June FOCUS Favourites
June is the month of the Summer Solstice in the Northen Hemisphere, which means we will have the longest day of the year on 21st June.
Father's Day is celebrated in the UK on Sunday 16th June, together with many other countries around the globe.
The United Nations proclaimed 21st June as the International Day of Yoga and in the UK we also celebrate Bring your Dog to Work Day.
More is happening in London and the UK, and here are some suggestions:
theatre: Our town
16 May - 8 June
Our Town comes to Regent’s Park open air Theatre this summer. It is a three-act play by the American playwrite Thornton Wilder which tells the story of the inhabitants of Grover’s Corner, a fictional American small town, between 1901 and 1913. Our Town was first performed in 1938, went on to success on Broadway and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. But it's timeless themes make it just as relevant today. The novel follows the relationship of a young couple. Birth - Marriage - Death. And in between. What happens in our lives? What is important? Our Town is a moving celebration of what it means to be human.
sport: Chestertons Polo in the Park
7-9 June
This June, the three day sporting spectacle returns to the hallowed grounds of Burlington Park for its tenth birthday. From Friday 7th June to Sunday 9th June, teams from across the world compete in one of Europe's largest and most popular polo tournaments. Restaurants, bars and boutiques are open from midday. There's music, plenty of food and drink, and even the chance to indulge in a cheeky shopping spree. Three games of ‘city polo’ will take place with the home team ‘London’ competing in late afternoon. Enjoy access to the Grandstand to watch the pinnacle of professional polo from 7pm, as the Flannels England polo team compete against ICM.com Team Australia in order to win the historic Olympic Trophy. Be part of one of the most exciting weekends in the European polo calendar for as little as £15 and an unmissable summer celebration.
not to be missed: Trooping the colour
8 June
See the magnificent Trooping the Colour ceremony on the Horse Guards Parade on June 8th. With Her Majesty the Queen taking the salute, this traditional, impressive ceremony full of military pomp and pageantry marks the Queen’s official birthday. It is the highlight of the great spectacles in the royal calendar with over 1400 officers and men, two hundred horses and over four hundred musicians from ten bands. The Queen rides in a carriage from Buckingham Palace along the Mall to Horse Guards Parade and back, accompanied by a Sovereign's escort from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
Back at the palace, the Queen takes the salute, and guns are fired in Green Park and at the Tower of London. Finally, she joins other members of the Royal Family on the palace balcony to watch the Royal Air Force flypast.
The best place to watch the Trooping of Colour is from The Mall or on the edge of St. James Park overlooking the Horse Guards from 9am. There is also ticketed seating for £40.00 which has to be applied for in advance.
children: Open Garden Square Weekend
8-9 June
Take the children and discover London’s hidden green spaces and secret gardens the first weekend in June. Various green spaces in London across 27 boroughs open their gates for the public enjoyment. A lot of gardens and roof terraces belong to historic buildings, schools, shops, private houses and are usually closed to the public. Have fun and find out what is behind the secret doors. New to the Open Garden Square Weekend are a handful of ’star’ community gardens, which showcase how we can all work together to create unusual local green spaces. Check the website for walking and cycling tours, family activities, art trails and much more.
festival: London Seafood Festival
12-16 June
London Seafood Festival once again makes a splash at Battersea Power Station this summer, offering culinary delights, masterclasses, chef collaborations and new exciting pop-ups suitable for all the family.
The five-day-long seafood fun festival will take place on the banks of the River Thames, under the view of one of London’s most iconically beautiful pieces of architecture. Some of the leading seafood specialists in London like Vivek Singh and Asma Khan will offer special menus and ticketed dinners. Wright Brothers are donating fresh oysters. You can get a plate of three in exchange for a small donation to Action Against Hunger or BPS Foundation. The festival will also host live music, street food stalls and live cooking demonstrations.
14-16 June
Heritage Live is returning to Kennwood House with some amazing live performances by world-class artists. This year, the first concert of the weekend is held by the music group The Piano Guys, who have amassed a staggering 3 billion audio and video streams worldwide and are very well known for their music videos at the most magnificent locations in the world like The Great wall of China, Chichen Itza and Iguazu Falls.
Madness, a group of local North London boys who played their first show in the Borough of Camden in 1979, continue on Saturday with a special show celebration their 40th anniversary. (Madness XL is playing in Northampton at Franklin's Gardens, June 28) Staged next to the lake and with a captivating view of the magnificent Kenwood house, Jose Carreras will perform on Sunday with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, which will be conducted by David Gimenez. The concert is part of Carreras’ farewell tour and will be his musical farewell to the UK capital.
