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London Maps: Check Out This Beautiful New Map of London History and Culture

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This came through the inbox the other day and I knew we had to share it. This beautiful new map from artist Cally Lathey and it took her 11 months to create. Wow! About the map: From Winehouse to Willesden, Elizabeth Taylor to Elephant and Castle, Bowie to Brockley... This map has it all. Did you know that Mozart wrote his first symphony in London in 1764? That Alfred … [Read more...] about London Maps: Check Out This Beautiful New Map of London History and Culture

Ian McKellan To Go On Tour For His 80th Birthday – Tolkien, Shakespeare, others

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  Big news for fans of British star Ian McKellan, to celebrate his 80th birthday next year, he's going to go on a national tour around Britain, celebrating his greatest hits and raising funds for theatre. Here are the details: Ian McKellen is to celebrate his 8oth birthday next year by raising funds for theatres, with a new solo show which will play on 80 … [Read more...] about Ian McKellan To Go On Tour For His 80th Birthday – Tolkien, Shakespeare, others

London Alert: Tower of London Lights 10,000 Torches in its Moat in Remembrance of World War I – See it by Sunday!

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A very moving scene has been created in London at the Tower of London and you only have until the 11th to see it. 10,000 gas lanterns have been lit in the Tower's moat in commemoration of the end of World War I. If you're in London right now, you have until Sunday to see this. Go! I wish I was there to see it in person. From Historic Royal Palaces: As the nation … [Read more...] about London Alert: Tower of London Lights 10,000 Torches in its Moat in Remembrance of World War I – See it by Sunday!

Wands At The Ready! Giant Harry Potter Wands Unveiled On Walk to St Paul’s Cathedral

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We reported on this a couple weeks ago (and it was the most popular thing we've posted in months!) so we figured we would let everyone know that the Giant Harry Potter Wands are now on display on the walk to St Paul's Cathedral from the Millenium Bridge for a very limited time. Put up to coincide with the upcoming film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Fantastic … [Read more...] about Wands At The Ready! Giant Harry Potter Wands Unveiled On Walk to St Paul’s Cathedral

Laura’s London: A Look at the Courtauld Impressionists at The National Gallery – From Manet to Cézanne

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For the first time in London for 70 years, the National Gallery is displaying major Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterworks from the Courtauld Gallery, purchased in the 1920s by Samuel Courtauld (1876–1947). These are shown alongside paintings from the National Gallery's own collection which the businessman and philanthropist financed and helped acquire. Courtauld … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: A Look at the Courtauld Impressionists at The National Gallery – From Manet to Cézanne

The Best of Free London: The Best Free Museums in London

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One of the greatest things about London is that most of the museums are free. Government funding and charitable donations ensure that many of London’s best musuems are obligated to keep entry to the general public free (but they can charge extra for special exhibitions). This makes many of the museums more accessible to those who many not be able to afford a trip to the museum. … [Read more...] about The Best of Free London: The Best Free Museums in London

Exhibition Alert: Laura Visits the 2018 Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace – Prince Charles’s Favorites in the Royal Collection

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For ten weeks each summer we get to go inside Buckingham Palace and see the State Rooms while the Queen is away at Balmoral (Scotland). There's also a special exhibition included and this year, to mark the 70th birthday of The Prince of Wales, the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace includes a special display of over 100 works of art personally selected by His Royal … [Read more...] about Exhibition Alert: Laura Visits the 2018 Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace – Prince Charles’s Favorites in the Royal Collection

London Alert: The Courtauld Gallery is Closing for 2 Years – Visit by September!

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It's pretty common for London's museums to be variously closed while renovations are done. Next up is the Courtauld Gallery, the art gallery located in Somerset House. This small gallery is often overshadowed by the bigger National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, practically across the street but it's home to some amazing art. As with most museums in London, the building … [Read more...] about London Alert: The Courtauld Gallery is Closing for 2 Years – Visit by September!

