4.5.6 Festival of Colours

 
The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park hosts 2014’ s Holi-inspired Festival of Colours and looks set to help revivify the feel-good vibe that permeated east London during the 2012 London Games. What you get is live bands and DJs plus booze plus licence to pelt your mates and complete strangers with coloured powder. Last year’s event took place at Battersea Power station – another great venue, but as the organisers point out, there the fun took place on concrete while at The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park there will be soft green grass underfoot. They don’t really need to sell the event at all: more than three quarters of the tickets were gone within the first hour of going on sale. There are still some left , though, with various packages available, from basic entry to tickets including T-shirts and packs of powdered colour. Attendees must be over 18. It will be on Sturday June 28 at 12 am. 

Young boy enjoying the Festival of Colours

4.5.6 Lee Valley White Water Centre

 

Marvel at just how fast some people can paddle at this first stage of a canoe slalom world cup tour. It's the first major event to be held at the recently re-opened Lee Valley White Water Centre, a London 2012 Olympic venue, and some of Team GB will be competing once again. Kids activities will be available in case they tire of watching the professionals tackle the technically demanding 300m course.

More information: http://www.timeout.com/london/sport-fitness/lee-valley-white-water-centre 

4.5 London Zoo Lates

 

London Zoo's late-night openings return for 2014, with events taking place every Friday during June and July. Zoo Lates offers a chance to visit the animals (175,000 of ’em, apparently - we admit we haven’t actually counted) after-hours (including the Sumatran tigers in the zoo's Tiger Territory enclosure), as well as enjoying a programme of entertainment covering talks, improv comedy, physical theatre, roving performances, carousel rides and an acoustic stage. There are wine-tasting opportunities and pop-up bars – and street-food stalls serving global cuisine mean human feeding time's well catered for. Age 18+.

4.5 Should London be the world’s first urban national park?

 

London is many things. But is it a place of outstanding natural beauty, such as the Yorkshire Moors, Yellowstone National Park or the Sahara desert? Anyone who has taken a train through Croydon or driven along the North Circular will answer that question with a fervent, resounding and forceful ‘fuck, no’. And there’s no denying that London’s natural beauty is oftenoverlooked in favour of its grand buildings, dingy back alleys and myriad public houses. But perhaps people just aren’t looking hard enough, or in the right places. That’s certainly the idea behind a campaign which aims to have London declared the world’s first urban national park.

4.5.6 London Marathon

Sun Apr 13. Starts in Greenwich Park, SE10 8XJ

This annual slog of a race starts from three different points in Greenwich Park but the biggest crowds of spectators gather at Tower Bridge, Embankment and at the emotional finish line on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. This year, prepare for mass Mobots along the route as double Olympic champion Mo Farah makes his full marathon debut. If you're not taking part in the marathon this Sunday, be sure to show your support for those who are (come on, running 26.2 miles dressed as a chicken is hardly the simplest of tasks, is it?). Check out our race route to find the best spectating spots and track down nearby pubs and bars for when all that cheering and applauding leaves you gasping for refreshment.

Around 35,000 runners take part, nearly 80 per cent of whom are fundraising for charity (Marathon places are allocated by ballot; the ballot to run in 2014 is closed).

Discover where to watch the London Marathon this Sunday.

4.5.6 Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2014

This celebrated annual photographic award exhibition is back with four new nominations who are all worthy of the £30,000 prize, but who will take home the coveted prize.

Richard Mosse's visually and politically charged depiction of a turbulent Congo shot using military surveillance film was certainly a stand out at the 2013 Venice Biennale. Spaniard Alberto García-Alix presents his stark black and white self-portraits that span Franco’s dictatorship in the ‘70s to the present day, reflecting upon personal experiences. While the scientific approach of the originally trained biologist, Jochen Lempert offers studies of humans and the natural world, the American multi-media artist Lorna Simpson jazzes up the selection with her performative explorations of gender, culture and histories.

