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AN OFFTOLONDON.COM VISITOR'S GUIDE FEATURE BY BURLINGTON BERTIE
December Highlights
 Discovering London - Full Day London City Tour
8.5 - 9 hours - Drive to Westminster, past Downing Street, home of the Prime Minister, and on to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Stop for a visit inside Westminster Abbey, site of many royal coronations. Visit Poets' Corner and the tombs of many well-known scientists and monarchs. Also see the Chapel of Henry VII.
Stop near Buckingham Palace to see the colourful ceremony of the Changing of the Guard before driving through busy streets and past peaceful parks to Piccadilly, home of London's Theatreland. Pass Trafalgar Square with its impressive Nelson's Column and fountains, before reaching a traditional London pub for lunch.
The afternoon starts with a cruise on the River Thames, during which a Thames Waterman will point out the places of interest along the way. Disembark to visit the Tower of London where you will meet the Beefeaters clad in Tudor uniforms, hear the legend of the ravens and some spine chilling tales from the Tower's 900 year history. You will also see the Crown Jewels, magnificently displayed in the new Jewel House.
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Heritage & Pageantry
Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace
Date: Odd numbered dates during December, 2006.
Venue: Buckingham Palace Forecourt, Westminster, SW1A 1AA
Tickets: FREE
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, Victoria mainline rail terminus
Description: The new guards from one of the Household Regiments arrive at the forecourt of the Palace at 11:30 from Wellington Barracks. The journey takes about 5 minutes and the soldiers are accompanied by a band. The ceremony is conducted on the Palace forecourt and takes approximately forty minutes to complete.
See also the colourful changing of The Queen's Lifeguards at Horse Guards Parade, (weekdays 11am, Sundays 10am); a spectacular piece of royal pageantry.
Ceremony of the Keys
Date: Daily. 9.30.pm.
Venue: Tower of London, Tower Hill, EC3N 4AB
Tickets: Complimentary tickets are obtainable on application in writing. Check Tower website for details.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Tower Hill.
Description: The Ceremony of the Keys is the traditional locking up of the Tower of London and has taken place on each and every night, without fail, for at least 700 years. The Yeoman Warders, (the famous Beefeaters), in their royal livery, and military guard, lock the outer gates of the Tower of London and deliver the keys to the Governor of the Tower, Major-General Sir Geoffrey Field, who resides in the Tudor Queen's House overlooking the infamous scaffold site within the walls. The importance of securing this fortress for the night is still relevant because although the Monarch no longer resides at this royal palace the Crown Jewels, including the Coronation Regalia and many other historic valuables, still do and felonious attempts have been made to steal them!
Preparing a Tudor Banquet
Date: 27 December, 2006. 1 January, 2007.
Venue: The Tudor Kitchens, Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, KT8, 9AU. Tel: 0870 751 5175
Tickets: Online booking for the Palace . Adults £12.30, (Concessions). Check kitchen times online or telephone.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Richmond.
Description: Discover the smells and tastes of Tudor cookery first hand and have your questions answered by the Palace's food archaeologists who will experiment with Tudor recipes, ingredients, utensils and traditional cooking methods, preparing a typical meal, and giving you a fascinating look at the historic kitchens in operation as they would have been when King Henry VIII feasted at the palace.
Christmas Festivities
Norwegian Christmas Tree, Trafalgar Square. Photo: Jorn Tomter |
The 60th Norwegian Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square
Date: Until 6 January, 2007.
Venue: Trafalgar Square.
Tickets: FREE.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Charing Cross.
Description: Since 1947 the Norwegian government has donated a 75 feet high Norwegian fir tree to Britain each year, as a symbol of friendship and to thank the nation for helping the Norwegian people during the war. This is put up in Trafalgar Square and decorated in a traditional Norwegian style with 500 white lights which are switched on from noon until midnight each day through the Christmas period (until 6th January). There is carol singing around the tree most evenings.
Christmas Lights
Date: Until 6 January, 2007. See below.
Venue: Regent Street, Oxford Street, Bond Street.
Tickets: FREE.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus, Bond Street, Marble Arch.
Description: London's famed Christmas Lights provide a spectacular display in Regent Street, Oxford Street, and Bond Street. Department stores Harrods in Knightsbridge and Selfridges in Oxford Street are also noted for their traditional festive lights and decorations.
