Things to see and do in London town over the next few months.....


March 1996

There's a chance to see the amazing Japanese drummer Kodo in their new show The Return of Kodo at the Sadlers Wells Theatre. They'll be there from Tuesday 5th until Saturday 16th March.

The campaign for Real Ale are organising the London Drinker Beer Festival at the Camden Centre in WC1. The festival runs from Wednesday 5th - Friday 8th March so there's plenty of time to savour the vast selcection of beers.

The BBC Good Food Show 1996 takes place at Olympia from Thursday 7th - Sunday 10th March. An offshoot from the popular televison series this event showcases everything culinery from new cooking utensils to recipes. Famous cooks will be on hand and there will be plenty of opportunity to sample food and wine.

From Thursday 7th till Sunday 10th March the Barbican Centre in EC2 is host to The Great British Innovation & Inventions Fair. If you've got an invention or the money to ivest in one then this could be the start of something big.

On Saturday 9th March The London Welsh Chorale are giving a concert at Southwark Cathedral (By permission of the Provost and Chapter) - starting at 7.45pm. The programme is:
Mozart "Mass in C Minor"
Mozart "Vesperae solennes de confessore"
Haydn "Te Deum"
Under the baton of internationally acclaimed tenor Kenneth Bowen, the Chorale has gained an excellent reputation over the last ten years and more, giving concerts in London, Wales, the rest of the UK and abroad.

Also on Saturday 9th March there's a Victorian Military Fair at the New Connaught Rooms WC2.

A Hertitage Antiques Fair takes place at the Hotel Intercontinental, Hyde Park Corner on Sunday 10th March.

Yet more antiques are to be had at an Antique and Collectors' Fair being held at Alexandra Palace N22 also on Sunday 10th March.

Sunday 10th & Monday 11th March are the dates for The London Book Fair at Hotel Russell in Russell Sqaure.

An Antique Map and Print Fair is being held at the Bonnington in Bloomsbury on Monday 11th March.

On Monday 11th March there's a chance to see The Thames barrier close. It only closes occasionally for maintenance and testing. Nearest Station is Charlton British Rail.

Chelsea Old Town Hall is staging a Chelsea Antiques Fair from Thursday 14th - Saturday 23rd March.

From Thursday 14th March to Monday 8th April the enormous Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition takes place at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre. This exhibition can be hard on your feet but it's full of fascinating new gadgets, products and even complete show houses.

Top crafts people from around the country are gathering for The Craft Movement in The Concert Halls, Blackheath. The event, on Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th March, is an opportunity for them to display a sell their work.

The London Original Print Fair takes place from Saturday 16th - Monday 25th March. The venue is most prestigiously The Royal Academy of Arts.

The London Hilton is this week's venue for the Heritage Antiques Fair on Sunday 17th March.

The country's biggest book fair The London International Book Fair 96 takes place at Olympia from Sunday 17th - Tuesday 19th March. This is the place to go if your looking for an agent or publisher for your bestseller.

The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair is being held at Kings College Chelsea from Tuesday 19th - Sunday 24th March. This fair is aimed mainly at interior designers.

The British Antiques Dealers' Association Antiques Fair run from Tuesday 19th - Tuesday 26th March at The Duke of York's Headquarters in King's Road SW3.

The Spring Equinox, when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are of equal length, occurs on Wednesday 20th March. To mark this occasion the Druids will be holding the Druid Ceremony of The Spring Equinox at Tower Hill Terrace, near Tower Hill Pageant EC3. In the ceremony mother earth brings in seeds for the Spring sowing and the Druids make a call for peace.

The 10th London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival will be on at The National Film Theatre from Thursday 21st March - Thursday 4th April. This festival will feature a large programme of new gay films from around the world.

On Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th March The London International Dive Show takes place at Olympia. Whether you're just thinking of taking up diving and want to put a toe in the water, or you're already an experienced diver, this show has something to offer you.

