Discover our pick of things to do in London this week: 17 - 23 April 2023.

Explore London

Holmes Hotel London Announces Exciting New Literary Series Series

Holmes Hotel London launch their Author in Conversation series this week, featuring intimate keynote talks and discussions with acclaimed writers on topics such as love, heartbreak, identity, and friendship. The series launches this week to mark World Book Night, with sessions led by Vogue columnist Annie Lord and Ella McLeod. The authors will lead discussions on the themes of their lauded debuts, followed by a Q&A discussion with guests. Tickets start at £25 and include a welcome cocktail, with a three-course tasting menu available for £65 at the hotel's restaurant. The first event, featuring Annie Lord discussing Notes on Heartbreak, will take place on 20 April, followed by Ella McLeod discussing Rapunzella, Or, Don’t Touch My Hair on 23 April.

Date: 20, 23 April 2023. Time: 6pm. Location: Holmes Hotel London, 83 Chiltern Street, London W1U 6NF. Price: from £25. Book now.

Clean Fashion Summit 2023: Land in London 

The Clean Fashion Summit is returning this week, in collaboration with Esthetica and Trash Club, with the theme ‘Land in London’. The summit will focus on local and alternative fashion ecosystems and explore the physical spaces that support ethical fashion in London. The event will include talks and workshops by industry experts and exhibitors showcasing sustainable fashion designs.

Date: 20 April 2023. Time: 1pm-7pm. Location: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA. Price: £0-£10.Book now.

New Regency Orchestra at Colour Factory

The New Regency Orchestra is set to perform at Colour Factory in Queen’s Yard, as part of London Latin Music Festival La Linea. The orchestra is known for its unique sound that fuses Jazz and Latin, drawing inspiration from the 50s to the 70s era in New York. The band’s music is a modern twist on classic Afro-Cuban bangers. With an eight-piece rhythm section and a twelve-piece horn section, their sound is an unforgettable experience that promises to bring joy and energy to the audience. The festival aims to celebrate Latin music and its ability to spread positivity and joy in difficult times, which is symbolised by a flowering cactus.

Date: 22 April 2023. Time: 7.30 pm. Location: Colour Factory, 8 Queen's Yard, London, E9 5EN. Price: from £16.50. Book now.

London Marathon 2023

The highly anticipated London Marathon is back this Sunday, marking its return to its traditional April date. After being postponed for two consecutive years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has finally been rescheduled to its rightful time of year. As a beloved annual affair held in the heart of London, the marathon covers 26.2 miles of the city's diverse landscape, and was founded by esteemed athletes Chris Brasher and John Disley in 1981. With a mainly flat course that starts in Blackheath and ends at The Mall, this renowned race is not to be missed, whether you're participating or cheering from the sidelines. It's a quintessential London experience!

Date: Sunday 23 April 2023.

London Philharmonic Orchestra: Don Quixote Rides Again 

The London Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Vladimir Jurowski, will be performing Richard Strauss' symphonic interpretation of Cervantes' famous tale about the mad knight Don Quixote at the Royal Festival Hall on Saturday. Ever since 1605, when Cervantes’s tragicomic hero first rode out in search of his impossible dream, the figure of Don Quixote has inspired artists, idealists and – naturally – composers. The concert will begin with Mozart's Symphony No. 40, and cellist Kristina Blaumane and violist Richard Waters will also perform.

Date: 22 Apr 2023. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: £5 - £65. Book now.

Introduction to Korean Tea

Be-oom, situated in the vibrant Clarkenwell, ate hosting an introduction to Korean tea. This unique experience offers a comprehensive exploration of the history, terroir, and production techniques behind Korean tea, as well as a fascinating comparison with other tea origins. Participants will have the opportunity to discover five diverse Korean tea varieties - green, black, flower, herbal, and powder tea - which will be expertly brewed to perfection.

Date: 20 April 2023. Time: 6.15-7.15pm. Location: 27 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QL.Price: from £38.93. Book now.

London Book Fair

The highly anticipated London Book Fair is set to make its grand return to Olympia London this week. Attendees can expect a plethora of exciting features, including the renowned Author HQ, where esteemed industry experts and best-selling authors will share their insights on the latest trends in social media, copyright laws, and AI tools for writing and marketing books. Additionally, the event will host a captivating discussion between Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and Young Vic Artistic Director, Kwame Kwei-Armah. Together, they will delve into a range of thought-provoking topics, exploring London's role as a key player in the UK's creative economy, the ever-pressing issue of climate change, and the importance of cities in promoting a more sustainable future.

Date: 18 – 20 Apirl 2023. Location: Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, London, W14 8UX. Click here for the full line-up.

