London events calendar 2023

London has so much happening all year round, and the capital’s events calendar is always busy.

Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race

Cheer on the rowers on the river Thames at the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, one of the world’s oldest sporting events. The Boat Race runs between Putney and Mortlake, and spectators line the banks of the river for this popular event. 26 Mar

London Games Festival

Get your game on at the London Games Festival, one of the biggest events of its kind in the world. Jump into the festival’s hands-on activities and check out the latest in the culture and business of the games world. 29 Mar-8 Apr

Find more March events in London

April

London Borough of Culture

Pick from a huge list of activities taking place in Croydon during the full-year programme for The Mayor’s London Borough of Culture 2023. Enjoy a fantastic lineup of flagship events, including storytelling, live music and performances around this south London neighbourhood. 1 Apr-31 Mar

Easter

Spend the long Easter weekend in London enjoying egg hunts, themed attractions, Easter-specific performances or a Sunday lunch. Good Friday and Easter Monday are bank holidays in the UK. 7-10 Apr

The Passion of Jesus at Trafalgar Square

Watch a biblical story performed by 100 actors at the annual staging of The Passion of Jesus in Trafalgar Square, which takes place on Good Friday. The two 90-minute performances are free and attract thousands of visitors to witness the scene in central London. 7 Apr 

London Marathon

Run, walk or cheer on participants from the sidelines during the London Marathon. Join thousands of runners and spectators on the streets of the capital at this annual event that’s a sporting institution in London. 23 April

Eid Festival in Trafalgar Square

Join in the celebrations at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at the Eid Festival in Trafalgar Square. Taste food from various stalls, see displays of work by Muslim artists and watch live music on the main stage. 29 Apr

Vaisakhi Festival in Trafalgar Square

Mark the start of the Sikh New Year with live music, art displays, family activities and crafts at the Vaisakhi Festival in Trafalgar Square. The festival marks the day in 1699 that Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa order, and the events are open to all. Apr TBC

Find more April events in London

May

Early May bank holiday

Check out what’s happening around London during the long early May bank holiday weekend. © Visit Greenwich.

Take an extra day to explore all that London has to offer during the early May bank holiday weekend which occurs on the first Monday of May. Book in to enjoy a theatre performance, a museum exhibition or family-friendly activities. 29 Apr-1 May

League of Legends, Mid-Season Invitational 2023

Join some of the best players from all over the world as they take centre stage in London for the League of Legends, Mid-Season Invitational 2023 and see who makes it through to the playoffs. 2-21 May

King Charles III’s coronation

Take time to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, as the historic occasion is marked with a bank holiday across the UK. Make the most of the long weekend by joining in with official events, visiting top royal attractions and soaking up the jubilant atmosphere across the capital. 6-8 May

Chelsea Flower Show

Admire the beautiful flowers, clever garden designs and amazing floral displays at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. Walk through the bloom-filled grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea to see the space transformed in a colourful spring burst. 23-27 May

May half-term

Enjoy a day out with the whole family for the May half-term school break. © Visit Greenwich.

Find activities for the whole family during the May half-term. Enjoy a full week of spring fun and interactive events at London’s top attractions and outdoor parks and playgrounds. 26 May-4 Jun

Spring bank holiday weekend

Check out London’s best museums and galleries during the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. © Science Museum Group.

Soak up the sun during the spring bank holiday weekend in London which occurs on the last Monday of the month. Meet up with friends at one of London’s parks, shop for a summer wardrobe at one of the capital’s best department stores or visit a top London attraction. 26-29 May

Find more May events in London

June

London Gallery Weekend

Discover new galleries and art across the capital during London Gallery Weekend, a three-day programme of talks, exciting activities for families and other special events. 2-4 Jun

Open Garden Squares Weekend

Discover hidden green spaces, peaceful spots and gardens of celebrities that are accessible to the public for just one weekend during Open Garden Squares Weekend. 10-11 Jun 

Trooping the Colour

Trooping the Colour © Shutterstock

Celebrate the monarch’s official birthday with pomp and pageantry during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade. Hundreds of officers, horses and musicians in ceremonial uniforms and the King attend this important event. Look out for the advance online ballot to try to secure seated tickets. 17 Jun