The Spring Gardens Week is being held at Leeds Castle from Saturday 23rd - Sunday 31st March. As well as tons of flowers there are also lectures, tours and workshops. Leeds Castle is a bit out of town by can be reached in about 45 minutes by train from Victoria BR to Bearsted. There is also a National Express coach service from Victoria to the castle. The admission charge for the Garden Week is separate to the Castle charges.

A Heritage Antique Fair takes place on Sunday 24th March at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square.

A bit out of town but a must for avid collectors is the Sandown Toy Collectors' Extravaganza at the Sandown Exhibition Centre in Surrey. This large event, selling all sorts of collectable toys, takes place on Saturday 30th March. Nearest station is Esher BR.

The 1996 British Ice Hockey Championships take place at Wembley Arena on Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st March. The event begins at 10am both days.

Battersea Arts Centre stages the Battersea Contemporary Art Fair over Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st March. There are all sorts of works of art here from Photographs to sculptures and they're all for sale.

Mainwaring's Antique Fair takes place at Chelsea Old Town Hall on Sunday 31st March.

The London Victoria International Doll Show is being held at The Royal Horticultural Society's Halls SW1 on Sunday 31st March.


April 1996

The annual Oxford vs Cambridge University Boat Race takes place on Saturday 6th April. The race begins next to Putney Bridge on the river Thames at 3.30pm and ends at Mortlake. The river bank at the start and finish tends to get very crowded so you may not see much of the race but it's great fun.

A Spring Craft Fair takes place at Alexandra Palace from Saturday 6th - Monday 8th April.

The London Harness Horse Parade will be held on Monday 8th April in Battersea Park.

There's a Spring Needlecraft Fair at Olympia 2 from Thursday 11th - Sunday 14th April.

From Friday 19th to Sunday 21st April Chelsea Old Town Hall stages the Chelsea Arts Fair.

Feeling fit? Well why not sign up for the Flora London Marathon 1996. The London Marathon atrracts tremendous interest worldwide. It takes place Sunday 21st April when for a time many of London's roads will be closed to traffic. The route runs from Greenwich and ends in The Mall. It's only 26 miles and fancy dress is optional!

Wembley Stadium will be packed out for The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 27th April.


May 1996

The Pilkington Rugby Union Cup Final takes place at Twickenham on Saturday 4th May.

From Wednesday 8th - Sunday 12th May The Royal Windsor Horse Show is being held at Home Park in Windsor.

The FA Challenge Cup Final takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 11th May. Parking in the area will be heavily restricted and traffic delays are likely so it's best to avoid the area unless you are going to the match.

The big event of 96 for all netties is The Internet World International 96 at Olympia 2. It runs from Tuesday 21st - Thursday 23rd May. See you there!

The Chelsea Flower Show will be in full bloom from Tuesday 21st - Friday 24th May. It takes place at The Royal Hospital in Chelsea. It's only on for 4 days each year but this event in incredibly popular.

From Saturday 25th - Tuesday 28th May London's biggest music station Capital Radio is holding The Capital FM Extravaganza in Earls Court.


June 1996

The Household Division will be Beating Retreat at Horse Guards Parade on Wednesday 5th & Thursday 6th June. None stop marching and brass bands.

There's a Fine Art & Antiques Fair at Olympia from Thursday 6th - Sunday 16th June.

Saturday 8th June is Derby Day. This major event in the horse racing calendar atrracts massive crowds and if the weather holds its great fun. You can get to the race course in Epsom, Surrey, by British Rail from Victoria.

The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition is being held from Sunday 9th June - Sunday 18th August. This major exhibition at The Royal Academy of Arts in Piccadilly has been held for over 200 years. The exhibition covers a variety of forms of art including drawings, paintings and sculptures. Anyone can submit a work of art for inclusion in the exhibtion. Competition is very high though and submissions close in April each year.

The Queen's Club in W14 is the venue for The Stella Artois Tennis Championships for the week of Monday 10th - Sunday 16th June.

The Royal Marines will be Beating Retreat at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall from Tuesday 11th - Thursday 13th June.

The Grosvenor House Antiques Fair takes place from Thursday 13th - Saturday 22nd June in The Grosvenor House Hotel W1.

