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Ice Skating in London

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 15:44:11 +0000

There are lots of ice skating rinks around London this year. A few years back it seemed there were just a few, but there are now now fewer than 11 in or around London!

The rinks this year are the Broadgate Ice Rink, which actually is around for 6 months or more, the Natural History Museum rink, Canary Wharf, Somerset House, Tower of London, Kew Gardens, Royal Windsor Hampton Court Palace, Greenwich, Hampstead Heath, and Forty Hall.
They are listed in full here at visitlondon.com. Costs range between about Â£5 to Â£12.50. Just be careful not to break anything!

The Olive Garden, Southfields

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 12:27:31 +0000

This is a small but atmospheric Italian eatery just down the road from Southfield’s centre (and the tube station).

The menu consists of primarily pizza and pasta, and neither dissapoint. The pizzas especially are fantastic, packed with flavour and huge! The only complaint about the pizza is the fact that the middle tends to go soggy, but that happens with most pizzas of this kind.

Reasonably priced, a pizza costs about Â£7-9, with pasta similar. Beers are around Â£3, and wine at about the normal price.

If you want to check it out on a weekend, I’d recommend booking. In fact, I was there recently on a Tuesday night, and only the fact we arrived fairly late meant we got a table!

Location: 42 Replingham Road, London, SW18 5LR Map
Telephone: 0871 0750914
Cuisine: Italian
Average price: Â£15 each

Douglas Gordon: Self Portraits Of You + Me (Bond Girls)

Sun, 22 Oct 2006 09:40:02 +0000

If you are looking for something different to do over the next few weeks, it might be worth checking out this bizzare and somewhat macabre exhibition.

Douglas Gordon has taken images of Bond girls, who starred in 007’s films over the last 40 years, and mutilated them in a sometimes gruesome manner.

The great thing about Gordon’s work is that although he has ripped and burned holes in the beautiful women’s faces, you can mostly instantly recognise who it is, and the shots are so famous, even which shot it is.

Take Shirley Eaton’s golden features shown here, from Goldfinger. Your eyes straight away recognise that it’s her, from that film … but then you see the eyes, the mouth and suddenly she looks like something from a horror film.

A must see in my opinion!

Location: Gagosian Gallery
Dates: October 9 - November 18
Times: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm
Prices: Free!

Little Britain Live

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 13:15:27 +0000

If you are visiting London, you may not have heard of the show Little Britain. But that shouldn’t stop you checking out their awesome show!

Their show is a reflection of the surreal and twisted TV show, and they play everyone’s favourite characters including Vicky Pollard, Bubbles and Daffyd Thomas.

Expect to see lots of camp prancing around - one of their staples for generating laughs. But it’s a great night out and definitely worth the money.

The location varies between the Hammersmith Apollo and Brixton Academy, and tickets are selling out fast. So get them if you want them!

Location: Varies - several London locations over coming months
Dates: October 3 - December 12
Times: Monday to Saturday, 8pm
Tickets: Buy here, Â£23.50-Â£27.50

Anish Kapoor Exhibition

Sat, 14 Oct 2006 14:31:24 +0000

Anish Kapoor is considered one of the most influential artists of his generation, and won the Turner Prize in 1991.

His exhibition at the Lisson Gallery in London includes seven sculptures, all large scale pieces that make a daunting presence when viewed. You will be drawn into the piece with its variations between texture and void.

One of the pieces on display, Blood Relations, was a collaboration between Kupoor and author Salman Rushdie. It is the first piece Kupoor has ever created that includes text.

Location: Lisson Gallery
Dates: October 13 - November 18
Times: Monday-Friday, 10am â€“ 6pm. Saturday, 11am â€“ 5pm
Prices: Free!

October gig-guide

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 17:18:26 +0000

A fairly busy month for good live music in October! Here’s what is coming up:

Wednesday Oct 11: Hot Chip

Tuesday Oct 17: The Kooks

Sunday Oct 22: The New York Dolls

Monday & Tuesday Oct 23-24: Ray Davies

Wedneday Oct 25: Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly

Tuesday Oct 31: Byrd Roger McGuinn

For more information about any of the above, check out See Tickets or TicketMaster

Ideal Home Show, Earl’s Court

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:30:29 +0000

This month sees the return of the Ideal Home Show to Earl’s Court. Whether you want to be inspired, do some shopping or just kill time, this Ideal Home Show is the place to do it.

The show is divided into a variety of areas, and you’ll need a fair amount of time to cover them all! You’ve got Gifts and Pampering, Live Demonstrations, Interior Design, and more.

Location: Earl’s Court
Dates: October 6-15
Times: Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 10am â€“ 7pm. Wednesday - Thursday, 10am â€“ 10pm. Saturday and Sunday, 10am â€“ 8pm
Tickets: Buy here, Â£7 - Â£10

Diwali on the Square 2006

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 20:34:19 +0000

Join thousands of people on Trafalgsr Square this Sunday to help celebrate Diwali.

The annual celebration starts at 4pm with prayers for peace, and is followed by a wide variety of music and dance performances. Comperes include presenters from Sunrise Radio and Bina Ministry for DIL.

It’s totally free to attend, and all are welcome. Sounds like a fun event for all the family!

Location: Trafalgar Square

Date: Sunday, October 15

Time: 4-8pm

Shaolin Monks Kung-Fu Masters Live

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 20:30:37 +0000

The amazing demonstration of strength and skill that the Shaolin Monks give at this show is breathtaking. The show features 25 real, ordained, monks with extraordinary capabilities.
You’ll see them break iron bars with their heads, bend spears with thier naked throats, flip, fly and spin through the air, and splinter wooden staves with their bodies.
The monks have travelled all the way from the birthplace of Kung-Fu, the Shaolin Temple in China.

Location: The Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, WC2

Dates: October 4-29

Showtimes: Tuesday - Saturday at 7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3pm

Tickets: Buy here, Â£13 - Â£36

Tate Twisters!

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 17:16:41 +0000

Fancy hurtling down a steel slide at 30mph, twisting and turning on the way? You do? Well head over to the Tate Modern, home of all things modern art.

The slides are the brainchild of German installation artist Carsten Holler, who (justifiably?) believes the slide to be an essential mode of human transport. He would love to see slides between shopping centres, tube stations, and connecting MPs with the House of Commons. Mad? Perhaps. But take advantage - these things are fun!

The largest slide is 55.5 metres long and drops 27 metres.

Holler said: “Going down can be like being under the influence of a drug, a thrilling experience, but it is also a fast and efficient way of getting from A to B. It’s a playground for the body and the brain. It’s art and it’s not art.”

Location: Tate Modern
Date: October 10, 2006 - April 9, 2007
Price: Free!