Please make sure to look at the website for general information
dance: Somnium. A Dancer’s Dream
20-22 June
A new explosive dance show is coming to Sadler’s Well in June this summer. Somnium: A Dancer’s dream, directed and choreographed by Neil Jones tells the story of a British boy and a Russian girl who fell in love and became World Champion dancers. Starring dance professionals Neil and Katya Jones and World Latin show dance Champions, the show features masterful storytelling and incredible Latin and ballroom dance. Real life couple Neil and Katya Jones are both British and currently dance on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing. Don’t miss this magnificent guest event, that will make your night unforgettable.
art: London Art Week
27 June - 3 July
London Art Week is a twice-yearly event, offering the best of pre-contemporary art in London's traditional fine art district. LAW Summer 2019 series of exhibitions and art events takes place at galleries around St.James’s and Mayfair, from 27 June to 5 July .From Ancient sculptures to Old Master drawings and post-Impressionist paintings, London Art Week offers visitor the luxury of discovering masterpieces within beautiful gallery spaces, all situated within walking distance. With 50 exhibitors, 13 of which are attending from Europe and the US, this is the biggest London Art Week so far with galleries and auction houses staging exhibitions spanning 5,000 years of art. FOCUS Members will have the opportunity to register for an exclusive evening tour of London Art Week's Mayfair galleries.
27 June - 3 July
Set within the grounds of the historic Royal Hospital Chelsea, Masterpiece London provides a platform for exceptional works of art, design, furniture and jewellery. The fair established itself as the world’s leading cross-collection fair and provides an opportunity for new and established collectors to discover art from all periods and origins. Spanning more than 6,000 years of art history from over 150 international art dealers, the fair is a must-attend event of the capital’s summer art season. This year, Masterpiece will showcase a sculptural installation by Phyllida Barlow, one of Britain’s leading contemporary female artists who represented Britain at the 2017 Venice Biennale.
restaurant: German Gymnasium
German Gymnasium is a revamped Victorian building just outside Kings Cross tube station. The massive building has 3 separate spaces to it, each very distinct and with its own perks. The upstairs restaurant provides a elegant atmosphere, with a set menu and a more upper class vibe. The ground-floor cafe is what German Gymnasium is most known for. It offers a wide choice of German based courses, with a bar to relax at before your meal. One can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner here, with a convenient location and wonderful staff. A meal not to miss is the Schnitzel, a traditional German dish. The portion size is massive, enough to fill you and the Schnitzel tastes authentic. Also, not to miss is the warm apple strudel, again a traditional German dish served with vanilla sauce. Go here for some hearty comfort food!
Hidden gems: 18 Stafford Terrace
18 Stafford Terrace was the home of the famous cartoonist Edward Linley Sambourne in the late 19th Century. Located in Kensington, this house has now been opened to the public as a museum. The house is detailed with influences from China, Japan and the Middle East, all brought home from various trips. What is now known as the Aestethic style, showcases beautiful architecture, paintings and furniture from all over. This house allows passers-by to gain insight on both the life of the Sambourne family, as well as life during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Take a trip to West London and enjoy the beautiful surroundings through either open access, guided tours or even costumed tours.
Four NFL regular-season games will be played in London later this year.
The eight NFL teams to play in London will be Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay, Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The London Games 2019 schedule begins with the first two NFL games to be staged at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, followed by two at Wembley Stadium. Ticket sales information for these games will be confirmed in the coming weeks. Register your interest in tickets now at: www.nfl.com/london2019tickets
1-14 July
If you have missed out on the Ballot, you can still find tickets for this incredible tennis event. Here is how:
A limited number of tickets are sold daily for Centre Court, No.1 Court and No.2 Court - except for the last four days on Centre Court, when all are sold in advance. The Queue tickets are strictly one per person queuing.
Several thousand Grounds Passes are also available each day at the turnstiles. The passes are for unreserved seating and standing room on Courts No.3 to No.18.
If you’re not keen on spending the night outside in a sleeping bag, then there is a very slim chance you could buy tickets online at Ticketmaster. These tickets are released daily in two categories: Returned tickets and Reserved tickets. For more information on how to purchase tickets via Ticketmaster for The Championships 2019, join MyWimbledon at www.wimbledon.com/register.