West End LIVE

See the best of London’s West End musicals and theatre for free during West End LIVE in Trafalgar Square. Theatre fans head to the square for sing-alongs to favourite musicals and must-see new shows. 17-18 Jun

Father’s Day

Take dad out for a day out around town for Father’s Day in London. Head to the theatre, a sporting event or one of London’s big-name attractions, or enjoy a quiet stroll through a park or Kew Gardens. 18 Jun

MLB World Tour: London Series

Immerse yourself in American culture as Major League Baseball returns to London at the London Stadium. Experience the rivalry between the St Louis. Cardinals and Chicago Cubs, as well as live music, in-game entertainment and delicious ballpark food. 24-25 Jun

Taste of London

Experience the best of London’s incredible dining scene during the five-day Taste of London festival that takes place in Regent’s Park. Restaurants from around the capital set up stalls to show off their top dishes, and you can sample the mouthwatering selection. Jun TBC

Find more June events in London

July

Pride

Celebrate Pride on the streets of London at the annual parade. © life.of.siobhan.

Join revellers to celebrate the capital’s LGBTQ+ community with a month-long series of events that culminates in a parade through central London during Pride. Check out the full programme of events which includes theatre, film screenings, parties, art installations and activities across the capital. 1 Jul 

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships

Root for the pros at Wimbledon, one of the four annual Grand Slam tennis tournaments that take place around the world. Soak up the lively atmosphere, best enjoyed with strawberries and cream, for two weeks of tennis matches in south-west London. 3-16 Jul

Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

Enjoy the beautiful blooms of the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, one of the largest flower shows in the world, inside the stunning grounds of this historic site. See innovative show gardens and learn how to create your own piece of paradise at home. 4-9 Jul  

Buckingham Palace summer opening

For 10 weeks only each summer, tourists can see the interior of Buckingham Palace. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

Plan your trip to London to coincide with the annual Buckingham Palace summer opening and tour. Each summer, visitors can see how royalty lives by touring the rooms of one of the world’s most famous residences. 14 Jul-24 Sep

Summer school holidays 

Enjoy some family fun during the summer school holidays in London. Make the most of the break with exciting family events, theatre shows, summer festivals and top attractions for little ones and grownups alike. 20 Jul-3 Sep

BBC Proms

Experience one of the top music events in London, and the biggest classical music festival on the planet, with fun and affordable concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and across the city. Each year, the BBC Proms hosts two months of concerts over the summer, aiming to bring the finest classical music to as many people as possible at affordable prices and in an informal atmosphere. Jul-Sep TBC

Find more July events in London

August

August bank holiday weekend

Celebrate summer during the August bank holiday weekend. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

Make the most of summer during the August bank holiday weekend. London is filled with festivals, street parades, live performances and lush parks so you can enjoy the great outdoors in the city. 25-28 Aug

The Hundred

Watch big-name cricket players take the pitch during The Hundred at Kia Oval and Lord’s Cricket Ground. Each team gets 100 balls, and the team that gets the most runs wins. The matches are family-friendly and provide a great day out for all. 1-27 Aug

Greenwich+Docklands International Festival

Wonder in amazement at the art installations and performances during the Greenwich+Docklands International Festival. © Studio Roosegaarde/Greenwich+Docklands International Festival.

Catch dozens of free art installations and live performances ranging from acrobatics and dance to theatre and music at the Greenwich+Docklands International Festival. East and south-east London gets a boost of invigorating energy during this festival which stages artistic and cultural shows across these neighbourhoods. Aug TBC

Notting Hill Carnival

Party on at London’s Notting Hill Carnival in August. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

Groove to the beat at Notting Hill Carnival, Europe’s largest street festival. Enjoy sound systems, a vibrant parade full of drum bands and sparkly costumes, street food stalls and more over the August bank holiday weekend. Aug TBC 

Find more August events in London

September 

Open House London

Open House London 2016: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Image courtesy of Kritt Normsaskul @Kritt_stagram.

