Discover our pick of events in London this week: 20 - 26 November 2023. 

Skate Dates with Tinder

Tinder is introducing 'Skate Dates' at Somerset House, hosting four consecutive Tuesday nights in November and December. This unique event aims to break the ice for singles, offering an opportunity to enjoy the iconic Somerset House ice rink while potentially finding a match.

Date: 21 November, 28 November, 5 December, 12 December 2023. Time: 8pm and 9pm skating session, 9pm skating session. Location: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA. Price: from £14 + one off transaction fee per order. Book now.

Booker Prize Shortlist Readings

Discover the six Booker Prize finalists as they read and discuss their shortlisted works moderated by novelist Sara Collins. This prestigious award celebrates exceptional English fiction globally, with Chair Esi Edugyan praising this year's diverse and vibrant shortlist.

Date: 23 November 2023. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Queen Elizabeth Hall. Price: £15. Book now.

Crown and Coronation

Experience the Tower of London's immersive light and sound show, Crown and Coronation, ahead of its UK tour in 2024, presented by Historic Royal Palaces. Created in collaboration with Luxmuralis Artist Collaboration, this immersive show celebrates the Crown Jewels and Coronation Ceremony, offering after-hours access to view the Crown Jewels. Through projected imagery on the historic buildings, the show brings to life the grandeur of coronations from William the Conqueror to Queen Victoria.

Date: 17 - 25 November 2023. Time: 5pm - 8pm. Location: Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB. Price:  £19.50/ £12.50 adult/child. Book now.

Young Associates Mixed Bill

The Young Associates 2023/24 presents the emerging choreographers BLUE MAKWANA, Elisabeth Mulenga, Maiya Leeke, and Roseann & Sula in their debut live performance. This mixed bill showcases their diverse creative voices, marking the initial stage in their careers as choreographers. Over the next year, these artists will further develop their craft, culminating in presentations at the Lilian Baylis Studio and Sadler’s Wells East in Autumn 2024. This program provides vital opportunities for talented dance artists, aged 18-24 and 18-30 for d/Deaf and disabled choreographers, offering them a significant foothold in their professional journeys.

Date: 22 – 23 November 2023. Location: Sadler's Wells Theatre, Rosebery Ave, London EC1R 4TN. Price: from £15.00. Book now.

Ever After Garden  

Ever After Garden has returned to Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, showcasing 25,000 glowing white roses. Created in memory of Michael Howells, it's a serene space for remembrance, supporting The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Visitors can dedicate a rose for a suggested £10 donation, offering a touching way to honour loved ones while contributing to the fight against cancer.

Date: 16 November – 19 December 2023. Time: Daily 3pm – 9pm. Location: Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London, W1K 6LD. Website: royalmarsden.org.

Insula orchestra/Laurence Equilbey: Fauré's Requiem

Explore a unique blend of art as Mat Collishaw's projections merge with the sacred melodies of Fauré and Gounod. Led by Laurence Equilbey, the Insula Orchestra and Accentus chorus present Fauré’s Requiem, guiding from earthly vulnerability to hints of eternity. Collishaw's film, Sky Burial, delicately contrasts nature's beauty with poignant scenes, offering a touching complement to Fauré’s composition. This special portrayal of French sacred music, including Gounod’s Saint François d’Assise, promises a memorable and meaningful artistic experience.

Date: 20 November 2023. Time: 7.30pm. Location: The Hall, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: from £15 + booking fee. Book now.

Queen’s House Ice Rink

The Queen’s House Ice Rink, set to open this week, offers a magical experience within Greenwich's UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nestled amidst iconic architecture, it boasts beautiful views of Greenwich Park in the south and the dazzling lights of Canary Wharf in the north—providing visitors with some of London's most spectacular views.

Date: 23 November 2023 - 7 January 2024. Location: Queen's House,Romney Rd, London SE10 9NF. Price: from £17/ £10 adult/child. Book now.

