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FOCUS Favourites November 2018




The days have turned shorter and it is getting dark by 5pm. Fortunately the holiday season is fast approaching and the streets will soon be sparkly with garland of lights.

Guy Fawks bonfire and fireworks night is a very British tradition that originated in 1600s after the failed coup when Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators attempted to kill King James I and the Members of Parliament and to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Find events near you here.

4 - 25 November

The Royal Opera House opens its doors in November with an wonderful new festival program at just £5 per person. Every Sunday the audience is welcome with an unique range of daytime events and activities for all ages. Participate in one of the upcycling craft workshops and watch demonstrations from the Royal Opera House’s backstage creative teams, learning theatre-craft skills including wig-making and make-up artistry. Discover new moves in a dance class; sing memorable tunes from opera classics or enjoy a performance by artists from The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera. Each Sunday has a morning and an afternoon session and last about 2 and a half hours. Plenty of time to take a guided tour or make something to take home with you.


1 November 2018 – 28 July 2019

Room to Breathe is an immersive experience inviting you to discover stories from generations of new arrivals to Britain. Journey through a series of rooms filled with personal narratives and objects that bring to life the struggles, joys, creativity and resilience of living in a new land. It will serve as a setting for a series of residencies by migrant artists, who will be invited to use one part of the exhibition space as their studio. Each artist will host a series of workshops during their residency, and works created by all of our artists in residence will be displayed as part of a final group exhibition in summer 2019.





2 November

Ultimate Boxxer is a new, shorter fighting format, supported by former world champions Ricky Hatton, Anthony Crolla and Paulie Malignaggi, in which boxers compete in one night-elimination tournaments. The Ultimate Boxxer debut was in April at the Manchester Arena. Ultimate Boxxer II comes to London and takes place at the O2 Arena. It is a Prizefighter style format where eight professional light heavyweight boxers compete in 3x3 minute round quarter final. DJ Charlie Sloth returns to entertain the London audience.

restaurant: Temakinho

Temakinho London is placed in the heart of Soho on Old Compton Street. This eatery combines Japanese with Brazilian cuisines. Set in the trendy area, the food perfectly fits this trendy and stylish atmosphere also. The menu ranges from poke bowls to crispy spring roll-style maki, ceviche and salmon tartar. A memorable dish is the Rio Bananal which contains breaded salmon and banana, a perfect blend of the two cultures. Not only this but their cocktails taste like they come directly from Rio itself, completely the eccentric atmosphere.

theatre: Seussical

22 November - 29 December

Based on the fantastic and colourful stories of Dr. Seuss the high-energy musical returns to London. Join the mischievous Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, and a host of other much-loved characters on a magical, madcap adventure from the Jungle of Nool, to the Circus McGurkus, to the tiniest planet in the sky, Whoville. Since its first production, it has featured songs such as "A Day for the Cat in the Hat", "Horton Sits on the Egg", "The Grinch Carved the Roast Beast" and "Here on Who". This new production, from family theatre specialists Immersion Theatre, will be directed by James Tobias, with choreography by Chris Whittaker. Perfect for a fun evening with the whole family.

31 December

Book it today! Only few tickets left.

Don’t wait to book tickets if you want to see the Mayor’s spectacular Fireworks to celebrate the start of 2019. Taking place along the River Thames the best firework viewing locations are sectioned off and made only available to those with tickets. Watched by half a million people, is is now ticketing for 100,000 in order to prevent overcrowding. Tickets are £10 each and you can book up to 4 per person. If you don't get a ticket you can watch it on TV.

Pandolin London is one of few galleries in the city focused on sculptures. On Tuesday, 6th November Pandolin London presents an exhibition with Bryan Kneale, the first abstract sculptor to be elected Royal Academician in 1974. Beside of rotating exhibitions in the main foyer of Kings Place, the gallery has a permanent fantastic sculpture trail. 26 sculptures by modern contemporary artists are placed within the building and canalside at Kings Place next to Kings Cross. The Sculpture trail includes large scale works by a host of artists and is one of the UK’s most dynamic Sculpture Trails.

16 - 25 November

London’s finest Jazz festival is filled with concerts, events, gigs and performances across the city. You can expect to see the full range of new talents and world class musicians from around the world, coming together in London for 10 days. Serious, one of the UK’s leading producers and curators of live jazz aims to bring together the electrifying world of jazz. To mention only Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, the Gipsy Kings, Wayne Shorter, Joe Pass and Robert Glasper or composers such as George Russell, Carla Bley, Gerald Wilson and Randy Weston who have composed pieces specifically for the festival. There is a Festival Guide, where you can download the Listing in Full and take a look at the events in more than 60 venues.

