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THE BEST EVENTS IN LONDON IN JUNE 2017

June is a downright joyful time to be in London. The sun is officially (hopefully) out and you can enjoy some of the capital’s most famous royal events, including Trooping the Colour, as well as outdoor festivals in the sunshine.

Here at The Washington Mayfair we will be bringing you the top things to do in London during the month of June, allowing you to make the most of your visit.

 

HAMPTON COURT PALACE FESTIVAL – from 7th to 24th June 2017

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Hampton Court Palace Festival. Starting life in 1993 as a classical music event, it has gone on to host top international stars from around the globe and has become an annual fixture in the summer calendar.

Confirmed to play this year are Bryan Ferry, Van Morrison, Michael Ball & Alfie Boe, James Morrison, Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Rick Astley, Björn Again and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

Opening at 5:30pm, the East Front Gardens is the perfect place for concert goers to relax, drink and picnic before taking their seats for the evening’s entertainment.

Visit www.hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com for more information and to book your tickets now.

BP BIG SCREENS – from 7th June to 14th July 2017

Experience live opera and ballet in the centre of London with the Royal Opera House’s BP Big Screens 2017. Big screens will once again be set up in Trafalgar Square, where you can watch two operas and one ballet, while some of the shows will this year also be relayed to The Scoop, Hammersmith Lyric Square and Alexandra Palace for more chances to catch all the action. Bring a cushion and a picnic and if the weather’s looking good, arrive early. Trafalgar Square packs out fast. This season’s screenings take places on June 7, July 4 and July 14.

The Royal Ballet’s The Dream, Symphonic Variations, and Marguerite and Armand – Wednesday 7 June at Trafalgar Square and The Scoop

The Royal Opera’s La Traviata – Tuesday 4 July at Trafalgar Square and Hammersmith Lyric Square

The Royal Opera’s Turandot – Friday 14 July at Trafalgar Square, Hammersmith Lyric Square, Alexandra Palace and The Scoop

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BEATING RETREAT – from 14th June to 15th June 2017

Experience a spectacular evening pageant of music and military precision drill featuring horses, cannons and fireworks. This annual event is performed on Horse Guards Parade in front of the beautiful backdrop of St James’s Park each year on the Wednesday and Thursday evenings preceding the Queen’s Birthday Parade or “Trooping The Colour” as it is often called. Beating Retreat refers to a military drum call that can trace its origins to 17th-century England and was first used to recall nearby units to their camp for the night. Today Beating Retreat is an evening military concert with a marching display and usually marks the lowering of the Regimental flag at sunset.

Price: from £11.50 per ticket

TASTE OF LONDON – from 14th June to 18th June 2017

Join London’s top restaurants and celebrity chefs for the ultimate al fresco feast in Regent’s Park. For the occasion, the park is transformed into a foodie wonderland as 40 of London’s best restaurants gather to show off the hottest dishes from their extensive menus. Watch live cooking demonstrations, meet some of the capital’s leading chefs, participate in masterclasses and shop at more than 200 food and drink stalls.

Prices:

Adult Ticket: £17 to £30 per ticket

VIP Ticket: £52 to £70 per ticket

https://london.tastefestivals.com/

TROOPING THE COLOUR – 17th June 2017

Watch troops from the Household Division honour the Queen’s official birthday with a fantastic military parade that has taken place in London for two centuries. This impressive display of pageantry takes place on a Saturday in June by Her Majesty’s personal troops, the Household Division, on Horse Guards Parade, with Her Majesty the Queen herself attending and taking the salute. Over 1400 officers and men are on parade, together with two hundred horses.  Over four hundred musicians from ten bands and corps of drums march and play as one. The parade route extends from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and back again.

