Blees Luxemburg

War in London

Through photography and film, Rut Blees Luxemburg examines the expansion of the City of London, contrasting the optimistic visions of developers with the physical reality of the urban environment. Daily 10am-6pm FREE Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844

Until 24 January

No Colour Bar: Black British Art in Action 1960-1990 An innovative multimedia exhibition which charts the story of 20th-century Black British cultural heritage, social and political history for the first time in the UK. The focus is the radical publishing house Bogle L’Ouverture, whose work promoted and was inspired by the liberating energy of decolonisation and the fights against racism and unfair discrimination. At the heart of the exhibition is a recreation of the Walter Rodney bookshop; a stunning multi-sensory visual experience. Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 12noon-4pm FREE Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ nocolourbar T 020 7332 3700

Arts and Exhibitions

From 16 November

Until 10 January

War in London reveals the effects of five conflicts on Londoners and their city, from the English Civil War to the Cold War. On the 100th anniversary of the Zeppelin air raids of WW1, and the 75th anniversary of the London Blitz during WW2, this exhibition uncovers historical manuscripts, maps, photographs and films that tell us about the destruction of the city, the threat of imminent invasion and the heroism of ordinary Londoners. Mon 9.30am-4.45pm; Tue-Thu until 7.30pm For Sat openings please see the website FREE London Metropolitan Archives 40 Northampton Road EC1R 0HB www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma T 020 7332 3820

27 November – 10 December

Annual UK Bookbinding Competition Exhibition The aim of this annual competition is to encourage binders to make originally designed and well bound books, and to provide the opportunity to exhibit their work. Mon-Fri, 12pm-6pm; Sat 28 Nov, 12pm-4pm; Thu 3 Dec, 12pm-8pm FREE St Bride Foundation Bride Lane, Fleet Street EC4 8EQ www.designerbookbinders.org.uk

From 18 January

‘Zanzibar’s Story: Remembering the Past, Securing the Future’ This touring exhibition presented by the World Monuments Fund tells the story of the last permanent slave market in East Africa, and its legacy – the construction of Christ Church Cathedral on the site. The exhibition is accompanied by events and a special display in the House highlighting Johnson’s own views on slavery. Mon-Sat, 11am-5pm FREE for exhibition – admission £4.50; concs £3.50 Dr Johnson’s House 17 Gough Square EC4A 3DE www.drjohnsonshouse.org T 020 7353 3745

Meet Santa in his secret grotto on the Museum of London’s festive 19th-century Victorian Walk. Tell him your Christmas wishes and receive a special gift. Various times, check the website for details. Admission: £7-£9 Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN museumoflondon.org.uk/grotto T 020 7001 9844

Family

Victorian Santa’s Grotto

17 – 30 December 5 – 23 December

Get Happy Physical comedy, live music, acrobatics, silly dancing and audience interaction all feature in this ‘madcap little gem’(Time Out) - a Christmas show for kids and adults of all ages. Various times. Check website for details. Admission: £12 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk St EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/theatre T 020 7638 8891

21 – 31 December On-going

12 December – 3 January

Museum Explored

Family Fun at the Museum of London

Find fun, hands-on activities in the galleries with one of the museum’s hosts. Suitable for ages 5+. Sun 12noon-2pm FREE Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844

Enjoy storytelling, crafts, art and interactive activities exploring London’s winter feasts and celebrations, past and present. See the website for full details of free daily events. Daily 12noon-4pm FREE Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ holidays T 020 7001 9844

14 – 15 November

Celebrating the City Continue the fun of the Lord Mayor’s Show at the Museum of London and celebrate the Square Mile. Fun activities include art workshops, storytelling and a special digital Minecraft spectacular. When: 12noon-4pm FREE Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844

12 – 13 December

London’s Night Owls Festive Sleepover How did Londoners throughout history celebrate Christmas? Find out on the Museum of London’s Festive Sleepover. Enjoy hands-on and interactive activities inspired by London’s Christmas past. When: 6.45pm-9.40am Admission: £60 (advance bookings required) Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844