Mediaeval Christmas Music Date: 4 December, 2006. 12.15pm - 2pm.
Venue: Banqueting House, Whitehall, SW1A 2ER, Tel: +44 (0)870 751 5187
Tickets: £15 inc. drinks & buffet lunch. Book by venue telephone or in person.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Westminster, Embankment.
Description: There can surely be no better opportunity to enjoy this magnificent hall than in the way it was conceived by the Stuart kings; as a spectacular venue for the performing arts. As you admire the incomparable Rubens ceiling, listen to the The Dufay Collective perform music for a Mediaeval Christmas.
Handel's Messiah
Date: 15 December, 7.30pm.
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2A
Tickets: . From £17. Online booking or at the Box Office. Limited parking offered. See venue website for details.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge, Kensington High Street.
Description: The annual festive grandeur of 500 voices singing Handel's Messiah. A much loved, sell-out Christmas offering at the Albert Hall. This year three choirs join forces; Goldsmiths Choral Union, Highgate Choral Society, English Concert Chorus.
This is just one event in a large programme of Christmas concerts, ranging from spectacular chorale to candlelight carol singing, taking place at the Royal Albert Hall during December
For interesting tours of this historic rotunda hall, opened 1871 by Queen Victoria, (the contemporary illustration is of the Queen and Prince of Wales at the Gala opening concert), see the venue website.
A Georgian Christmas
Date: 7/10/14/21 December.
Venue: Recital Room, Handel House Museum, 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HB. Tel: 020 7495 1685
Tickets: £15, (Concessions). Advance booking advisable. Box Office: 020 7399 1953. Disabled access.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Green Park, Hyde Park Corner
Description: Pegasus, one of London's leading young chamber choirs, perform a Christmas programme of Georgian carols and highlights from Messiah on the three Thursdays and one Sunday leading up to Christmas. A wonderful cozy Christmas experience in the intimate surroundings of Handel's own music room! Christmas refreshments are served at 6pm before the concert. A special occasion for lovers of Baroque music.
The Handel House Museum at 25 Brook Street, Mayfair, was occupied by England's favourite Baroque composer George Frideric Handel from 1723 until his death in 1759. He composed much of his music there, including his oratorio The Messiah. The Georgian frontages of Brook Street and neighboring Grosvenor Square, (known affectionately for a century as 'Little America'), have changed substantially in the intervening years, (notably during the Victorian era), but the interiors of his house have been meticulously restored to Handel's time when London was the European centre of fashion and artistic patronage, of luxury production and consumption.
Christmas Gala by Candlelight
Date: 15 December, 2006. 7.30pm.
Venue: St. Martin's-in-the-fields, Trafalgar Square.
Tickets: From £6. Online booking or at the Box Office. Tel: +44 (0)20 - 7839 8362
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Charing Cross, Leicester Square.
Description: The Festive Orchestra of London plays Christmas music and accompanies the audience in traditional Christmas Carols. Master of Ceremonies: Robert Howarth. Soloists: Faye Newton Soprano; Giles Underwood Baritone.
This is just one of a full season of annual lunchtime and evening Christmas concerts of choral, soloist, orchestral and chamber music at this famous church.
Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten
Date: 11 December, 2006. 5pm.
Venue: St. Paul's Cathedral, Ludgate Hill, EC4.
Tickets: FREE. Unticketed.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: St. Paul's, Mansion House.
Description: The ever-popular work for boys' voices and harp by one of England's most outstanding composers of the 20th century. Performed in candlelight. This is one of a number of Christmas concerts and recitals taking place in St. Paul's Cathedral during December. See venue website for details. Most are free and unticketed. A donation is appreciated.
Hampton Court Skating Rink. Photo courtesy English Heritage. |
Ice Skating at Somerset House
Date: 2 December, 2006 - 28 January, 2007.
Venue: Hampton Court Palace, Somerset House, Tower of London, Greenwich Palace.
Tickets: £9.50, (Concessions). Book online for Hampton Court and Tower of London Ice Rinks, Somerset House Ice Rink
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Richmond for HCP. Tower Hill for Tower, Temple for S.House.
Description: The Tudor west front of Henry VIII's magnificent palace once again becomes the floodlit backdrop for one of London's spectacular open-air skating rinks this Christmas season. See also Skating in London for information on winter skating at the London's other Royal palaces.
