What's on in London during February, 2008. Highlights from London's ticketed events; Heritage & Pageantry, Performing Arts, Fairs and Fine Art Exhibitions, London Fashion Week and sporting events. Compiled by Burlington Bertie, OfftoLondon's Man About Town.

Twilight hours at Tower of London
Date: 7pm. Wednesday 6, 13, 20, 27 February, 2008.
Venue: Tower of London, Tel: 0870 950 2255.
Tickets: 25. Buy Online or at Welcome Centre, Tower Hill. Advance booking advisable.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: London Wall.
Description: Experience the eerie shadows that gather at the Tower after the visitors leave. Hosted by one of our world-famous resident Yeoman Warders, you will be amazed and appalled by the tales of past residents, royal gossip and the secrets kept within these ancient walls. Entry to the Jewel House or White Tower and refreshments are not included.

Hampton Court Palace Ghost Tours
Date: 8.00 pm Mondays/Fridays. 6.30 pm Sundays until 6 March, 2008.
Venue: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, KT8, 9AU. Tel: 0870 751 5175
Tickets: 25 per person (no under 12's). Available in advance only on 0870 753 7777.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Richmond.
Description: Hear spine-chilling stories of residents past and unsolved mysterious goings on in the palace. Experience the unique atmosphere of Hampton Court Palace once the visitors have left for the day, as you creep through Henry VIII's State Apartments, including the infamous Haunted Gallery and explore the deserted palace courtyards at night. This is your chance to visit some of the supposedly most haunted rooms in the palace, which are out of bounds to our day time visitors. For general day time admissions see Hampton Court Palace.

Banqueting House Concerts
Date:, 18 February, 2008. 7pm. Other concerts are scheduled for 3 March; 7, 19 May; 9, 23 June. See website for details.
Venue: Banqueting House, Whitehall, SW1A 2ER, Tel: +44 (0)870 751 5187
Tickets: 20 inc. buffet supper following performance. Tickets available from the Banqueting House or by telephone 0203 166 6153 or 0870 751 5187
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Westminster, Embankment.
Description: Lunchtime concerts have now been replaced by evening events. February concert: Toshko Todorov presents Dorian Todorov and Yoana Karemova on piano. Dorian is among the finest young pianists to enter the Yehudi Menuin School and Yoana prepared him for his entrance to the school. They will play solos and duets.

Royal Opera House: February Programme.
Date: Thoughout the month, 2008.
Venue: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2. Tel: 020 7304 4000
Tickets: 6-15. Book online.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Covent Garden.
Description: A month of varied Ballet and Opera. Highlights: Royal Ballet productions of Sylvia, Rite of Spring; Beijing Modern Dance Company. Royal Opera productions of La traviata, (until 14 Feb); A Midsummer Night's dream, (until 11 Feb); Die Zauberflote, (until 1 March); Salome, (21 Feb - 12 March);

Official London Theatre Guide
Date: Ongoing.
Venue: 37 West End and City theatres
Tickets: Online booking for all seats
Description: Your guide to London's theatre programme, theatre seating plans, disability access and online booking.

London Fashion Week
Date: 10 - 15 February, 2008.
Venue: Natural History Museum, SW7. Tel: 0870 112 9088; and various venues.
Tickets: Entry by pre-registration.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: South Kensington.
Description: Some 50 trendsetting designers on the invitation-only catwalk and a further 210 fashion and accessories designers, designer shops and wholesalers in the exhibition at the NHS forecourt and at London Salons, unveil their 2008 collections to a professional audience of visiting international press and buyers. This is followed by the London Fashion Weekend in the NHS forecourt; a shopping paradise of top designer labels at cut-price. As well as the fabulous fashion, London Fashion Weekend offers unmissable style and beauty advice direct from the experts.

London Stitch & Creative Hobby Crafts Show
Date: 28 February - 1 March, 2008. 10.30am-9pm, Thurs. Otherwise 10am-5pm .
Venue: ExCel, London. E16 1XL.
London Transport: Check ExCel Online for road, rail and river access details.
Tickets: Buy online for discounted tickets, (7), or 9 at the door. Concessions.
Description: Over one hundred leading exhibitors display their latest products to see, try and buy. This show covers all aspects of quality stitchcraft including cross stitch, sewing, card making, embroidery, knitting, patchwork, quilting, scrapbooking, ribboncraft, papercraft, stamping, beading, painting, dressmaking, tapestry, decoupage, crochet and many more popular stitch and creative crafts. Listen to talks from experts, pick up insider tips and advice, participate in unique make and take workshops, watch exciting demonstrations, enter fantastic competitions and enjoy viewing impressive displays from prestigious craft guilds and societies.
Burlington Bertie's Accommodation Choice: Custom House Hotel, 283 Victoria Dock Road, Custom House, E16 3BY, offers nearby 3-Star comfort right opposite ExCel and the DLR station. London city Airport is just 2 km away. Park at the hotel for a small fee. Hotel facilities include three restaurants. Excellent convenience accommodation for ExCel fairs and exhibitions. Early booking recommended.