Although tickets for the seated stands on Horse Guards Parade are available to the public, the ballot for Trooping the Colour 2017 tickets is now closed. So if you don’t have tickets, you can still join the crowds of spectators along The Mall or on the edge of St James’s Park overlooking Horse Guards Parade from 9am to catch all the action. http://www.householddivision.org.uk/trooping-the-colour

ROYAL ASCOT – from 20th June to 24th June 2017

Experience the world-famous race meeting and one of the most fashionable events in London’s sporting calendar at Royal Ascot. Founded by Queen Anne in 1711 and steeped in tradition, heritage and pageantry, Royal Ascot is attended by members of the Royal Family, including the Queen herself.  Royal Ascot also features a daily horse-drawn procession from Windsor Castle to Ascot Racecourse led by the royal carriage.

https://www.ascot.co.uk/

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WEST END LIVE – from 24th June to 25th June 2017

Thousands of people gather in Trafalgar Square to enjoy performances from top West End shows for free. Last year’s line-up included The Lion King, The Bodyguard, Matilda The Musical, The Phantom Of The Opera, STOMP, Jersey Boys, Impossible and Breakfast At Tiffany’s, and starred Beverley Knight, Tom Chambers, Kerry Ellis, Matt Cardle, Pixie Lott and many more famous faces.

This free event is hugely popular and there is limited space, so be sure to get there early to secure a space.

BRITISH SUMMER TIME – from 30th June to 9th July 2017

Barclaycard presents British Summer Time Hyde Park which brings you 10 days of music & entertainment, with legendary headliners & support from today’s rising stars.

Headlining the two weekends of live music in the iconic Royal Park are Green Day, Phil Collins, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Killers, Kings of Leon and Justin Bieber.

http://www.bst-hydepark.com/tickets

THE BEST EVENTS IN LONDON IN MAY 2017

Hooray for our beautiful British weather! Whilst you will need a light coat and brolly; the month of May is blissful and its tie to venture out and discover London’s great outdoors. Enjoy the City’s hustle and bustle glory that has to offer and queue up to offers: new exhibitions, magical concerts, open air festivals, sports events and cultural happenings to name a few! A must to look forward to. Here’s our personal picks of favourite upcoming events….so stress not and drag yourself outside. Grab an early-summer ice cream and start maxing out on your potential in having lots of fun in London.

GIACOMETTI AT TATE MODERN – from 10th May to 10th September 2017
For the first time in 20 years, the UK will play host to one of its major retrospective works of Alberto Giacometti. This exhibition reasserts Giacometti’s place alongside the likes of Matisse, Picasso and Degas as one of the great painter-sculptors of the twentieth century. Through unparalleled access to the extraordinary collection and archive of the Fondation Alberto et Annette Giacometti, Paris, Tate Modern’s ambitious and wide-ranging exhibition brings together over 250 works. It includes rarely seen plasters and drawings which have never been exhibited before and now showcases the full evolution of Giacometti’s career across five decades.

Prices:
Adult £18.50 (without donation £16.80)
Senior (over 60) £17.50 (without donation £15.80)
Concession £16.50 (without donation £15)
Under 12s FREE (up to four per family adult)
Family tickets available (two adults and two children 12–18 years) by telephone or in the gallery

For further information or to book your tickets, visit the official website 

THE PINK FLOYD EXHIBITION: THEIR MORTAL REMAINS – from 13th May to 1st October 2017
To mark 50 years since the band released their first single Arnold Layne, and with over 200 million record sales later, London’s Victoria and Albert Museum has announced the first major international retrospective of Pink Floyd, one of the world’s most pioneering and influential bands. Re-trace the history of one of the world’s greatest UK bands with Pink Floyd’s first international retrospective. It will feature more than 350 objects and artefacts including never-before-seen material, presented alongside the works from the V&A’s outstanding collections of art, design, architecture and performance. Highlights will also include spectacular set and construction pieces from some of Pink Floyd’s most innovative and legendary album covers and stage performances including The Dark Side of the Moon, The Wall and The Division Bell, instruments, music technology, original designs, architectural drawings, handwritten lyrics and psychedelic prints and posters.