Explore buildings not usually open to the public during Open House London. Discover hidden secrets of the capital as you peek inside some of the most iconic buildings and architecturally unique spaces around the city for free. 6-17 Sep

London Fashion Week

Check out catwalk fashion from British and international designers as well as graduate showcase exhibitions at London Fashion Week‘s September edition. See shows of womenswear, menswear and accessories, plus talks from leading fashion companies. 15-19 Sep

London Design Festival

Watch London turn into a giant gallery during the London Design Festival, as dynamic and innovative projects pop up across the capital. Explore a range of creative installations and join events that celebrate contemporary design. 16-24 Sep

Totally Thames

Celebrate London’s biggest river at the month-long Totally Thames festival. Get to know the Thames through films, art installations, live performances and guided walks. Sep TBC

Find more September events in London

October

Black History Month

Take part in the citywide celebration of Black communities with epic events across London during Black History Month. Discover cultural events and learn about Black history in London and beyond. 1-31 Oct 

Frieze art fairs

Admire beautiful works at Frieze London and Frieze Masters, major events on the capital’s art calendar. View, browse and buy world-class art from the best international galleries in the beautiful surroundings of Regent’s Park. 11-15 Oct

October half-term

Find events and activities across London to keep the kids entertained during the October half-term school break. Check out London’s best family-friendly attractions, kid-specific museum exhibitions and children’s theatre performances. 21-29 Oct 

Halloween

Floating Pumpkin display in the Great Hall © Fever PR. Image courtesy of Fever PR.

Celebrate the spooky season in London this Halloween. Check out themed eerie attractions in the city, come face to face with London’s haunted history, and take a ghost walk or bus ride around the capital. 31 Oct

NFL London Games 

Cheer on your favourite American football team during a lineup of action-packed games as the NFL London Games return to the capital. Watch three games over the month, two of which are played at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the first purpose-built NFL stadium outside of the US. Oct TBC

Diwali in Trafalgar Square

Diwali on Trafalgar Square. Image courtesy of the Greater London Authority.

Celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, with lively stage performances and cultural activities at this free annual event in Trafalgar Square. The festival includes dance workshops, yoga and meditation sessions, and a children’s zone. Oct TBC

Find more October events in London

November

Bonfire Night

Battersea Park Fireworks. Image courtesy of Enable Leisure and Culture.

Remember remember the fifth of November with impressive fireworks displays around London for Bonfire Night. Some parks put on bonfires, funfairs and fireworks that light up the cold winter night. 5 Nov

Remembrance Day

Wear a poppy and commemorate those who lost their lives in war on Remembrance Day. Two minutes of silence are observed across the city at 11am, and a remembrance service and parade take place along Whitehall on the Sunday closest to Remembrance Day. 11-12 Nov 

Lord Mayor’s Show

Catch an elaborate parade that features dancers, horses, military marching bands and more at the Lord Mayor’s Show. Follow this 800-year-old tradition and celebrate the new Lord Mayor with a mix of modern festivities with traditional pageantry, as more than 500,000 people line the route to watch the colourful parade travel across the City of London. 11 Nov

Hogwarts in the Snow

Christmas puddings adorn the tables in the Great Hall © Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.

Get into the festive spirit with Hogwarts in the Snow, a self-guided walking tour around the iconic Harry Potter film sets at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London that are magically transformed for the winter season. 11 Nov-14 Jan 

Christmas at Kew

Christmas at Kew © RBG Kew. Image courtesy of Kew Gardens.

Be dazzled by twinkling lights on an after-dark stroll around Kew Gardens. Thousands of lights illuminate the lovely grounds with immersive displays and holiday cheer during Christmas at Kew. 15 Nov-7 Jan

Winter Wonderland

Get ready for the ultimate festive experience this Christmas at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Enjoy exciting fairground rides, take a spin on the ice skating rink and shop for gingerbread and more at the Christmas market. Nov-Jan TBC

EFG London Jazz Festival

Enjoy spectacular live performances in venues across London as the city grooves to all things jazz during the EFG London Jazz Festival. Each year, the festival plays host to 10 days of performances, bringing together new talent and world-renowned jazz figures. Nov TBC

Southall Festival of Lights

Watch as lit-up floats, joyful dancers and live performances take over the streets of Southall in west London for the Southall Festival of Lights. This Diwali-inspired night carnival travels in a parade of paper lanterns, fire performers and illuminated umbrellas. Nov TBC

Find more November events in London

December

Christmas events

Covent Garden at Christmas. © Brendan Bell. Image courtesy of Covent Garden.