London Chamber Orchestra The One With Benjamin Beilman

This week at Cadogan Hall, experience Benjamin Beilman's enthralling performance on the “Ysaÿe” Guarneri del Gesù violin from 1740. Beilman directs and performs Bach’s Violin Concerto, complemented by Caroline Shaw’s Entr’acte. Enjoy Stravinsky's Concerto for string orchestra and Copland's acclaimed Appalachian Spring.

Date: Friday 24 November 2023. Time:7.30pm. Location: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace London SW1X 9DQ. Price: £30. Book now.

Julian Joseph Plays Gershwin

The London Philharmonic Orchestra offers a fresh take on beloved classics, pairing Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony with Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. The Organ Symphony, renowned for its roof-raising sound, features organist Anna Lapwood alongside Julian Joseph, hailed as a significant jazz talent by The Stage. Joseph presents his improvisatory rendition of Rhapsody in Blue, echoing Gershwin's style. Guided by the charismatic direction of Jader Bignamini, this concert promises a revitalised resonance to cherished compositions.

Date: 22 November 2023. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall. Price: £14 ⁠–⁠ £70. Book now.

Gucci Cosmos Live talk series with Afua Hirsch

Gucci's series, Gucci Cosmos Live at Dazed Space, concludes this week. Hosted by writer Afua Hirsch, the final talk features Molly Manning Walker, Ronan Mckenzie, and Yasmin Finney. Titled Identity, Influence and Innovation, the discussion explores the cultural impact of clothing. Attendees that day will also get a private exhibition viewing and a preview of cutting-edge digital art at Gucci Art Space by nine artists, two of whom will reinterpret The Ancora Room. Throughout the event, digital previews of these avant-garde works will be available.

Date: 21 November 2023. Time: 6 - 10pm. Location: 180 Studios, 180 Strand London WC2R 1EA. Website: dazeddigital.com.

Arts & Culture

Opening this week

POPE.L: Hospital

Pope.L's diverse artistic practice is showcased in Hospital, his debut solo exhibition in a London institution. The display spans SLG's galleries, featuring reimagined installations that explore memory, decay, and care, inviting viewers to ponder ongoing narratives and unfinished stories within personal and institutional contexts.

Date: 21 November 2023 – 11 February 2024. Location: South London Gallery, 65 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8UH. Price: Free. Website: southlondongallery.org.

Antony Gormley: Body Politic

Antony Gormley's Body Politic exhibition delves into our relationship with the industrially constructed world. Across five new bodies of work, Gormley examines the balance between sanctuary and control, freedom and discipline. He uses the language of sculpture to emphasise silence, stillness, and materiality, prompting viewers to reflect on their own freedoms of movement and thought.

Date: 22 November 2023 - 28 January 2024. Location: White Cube, Bermondsey, 144-152 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3TQ. Price: Free.

Impressionists on Paper: Degas to Toulouse-Lautrec

The Royal Academy of Arts presents Impressionists on Paper: Degas to Toulouse-Lautrec, delves into the transformation of works on paper by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists in late 19th-century France. During this era, drawings, pastels, watercolours, temperas, and gouaches evolved from preparatory techniques into autonomous works of art, sharing the same aesthetic value as painting. The exhibition showcases approximately 80 works on paper by renowned artists like Mary Cassatt, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, and others. It highlights this significant shift in the perception of these works.

Date: 25 November 2023 - 10 March 2024. Location: Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, London, W1J 0BD. Price: £19 - £21. Book now.

#FLOFavourites: This week

Armet Francis: Beyond The Black Triangle

Armet Francis, a Jamaican-British photographer, has spent over 40 years documenting the resilience of the African diaspora. His work, guided by 'The Black Triangle,' captures diverse Black experiences worldwide, from joyful Brixton Market scenes to critical portraits of Empire Windrush travelers. Autograph, marking 35 years, honours Francis with this exhibition celebrating his impact on British history through photography.