Christmas at the Theatre
London's theatreland offers a sparkling programme of music and drama for the festive season as 37 West End theatres together with a number in outer London gear up for our patronage. As well as big production hit musicals like Evita, Chicago, We Will rock You, Monty Python's Spamalot, The Lion King, Phanton of the Opera, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Guys and Dolls, Mary Poppins and Billy Elliott, there are some very special Christmas season Ballet and traditional English Pantomime productions to tempt you to spend that extra day or two in Europe's most thrilling city. Burlington Bertie recommends the following:
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake
Date: 13 December - 21 January. Limited Season.
Venue: Sadler's Wells, Rosebury Avenue, Islington, EC1R 4NT.
Tickets: £13-£48.(Concessions). Online booking, in person at Box Office, or Tel: +44 (0)870 737 7737.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Angel.
Description: Thrilling, audacious and totally original, Matthew Bourne and his New Adventures company has transformed one of ballet's best-loved stories into a stylish contemporary tale with extravagant, award-winning designs by Lez Brotherston. Perhaps best-known for replacing the traditional female corps de ballet with a menacing male ensemble, Matthew Bourne blends ballet, humour and spectacle to create a provocative and powerful Swan Lake for our times. After its 1995 world premiere, Swan Lake went on to become the longest running ballet in London's West End and on Broadway. It has toured the UK to huge acclaim and comes to Sadler's Wells after a US tour and return visit to Paris. Collecting over thirty international theatre awards including three Tony's, Swan Lake has been acclaimed as a landmark achievement on the international stage. Watch this sample video clip.
Alice in Wonderland: English National Ballet
Date: 28 December, 2006 - 7 January, 2007. Limited Season.
Venue: London Coliseum, St. Martin's Lane, WC2N 4ES
Tickets: £10-£55. Online booking
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Charing Cross, Leicester Square.
Description: The magic of Lewis Carroll's engaging story is sensationally brought to life in this acclaimed touring production by English National Ballet. With the imaginative choreography, fabulous designs, breathtaking illusions and a superb Tchaikovsky score, the magic and mystery of this classic children's book are superbly translated from the page to the stage to create a perfect family Christmas entertainment.
Joanne Clarke as the Peacock Lady in The Nutcracker. Photo: Patrick Baldwin |
The Nutcracker: English National Ballet
Date: 8 - 24 December, 2006 Limited Season.
Venue: London Coliseum, St. Martin's Lane, WC2N 4ES
Tickets: £10-£55. Online booking
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Charing Cross, Leicester Square.
Description: The ever popular Christmas fairy tale about Clara, her Nutcracker doll and the magician Drosselmeyer, and their amazing adventures in the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of the Sweets is set to music by Tchaikovsky. It's the experience of a lifetime: witness Clara battling with a Mouse King, flying on an origami bird, dancing with snowflakes and falling in love with a handsome Prince. Choreography: Christopher Hanson; Design: Gerald Scarfe.
Peter Pan
Date: 7 December, 2006 - 14 January, 2007. Matinees 2pm. Eves 7.pm. Suns 130pm and 5.30pm. Limited Season.
Venue: New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1QG.
Tickets: £10 - £22. (Discounts). Theatre Box Office, Tel: +44 (0)870 060 6646
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Wimbledon.
Description: New Wimbledon Theatre has a proud record of traditional panto each year, and what can be more traditional than Barrie's magical fairytale of Peter Pan and his fight with the nefarious Captain Hookin Neverland! It has been staple panto fare every year for over a century since it was first performed in 1904 at the Duke of York's Theatre and remains the perfect Christmas treat for children from 5 to 85. Don't forget to shout for Tinkerbell and cheer lustily when that beastly Captain Hook gets gobbled up by the crocodile!
Cinderella
Date: From 1 December, 2006.
Venue: Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ.
Tickets: From £8. Online booking, or Theatre Box Office, Tel: +44 (0)20 8985 2424.
London Transport: Nearest Tube: Bethnall Green, then D6, 106 or 253 bus.
Description: Following Christmas season box office hits of Aladdin and Jack & the Beanstalk in 2004 and 2005 the 2 past years, the Hackney Empire is offering their biggest, most magical panto season yet for children aged 5 to 80! Directed once again by Susie McKenna. Further details will be posted on the venue website.
If you have a question, contact us and we will do our best to provide answers.
© 2006 offtolondon.com All rights reserved.
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