Laura’s London: A Look Behind the Scenes of the New Royal Academy of Arts Renovations Opening This Weekend

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The Royal Academy of Arts is hardly new. In fact, it's celebrating it's 250th anniversary this year. But to mark the occasion the RA has undergone an enormous transformation and expansion. And the new Royal Academy is opening on Saturday 19 May 2018. About The Royal Academy The RA was founded in 1768 by a group of 40 artists and architects who became the first Royal … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: A Look Behind the Scenes of the New Royal Academy of Arts Renovations Opening This Weekend

First Statue in Parliament Square of a Women Unveiled Today – Suffragist Leader Millicent Fawcett

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History was made today in Parliament Square, located directly across from the Palace of Westminster. For 200-years great leaders have been honoured with a statue in front of the Houses of Parliament. Lincoln, Churchill, Gandhi, Mandela are just a few of the names. But one thing all those names had in common was that they were men despite the many important women in Britain's … [Read more...] about First Statue in Parliament Square of a Women Unveiled Today – Suffragist Leader Millicent Fawcett

Trafalgar Square: The Fourth Plinth Has a New Artwork – Replica of Statue Destroyed by ISIS

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Goodbye, giant Thumb's Up, hello Lamassu. The fourth plinth is one of the best public art projects in London. Every few years, a new artwork is put on display on the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square (empty for a statue that was never made). It's prime place directly in front of the National Gallery is a great place to display a large work of art. There have been some … [Read more...] about Trafalgar Square: The Fourth Plinth Has a New Artwork – Replica of Statue Destroyed by ISIS

Trip Planning: Top 10 Exhibitions To Plan Your 2018 Trips to London Around

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Editor's Note: This article is made up of extracts from the 2018 London Annual Guide to London in 2018 written by London expert Laura Porter. It's a massive article - over 20 print pages - too big to post here in one go. We still have copies of the Annual - you can get them here (we're almost out though so move quickly). But since people are planning trips for 2018, I thought … [Read more...] about Trip Planning: Top 10 Exhibitions To Plan Your 2018 Trips to London Around

The New Piccadilly Circus Billboard: A Review

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In this article, I’m going to review a billboard. But not just any billboard, the most famous billboard in the world. Well, in London at least. I’m talking about, of course, the new electronic billboard that has replaced the previous iconic billboards at the heart of Piccadilly Circus. First some terminology - in Britain they don’t really use the word billboard. It’s a … [Read more...] about The New Piccadilly Circus Billboard: A Review

Laura’s London: Charles I: King and Collector – Royal Academy Exhibition Review – New Exhibition Alert!

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Charles I had one of the most extraordinary and influential art collections. For the first time since the 17th century, this landmark exhibition at the Royal Academy has brought together the astounding treasures that changed the taste of the nation. Charles I: King and Collector reunites 140 of the most important works of art, ranging from classical sculptures to Baroque … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Charles I: King and Collector – Royal Academy Exhibition Review – New Exhibition Alert!

Great London Buildings – The Old BBC Television Centre

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Now a symbol of London’s ever-changing nature as new development takes over; Television Centre was once home to the UK’s most beloved dramas, comedies, and cultural programs.  It was constructed specifically to be the BBC’s first dedicated television broadcasting studios and would oversee the news and such memorable shows as Blue Peter, Doctor Who, Top of the Pops, Monty … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings – The Old BBC Television Centre

Laura’s London: Lumiere London Review – Was It Worth It? Yes, Yes It Was.

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Lumiere London brought over fifty light installations to six areas of central London for the UK's largest light festival. (But you knew that already, surely, as you saw my Lumiere London preview, didn't you?) I went out on the first night to see the fun. Something to Compare As we had Lumiere London here in 2016 Londoners were able to make a comparison. Last time it … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: Lumiere London Review – Was It Worth It? Yes, Yes It Was.