Bridge the Gap LDN Marathon Weekender: Yoga with Sanchia Legister

Charlie Dark and Run Dem Crew are hosting the Bridge the Gap London Marathon weekender, starting with a yoga session led by lululemon ambassador Sanchia Legister. The class is open to all levels of runners, with mats provided and a fun playlist included. The event is a celebration of the hard work put in during training and is not exclusive to London Marathon participants. Spaces are limited, so sign up soon!

 Date: 20 April 2023. Time: 6:15pm - 7:30 pm. Location: Lululemon Spitalfields, 1 Horner Square London E1 6EW. Price: Free. Book now.

Celebrating 50 years of Aladdin Sane

The Southbank Centre is set to host an array of exciting events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of David Bowie's legendary 1973 album, Aladdin Sane. With several of these events commencing this week, here's a rundown of the must-see highlights.

Aladdin Sane Live

The Nu Civilisation Orchestra is reimagining David Bowie's iconic album, Aladdin Sane, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The performance will feature guest vocalists, including Anna Calvi, Jake Shears, Roxanne Tataei, Lynks, and Tawiah, and will be hosted by Amy Lamé. The album, which contains classic hits such as 'The Jean Genie' and 'Drive-In Saturday,' was originally released in April 1973 and remains a cultural touchstone.

Date: 21 April 2023. Time: 8pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: £30 ⁠–⁠ £50. Book now.

Concrete Lates x Queer Bruk

Get ready to dance the night away with the Black queer collective at Queer Bruk's club night, featuring rapper Ms Banks and talented DJs Donnie Sunshine, Mark-Ashley Dupé, and Talia A Darling. This dynamic collective founded by Akeil Onwukwe-Adamson celebrates Afro-Caribbean music within queer spaces, supporting and uplifting Black queer people through the power of music. Queer Bruk is not just a club night, it's a movement representing the minorities within minorities and celebrating the culture, history, and experiences of queer Black people all year round. It’s a celebration of identity and heritage!

Date:  22 April 2023  Time: 10.30pm. Location: Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: from £18. Concessions available. Book now.

National Poetry Library presents: Aladdin Sound

Experience an unforgettable evening of Bowie-inspired poetry as ten of the UK's most exciting poets come together to reimagine the iconic album. Drawing inspiration from the album's poetic language and imaginative themes, each poet has been commissioned to write a new poem in response to every track, resulting in a spoken word version of the album that will be performed live on stage. The lineup of poets includes acclaimed Forward Prize-winner Luke Kennard, the renowned Keith Jarrett, the talented Golnoosh Nour, the masterful Mark Waldron, and the legendary spoken word artist John Hegley.

Date: 21 April 2023.Time: 7:45-9:15pm. Location: Purcell Room,Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: from £12. Book now.

Aladdin Sane @ 50: the making of an icon

Join curator Victoria Broackes and photographer Chris Duffy in a discussion about the making of the iconic cover of Bowie's Aladdin Sane album. The exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the album and its lasting impact on fashion and individual expression. Discover the fascinating story behind the creation of the lightning bolt cover and its cultural significance.

Date: 22 April 2023. Time: 1pm- 2pm. Location: Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: from £12. Book now.

Making a show: the rise of immersive music exhibitions

Explore the evolution of immersive music exhibitions in a dynamic discussion, featuring the V&A's David Bowie Is exhibition as a benchmark of their success. With the exhibition's 10th anniversary, join a conversation about the future of immersive music exhibitions and where their success might take them. Be inspired by industry experts, critics and music enthusiasts alike, as they delve into the impact and potential of this exciting and evolving medium.

Date: 22 April 2023.Time: 3:00-4:00pm. Location: Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: from £12. Book now.

Aladdin Sane's Queer Legacies

Join writer Paul Burston and Golnoosh Nour in a conversation exploring David Bowie's enduring legacy as a queer icon, his androgynous persona, and the ways he challenged gender norms. For generations of LGBTQ+ youth in the 1970s and 1980s, Bowie's music provided a refuge and a sense of community in the face of a hostile society. Burston and Nour will delve into the ways in which Bowie's sexual ambiguity and subversion of gender identity have left an indelible mark on popular culture.

Date: 22 April 2023.Time: 7.45pm. Location: Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: from £12. Book now.

 
Concrete Lates x Queer House Party

Queer House Party, a DIY DJ collective and community platform, will take over a club for a night of anarchic partying with DJs and performers. Born out of the need for queer night, they gained popularity for throwing wild parties, and have recently toured with Years & Years and performed at festivals such as Mighty Hoopla, Latitude, Secret Garden Party, Wilderness, Sziget, and Boomtown.

Date: 21 April 2023. Time: 10.30pm. Location: Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: from £12. Book now.