Sparkling Silver, Glittering Gold Discover the Bank of Museum’s collection of glittering silver and gold on display. Get creative and decorate a gold bar money box to take home. There’s a chocolate gold coin for every child. Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm FREE Bank of England Museum Bartholomew Lane EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk/ museum T 020 7601 5545

Listen to the world

Bishopsgate Lunchtime Concerts

Catch this programme of performances by musicians, poets and storytellers from areas of conflict or different spiritual traditions. Dates, prices and times vary; check website for full listings St Ethelburga’s Centre 78 Bishopsgate EC2N 4AG www.stethelburgas.org/ listen-world T 020 7496 1616

To mark the Institute’s 120th anniversary, this season’s concerts feature an array of works written in the three decades following 1895. Performing these works are outstanding and emerging musicians from the UK’s leading conservatories. Every Friday from 1.05pm FREE Bishopsgate Institute 230 Bishopsgate EC2M 4QH www.bishopsgate.org.uk/events T 020 7392 9200

Until 27 November

11 Music

On-going

13 November

24 November

Jazz Voice

Simon TrpĈeski in recital

London Jazz Festival’s signature opening-night gala returns once again, with its epoch-spanning exaltation of singing and song led by Guy Barker and his 40-piece orchestra. When: 7.30pm Admission: £15-35 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/theatre T 020 7638 8891

TrpĈeski brings his inner fire and passion to an evening-long portrait of Frederic Chopin; from the heart-breaking Nocturnes to the astounding Scherzo No 2. When: 7.30pm Admission: £15-£30 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/music T 020 7638 8891

25 November On-going

12 and 19 November

Lunchtime Recitals at St Lawrence Jewry

LSO St Luke’s – London Resounding

Catch a free recital inside this beautiful, historic Wren Church. Every Monday features piano recitals, and on Tuesdays it’s the turn of the organ. Check the website for full listings. Mon-Tue 1pm (no recitals 22 Dec-3 Jan) FREE St Lawrence Jewry Church Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AA www.stlawrencejewry.org.uk/ music

Two of the finest consorts in classical-era chamber music, Fretwork and Musica ad Rhenum, celebrate the capital’s vibrant music scene in the 17th and 18th centuries as part of ‘London Resounding’, a four-part series of BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime concerts. When: 1pm-2pm Admission: £12; concs £10 LSO St Luke’s 161 Old Street EC1V 9NG www.lso.co.uk T 020 7638 8891

Guildhall Symphony Orchestra Written in 1953 following the death of Stalin and considered as a commentary on the Soviet dictator’s rule, Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony has been described as ‘fortyeight minutes of tragedy, despair and terror, followed by two minutes of triumph’. When: 7.30pm Admission: £10-£15; concs £5 Barbican Hall Silk Street EC2Y 8DT www.gsmd.ac.uk/events 020 7638 8891

This year’s Winter Festival offers something for everyone with an extraordinary blend of music to explore. Welcoming back favourites The Sixteen and The English Concert and welcoming new artists including renowned French baroque ensemble Les Arts Florissants. Various times and locations, check the website for details. Admission: from £5 www.spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk T 020 7377 1362

9 – 10 January

Volodos plays Brahms and Schubert

Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande

Arcadi Volodos is a pianist steeped in the Romantic tradition. Here he turns his genius to Brahms’s moving late piano pieces and the soulful, enduring sounds of Schubert’s late, great Piano Sonata No 21. When: 7.30pm Admission: £10-£30 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk St EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/music T 020 7638 8891

An innovative new production of Debussy’s sensuous opera produced in collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Barbican, and devised by two of the boldest creative minds in music and theatre today; Sir Simon Rattle and Peter Sellars. When: 7pm Admission: £25-£75 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk St EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/music T 020 7638 8891