Prices:
Monday-Friday £20
Saturday-Sunday £24

For further information or to book your tickets, visit the official website.

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MUSEUMS AT NIGHT – from 17th May to 20th May 2017
Explore art, history and heritage after dark with Museums at Night events across more than 30 venues in London. Discover new exhibitions, take torch lit tours, enjoy live music in historic surroundings, and engage in a range of free and ticketed night-time activities. May events

REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE 2017 – from 19th to 23rd September 2017
Established in 1932, the award winning Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is one of the largest theatres in London. Situated in the beautiful surroundings of this Royal Park. Both the stage and auditorium are entirely uncovered. Catch a spectacular programme of theatre under summer skies in the centre of the Royal Park, programme including Jesus Christ Superstar and Oliver Twist. Want more entertainment then have a few laughs with live comedy shows, movie screenings and much more.

For further information or to book your tickets, visit the official website

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LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S ANNUAL OPEN AIR CLASSICS CONCERT – 21st May 2017
The London Symphony Orchestra’s free annual Open Air concert in Trafalgar Square is now in its fourth year. For Sunday 17 May’s concert, the orchestra performs an all-Shostakovich programme with their principal conductor Valery Gergiev and violin soloist Nicola Benedetti.
The concert begins at 6.30pm, but make sure to arrive much earlier to secure a space. Large screens and sound systems will be in place to ensure everyone in the square can fully enjoy the experience.

RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW – from 23rd to 27th May 2017
RHS Chelsea Flower Show is the world’s most prestigious flower show that inspires millions through showcasing the best in garden design. Chelsea Flower Show, hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society, is a must-see for green fingered visitors. World-renowned garden designers, plant specialists, florists and nurseries come together every year to one of London’s most charming and affluent neighbourhoods to show off cutting-edge garden designs and inspirational floral exhibits. Discover rare flowers and plants. Spot emerging gardening trends. See creative floral artworks and unusual displays. And browse the horticultural products on sale, from gardening gadgets to sculptures and plants.
More information about exhibitors and show gardens will be released nearer the time, good news is that the tickets are already available to buy via RHS website.

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FOOTBALL: FA CUP FINAL IN LONDON – 27th May 2017
The FA Cup is English Football’s biggest competition. The FA Cup Final, played at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium, brings the nation to a standstill and attracts millions of viewers from around the globe to experience these incredible competitions. . If you’re lucky enough to get tickets to the event, you’re in for a real treat – watching a moment of English football history from the stands at the iconic Wembley Stadium.

SUMMER OF LOVE AT SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE – until 15th October 2017
Enjoy a Summer of Love at Shakespeare’s Globe, the most enchanting theatre staging in London with a line-up of Shakespeare’s greatest romantic plays, comedies and tragedies.
Performing in the Globe Theatre:
Romeo and Juliet (22 April – 9 July)
Nell Gwynn (2 – 13 May)
Twelfth Night (18 May – 5 August)
Tristan & Yseult (13-24 June)
Much Ado About Nothing (14 July – 15 October)
King Lear (10 August – 14 October)
Boudica (8 September – 1 October)
Midnight Matinees (9 June – 30 June and 22 September)
Prices:
Standing Ticket: from £5 per ticket
Seated Ticket: from £20 per ticket
To view the full season and find out more about the productions, visit the website.

BRIXTON BEACH – from 26th May to 29th October 2017
No plans for summer? Fear not…get yourself down to Brixton because Brixton Beach is back! Housed on a rooftop in the heart of Brixton Market, this colourful paradise is set to be the ultimate urban beach, feeding and watering hundreds of Londoners. Miami circa 1982 is the inspiration and cocktails, DJs, retro film screenings, food stalls and live sports broadcasts are all on the cards, so slick back that hair, pull on a white tuxedo and hope for some suitably tropical weather. Brixton Beach website