There are still tickets available for The Championship 2019. Although the prices are high, Wimbledon is one of London’s biggest and most exciting sporting event. The Championship are the oldest in the world and there really isn’t anything like the Wimbledon experience.
If you don’t get a ticket or don’t want to queue, catch all the Wimbledon live action on one of London’s big screens. Outdoor screenings of Britain’s favourite tennis tournament are:
Day trip: Liverpool Tate Modern
Liverpool in a day? Why not. It is only a two-hour train journey from central London and you can see the exhibition of artist and activist Keith Haring at the Tate Liverpool, running from June to November. Members of the Tate Modern go free. Since its opening at the spectacular Grade I listed Albert Dock in 1988, Tate Liverpool has became one of the most visited art galleries outside of London.
This year Tate Liverpool presents the first major solo UK exhibition of the American artist and brings together more than 85 artworks, including large-scale vibrant paintings, drawings and sculptures. There will also be printed flyers and posters, videos and photographs. Keith Haring was a unique presence in 1980s New York, playing a key role in his generation’s counterculture. Inspired by graffiti and pop art, the artist is best known for his recognisable visual motifs, such as barking dogs, crawling babies and flying saucers, Haring’s work was politically charges and motivated by activism.
While you could spend hours at the Art Gallery, there’s so much more to see in Liverpool. Explore the colonnades of the Grade I listed Albert Dock, continue your walk to find out about the Beatles story and the Merseyside Maritime Museum, along with shops, bars and restaurants. Take a stroll to the famous World Heritage waterfront. Within a 10 minute walk you can take a look at the Three Graces, the Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool. If you still have time, don’t forget to visit the Liverpool cathedral, Britain’s biggest Cathedral. Football fans should make a trip to Anfield and take a tour of Liverpool Football Club.
If you are visiting Liverpool during the summer, there is going to be a huge street party on July 8.
Glasgow: Science Festival
6 - 16 June
Glasgow Science Festival returns for the 13th year with a fantastic array of events for all ages. Explore the science and engineering that’s shaping life on Earth through talks, art, film, experiments, family days and more! This year’s theme is ‘Glasgow STEAMS Ahead’, linking with steam-engine innovator James Watt, who kick-started the industrial revolution and died 200 years ago. From renewable energy to space exploration and revolutionary healthcare, discover how ‘weegie research is pushing boundaries and changing the world. STEAMS encompasses not only Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – but also the fantastic Arts and Social Sciences research that shapes our city. Events suitable for all ages.
18 May - 15 Sept
Pollok House is delighted to present an exhibition of prints by one of Britain's leading contemporary artists, Cornelia Parker, in partnership with Hayward Touring and the Southbank Centre, London. The exhibition consists of 20 large-scale photogravures from three experimental series: Fox Talbot’s Articles of Glass (2017); One Day This Glass Will Break (2015); and Thirty Pieces of Silver (exposed) (2015). These three series explore the artist’s fascination with the physical properties of objects, materials and their histories.
Manchester: Manchester Day
23rd June
Manchester Day is an annual event that celebrates everything great about the city. It is a day for families, residents and visitors to get together and celebrate all things Mancunian that have made Manchester one of the world’s most iconic cities. The Parade weaves its way through the heart of the city centre in a fusion of colour, music and dance!
Manchester: Incoming Festival 2019
24 - 30 June
Incoming Festival is a celebration of the best emerging theatre companies from the UK and beyond. It invites audiences to try something new for just a fiver. In particular we suggest: Freeman ( Winner of a Spirit of the Fringe Award and shortlisted for Amnesty International’s Freedom of Expression Award).
Manchester: BBC Philharmonic: Mozart/Mark Simpson/Mahler
15 June
A previous winner of both the BBC Young Musician and BBC Young Composer of the Year awards, Mark Simpson is both the soloist and composer of this world premiere – his Clarinet Concerto. Either side, leading British soprano Elizabeth Watts joins the BBC Philharmonic for three Mozart arias and Mahler's majestic Fourth Symphony.
Southampton: The Audience
24 May - 22 June
65 Years. 13 Prime Ministers. One Queen
Every week, the Queen has met her Prime Minister in an Audience at Buckingham Palace. Both parties agree never to repeat what is said. Not even to their spouses. But what is discussed? What secrets are shared? Does her Majesty have her favourites?
Often funny, sometimes confessional, occasionally explosive, The Audience imagines the private moments that define a changing Britain.