London Hosts Alexander McQueen’s ‘Savage Beauty’ Exhibit Among Cultural Happenings

LONDON, ENGLAND — Fashion by the late, great Alexander McQueen and music from Grammy award winning Sam Smith are just two of the headline events attracting visitors to London in March 2015.

Savage Beauty, the Alexander McQueen exhibition which became one of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s top 10 most visited exhibitions when it was shown in New York in 2011, comes to London’s Victoria and Albert Museum this spring, from March 14 2015.

But it’s not the only McQueen exhibition in London this month. Visitors to Tate Britain can get a behind-the-scenes insight into the phenomenal fashion designer’s working process through Nick Waplinton’s candid photographs.

From haute couture to ‘Fashion on the Ration’, the Imperial War Museum documents wartime dress, while ‘Beard’, an exhibition by award-winning photographer Brock Elbank at Somerset House, proves that facial hair has gone beyond fashion to become an art form.

Four-time Grammy award winner Sam Smith plays intimate shows at the O2 Academy Brixton while other live music highlights include Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela and American pop punk band All Time Low at Wembley Arena and ambient dance duo Underworld at Hammersmith Apollo.

There’s a who’s who of leading ladies on the London stage in March with Zoe Wanamaker in ‘Stevie’, Maureen Lipman playing opposite James Dreyfus in ‘Harvey’, Imelda Staunton leading the West End transfer of the critically acclaimed Chichester Festival Theatre production of ‘Gypsy’ and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Lovett in an English National Opera production of ‘Sweeney Todd’.

Also new on the London stage this month, Stephen Mangan stars in Sam Holcroft’s dark comedy, Rules for Living, and Ugly Betty’s Michael Urie is in hit US comedy Buyer and Cellar at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

For a fun family day out there’s the St Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday 15th March, or join former Children’s Laureate Anthony Browne at The Big Write. Children aged 6 to 12 can immerse themselves in Punchdrunk’s theatrical journey ‘Against Captain’s Orders’ at the National Maritime Museum, and the ‘Shaun in the City’ trail places giant colorful sheep around town.

On Mother’s Day, Sunday, March15, London has plenty of ways to show mum how much you appreciate her whether you want to treat her to a West End show or Afternoon Tea in Billingsgate Market.

For more information on these and other London events, go to LondonTown.com, where there is a wide choice of London hotels to suit all budgets is given as well as information on restaurants, attractions and all the latest London happenings.
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50 Tall Ships Sail into London as Part of ‘Totally Thames’ Month-Long Festival

‘Totally Thames’ is an exciting new, month-long arts and cultural celebration of London’s river, featuring over 100 river-related events along its entire 42 mile course through the capital, taking place for the first time throughout September.

Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman will create an extraordinary new sculpture, his first UK commission, which will be situated in the River Thames at Nine Elms on the South Bank for the month of Totally Thames. Details remain a closely guarded secret until Tuesday 2nd September 2014 when the installation will be towed upriver from its build site to its end position at Nine Elms on the South Bank between Battersea and Vauxhall.

On Friday 5th and Saturday 6th September 2014 internationally renowned French artists Carabosse present ‘Fire Garden,’ a spectacular display of fire and light, and one of the last ever public events at Battersea Power Station before it closes for development.

Visitors can immerse themselves in ‘The Thames SENSEation,’ a free family event at Victoria Embankment Gardens on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September 2014 which explores the sights, aromas, tastes, textures and sounds of London’s bygone eras. This multi-sensory festival designed by the award-winning House of Gastrophonic in partnership with The Northbank.

The largest Tall Ship event in London for 25 years comes to Royal Greenwich September 5-9, 2014. Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta, the first major Tall Ships event in the city since London hosted the Tall Ships Race in 1989, will bring up to 50 ships from Falmouth to Royal Greenwich for four days of festivities.

One event stretches the whole length of the Thames, the ‘Source to Sea River Relay’ brings a bottle of Thames water from its source in the Gloucester hills to the sea. The bottle, passed hand-to-hand, arrives in London on 1st September – the first day of Totally Thames – and travels across the capital and out to sea on September 30, the final day of the Totally Thames festival.

And, for those travelling to London for the festival which includes many free events, it’s possible to find a choice of cheap hotels in London a short walk from the river, through LondonTown.com, a leading Internet site for London, as well as information on restaurants, attractions, sightseeing tours, and all the latest London happenings.

With over 18 years of experience assisting visitors to the capital, LondonTown team is proud of their customer service and editorial independence – no banner advertising or paid for content is allowed. The LondonTown.com team assist in finding cheap London hotels, sightseeing tours, ticket information and events. Visit www.LondonTown.com.
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LondonTown Contest: Win a Free Two-Night Stay at a Go Native London Apartment

LondonTown.com has teamed up with Go Native Apartments to treat one reader to a complimentary two-night stay at one of their London properties. Providing an alternative accommodation option, Go Native Apartments have properties in many popular London locations including Hyde Park, Paddington, Chelsea, Canary Wharf and Aldgate. With fully equipped kitchen, living and dining areas, the luxury serviced apartments, studios and suites provide the freedom to relax and cook during your stay.

To have a chance of winning the complimentary two-night stay, answer the following question: How many acres does Hyde Park cover?

Send your answer to competitions@londontown.com by midday on Saturday 30th November with ‘Go Native’ as the subject and your full name, postal address and contact telephone number within the body of the email. The winner will be selected at random and will be able to choose the date and location of their stay (subject to availability).

For visitors who prefer a traditional hotel stay, London hotels for all budgets can be found and booked on LondonTown.com.

LondonTown.com is a leading Internet site for London. With over 18 years of experience assisting visitors in finding inexpensive London hotels, sightseeing tours, ticket information and events. Visit http://www.LondonTown.com.

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www.examiner.com/eclectic-travel-in-national/karen-rubin

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