7, 14, 21 and 28 January

Shakespeare 400 at LSO St Luke’s

13 December

LSO presents A Choral Christmas Get your Christmas off to a riproaring start by joining 330 singers and LSO instrumentalists, led by inspirational chorus conductor Simon Halsey, as they celebrate the season with traditional audience carols and Christmas favourites. When: 7pm-9.30pm Admission: £10-£29 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.lso.co.uk T 020 7638 8891

In a four-part series commemorating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the Gould Piano Trio, Countertenor Istyn Davies, Tenor James Gilchrist and the BBC Singers explore how the Bard has brought out the best in some of our most loved composers. When: 1pm-2pm LSO St Luke’s 161 Old Street EC1V 9NG www.lso.co.uk T 020 7638 8891

Spitalfields Music Winter Festival

14 December

13 Music

4 –15 December

14 January

The Film & TV Music of

Debbie Wiseman

MBE

Guildhall School alumna Debbie Wiseman is one of the UK’s most in-demand composers, whose film and TV scores have won many accolades. Here she makes a special return to the School to conduct the Guildhall Chamber Orchestra in a programme of her music. When: 7.30pm Admission: £15; concs £10 Guildhall School Milton Court Concert Hall 1 Milton Street EC2Y 9BH www.gsmd.ac.uk/events T 020 7638 8891

13 January

30 January

LSO & Sir Simon Rattle

Drawing Life

Sir Simon Rattle conducts an evocative programme showcasing French music composed on the cusp of modernity, featuring masterful works by three pre-eminent French composers - Ravel, Dutilleux, and Delage. When: 7.30pm Admission: £10-£20 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.lso.co.uk T 020 7638 8891

Using drawings and stories from children in a Terezin concentration camp, composer Jocelyn Pook and director Emma Bernard have created a multi-media portrayal of life in the camp – featuring dramatisations, film, poetry and music, they demonstrate the resilience of the human spirit. When: 7.30pm Admission: £10-£20 (plus booking fee) Milton Court Concert Hall 1 Milton Street EC2Y 9BH www.barbican.org.uk/music T 020 7638 8891

15 Special Events

14 November

Lord Mayor’s Show The incoming Lord Mayor of the City of London takes to the streets in a glistening coach as part of a three-mile long ceremony full of pomp and pageantry.

On-going

Food Markets With over 20 stalls selling freshly made produce including Argentinian empanadas, vegan Creole food, sweet and savoury pancakes, Portuguese, West Indian and German food, French cheese, homemade cupcakes and English fudge – there is something for everyone to enjoy. First Wed of every month and every Fri 9am-3pm FREE admission One New Change EC4M 9AF www.onenewchange.com

2015 is the 800th year of the Lord Mayor’s journey and this anniversary is being celebrated with a bigger and better Show than ever before. The show is a London institution and hasn’t missed a year since Wellington’s funeral blocked the whole city in 1852. The modern procession fills the space between Bank and Aldwych from 11am until about 2.30pm, cheered by a crowd of around half a million people and watched live on the BBC by millions more. The new Lord Mayor completes his first day in office with a magnificent fireworks display

Until 31 December

Jessica Fellowes Curates: An exhibition of household silver pre 1925 Jessica Fellowes is an author and public speaker who has toured throughout America on the subject of “Downton Abbey”, the show created by her uncle Julian Fellowes. The exhibition will focus on the silver that would have typically been found in households similar to those in the period drama. Three scenes include the butler’s pantry, a Christmas dining table and a lady’s dressing table. Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-1pm FREE The London Silver Vaults 53-64 Chancery Lane WC2A 1QS www.silvervaultslondon.com T 020 7242 3844

