London July FOCUS Favourites
July, the warmest month of the year, is round the corner and we have curated a selection of events and activities for the FOCUS members to enjoy during the month. July's birthstone is the ruby, which symbolizes contentment and its birth flowers are the Larkspur and the Water Lily.
4 July
Mavis Staples is an American rhythm, blues and gospel singer, credited as one of the greatest Gospel Soul voices of all time. Born in Chicago in 1939 her recording career spans from the 1950s to the current day. In the 60s her band ’The Staple Singers’ became the spiritual and musical voices of the civil rights movement. They covered contemporary pop hits with positive messages, including Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" and a version of Stephen Stills' "For What It's Worth“ and her songs have been covered by the Rolling Stones. Throughout the ’70s Mavis had hits with tracks such as ‘Respect Yourself’, ‘I’ll Take You There’ and ‘Let’s Do It Again’. More recently, she had a huge UK hit ‘Nina Cried Power’ last year with Hozier. Mavis Staples, who turns 80 in July, possesses one of the most recognisable voices in contemporary music.
festival: Red Bull Soapbox Race 2019
7 July
Once again the legendary Red Bull Soapbox Race will take place at Alexandra Palace, in which amateur drivers race home-made soapbox vehicles. This fun, non-motorised racing event challenges both experienced racers and amateurs alike, to design and build soapbox creations. Teams will compete by racing their dream machines around the 430m course, using nothing but the power of gravity. Over the years previous designs have ranged from realistic replicas to colourful wagons that looked like a piano, a giant baby carriage, a rodeo clown and the Golden Gate Bridge. The judging criteria is based around three things: speed, creativity and showmanship. Spectators and drivers alike should come prepared for an adrenaline-fuelled day of thrills, spills and hilarity!
dance: Flirt with Reality
9-14 July
Britain’s got Talent finalists Another Kind of Blue are heading to the capital this July to present their new show "Flirt with Reality“. Dutch choreographer and digital designer David Middendorp puts together a production of five choreographies, exploring the boundaries of reality and our natural world and how those borders have become blurred in our virtual world. The dancers perform alongside animations, drones, robots, films and music. Middendorp unites humans and technology and creates an inspiring and renewed dance experience that defy gravity, twist perspective and make use of illusion to question reality. Don’t miss the magical-surreal interplay of video image, music and dance at the Peacock theatre.
12 July
Come join Rukmini Vijayakumar for her dance and dialogue series. This event is part of the Asia House 2019 Spring Arts and Learning Programme. This event is free for students. Rukmini will be partnering up with Vena Ramphal, a dancer and yoga teacher who has performed for royalty, prime ministers and several celebrities. The two women will bring an uplifting insight into a modern cultural India.
not to be missed: Regent Street's Summer Streets
14-15 July
18 August
15 September
Taking place throughout the summer in July and August, Regent Street will become pedestrianised from Oxford Circus all the way to Piccadilly Circus, allowing visitors to enjoy the festival-style atmosphere in the heart of London. Enjoy the rare spectacle to relax, unwind and appreciate a fantastic range of entertainment and activities along the street. Following the huge success of last year, summer streets will combine themes of art, culture, style and wellness with food and drink. Retailers, restaurants and businesses all are preparing to come together to offer the public a special series of Sundays to remember.
sport: Müller Anniversary Games
20-21 July
The Queen Elizabeth Olympia Park will be hosting the Müller Anniversary Games. Founded in 2013 as a legacy to the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, the Müller Anniversary Games is one of the best international athletics meetings in the world and attracts world’s top track and field athletes. In recent years athletes such as Usain Bolt, Sir Mo Farah, Laura Muir and Diana Asher-Smith have taken part. British record holder Diana Asher-Smith will return this year to the stadium to compete with Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast, Elaine Thompson of Jamaica and Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands. Six world champions from London 2017, Wayde van Niekerk, Sally Pearson, Karsten Warholm, Mutaz Barshim, Katerina Stefanidi and Christian Taylor were confirmed as part of the line-up for the event and many more. Get your ticket now and enjoy watching some of the world’s greatest athletes.