Date: 22 September 2023 - 20 January 2024. Location: Autograph, Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA. Price: Free. Website: autograph.org.uk.

Re: Dina El-Sioufi, Wole Lagunju, Abe Odedina, Freya Tewelde

Ed Cross Gallery hosts two exhibitions. In the group exhibition Re, four artists reinterpret known subjects via various mediums: Abe Odedina and Dina El-Sioufi in paintings, Freya Tewelde with a performance piece, and Wole Lagunju blending motifs. Lagunju also displays new ink drawings titled And The World Goes By in Gallery 2. These drawings, stemming from subconscious characters, contrast his deliberate paintings, inviting viewers into a dreamy space.

Date: 17 November 2023 – 20 December 2023. Location: Ed Cross, 19 Garrett St, London EC1Y 0TY. Price: Free. Book now.

Quentin Martin: From the source

tHEIR Gallery presents From the Source by Quentin Martin, a British painter and architectural designer known for his oil paintings focusing on landscapes, still life, and people. His art, often created en plein air, captures the interplay between human presence and natural scenery.

Date: 9 November 2023 - 3 December 2023. Location: 56 Dawes Road, Fulham, London, SW6 7EJ. Price: Free. Website: their.gallery

In House: Bamidele Awoyemi and Adia Wahid

In House: Bamidele Awoyemi and Adia Wahid kicks off Studio Voltaire's duo exhibition series. It delves into the significance of patterns in everyday life, examining how they convey meaning. Both artists use patterns to spark dialogues, connecting symbols and motifs. Bamidele Awoyemi employs storytelling to explore cultures and rituals, while Adia Wahid's layered diagrams delve into time and cultural influences. Their art vividly illustrates how patterns speak volumes visually, often replacing words to convey profound meanings.

Date: 8 November 2023 – 14 January 2024. Location: Studio Voltaire, 1a Nelsons Row, London, SW4 7JR. Price: Free. Website: studiovoltaire.org.

Delta House Studios - Secret Studio Show

Delta House Studios, a hidden gem in London's creative community between Earlsfield and Tooting, invites you to their 'Secret Studio Show' this week. This event showcases the work of exceptional artists, including the dynamic duo LoveJordan and classically trained sculptor Mat Kemp, who raises awareness of single-use plastics through his art.

Date: 24 - 26 November 2023. Location: Delta House Studio, Riverside Road, London SW17 0BA. Price: Free.

Nick Cave: Power & Cycles

Holtermann Fine Art unveils Nick Cave: Power & Cycles, marking the artist's inaugural solo London gallery exhibition. Renowned for his exploration of the human body's politics, this showcase delves into Cave's contemporary sculptures. The exhibition features the striking 4-metre-tall Chain Reaction, comprising 15 suspended chains sculpted from the artist's own body. Alongside this centrepiece, visitors will encounter a new Tondo, a large wall-hanging sculpture conveying reflections on modern environmental and societal challenges, and Arm Peace, adorned with tole flowers, symbolising defiance, remembrance, and affection.

Date: 5 October 2023 -  20 December 2023. Location: Holtermann Fine Art,30 Cork St, London W1S 3NG. Price: Free.

Last chance to see

Gregor Sailer: The Polar Silk Road

This week marks the final opportunity to witness Gregor Sailer's debut UK exhibit, shedding light on the Arctic's evolution amidst the climate crisis. Sailer's photography delves into the repercussions of melting ice and the emergence of new trade routes along the 'Polar Silk Road.'

Date: 26 May–24 November 2023. Location: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD. Price: Free. Website: nhm.ac.uk.