Feel the capital’s festive spirit all month long during Christmas in London. See fantastic light displays, watch a seasonal performance and go ice skating at outdoor rinks at famous landmarks throughout December. 1-31 Dec 

Christmas Eve

Finish your Christmas shopping and catch a pantomime on Christmas Eve in London. Invite friends and family along for a festive lights tour, book tickets for a musical or enjoy carols at a cathedral. 24 Dec

Christmas Day

Tower Bridge in the snow on Christmas day © Robert Bye / Unsplash. Image courtesy of Robert Bye / Unsplash.

Savor the quiet of the capital by exploring London on Christmas Day. Watch the Peter Pan Cup swim in Hyde Park, before tucking into Christmas dinner at a festive pub. 25 Dec

New Year’s Eve

Say goodbye to 2023 by celebrating New Year’s Eve in London. Meet with friends for a big night out, catch a year-end theatre show or live music performance, or take a NYE cruise on the river Thames with views of the fireworks. 31 Dec

New Year’s Eve fireworks

Say goodbye to the year with a brilliant firework display on New Year’s Eve in London. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

See off the year with the spectacular London New Year’s Eve fireworks display, an event televised around the world. Listen to the clock strike midnight as Big Ben’s famous “bongs” ring out at the Houses of Parliament, followed by the UK’s biggest annual fireworks display across the river. 31 Dec

Christmas tree and carols in Trafalgar Square

Admire the famous Trafalgar Square Christmas tree sparkling with hundreds of lights, and sing along to festive carols around the tree during the countdown to Christmas. Dec TBC

House & Inspiration

Amazing Castles

 

 

Vintage / Antique Jewelry

Lacquer Box

The icon painters, who previously had been employed by supplying not only churches but people’s homes, needed a way to make a living. Thus, the craft of making papier-mâché decorative boxes and panels developed, the items were lacquered and then hand painted by the artists, often with scenes from folk tales.

 

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

CHRISTIE’S

History of Christie’s Art Auction House:

Founded in London, England on December 5, 1766 by an art evaluator named James Christie . Christie’s conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful.  Recently, it auctioned off artwork and personal possessions connected to historical figures like Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent van Gogh.
Christie’s offers over 450 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewelry, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $80 million.”

Christie’s has grown into a worldwide company that employs more than 1,800 people working in forty countries across the globe.
Christie’s employs qualified specialists in more than eighty different art fields. They give their expert advice on items of African art, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian art, Asian art, books and manuscripts, European ceramics, Impressionist and Modern art, jewelry, motor cars, photography, post-war and contemporary art, prints, silver, 20th century decorative arts; the list of different fields is inexhaustible.
Every year Christie’s conducts over 2000 estimates all over the world in a wide variety of categories. For the past several years, sales of artwork and furniture collections by Christie’s have amounted to more than three billion dollars annually.

Each month, auctions are organized by theme in salesrooms world- wide. Thanks to a sophisticated data processing system, Christie’s auctions can be monitored via internet in real time. Buyers can instantly transmit their “purchase orders” and have their works shipped to them the next day. From 1766 to the Information Age, Christie’s has been and remains an innovator in the art world.

Specializing In:

Christie’s specializes in a wide range of fine art and decorative arts such as Antiquities, Old Masters, Asian Art, Modern Art and Contemporary Art.

Christie’s Auctions Around the World:

“Christie’s has 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai and Hong Kong.”
“Christie’s also offers its clients worldwide access to its sales through Christie’s LIVE™, its unique, real-time online bidding service.”

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

VALENTINO

Sfilata memorabile di Valentino Garavani a “Donna Sotto Le Stelle” del 1995.

Desfile inolvidable de Valentino, en la Plaza de España en Roma, 1995.

(Con Eva Herzigova y Valeria Mazza, entre otras famosas modelos).

Easter Greetings!

 

 

Old Hollywood Glamour

Helmut Newton

Preview Helmut Newton’s retrospective at The Grand Palais in ParisSee a snippet of Newton’s iconic works as over 200 photographs go on display

In ode to one of fashion’s most extraordinary image makers, the Grand Palais in Paris will host an exquisite retrospective dedicated to the iconic work of German-Australian photographer Helmut Newton.