Arts & Culture

Opening next week

 No Place Like Home (A Vietnamese Exhibition) Part II

The Museum of the Home in the heart of the Vietnamese community on Kingsland Road presents a new contemporary art exhibition, , curated by KV Duong and Hoa Dung Clerget. The exhibition explores the theme of home through the Vietnamese cultural lens and features object-based works by Vietnamese diasporic artists. The exhibition highlights the significance of immigrant family meals as moments of connection and cultural transmission, with traditional foods being intertwined with memory, identity, and belonging. The exhibition also features a striking urban landscape installation made of Vietnamese plastic stools and a fluid, curvilinear table that encourages dynamic interaction with the artworks and each other.

Date: 19 April – 11 July 2023. Location: Museum of the Home, 136 Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA. Price: Free.

Dr. Esther Mahlangu: Where two rivers meet

Almine Rech Gallery will present an exhibition featuring the works of the renowned artist and cultural icon, Dr. Esther Mahlangu. Dr. Mahlangu's artistic journey began at a tender age, as she watched her mother and grandmother create beautiful designs on the walls of their home.Today, art remains an integral part of Dr. Mahlangu's identity, and she sees it as a lifelong passion that she will continue to pursue with unwavering dedication.

Date: April 20 — May 20, 2023. Location: Almine Rech, Broadbent House, Grosvenor Hill, London W1K 3JH. Price: Free.

#FLOFAVOURITES THIS WEEK

Morgan Stanley Lates at Somerset House with the Courtauld

Morgan Stanley Lates with Somerset House and The Courtauld offers visitors a unique experience with exclusive live performances and activities themed around current exhibitions, taking place three times a year. The event on 19 April will feature The Courtauld Gallery’s latest temporary exhibition, by Peter Doig, with after-hours access, drawing workshops, poetry performances, and talks from experts. Courtyard activities will be free for all, and after-hours exhibition entry will be free for those aged 25 and under. There will also be a range of activities across Somerset House, including a new courtyard commission from the artist Jitish Kallat and a takeover spotlighting South Asian poets and live classical musicians.

Date: 19 April 2023. Time: 6pm-9pm. Location: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA. Price: Free, exhibitions ticketed. free for under 25s. Book now.

Gagosian London: An Evening of Readings with Phoebe Boswell

Gagosian in Britannia Street, London, is hosting an evening of readings by Phoebe Boswell, one of the nineteen participating artists in the group exhibition Rites of Passage. Boswell's interdisciplinary practice explores subjectivity in the threshold between collective histories and possible futures, and her writing will be based on her 2022 writer's residency at the Whitechapel Gallery. She will share new writing that examines the cultural associations of water and its dichotomy as both a site of renewal and hope and a repository of painful historical experience.

Date: 21 April 2023. Time: 6:30pm. Location: Gagosian 6-24 Britannia Street London WC1X 9JD. Price: Free. Book now.

Universe 25’

The Gillian Jason Gallery presents Universe 25’, a new exhibition curated by Matilda Liu, showcasing the works of seven international emerging female artists. Inspired by John Calhoun's 1968 sociological study of mice, the artists explore the line between utopia and dystopia in today's urban society, reflecting on contemporary societal conditions. Universe 25’ features the works of Bi Rongrong, Phoebe Evans, Bethany Hadfield, Serpil Mavi Üstün, Yaya Yajie Liang, Joanna van Son, and Caroline Zurmely.

Date: until 29 April 2023. Location: The Gillian Jason Gallery 19 Great Titchfield St, London W1W 8AZ. Price: Free. 

Last chance to see

Lee Eelous: DISORDER

Don't miss your chance to catch the latest exhibition by Lee Eelus, DISORDER. The exhibit showcases a delightful mix of original works on paper, canvas, and panel, alongside a new print with hand-finished overlays. Eelus draws inspiration from found imagery, masterfully using a playful balance between literal and abstract to visually express his ADHD symptoms. DISORDER explores the artist's personal struggles since being diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, making for a powerful and emotive exhibition. Eelus, a prominent figure in London's urban art scene, layers acrylic, spray paint, and oil stick elements to create a visually stunning and captivating display of his creative prowess.

Date: until 23 April 2023. Location:  Jealous East, 53 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3PT. Price: Free.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Pop-ups & Venues

SicilyFEST London 2023

SicilyFEST is arriving in London this week! Immerse yourself in the flavours, aromas, and colours of Sicily with this unique festival, designed to channel the energy and passion of Sicilian cuisine and culture. Visitors can idulge in traditional recipes, sip on Sicilian-style cocktails, and partake in an exclusive wine tasting experience, all while learning from top chefs in masterclasses. Satisfy your appetite with mouth-watering food options like cannoli, arancini, pasta alla norma, bread and panelle, meatballs, grilled sausage, and authentic Sicilian wines. Enjoy live music from popular artists, including Lello Analfino, Sud Sound System feat. Papa Leu Selecta, Vincenzo Spampinato, and Davide Shorty.