2 November

Amadeus, the most acclaimed film ever made about classical music, returns this autumn to the Royal Albert Hall. Directed by Milos Forman and written by Sir Peter Shaffer, the film was named one of the American Film Institute’s best 100 movies of the century with winner of eight Academy Awards, four BAFTA’s and four Golden Globes and tells the story of the rivalry between composer Antonio Salieri and genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The unmissable screening of the film will feature live music performed by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.



20 - 29 November

The Royal Ballet revives two contrasting works from Wayne McGregor and George Balanchine to frame the world premiere by Alastair Marriott. Marriott’s new production is for the centenary of the ending of World War I. The story is about a young girl who met a man just before he went away for war. Wayne McGregor’s abstract ballet Infra is a moving exploration of emotions, set to max Richter’s melancholic score and George Balanchine's dazzling Symphony in C, a stunning showpiece for the whole family at the Royal Opera House in London.

Not to be missed I: Christmas Lights

November 2018 - January 2019

November in London is the month when the city’s Christmas lights start to illuminate. There is something magical when London gets its usual Christmas makeover and the streets starts to become sparkly with garland of lights and tiny lightbulbs are glowing in the evening. You don’t want to miss it when all will be merry and bright.


Oxford Street: (6/11-18/1) Tuesday, 6th November is the day when the Christmas Lights over London’s busiest shopping street will be turned on. It’s the 59th year the road has been decorated and the switch on is expected to attract over one million Christmas lovers.

Regent Street: (15/11-5/1) John Nash’s famous shopping street goes traffic-free for the official turning on of the lights on 15th November between 5.30 and 6.30 pm. James Glancy Design, inspired by the original lights display back in 1954 features over 300,000 twinkling lights, making it the biggest display in the capital.

Carnaby Street: (8/11-5/1) This year’s lights at Carnaby street have a ‘Queen’ theme to mark the release of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Freddie Mercury’s lyrics will shine bright in giant colourful neon over the street. Mark the 8th November to join the party.

Covent Garden: (13/11-2/1) Christmas at Covent Garden starts on Tuesday, 13th November. 40 Chandeliers with almost 700 glistering berries, 320 metres of garlands with 100,000 pea lights, a magnificent reindeer statue and London's biggest Christmas tree turn Covent Garden to London’s most magical areas at Christmas.

Kew Gardens: (22/11-5/1) Christmas at Kew brings illuminations to light up the buildings and plants. See the garden light up for an unforgettable after-dark festive trail of lights on Thursday, 22nd November.


There are more wonderful places in London where you can see the Christmas lights switched on. Check the local newspaper.

Marylebone Village Christmas lights (14/11)

Northbank Christmas lights (14/11)

Seven Dials Christmas lights (15/11)

Royal Exchange Christmas lights (21/11)

Sloan Square, Chelsea Christmas lights (17/11)

The Shard Christmas lights (3/12)




Not to be missed II: Bonfire Night in London

2 - 5 November


Bonfire Night, also known as Fireworks' Night or Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated each year with bonfires and fireworks in London. It's a British tradition dating back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Catholic conspirator Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James I.

Parks across London have spectacular bonfires and fireworks display, here are some suggestions. Please note the different dates on their website and that many of them require tickets.


Battersea Park: the park is illuminated with a huge bonfire and a spectacular fireworks display. Tuck into food and drink from the various stalls or enjoy the family activities. Gates open at 6pm and the Bonfire will be lit at 7:30pm.

Crystal Palace: Gates open at 6pm. The 7pm show will be a magical display with fewer bangs for the younger audience. This will be followed by a spectacular light show. The main family fireworks display including choreographed lights will take place at 8.30pm.

Alexandra Palace: The huge display over north London also features a German beer festival and a burning fire parade. See impressive fireworks exploding with a glittering panoramic view of London as its backdrop while munching on street food and drinking craft beer. There is a family specific area, too.
Blackheath: one of the largest Bonfire Night events in London; and what’s more it’s free - leaving you plenty of change to indulge in some seasonal treats. Saturday 3rd November at 8pm. Visitors to the event can also enjoy a funfair from 12 noon and a wide variety of food stalls and bars from 5pm.
Victoria Park: A simple affair but free and full of family fun and locals, the Victoria Park fireworks display begins at 7pm. Arrive early and keep warm with some mulled wine from one of the food and drinks stalls in the park.
Wimbledon and Morden Park: Two of London's most popular fireworks displays: 3rd November Morden Park, 5th November Wimbledon Park. There will be two musical, themed performances at each venue - The first at 6.45pm, more suitable for young children a followed by a second show at 8.30pm.







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