There's loads of pomp and circumstance to be seen at Horse Guards Parade on Saturday 15th June. On this day HM The Queen inspects her troops in the Trooping The Colour ceremony. This year it's the turn of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards to perform the cermony.

The Biggin Hill Air Show takes place on Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th June at Biggin Hill in Kent.

If you won any money at the Derby earlier this month now's your chance to blow it in style. Royal Ascot, the horse race meeting where more attention is paid to the spectators than the runners, takes place from Tuesday 18th - Friday 21st June in Ascot, Berkshire. HM The Queen and family will all be there.

Tooting Bec Common in South London is the venue for The Wandsworth Borough Show on Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd June.

The county of Middlesex no longer exists but that doesn't stop the good people who live there form staging the Middlesex Show at the Uxbridge Showground on Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd June.

The creme de la creme of tennis tournaments, The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship, takes place from Monday 24th June until Sunday 7th July.


July 1996

Dust off your straw boater and open a bottle of champagne - it's time for the Henley Royal Regatta. The regatta runs from Wednesday 3rd - Sunday 7th July at Henley on Thames.

This year's Royal Tournament takes place from Tuesday 9th - Saturday 20th July at Earls Court.

The Olympia Exhibition Hall is the venue for the Your Health Show on Thursday 11th - Sunday 14th July.

The BBC Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, affectionately known as the Proms, runs from Friday 19th July until Saturday 14th September at The Royal Albert Hall.


August 1996

If you go down to the woods today your in for a big surprise. You won't find any teddy bears there. Cos today's the day the teddy bears have a Teddy Bears' Picnic in Battersea Park. The date for your teddy's diary is Friday 2nd August.

The West London Antiques Fair takes place in Kensington Town Hall from Thursday 15th - Sunday 18th August.

Kensington Town Hall is also the venue for The Teddies Festival on Sunday 25th August.

The annual Notting Hill Carnival will fill the Notting Hill area for the bank holiday weekend of Sunday 25th & Monday 26st August. This is the second largest carnival in the world and attracts more than 1.25 million people each year!


September 1996

Feeling all pins and needles? Well come along to The Autumn Needlecraft Fair in Olympia 2 on Thursday 12th - Sunday 15th September.

The Chelsea Antiques Fair is being held at Chelsea Old Town Hall from Thursday 12th - Saturday 21st September.

From Wednesday 18th - Sunday 22nd September the Business Design Centre is the venue for the Autumn Stampex. A major stamp exhibition including loads of dealers and stamp societies.

Earls Court will be staging Live 96 from Tuesday 24th - Sunday 29th September.

On Thursday 26th - Saturday 28th September The Royal Horticultural Halls, SW1 will be the venue for the curiously named Fungus 100.


October 1996

The Horse of the Year Show takes place in Wembley Arena from Wednesday 2nd - Sunday 6th October.

From Wednesday 16th - Friday 18th October The Armoury House Arts Fair is being held in City Rd EC1.

Sunday 20th October is Trafalgar Day. It actually commemorates Nelson's famous battle against the Franco-Spanish fleet. He won the Battle but on balance it wasn't such a good day for him - he was mortally wounded. You can see the Trafalgar Day Parade on 20th October in Trafalgar Square.

The Kensington Antiques Fair takes place in Kensington Town Hall from Thursday 31st October - Sunday 3rd November.


November 1996

The Lord Mayor's Show travels through the city of London on Saturday 9th November. The Mayor leads the parade of colourful floats in his gold state coach.

From Wednesday 13th - Tuesday 19th November Olympia is holding a Fine Art and Antique Fair.

Earls Court is the venue for The Royal Smithfield Show from Sunday 24th - Wednesday 27th November.

The holiday season must be upon us again. Alexandra Palace is holding a Christmas Craft Fair from Friday 29th November - Sunday 1st December.


December 1996

The Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree will be lit up from Friday 6th December - Monday 6th January 1997.

Olympia stages The Olympia International Showjumping Championships from Wednesday 18th - Sunday 22nd December.


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