Date: 20 - Sun, 23 April 2023. Location: Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street London N1 0QH. Price: £3.50 - £11. Book now.                     

#FLOFavourite: Pick of the week

Free event of the week

Designing Soho House Bangkok

Attention all design enthusiasts! You won't want to miss this! Soho Homes will be hosting a cool event featuring their Senior Designer, Sophie Baker, and Architect, Carla Murillo, from Soho House. They will be sharing their personal insights on the design process behind the recently unveiled Soho House Bangkok.The interior spaces of Soho House Bangkok, meticulously crafted by the in-house design team at Soho Home, are a testament to the team's exceptional attention to detail. Drawing inspiration from local Thai craftsmanship, the design features include bamboo and basket weave finishes, native wood joinery, and traditional Thai architectural details. Be sure not to miss out on this incredible opportunity!

Date: 19 April 2023. Time: 7pm. Location: Soho.Home.Studio Westbourne Grove, 236 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RH. Price: Free. Book now.

Divided: Why We Need to Decolonise Healthcare with Dr Annabel Sowemimo

Dr. Annabel Sowemimo, a doctor, activist, and writer, will discuss her latest book, Divided: Racism, Medicine and Why We Need to Decolonise Healthcare, with Dr. Rageshri Dhairyawan FRCP. The book exposes racial biases in medicine and provides insight into how it affects our daily lives, reshaping our understanding of health and medicine. The event is part of the Rooted Talks series and includes an audience Q&A and book signing.

Date: 18 April 2023. Time: 6.30pm - 8pm. Location: Brixton Library, Brixton Oval London SW2 1JQ, Price: Free. Book now.

Food of the week

Rochelle Canteen

Rochelle Canteen, a hidden culinary gem that opened its doors in 2004, has been a go-to destination for foodies ever since. Nestled in the serene garden of an old school, away from the hustle and bustle of Shoreditch High Street, this restaurant, founded by the talented female duo of Margot Henderson and Melanie Arnold, offers a delightful, curated menu of seasonal British dishes for both lunch and dinner. With a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, a visit to Rochelle Canteen guarantees an enjoyable experience, making it the perfect destination for when you crave a wholesome meal in a laid-back setting.

Location: Rochelle Canteen, 16 Playground Gardens, London, E2 7FA. Instagram: @rochellecanteen

Interview of the week

We has a chat with Lili Momoko Suzuki.

Lili Momoko Suzuki is a jewellery designer and branding consultant who studied at Central Saint Martins in London. She grew up in an artistic family and has experience designing for fashion houses in Europe and India. Her true passion lies in the intricate making process of traditional handcrafts, and she now focuses on crafting unique pieces that reflect her ongoing journey of exploring aesthetics. Lili also serves as brand director and designer for traditional craft companies such as DOMYO, helping to showcase their craft to global audiences and safeguarding their cultural heritage. Click here for the full interview.

Cause of the week

Tennis For Free

Tennis For Free (TFF) provides free inclusive tennis sessions across the UK in public parks, targeting those who need it the most. TFF partners with organisations like the NHS, local councils, and community groups to provide specialised sessions for mental health, disabilities, schools, and clubs. TFF believes that free sport should be accessible to everyone. Click here to discover how you can volunteer or donate to TFF.

Upcoming events

Sheku Kanneh-Mason & Philharmonia Chamber Players

The talented Sheku Kanneh-Mason, along with fellow musicians from the Philharmonia Orchestra, will delight you with their renditions of Bach and Brahms pieces. Kanneh-Mason’s own arrangements of three Bach chorale-preludes set the tone for this hour-long performance, bringing the deep and contemplative tones of the organ to the cello ensemble.

Date: 26 April 2023. Time: 6pm and 8.30pm. Location: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Price: £15 ⁠–⁠ £45. Book now.

The Australian Ballet returns to Royal Opera House this Summer

The Australian Ballet will be performing George Balanchine's Jewels at the Royal Opera House in August 2023 as part of their 60th anniversary celebrations. Jewels is a three-part full-evening ballet, considered a masterpiece of the balletic art form, and will be performed on an international stage for the first time. The tour will also feature a one-off 60th Anniversary Gala performance showcasing the company's signature repertoire and works by Rudolf Nureyev, Yuri Possokhov, and Australian choreographer Alice Topp.

Date: Jewel - 2- 5 August 2023, 60th Anniversary Celebration - 6 August 2023. Location: Royal Opera House, Bow St, London WC2E 9DD. Price: £4 - £135. Book now.