Passengers can now travel directly from Essex to Heathrow airport as part of changes to London’s Elizabeth line. Updates to the line’s timetable mean trains will run from Shenfield in Essex, through east London to Heathrow Terminal 5 all day. The airport will now receive six Elizabeth line trains per hour. The new timetable also means trains will now run roughly every … [Read more...] about Passengers can now travel directly from Essex to Heathrow on Elizabeth line
London News
In Pictures: London Marathon runners hit streets of capital
About 48,000 people are taking part in this year’s London Marathon. The event has returned to its usual April timing after three years of the race being held in October due to the Covid-19 pandemic. … [Read more...] about In Pictures: London Marathon runners hit streets of capital
Two-year project to make London Waterloo station ‘lighter and brighter’
The century-old roof of the UK’s busiest railway station is being renovated to create a brighter environment for passengers. Network Rail said it has started a two-year project to refurbish London Waterloo’s roof, which was built in 1922. Around 10,000 new glazed panels will be installed across 12,000 square metres of roof – an area nearly twice the size of the pitch at … [Read more...] about Two-year project to make London Waterloo station ‘lighter and brighter’
National Portrait Gallery to reopen with exhibition on pioneering color photographer
The National Portrait Gallery is set to reopen with more than two dozen newly discovered works from trailblazing 20th-century British photographer Yevonde. Yevonde: Life And Colour will explore the life and career of Yevonde Middleton, who pioneered the use of color photography in the 1930s, and will run from June 22 to October 15. The exhibition will feature more than 25 … [Read more...] about National Portrait Gallery to reopen with exhibition on pioneering color photographer
London Eye gets spring clean to mark start of the season
One of London’s most distinctive landmarks has had a thorough clean to mark the first day of spring on Monday. Staff braved heights of 135 meters (443ft) to reach the pods on the London Eye in Westminster and ensure the glass on each capsule was washed and polished. The landmark, which first opened in 2000, has 32 capsules each weighing 11 tonnes. A crew of cleaners … [Read more...] about London Eye gets spring clean to mark start of the season
Natural History Museum named most visited indoor UK attraction again
The Natural History Museum was the most visited indoor attraction in the UK for a second consecutive year, research shows. The London museum had 4,654,608 visitors last year, more than three million above the previous year’s figure of 1,571,413, a report by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva) found. However, the South Kensington museum’s ratings were … [Read more...] about Natural History Museum named most visited indoor UK attraction again
Gatwick returns to profit as air travel bounces back
Gatwick Airport returned to profitability in 2022 amid a bounce-back in air travel as coronavirus rules eased, but said it has “some way to go to reach a full recovery.” The West Sussex airport reported profit after tax of £196.5 million for last year, against total losses of more than £830 million during 2020 and 2021. Gatwick, which is majority owned by France-based … [Read more...] about Gatwick returns to profit as air travel bounces back
Sir Mark Rylance brings role as Dr Semmelweis to West End
Sir Mark Rylance is set to reprise the titular role in Dr. Semmelweis as the play opens in London’s West End this summer. The 63-year-old Oscar-winning actor and theatre director portrayed the maverick Hungarian doctor Ignaz Semmelweis in last year’s Bristol Old Vic production. Sir Mark, who developed the idea, said: “Here is a person who makes one of the most important … [Read more...] about Sir Mark Rylance brings role as Dr Semmelweis to West End
Heathrow ready for ‘successful Easter getaway’ after chaos of 2022
Heathrow has sought to reassure families it is prepared for a “successful Easter getaway” after many saw their holiday plans ruined a year ago. The west London airport said overall passenger satisfaction is “close to pre-pandemic levels”. The punctuality of departing flights in February was “the most consistent it has been in the last 12 months”, while more than 98% of … [Read more...] about Heathrow ready for ‘successful Easter getaway’ after chaos of 2022
More than 40,000 plant species now stored in Kew Gardens’ seed bank
The Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) is celebrating a major milestone after banking more than 40,000 different plant species in an effort to preserve rare, threatened and important wild plants. Dubbed the Noah’s Ark for plants, the MSB holds the Guinness World Record for the largest seed bank facility on Earth. It stores 98,567 seed collections sourced from 190 countries and … [Read more...] about More than 40,000 plant species now stored in Kew Gardens’ seed bank
Judi Dench hails ‘heroic’ Ada Salter as blue plaque unveiled
Dame Judi Dench has described Ada Salter as a “heroic woman” as a blue plaque was unveiled to the former green space campaigner. The Oscar-winning actress, 88, is patron of the Salter Centenary, which last year celebrated the 100th anniversary of the year the social reformer became London’s first female mayor and Britain’s first female Labour mayor when she was elected mayor … [Read more...] about Judi Dench hails ‘heroic’ Ada Salter as blue plaque unveiled
The Big Move Begins: 1st of 10,000 objects removed from Museum of London galleries
A prehistoric flint tranchet adze has become the first item to be removed from display at the Museum of London, following the closure of its London Wall site in December 2022. It marks the beginning of a 2 year process to remove 10,000 objects from its galleries as the museum prepares to move to a new home in West Smithfield. In use 10,000 years ago, the Mesolithic … [Read more...] about The Big Move Begins: 1st of 10,000 objects removed from Museum of London galleries
Emmeline Pankhurst immortalized by Madame Tussauds for International Women’s Day
Modern-day activists such as Florence Given joined Madame Tussauds London to unveil its new Emmeline Pankhurst waxwork ahead of International Women’s Day. The leading Suffragette has been immortalized by the London attraction 120 years after she co-founded the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), whose members were determined to win the right to vote for … [Read more...] about Emmeline Pankhurst immortalized by Madame Tussauds for International Women’s Day