10 June-1 September
Join the unique exhibition "An Enquiring Mind: Manolo at the Wallace Collection“, celebrating the works of the world’s famous shoe designer Manolo Blahnik. The designer, who will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his brand next year, aims to create a dialogue between art and craft. More than 160 pairs of shoes will be shown in a way they have not been seen before. The new exhibition features a personally selected edit of shoe designs from Blahník’s private archives set amongst the 18th century masterpieces at the Wallace Collection. In ten rooms the exhibition places Manolo Blahnik’s shoes between the collection’s baroque masterpieces. One of the pairings in the exhibition is to place the shoes which were designed for Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette (2006) in front of Jean-Honore Fragonard’s painting ’The Swing’ (1767). A rare opportunity to see excellence in contemporary design alongside the exceptional quality of the Wallace Collection’s own art works.
theatre: Peter Gynt
27 June till 8 October
This summer and fall the Oliver Theatre is putting on a modern rendition of Peter Gynt. He has reworked the classic into a 21st Century musical to make it more fun, unique and special. The story is based around Peter Gynt who steals a bride from a local wedding to take her on a journey around the world. The play / musical rendition is 3 ½ hours long and takes the audience on an immersive journey throughout different cultures. One to not be missed!
day trip: Kentish Lavender Farm, Kent
late June till late July
School Summer holidays are beginning soon. Take the children to one of the Lavender farms in and around London and witness the beautiful flowering season. The Castle Farm near the pretty village of Shoreham is in North Kent and managed by The Alexander Family since 1892. The farm has crops of wheat, barley, rapeseed, hops, apples, pumpkins and lavender. Over the years the Castle Farm Lavender became the largest producer of Lavender in the UK. Best time to see the fullest bloom is between late June and late July. Throughout the Lavender season there are special events on Castle Farm. Take a one hour tour and learn about the different varieties, the use of lavender, try some Lavender food, join a pre-booked sunset Lavender picnic, make your own beautiful fresh Lavender heart or just enjoy the sight and smell of the British countryside and the explosion of colours amongst the rows of Lavender. Please click on the website for more information.
children: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Plenty to do at the Queen Elizabeth Park in Stratford. Very easy to reach from any part of London (Jubilee and Central line, Overground and National Rail) it offers an array of activities for all ages.
Tumbling Bay playground features rock pools, sand pits, tall treehouses, and wobbly bridges, as well as slides, swings and plenty of space to run about. The playground, located in the north part of the park, sits alongside the Timber Lodge community centre and cafe, where parents and kids can relax with a range of fresh, home-cooked food and drinks.
The Aquatics Centre, designed by Zaha Hadid, is open for public swimming and diving sessions.
The VeloPark, home to road, track, BMX and mountain biking, caters for all abilities, from beginners to elite: anyone can cycle here! You don't even need a bike - you can hire everything you need.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit gives you the chance to explore London’s famous skyline through stunning floor to ceiling windows and experiencing the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide that loops its way around the ArcelorMittal Orbit 12 times, taking visitors through gentle curves, thrilling drops and a tight corkscrew.
hidden gems: Hampstead Ponds
Hampstead ponds, a collective name for a series of ponds between Hampstead and Highgate. These are comprised of a variety of swimming, freshwater and headwater ponds. There are three swimming ponds, perfect for the summer weather that is hopefully still to come. One of these being exclusively for men, one for women and the last one being mixed. However, swimmers must be above 8 years old and accompanied by an adult until the age of 15. This is a really fun and interactive experience for kids and adults alike, changing up the summer days and offering a fun day in the sun.
book in advance: Kids Week
Kids Week includes a wide variety of London musicals, plays, comedies and children’s shows.
For the whole of August, one child aged 16 or under, can go to any participating show for free where tickets are available as long as they’re accompanied by a full paying adult. Adults can also buy up to two extra children’s tickets at half price and there are no booking fees. Book now, tickets sell out fast.
Book in advance: Film4 Screen at Somerset House
8-21 August
One of the first outdoor cinemas in the UK, Film4 Summer Screen celebrates its 200th screening this year and once again transforms the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court at Somerset House into a beautiful open-air cinema. This year’s line-up brings cinema lovers a truly eclectic mix of outdoor movies. Experience the ultimate open-air highlight of the capital’s summer calendar, settled under the starry night sky.
The fantastic program includes:
8.8. ‘Pain and Glory’ + introduction by Pedro Almodóvar (UK Premiere) 9.8. ‘Black Panther’ 10.8. 'Nicolas Cage Double bill: ‘Wild at Heart’ + ‘Mandy’ 11.8. ‘The Princess Bride’ 12.8. ‘The Matrix’ + DJ set from Will White of Propellerheads 13.8. ‘God‘s Own Country’ 14.8. ‘This Is England’ 15.8. ‘Straight Outta Compton’ 16.8. 'Double bill: ‘Before Sunrise’ + ‘Before Sunset’ 17.8. 'Double bill: ‘Get Out’ + ‘They Live’ 18.8. ‘Clueless’ + DJ set from Jonbenet Blonde of Sink The Pink 19.8. ‘Reservoir Dogs’ 20.8. ‘The Piano’ 21.8. ‘Inna de Yard’ (UK Premiere)
Summer screen sells out fast. Book now, select from a range of seating options, including beanbags and director’s chairs, as well as dining experiences and enjoy the evening.