14 November 2015

Lord Mayor’s Show at Bank of England Step into the world of Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad. Professional face painters will transform young visitors into the well-known characters from ‘The Wind in the Willows’ by Kenneth Grahame, a former Secretary of the Bank of England. When: 11am-5pm (Last entry 4.30pm) FREE Bank of England Museum Bartholomew Lane EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk/ museum T 020 7601 5545

over the Thames from 5.15pm. The fireworks launchpad floats in the river between between Blackfriars and Waterloo and all the roads in that area will remain closed, so you can walk freely around either bank of the river and find a good spot to enjoy the fireworks from 5.15pm. Procession from 11am FREE to view From Mansion House to Fleet Street via Cheapside and St Paul’s then back via Embankment; fireworks best viewed from Victoria Embankment. www.lordmayorsshow.org

From 16 November

Broadgate Ice Rink Get your skates on this winter at Broadgate’s magical ice rink. Just a two-minute walk from Liverpool Street Station and perfect for skaters of all levels and ages, enjoy a season of lessons, special events and family fun. Grab a post-skate tipple and watch all the action on the ice in the new pop-up rink-side bar and restaurant. Daily 10am-10pm Admission: £13; concs £10; children £9; family £35 Exchange Square, Broadgate EC2A 2BQ www.broadgate.co.uk/ice T 0845 653 1424

20 November

Lord Mayor Christmas Lights Switch-on Greet the new Lord Mayor of London as he turns on the Christmas lights at the glorious Leadenhall Market. When: 5pm-6.30pm FREE Leadenhall Market Atrium EC3V 1LR www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ things-to-do T 07930 326238

Can you solve a crime before it’s happened? Forensic Outreach lead an interactive workshop exploring the future of preventative, digital crimefighting. Learn techniques, including hot spot analysis, and use interactive apps and problem solving to crack the case against the clock. When: 7pm Admission: £36 Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844

Advent and Christmas at St Paul’s Cathedral

Christmas at One New Change The festive season kicks off on 4 – 5 December at One New Change with their annual Discount Shopping Weekend. Over 20 retailers will be offering a gift with a purchase or 20% off, assisting your wallet this Christmas season. The One New Change Advent Calendar is making Christmas come early, with a prize for each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas. Check the Facebook page daily to see each prize and to enter. One New Change EC4M 9AF www.onenewchange.com www.facebook.com/ OneNewChange

A stunning and atmospheric range of festive celebrations at the world-famous cathedral will get you into the spirit of the season. Highlights include George Frederic Handel’s ‘Messiah’ (2 Dec, 6.30pm); Family Carols (19 Dec); Christmas Carol Service (23 and 24 Dec); Midnight Eucharist (24 Dec); and the Christmas Day Eucharist (25 Dec). St Paul’s Cathedral St Paul’s Churchyard EC4M 8AD www.stpauls.co.uk/christmas T 020 7246 8350

Crack the Case

1 – 24 December

17 Special Events

24 November

28 November – 28 December

30 November and 1 December

Guildhall Christmas Market

28 November

Science Theatre in the Engine Rooms Discover the scientific secrets of Tower Bridge through drama and a day of interactive theatrics. Join the science theatre troupe in the atmospheric Engine Rooms and learn all about how the steam engines functioned

to raise the mighty bascules for passing ships. FREE for exhibition – admission costs £9; concs £6.30; children £3.90 and includes access to Tower Bridge’s high level walkways and glass floors. Tower Bridge SE12UP www.towerbridge.org.uk T 020 7403 3761

The City’s original Christmas Market, supporting British Red Cross. Over 100 stalls selling fashion, jewellery, homeware, gardenware, gifts, books, food and drink. Visitors can venture into the largest medieval crypt in London for a spot of lunch or cream tea or, if you fancy something more festive, visit the Christmas Food Market in Guildhall Yard and enjoy a Gluhwein and Bratwurst. Preview Night: 30 Nov 5pm-9pm Christmas market: 1 Dec, 10.30am-8pm Admission: market tickets £5 (including a complimentary glass of wine). Preview Night tickets £35 Guildhall Great Hall off Gresham Street EC2V 7HH www.redcross.org.uk/market