Lumiere London 2018 – The Incredible Festival of Lights Returns to London – Preview

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In London later this week? This you're in for a treat. Lumiere London was last here in January 2016 and everyone is really looking forward to it returning this month. Even though I live in London, last time I booked a hotel stay in central London so I could walk to see a lot of the lights but this year I'll be travelling in from home (zone 3) so I'll need to do a lot more … [Read more...] about Lumiere London 2018 – The Incredible Festival of Lights Returns to London – Preview

Laura’s London: New Exhibition Report – Charles II: Art and Power at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace

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After over a decade of austere Cromwellian rule, the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 led to a resurgence of the arts in England. The court of Charles II became the centre for the patronage of leading artists and the collecting of great works of art. This served not only as decoration for the royal apartments but also as a means of glorifying the restored monarchy and … [Read more...] about Laura’s London: New Exhibition Report – Charles II: Art and Power at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace

Anglotopia Imports Alert: New Products Live – Custom Wentworth Jigsaw Puzzles – Gold Hill, Churchill, Paintings and More!

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  We've been working on this for quite some time and we're really excited about it.  Exclusive to Anglotopia we’ve commissioned three custom puzzles from Wentworth Puzzles, a company based in Wiltshire, England that specializes in making beautiful wooden puzzles. Each 250 piece puzzle will come in a beautiful box from Wentworth and you can store your puzzle in a … [Read more...] about Anglotopia Imports Alert: New Products Live – Custom Wentworth Jigsaw Puzzles – Gold Hill, Churchill, Paintings and More!

The London Fiver – Five Interesting Pieces of Public Art in London

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As John Cleese famously said in the “Michaelangelo and the Pope” sketch from Monty Python’s Flying Circus, “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like.”  Art can take many forms, some of which we may not quite understand.  Regardless of whether we “get it” or not, public art has been shown to improve the quality of life in a city’s residents.  London certainly has its … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Interesting Pieces of Public Art in London

London Art: St Pancras Gets Beautiful New Art Installation – The Interpretation of Movement

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One of the coolest things to happen since St Pancras Station was refurbished a few years ago was that they regularly have new art installations. They've just unveiled the latest one called The Interpretation of Movement (a 9:8 in blue). About the work: The Interpretation of Movement (a 9:8 in blue), 2017, will be Conrad Shawcross’ largest mechanical work to date, stretching … [Read more...] about London Art: St Pancras Gets Beautiful New Art Installation – The Interpretation of Movement

Great London Buildings – The Tate Modern

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There's an old line from Monty Python's Flying Circus that goes, "I don't know much about art, but I know what I like."  Modern art may certainly seem strange to a lot of people, due to the fact that it can include just about anything, doesn't necessarily depict traditional subjects, and can utilise some unusual materials in its creation.  However, it is art nonetheless, and … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings – The Tate Modern

London Transport Museum Announces Major 2017 Exhibitions

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We got this news a little too late to include in the 2017 London Annual but the London Transport Museum has announced their two major exhibitions for 2017. Here are the details from the London Transport Museum. Prize for Illustration 2017: Sounds of the City 19 May to 3 September 2017 Sounds of the City - an exhibition of 100 illustrations that interpret artists’ … [Read more...] about London Transport Museum Announces Major 2017 Exhibitions

London Alert: The Painted Hall in Greenwich is Closing for 6 Months

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The Painted Hall, at the Old Royal Naval College, one of the Jewels of Greenwich will be closing for 6 months from Sunday. This is one of the most amazing things you need to see in Greenwich but if you're planning on seeing it for the next 6 months, remove it from your itineraries. Why is it closing? The Old Royal Naval College received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund … [Read more...] about London Alert: The Painted Hall in Greenwich is Closing for 6 Months

Londonism: Clapham Common Tube Station Overtaken by Cats

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Now, this is a lovely news story. Clapham Common Tube Station in London has been overtaken by cats. Citizens Advertising Takeover Service (CATS) ran a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to raise funds to remove all the ads in a Tube Station and replace them with pictures of cats. They were a success and now the cats are now 'live' in the station on all the advertising … [Read more...] about Londonism: Clapham Common Tube Station Overtaken by Cats