Young V&A to open in summer after £13m redevelopment (and name change)
The V&A has announced its museum dedicated to children and young people will reopen this summer following a £13 million-plus redevelopment. The site in Bethnal Green, which dates back to 1872, was formerly called V&A Museum of Childhood but will relaunch on July 1 rebranded as the Young V&A. Designed with and for children under the age of 14, the space aims to … [Read more...] about Young V&A to open in summer after £13m redevelopment (and name change)
Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution Extends Run at London’s County Hall Until 2024
Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution will extend its run at London County Hall until 28 April 2024, making it London’s longest-running site-specific theatre production. This will take the acclaimed production into its seventh year as the ninth cast are also announced today. Tickets for the new booking period are on sale now … [Read more...] about Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution Extends Run at London’s County Hall Until 2024
Heathrow Airport narrows losses after ‘year of recovery’
Heathrow Airport narrowed its losses sharply in 2022 amid a bounce back in travel demand, but said results were weighed on by surging cost pressures and lower passenger numbers. The group reported underlying pre-tax losses of £684 million for last year, against losses of £1.3 billion in 2021. It said no dividends were paid in 2022 and none are planned for 2023 as it … [Read more...] about Heathrow Airport narrows losses after ‘year of recovery’
Huw Edwards unveils Blue Plaque to ‘mathematical genius’ Richard Price
Newsreader Huw Edwards has unveiled a Blue Plaque dedicated to Richard Price who he described as an “mathematical genius and forward-thinking philosopher.” BBC News At Ten presenter Edwards, 61, said the memorial to Price at his former red brick home in Newington Green, London goes “some way” to giving him the “recognition he deserves” 300 years on from his birth in the … [Read more...] about Huw Edwards unveils Blue Plaque to ‘mathematical genius’ Richard Price
David Hockney ‘thrilled’ with new immersive exhibition, says arts venue boss
The chief executive of a new London arts venue has said David Hockney is “really thrilled” with his upcoming immersive experience. The experience, David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (Not Smaller & Further Away), has been created by the 85-year-old Bradford-born artist and will open at Lightroom in King’s Cross on Wednesday. Speaking ahead of the show’s public opening, … [Read more...] about David Hockney ‘thrilled’ with new immersive exhibition, says arts venue boss
Nearly half of Londoners have used Elizabeth line so far – survey
Nearly half of Londoners have used the Elizabeth line since it opened in May 2022, a new survey suggests. The results of a YouGov poll shared with the PA news agency indicate 45% of the capital’s residents have made at least one journey on the £19 billion railway. That is up from 24% in July last year. The latest survey – conducted in late January – suggested that … [Read more...] about Nearly half of Londoners have used Elizabeth line so far – survey
Art lovers in a spin over spiral artworks signposting a wider universe at Somerset House
An artwork featuring two intersecting spirals has been constructed at Somerset House in London. The outdoor installation, which spirals outwards from the art gallery’s neoclassical courtyard, is by Indian contemporary artist Jitish Kallat. Unveiled on Thursday, Whorled (Here After Here After Here) features two spirals that run parallel to each other and do not meet in … [Read more...] about Art lovers in a spin over spiral artworks signposting a wider universe at Somerset House
Artists Gilbert & George to open permanent exhibition center in east London
Artists Gilbert & George are opening a free, permanent exhibition center for their personal and confrontational work in keeping with their “art for all” ethos. The pair, who have collaborated since they met at art school in 1967, rose to fame as “living sculptures” and are known for their distinctive, suited appearance. The Gilbert & George Centre, which is a … [Read more...] about Artists Gilbert & George to open permanent exhibition center in east London
Heathrow Airport records busiest start of year since before pandemic
Heathrow Airport is “back to its best” having recorded the busiest start of the year since before the pandemic, its boss John Holland-Kaye has said. The UK’s busiest airport revealed more than 5.4 million passengers traveled through Heathrow in January, reaching levels not seen since the start of 2020. It comes as UK airports were hit with severe disruption in the run up … [Read more...] about Heathrow Airport records busiest start of year since before pandemic
Weird London: Man Finds Way Around London Property Prices – Builds a house in a skip
An artist who has decided to live in a converted skip for a year described the move as a “statement” in the face of the “crazy” cost of living in London. Harrison Marshall, an artist, and co-founder of Caukin Studio, moved into his converted skip in Bermondsey, south-east London, in January and will aim to live in it for a year. The 28-year-old said the move is “not … [Read more...] about Weird London: Man Finds Way Around London Property Prices – Builds a house in a skip
Time Traveller’s Wife musical confirmed heading for London’s West End
The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical is set to open in London’s West End later this year after a successful stage run at the Storyhouse in Chester. The production, based on the best-selling novel by Audrey Niffenegger and the 2009 film of the same name, features music and lyrics by Joss Stone and Eurythmics star Dave Stewart. The musical is produced by Colin Ingram, who … [Read more...] about Time Traveller’s Wife musical confirmed heading for London’s West End
London hotel prices 60% higher for King’s coronation, says Trivago
Accommodation search website Trivago has revealed that London hotels have ramped up their prices by nearly two-thirds for the King’s coronation. Trivago chief executive Axel Hefer told the PA news agency that the group has seen hotel prices in the capital jump by 60% year on year for coronation day on May 6, with prices hitting £254 a night for early bookers. This … [Read more...] about London hotel prices 60% higher for King’s coronation, says Trivago
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