2 December

The Boar’s Head Procession The Worshipful Company of Butchers, led by a troupe of drummers and accompanied by a posse of police outriders, proceed through the streets of the City carrying a large boar’s head. Ending at Mansion House, the head is presented to the Lord Mayor, where sundry City dignitaries enjoy a Christmas feast. When: from 3pm FREE Procession from Pewterers’ Hall Oat Lane EC2V 7DE www.butchershall.com T 020 7600 4106

19 Special Events

7 December

City Christmas Fair

3 December

Guildhall Yard Lunch Market Ditch the packed lunch and enjoy an al fresco bite to eat in the glorious surroundings of Guildhall Yard. Market stalls sell tasty foodstuffs from around the world, and there’s even some arts and crafts too. When: 12noon-2.30pm FREE Guildhall Yard EC2V 5AE www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ guildhallmarkets

Held in aid of Wellbeing of Women, this fair boasts stalls filled with original and luxury goods, fabulous foods and stocking fillers. Unwind with a glass of bubbly at the Champagne Bar and then place a bid in the very popular silent auction. When: 10am-7pm Admission: £7 each or 3 for £15 Drapers’ Hall Throgmorton Street EC2N 2DQ www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk T 020 3697 7000

5 – 6 December

A taste of the 80s sleepover What do you know about London in the 80s? Join the Museum of London for a specially-themed all-nighter celebrating the fascinating social and cultural history of a game-changing decade. With dinner, expert talks, dance lessons, improvisation comedy, iconic film marathons and a full English in the morning. Take the chance to wander our galleries by twilight, sleep amongst history and see the exhibition The Crime Museum Uncovered (p4). When: 6.30pm-10am Admission: £120 (VIP ticket £150) Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5 HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844

8 December

Dr Johnson’s Reading Circle Meet in the atmospheric surroundings of Dr Johnson’s Georgian townhouse to read and discuss works from, and about, the time in which Johnson lived. When: 6.30pm-7.45pm Admission: £10 per event or £50 for 6 sessions (includes a complimentary glass of wine) Dr Johnson’s House 17 Gough Square EC4A 3DE www.drjohnsonshouse.org/ T 020 7353 3745

9 December

14 – 18 December

Christmas by Candlelight

Leadenhall Market Last minute Christmas Shopping Week

A rare opportunity to spend a candlelit evening in Dr Johnson’s Georgian townhouse, with special curator-led tours. See the house decked out in festive decorations and soak up the atmosphere of a Georgian Christmas. First tour: 6pm-6.45pm, second tour: 7pm-7.45pm Admission: £10 Dr Johnson’s House 17 Gough Square EC4A 3DE www.drjohnsonshouse.org T 020 7353 3745

What better place in get into the spirit of the season? Be entertained by carollers and other festive-themed entertainers as you go about your last minute Christmas shopping in this iconic City market. When: 12noon-2.30pm Leadenhall Market EC3V 1LR www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ leadenhall T 07930 326238

Poppy

The Body

Back by popular demand at a poignant time of the year, the London Ballet Company is marking Remembrance Day with the much loved production, Poppy. Seen through the innocent eyes of the child Poppy, we follow a family struggling to come to terms with the cataclysmic events of 1914, as they seek to do their duty and rally to their nation’s cause. Tue-Fri 1pm Admission: £7 in advance, £9 on the door St Bride Foundation Bride Lane, Fleet Street EC4Y 8EQ www.sbf.org.uk/lunchbox-theatre T 020 7353 3331

A theatrical exploration of the body, this intimate performance uses pervasive media and a diverse cast of dolls to consider what it is to be alive and human. Seated in a small group, the experience can only begin when you have all attached your heart-rate monitors. Various times, check the website for details. Admission: £18 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/theatre T 020 7638 8891