Cinema

Waiting for Gaza

As part of the London Palestine Film Festival, Waiting for Gaza will be showcased at the Barbican. The film offers an intimate exploration into the world of filmmakers Arab and Tarzan Nasser, delving into the motivations driving their cinematic pursuits. Following their initial success in filmmaking, while in exile in Paris, their attempt to mentally reconstruct Palestine blurs the boundaries between reality and their cinematic creations. Director Guillaume Kozakiewiez will join Basil Khalil for a ScreenTalk following this screening, offering an insightful discussion into the film's themes and the filmmakers' creative journey.

Location: 20 November 2023. Time: 6.30pm. Location: Cinema 2, Beech Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: £13 + £1.50 booking fee. Book now.

Pop-ups & Venues

Müller Corner Originals ‘Flavour of the 90's' pop-up 

Müller Corner Originals is hosting a 'Flavour of the 90s' pop-up in Soho this week. From 23 - 24 November, the space will be a nostalgic paradise featuring interactive activities, retro games, and photo opportunities. Visitors can relive the era while enjoying the iconic return of two 90s yogurt flavours: Müller Corner Originals Strawberry & Choc Orange Balls and Müller Corner Originals Mississippi Mud Pie Inspired.

Date: 23 - 24 November 2023. Time: Thursday 3pm – 8pm and Friday 11am – 8pm. Location:15 Bateman Street, Soho, W1D 3AQ. Price: Free.

Christmas under the canopy

This week marks the exciting start of Christmas at Canopy Market in Coal Drops Yard! Prepare for a month-long celebration at this beloved covered market, now brimming with Christmas charm. From early openings to late-night , immerse yourself in the abundance of fresh produce, champion independent food producers, unique crafts, original designer-makers, and an array of delicious street food traders.

Date: 23 November - 23 December 2023. Website: kingscross.co.uk

#FLOFavourites: Pick of the Week

FREE EVENT OF THE WEEK

From Beirut to London: Lebanese Designers Exhibition

The From Beirut to London:Lebanese Designers Exhibition, supported by The Lebanese Embassy in the UK and the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, returns for its second edition. Showcasing Lebanese talents in Fashion, Accessories, Jewellery, Home Decor, Art, and more, the event aims to promote their unique designs in the UK.

Date: 22 – 26 November 2023. Location: ABCC, Mayfair, 43 Upper Grosvenor St, London W1K 2NJ.

Interview of the week

In conversation with Christine Kowal Post

Christine Kowal Post, an established artist and sculptor since the mid-1970s, specialises in traditional wood carving, crafting notable sculptures portraying strong women and misunderstood animals. Admitted to the Royal British Society of Sculptors in 2014, she has showcased her work extensively nationally and globally, garnering placement in public collections.

Presently, her art is featured in the exhibition If Not Now, When? Generations of Women in Sculpture in Britain, 1960-2023 at the Saatchi Gallery.

Click here for the full interview.

Food of the week

Jackson Boxer at the Corner

Chef Jackson Boxer, well-known in London's culinary scene, has brought his expertise to The Corner at Selfridges, a relaxed spot on the store's second floor with great views of the West End. The menu focuses on seasonal dishes with simple yet flavourful touches. Boxer, recognised for his success at Brunswick House in Vauxhall and Orasay in Notting Hill—both acclaimed for their quality, especially in seafood—also co-owns Below Stone Nest with his brother Frank. This new venture reflects his dedication to highlighting British cuisine with a strong emphasis on seasonal ingredients. It's the perfect spot to dine at this week.

Location: Women's Designer Galleries on 2, Selfridges, 400 Oxford St, London W1A 1AB.Website: selfridges.com.

Cause of the week

Being The Cure

Being The Cure, a grassroots charity in Newham, London, is dedicated to fostering the heroes of tomorrow. Their mission centres on evidence-based character education, aiming to instill honesty, kindness, and humility in every child. For the past two years, they've successfully conducted the Saturday School for Heroism in Newham. Their team, mainly composed of volunteers from diverse backgrounds, is trained and qualified to work with children and young individuals, reflecting a commitment to shaping the future generation.

Click here to discover how you can get involved.

Website: beingthecure.org