Thursday 30 April 2015

The Culture Post: 5 Things to do in London

London is so vibrant and full of things to do on a weekly basis that it is easy to just give up and do the same old instead of being faced with endless possibilities to choose from. Being indecisive is a particularly annoying first world problem after all.

So, here is a list of five things I would recommend you do this week. They have all been tried, tasted and enjoyed by me, so they have earned their seal of approval from a particularly picky person...


See Ryan Hewett: UNTITLED at The Unit London

With the crazy amount of galleries in London, there is always a new exhibition or ten opening during the week. However, quantity does not stand for quality. There are the good ones, there are the bad ones, there are the exciting ones and the boring ones, the high teas and the day-old coffees. The question is which ones are which?

The Unit London is a very cool, very exciting place. This contemporary gallery situated in Covent Garden is founded by two young guys and is aimed at younger audiences who want to enjoy art without feeling out of place. In this, the Unit succeeds. Moreover, the new solo exhibition that the gallery hosts until 24th May is by renowned South African painter, Ryan Hewett. Stroll down the gallery, admire the portraits of those very familiar faces, and after that you have plenty of choice with where to grab a bite between Leicester Square and Covent Garden. And here is why I think this is the one exhibition in London not to be missed this month.

Watch Spooks: The Greater Good

Oh, don't I love a good film? When there is a long weekend ahead thanks to a lovely bank holiday, hitting the cinema is the perfect thing to do (especially if the weather fails to cooperate and chooses to be grumpy instead). 

Assuming you have already seen Avengers: Age of Ultron, why not opt for something as fabulously British as Spooks? Needless to say, I was a massive fan of the series, and with the period drama likes of Matthew Macfadyen, Rupert Penry-Jones and Richard Armitage, who wouldn't? 

The Greater Good sees Harry back in business as there is a new crisis in MI5. This time, Peter Firth is joined by Game of Thrones' Kit Harington who still knows nothing, but looks good while (not) doing so. 

Spooks: The Greater Good won't hit UK cinemas until 8th May, but you can already read what I thought about it here

Visit the London Coffee Festival

People, this is not a drill! London Coffee Festival opens this Thursday (30th April) and goes on for the rest of the weekend as a launch event of UK Coffee Week.

So if you are a coffee addict with a bank holiday on the cards (check and check), Shoreditch is the place to be. The Coffee Festival is based in Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane and celebrates London'd coffee culture with more than 250 artisan coffee and gourmet food stalls. I will try my best to visit and if you are interested, too, here is where you can get tickets from.

Have a day at the V&A 

Personally, the Victoria and Albert Museum is one of my go-to places when I want to be on my own with my thoughts, while also admiring some great art. Why should you visit it this week in particular?

Firstly, there is obviously the hugely anticipated Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition that will be on till 2nd August - if you want to visit, you have to be fast and snap some tickets here. Alternatively, there is another pretty interesting exhibition dedicated to McQueen at Tate Britain:  Nick Waplington/Alexander McQueen: Working Process.

Secondly, there is another great little alternative on the ground floor of the V&A: What is Luxury? is a small, free exhibition that evaluates what "luxury" really means, and how many different things it could stand for. More on why you should visit: you can read my opinion here (shameless journalist, I know). 

Listen to some new music: Harris Adams

Finally, here is an alternative for you even if you are not in London. Born near Sheffield, Harris Adams is a British songwriter who revels in blending the old with the new. His debut single Ring Ring does just that, by harking back to Ray Charles classics where he would ‘call and respond’ to his backing vocalists The Raylettes. It is a classic trope that adds a fresh dynamic to a track, giving it a real sense of fun.

Adams' debut single Ring Ring was released on the 28th April so it is red hot! You can give it a listen here. *


And to finish this post off, here is a hilarious video involving some serious biceps content to put you in a good mood!




What are your plans for the weekend (regardless of where you are)?

*I was contacted by Adams Harris' publicist regarding his debut single. However, this post is not sponsored in any way: these are all my personal opinions, I gave his song a listen and decided it would be good to share it :)

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