4 – 6 November

White Balance: A History of Video Weaving together autobiographical stories, fiction and old recordings, Robin Deacon explores how the way we see and remember events can be transformed by the very medium on which they have been captured. Various times, check the website for details. Admission: £16 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/theatre T 020 7638 8891

7 November – 24 January

Henry V - Royal Shakespeare Company Gregory Doran and the RSC creative team continue their exploration of Shakespeare’s plays, with Alex Hassell in the title role. Admission: £10-£75 (plus booking fee. Includes a limited number of Premium Seats at £75) Barbican Centre, Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/theatre T 020 7638 8891

15 November

Playing to the Crowd Follow Dr Johnson as he begins the process of editing Shakespeare’s plays. In this production by Palimpsest, Johnson wants to hear Lennox read King Lear ‘as Shakespeare wrote it’- Garrick, however, wants to know: will un-edited Shakespeare sell? When: 3pm and 7pm Admission: £25 (includes a drinks reception) Dr Johnson’s House 17 Gough Square EC4A 3DE www.drjohnsonshouse.org T 020 7353 3745

19 – 29 November

21 Theatre

3 – 13 November

25 November – 5 December

Man of La Mancha

27 November – 2 December

Inspired by one of the greatest novels of all time, this tuneful celebration of the human spirit features Miguel de Cervantes and his faithful servant, who channel the power of storytelling to recount the legend of wannabe knight Don Quixote and his trusty sidekick Sancho. When: 7.30pm (Sat matinees 2.30pm; no performances Sun or Mon) Admission: £13.50-£18 Bridewell Theatre Bride Lane EC4Y 8EQ www.sedos.co.uk T 07910 273 160

Frank Wedekind described his 1894 play as a “monster tragedy”. The Guildhall School of Music & Drama presents Nicholas Wright’s thrilling and explicit version of the original text, with five actresses sharing the role of Lulu, in a kaleidoscopic journey of sex and death through Germany, Paris and London. When: 7.30pm (2.30pm matinees on 30 Nov & 2 Dec) Admission: £10; concs £5 Silk Street Theatre, Silk Street Barbican EC2Y 8DT www.gsmd.ac.uk/events T 020 7638 8891

Lulu

Othello

King and Country: Shakespeare’s Great Cycle of Kings

For the first time in 33 years, the Tower Theatre Company presents this study of manipulation and innocent trust, bringing it up to date for an audience of 2015. What does it say about today’s society and of the changes since it was written in terms of gender, prejudice and social politics? When: 7.30pm (Sat matinee 3pm) Admission: £10-£14 Bridewell Theatre Bride Lane EC4Y 8EQ www.towertheatre.org.uk T 020 7353 1700

King and Country will see Richard II, Henry IV Parts I & II and Henry V performed in repertoire as a complete fourplay season cycle. This is the only opportunity to enjoy the RSC’s tetralogy of history plays as a cycle in the UK prior to its international tour. Various times, check website for details. Admission: £40 - £300 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/theatre T 020 7638 8891

14 December – 23 January 12 December – 23 January

Henry IV Part I – Royal Shakespeare Company Henry IV prepares for war while Prince Hal revels in the company of Falstaff. But with the crown under threat, Hal must confront his responsibilities. Various times, check website for details Admission: £10-£75 (plus booking fee; includes a limited number of premium seats at £75) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/theatre T 020 7638 8891

Henry IV Part II – Royal Shakespeare Company King Henry’s health is failing but he is uncertain Hal is a worthy heir. Sent to recruit troops, Falstaff indulges in lining his own pockets. Now Hal must choose between duty and an old friend. Various times, check website for details. Admission: £10-£75 (plus booking fee; includes a limited number of premium seats at £75) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/theatre T 020 7638 8891

7 – 22 January

Richard II – Royal Shakespeare Company Richard is King. A monarch ordained by God to lead his people. But he is also a man of very human weakness. A man whose vanity threatens to divide the great houses of England and drag his people into a dynastic civil war that will last a hundred years. David Tennant reprises the title role.