20th London International Classic Car Show
Date: 23 - 24 February, 2008. 10am-5pm.
Venue: Alexandra Palace, Wood Green, N22 7AY.
London Transport: Wood Green.
Tickets: 12. (Concessions). Buy online., or at the door.
Description: Auction, Autojumble, trade stands and a mouthwatering display of classic cars from the many Car Clubs. Further details will be found on website.

The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army
Date: 10am-5pm daily. Ongoing. Ends 6 April, 2008.
Venue: British Museum, Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG. Tel: 020 7323 8299.
Tickets: 12, (Concessions). Buy online, (strongly recommended); Box Office 020 7323 8181, or queue at the door.
London Transport: Nearest Tube. Tottenham Court Road; Russell Square.
Description: A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the famed army of Emperor Qin! This unique exhibition explores one of the greatest archeological finds of the 20th century, providing an insight into China's first Emperor, 221 BCE. See some of the world-famous life-size Terracotta Warriors together with recent discoveries made in the ongoing excavations of the remarkable site at Xi'an, China.

Tate Britain: Modern Painters - The Camden Town Group
Date: 13 February - 4 May, 2008. 10am-5.40pm.
Venue: Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG. Tel: 020 7887 8888
Tickets: 9. (Concessions), Online booking or at the door.
London transport: Nearest Tube: Embankment. Also Riverbus between Tate Britain and Tate Modern via Westminster.
Description: The Camden Town Group introduced Post-Impressionism to Britain, inspired by the work of Van Gogh and Gauguin on the continent. The exhibition focuses on the key themes in their work: life in the city, people, style, sex, and the infamous Camden Town murder. Fascinated by the changing ways of life in the capital, the Group captured the mood of this transitional period in British history, around the time of World War I. Images of London buses, audiences enjoying light entertainment and gritty urban interiors evoke the atmosphere of a city and a country moving into the modern era, whilst nudes painted in dingy North London homes explore the changing sexual mores described in the contemporary writing of HG Wells, DH Lawrence, and Rebecca West. The exhibition concentrates on the core of the Group - Spencer Gore, Harold Gilman, Robert Bevan, Charles Ginner with Walter Sickert as a key player. Works have come from numerous different collections in this first exhibition of the Camden Town Group for over twenty years.
See also the remarkable the FREE Tate Britain collection of British Art 1500 - 2006, including the stunning Turner Room, and the current William Blake exhibition.

National Portrait Gallery: Vanity Fair - Photos 1913-2008
Date: 10am-6pm. Thurs/Fri 10am-9pm. 14 February - 26 May, 2008.
Venue: Wolfson Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin's Place, WC2 0H3.
Tickets: 10.(Concessions). Book online or at door.
London Transport: Nearest Tube. Charing Cross, Leicester Square.
Description: Some of the greatest portrait photographs of the twentieth century were taken for, or published in, Vanity Fair. This exhibition features 150 classic images from both the magazine's first period (1913 -36) and subsequent re-birth in 1983 of significant people in art, film, music, sport, business and politics. Works by legendary photographers such as Edward Steichen and Cecil Beaton are shown alongside those of celebrated modern-day photographers such as Annie Leibovitz and Mario Testino. With subjects as diverse as Jean Harlow, Claude Monet, Cary Grant and Madonna, this exhibition presents an exceptional range of photographic portraiture from the early years of the twentieth century to the present day.
See also the permanent portrait collection at the NPG, (FREE).

Choose your Hotel OfftoLondon provides expert advice and secure booking facilities for your overnight, 'City Break' or long term London accommodation requirements; from de-luxe 5-star hotels to comfortable backpacker's hostels.

Burlington Bertie's Highlights Memo
Book online NOW for RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Public Days 22-24 May, 2008 to ensure your tickets.
Last opportunity to apply for The Queen's Birthday Parade, (Trooping The Colour), on Saturday 14 June 2008, the Colonel's Review on Saturday 7 June, and the Major General's Review on Saturday 31 May, (both are effectively full dress rehearsals for the Queen's Birthday Parade). Apply for tickets before the end of February and include SAE for acknowledgement. Ticket ballot is held in mid-March. Only successful applicants will be notified and receiving up to a maximum of three tickets for the actual parade - this restriction does not apply to the Reviews. Children must be in possession of a ticket. There are limited wheelchair spaces for all three parades. Separate applications are required for this facility. No refund can be given if the event is cancelled for reasons beyond the control of the organiser. Applications should be sent to The Brigade Major, Headquarters Household Division, Horse Guards, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX.

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