At the height of midsummer, London springs to life, with all sorts of cultural events and performances on offer to tourists and residents alike. Here are 3 ideas to start your summer sizzling...
The Great Outdoors
London has a wealth of outdoor spaces, each one with its own very distinct character. From the landscapes parklands of Syon Park and Chiswick House & Gardens to the lush and exotic Kew Gardens, there’s always something to entrance and delight green-fingered Londoners. For those looking for something a little different head to leafy South London and stroll around the intimate gardens of Dulwich Picture Gallery or marvel at impressive setting of the Royal Observatory and Royal Museums Greenwich.
Silver screen sunshine
Luna cinema returns for another year to the immaculate gardens of Kensington Palace. Across four evenings (2-5 August), cinema-goers are invited to bring their rugs and picnics and watch films within the stunning backdrop where kings once wandered. This year Spectre, The Breakfast Club, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Some Like It Hot will grace the iconic screen. If you fancy a bit more of the royal treatment, the Orangery restaurant will be offering a special pre-show meal, before you take your seat under the stars. Once again, Somerset House will play host to one of the hottest tickets in town, Film4 Summer Screen, which will run throughout August in the breathtaking, neo-classical Edmond J Safra Court. Cinematic gems on offer include: Sunset Boulevard, Trainspotting and 10 Things I Hate About You.
Excellent exhibitions
There’s plenty to keep London’s art lovers happy this summer, especially at the Royal Academy of Arts where legendary British artist David Hockney is exhibiting ‘79 Portraits and two still lifes’, an intimate collection which depicts friends, family and acquaintances on canvas. Tate Modern is also celebrating the works of another contemporary great, Georgia O’Keeffe, landscape painter, flower painter and feminist artist. Prolific and widely reproduced, this retrospective aims to reconcile her many facets of this powerful personality. The Museum of London is, appropriately, turning up the heat with ‘Fire! Fire!’ commemorating the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London, rare artefacts and hands-on exhibits will give visitors an insight into this catastrophe which ravaged the capital and shaped the current layout of the city.
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