Various times, check website for details. Admission: £10-£75 (plus booking fee; includes a limited number of premium seats at £75) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/theatre T 020 7638 8891

12 – 24 January

23 Theatre

8 – 12 December

Cries of London

The library holds regular events associated with exhibitions. London history and special anniversaries – check out the full range online.

On-going

Guildhall Library Afternoon Talks Uncover fascinating facts about London at one of Guildhall Library’s free talks. Highlights include: Five Years to Dockyard Apprentice (12 Nov); The Crew List Project (1 Dec); Thames Lightermen (3 Dec); Battlefield Pilgrimage: An Early History (9 Dec); Charles Dickens and his Christmas (10 Dec). When: 2-3pm FREE Advance bookings necessary at www.ghlevents.eventbrite.co.uk

On-going

Guildhall Library Evening Events 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: Never on a Sunday (5 Nov); Mail Obsession (12 Nov); Glad Tidings: A History of the Christmas Card (24 Nov); When: 6-8pm Admission: £5 (plus booking fee); Advance bookings necessary at www.ghlevents.eventbrite.co.uk Guildhall Library Aldermanbury EC2V 7HH www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/ guildhalllibrary T 020 7332 1869/1871

Until 10 December

On-going

Guided City walks

Gin Distillery Tours

Hear about the City’s rich history on one of these guided walks that leave from the City Information Centre every day. There are plenty of themes to choose from, including City Highlights, London’s Burning and Wren’s churches. Don’t forget the other walks from the City of London Guides: you can take a guided tour of Guildhall and its famous crypts (3 Dec & 14 Jan), go on special tours of Mansion House and Guildhall Art Gallery, and take an early-morning jaunt around the famous Smithfield Market. Check the website for the full schedule. Daily 11am and 2pm Admission: £7-£8; concs £6 Meet at City Information Centre St Paul’s Churchyard EC4M 8BX www.cityoflondonguides.com

Discover the history of gin in the City of London and how it’s made in the present day in the City’s only working distillery. Choose from a 45-min daytime tour or a special one-hour evening tour complete with gin sampling and a miniature to take home. Mon-Fri 12noon; Mon, Wed and Sat 6pm Admission: £10-£25 City of London Distillery Bride Lane EC4Y 8DT www.cityoflondondistillery.com T 020 7936 3636

On-going

Open-City Architecture Tours Walk, cycle and photograph London architecture with Open-City’s weekly programme of tours with specialist guides. Dates, times and prices vary; check website for full listings www.open-city.org.uk/events T 020 3006 7008

On-going

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: The First Stars (4 Nov), The Suez Crisis (10 Nov), The Next Big UK Flood (12 Nov), The Poetry of Sylvia Plath (17 Nov), and A Very Brief History of Computing (12 Jan). Dates and times vary; check website for full listings FREE Gresham College Barnard’s Inn Hall Holborn EC1N 2HH www.gresham.ac.uk T 020 7831 0575

25 Walks and Talks

TALKS AND EVENTS AT GUILDHALL LIBRARY

Come hawkers, costermongers and street sellers to Bishopsgate Institute this season. Inspired by prints capturing the realities of life for street traders in London, this special series of walks and talks tells the story of London’s traders and hawkers. Various times and prices, check the website for details. Bishopsgate Institute 230 Bishopsgate EC2M 4QH www.bishopsgate.org.uk/events T 020 7392 9200

Until 12 December

Billingsgate Roman House & Baths tours Join Museum of London Guides for a talk and tour of the remains of the Billingsgate Roman House & Baths, first discovered in 1848. Hidden under the buildings on Lower Thames Street, the knowledgeable guide will lead you on an unforgettable exploration of this amazing Roman site, which up until now has rarely been open to the public. Various times – check the website Admission: £8; concs £6 Billingsgate Roman House & Baths 101 Lower Thames St EC3R 6DL www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ tours 020 7001 9844