Renowned for his controversial photographs charged with erotic and provocative visions, his images explore notions of seduction, femininity and domination and have featured in the pages of French Vogue, Playboy and  Harper’s Bazaar. 

Known for paying tribute to the beauty and sexuality of his female muses, Newton’s subjects have included  Grace Jones,  Claudia Schiffer and Kate Moss.

The exhibition, open to the public  on 24 March -17 June , will showcase a collection of 200 original Helmut Newton photographs, ranging from intimate black and white Polaroids to imposing large-scale prints.

If you happen to be in Paris, visitors can expect to see an array of his most recognisable works – as well getting an exclusive glimpse at other inspiring aspects of his legendary photographic career.

This is a retrospective not to be missed – but if you can’t make it – see what you’re missing in this preview video.

Covers – The Sixties

VOGUE cover on record.

Here are some of my favourites.  I’ve picked them for a variety of reasons – the model, the photography, the colours, the stunning hats, jewellery  and the wonderful Sixties hair and make-up.

I love in all of these covers.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Photography by Irving Penn

Veruschka – February 1969

Photography by Irving Penn

Wilhelmina – March 1965

Photography by Irving Penn

Veruschka – March 1965

Photography by Irving Penn

Wilhelmina – April 1965

Photography by Irving Penn

Marisa Berenson – October 1965

Photography by Bert Stern

Brigitte Bauer – November 1965

Photography by Irving Penn

Wilhelmina – December 1965

Photography by Irving Penn

Celia Hammond – January 1966

Photography by Richard Avedon

Veruschka – November 1966

Photography by Bert Stern

Lauren Hutton – November 1966

Photography by Irving Penn

Evelyn Kuhn – December 1966

Photography by Irving Penn

Samantha Jones – March 1967

Photography by Irving Penn

Lauren Hutton – March 1967

Photography by Richard Avedon

Twiggy – July 1967

Photography by David Bailey

Mia Farrow – August 1967

Photography by Penati

Lauren Hutton – January 1968

 

Photography by Duffy

Jean Shrimpton – January 1965

Photography by David Bailey

Jean Shrimpton – June 1965

Photography by David Bailey

Sophia Loren – July 1965

Photography by Norman Parkinson

Marika Greene – September 1965

Photography by David Bailey

Elsa Martinelli – December 1965

Photography by David Bailey

Sue Murray – April 1966

Photography by Duffy

Ursula Andress – April 1966

Photography by David Bailey

Britt Ekland – June 1966

Photography by David Bailey

Donna Mitchell – October 1966

Photography by David Bailey

Celia Hammond – December 1966

Photography by Traeger

Celia Hammond – September 1967

Photography by Traeger

Celia Hammond – October 1967

Photography by David Bailey

Candice Bergen – December 1967

Photography by Just Jaeckin

Celia Hammond – April 1968

Photography by Jerry Schatzberg

Faye Dunaway – May 1968

Photography by David Bailey

Gayle Hunnicut – June 1968

Photography by David Bailey

Maudie James – September 1968

Photography by David Bailey

Celia Hammond – October 1968

Photography by Barry Lategan

Lesley Jones – October 1968

Photography by Barry Lategan

Lesley Jones – December 1968

Photography by Barry Lategan

Maudie James – April 1969

Photography by David Bailey

Pattie Boyd – August 1969

Photography by Barry Lategan

Britt Ekland – September 1969

Photography by Barry Lategan

Pattie Boyd – October 1969

Photography by Barry Lategan

Pattie Boyd – December 1969

Photography by John Chan

I want to thank

All images from The Conde Nast Archive.  

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Ceramics

A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous (e.g., a glass). Because most common ceramics are crystalline, the definition of ceramic is often restricted to inorganic crystalline materials, as opposed to the noncrystalline glasses.

The earliest ceramics were pottery objects or 27,000 year old figurines made from clay, either by itself or mixed with other materials, hardened in fire. Later ceramics were glazed and fired to create a colored, smooth surface. Ceramics now include domestic, industrial and building products and art objects. In the 20th century, new ceramic materials were developed for use in advanced ceramic engineering; for example, in semiconductors.