Barbican Open Salon: The lives of artists

London Recorded by Camera

Hans Ulrich Obrist, worldrenowned curator and author of Lives of the Artists, Lives of the Architects, offers a unique insight into the lives and creativity of the world’s leading artists. When: 7.30pm Admission: £10 (plus booking fee) Barbican Centre Silk Street EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk/learning T 020 7638 8891

12 November

Medieval Music: Chant as Cure And Miracle It has generally been forgotten that men and women in the Middle Ages believed that the singing of monks and clergy had the ability to produce sudden and dramatic cures: crooked limbs became straight with a loud cracking sound, and wounds were closed and healed. In this lecture, Christopher Page (Professor of Medieval Music and Literature, University of Cambridge) will delve into this little-known landscape of medieval musical experience. When: 1pm-2pm FREE St. Sepulchre Without Newgate Holburn Viaduct WC1A 2DQ www.gresham.ac.uk/ lectures-and-events T 020 7831 0575

16 November and 18 January

Curating The Crime Museum Uncovered Join Crime Museum Uncovered (p4) curators as they discuss the ins and outs of curating this new exhibition. Hear about the challenges of selecting the themes, criminal cases and objects from the original museum. Which cases and objects weren’t included and why? Includes a unique visit to the exhibition after-hours, with the curators on hand to answer your questions. When: 7pm-9.30pm Admission: £35 Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844

Since opening in 1895, Bishopsgate Library has held fascinating collections relating to photography in London. Join Stefan Dickers, Library and Archives Manager at Bishopsgate Institute, for an introduction to these numerous photographic collections. Highlights include a look in the boxes of glass slides created by the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (LAMAS) at the turn of the century, the eclectic London History Workshop Collection and the huge London Co-operative Society Photographic Archive. When: 7.30pm FREE (advance booking recommended) Bishopsgate Library 230 Bishopsgate EC2M 4QH www.bishopsgate.org.uk/events T 020 7392 9200

1 December

The Crime Museum: Fact and Fiction The Crime Museum in Scotland Yard has never been part of London’s public life. Yet since opening it has captivated public imagination and provoked speculation both in real life and fiction. Join authors and experts to explore 140 years worth of public fascination with the private Museum. Watch and listen to fictional imaginings, and have the myths and misconceptions, including those around some of the most notorious cases, debunked. When: 7pm-9.45pm Admission: £15 (event only), £23 (event plus exhibition) Museum of London 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN www.museumoflondon.org.uk T 020 7001 9844

26 November

27 Walks and Talks

4 November

8 December

On White: Edmund de Waal Join leading ceramist and best-selling author Edmund de Waal as he reflects on 40 years of working with the colour white. Marking the release of his new book, The White Road, a journey through white from ancient China to the present day, he is joined by Aurora conductor, Nicholas Collon, to discuss Schubert’s Winterreise, itself a sonic study in white. When: 6.30pm Admission: £7 Venue confirmed on booking www.spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk T 020 7377 1362

13 December

Baskets, Bananas, Bags & Brushes Join historian and author, Rachel Kolsky to explore the colourful trading heritage of Spitalfields past and present. Centuries of different immigrant groups added their wares to the ‘flesh, fowl and roots’ of the 17th century market and today’s contemporary designer-makers continue the story. When: 2.30pm Admission: £12 Meeting point confirmed on booking www.spitalfieldsmusic.org.uk T 020 7377 1362

GUILDHALL

LIBRARY

The Library of London History

FREE EXHIBITION

TALBOT HOUSE 12 OCTOBER – 8 JANUARY

‘ AN OASIS IN A WORLD GONE CRAZY’ Guildhall Library Aldermanbury, London EC2V 7HH 020 7332 1868 / 020 7332 1870 guildhall.library@cityoflondon.gov.uk www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/guildhalllibrary Follow UK - tripadvisor.co.uk