Venue visit: www.thephotographersgallery.org.uk

4.5 Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day

Tuesday April 8th.

It may be a marketing ploy for Ben & Jerry’s new flavours  – although they’re never going to better Choc Chip Cookie Dough – but Free Scoop Day on Tuesday April 8 means summer is on its way, so we are absolutely onboard. Check the website to find the participating branch nearest you and scamper along for a cool treat. Individual scoop shops have different opening hours; early birds can get a free scoop from 3pm at Leicester Square cinemas. You may have to queue – but it’s worth it because, let’s face it, the only thing better than ice cream is free ice cream.  Go and enjoy!!

Children enjoying  free ice creams at London streets.

4.5 The Oxford v Cambridge Goat Race

In 2014 the Goat Race, now in its sixth year and fast becoming as popular as its Thames-based rival (at least around the Time Out office), will take place on Sunday April 6. The Goat Race sees two goats – one named ‘Oxford’, the other ‘Cambridge’ – take part in a dash around the farm. Since the alternative race precedes the real thing we think it would probably be a kindness to make sure the rowers don’t know the result before they take to the water (so as not to put them off their stroke). The gates open at noon with lots to enjoy on the farm, including bands, booze and other fun, goat-related nonsense. The race takes place at 4pm. There’s an official bookie and sweepstake if you or your nanny fancy a flutter.

4.5.6 London Coffee Festival

 

Returning for 2014, the London Coffee Festival is the UK’s largest coffee and artisan food event, a celebration of London's vibrant coffee culture featuring gourmet coffee, speciality tea, artisan food, demonstrations from world-class baristas, live music and a comprehensive ‘lab’ seminar programme that will educate even the keenest of coffee lovers. Visitors can learn about the various ways to make and brew coffee at home, taste signature drinks and explore the new Milk & Sugar area featuring fashion, design and food events.

A young woman in the London Coffee Festival

After two industry days on April 3 and 4, The London Coffee Festival kicks off its public events on Friday April 4 with an evening session (5-8pm) and the ‘Espresso Martini Launch Party’ (8-10pm), and continues on Saturday April 5 and Sunday April 6 when tickets are available for three-hour sessions: brunch (10am-1pm), lunch (1-4pm) and tea time (4-7pm).  

A demostration of two cups of coffee

4.6 Document of London

* Here I let you a document of London.
   I hope you like it!

4.5.6 Vikings: Life And Legend at the British Museum

From 6 March 2014 to 22 June 2014

The British Museum comes under invasion from the dreaded Vikings as they stage the first exhibition about the warriors in more than 30 years.

Boasting a number of new archaeological discoveries and objects – many never having been seen before – visitors should prepare themselves for a fresh take on the warfare and warrior identity at the centre of what it meant to be a Viking.

Alongside the treasures that illustrate their raider and trader lifestyles, the centrepiece and highlight of the exhibition is a 37-metre-long Viking warship, the longest ever found and previously unseen in the UK. With a wealth of new information to be absorbed and a wide range of memorable discoveries to be viewed, this is one exhibition that has the power to completely change your understanding of the fascinating Viking warriors.

For more information: http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/vikings-life-and-legend

4.5 Alternative London

 

Discover the London you won't find in the guidebooks with London's original off-the-beaten-track tour provider! Our award winning tours take you into the heart of London's vibrant East End to explore the past and present of the capital's cultural and creative hub.

Our tours grew out of a love for the area in which we live and a desire to pass our passion on to others by showing the real London - from a locals perspective. We are proud innovators of the pay-what-you-want tour and the first to showcase London's incredible street art scene.

We are East London specialists; all of our guides live locally and are either well known street artists or actively involved in the creative community. Therefore our inside knowledge and passion for the area and its creative scene is second to none. All of this makes for an unforgettable London experience for both visitors and locals alike.

4.5 Lovebox 2014 line-up announced: MIA, Chase and Status, A$AP Rocky, Katy B, Annie Mac and so many more

Listen up, party people: drop what you’re doing and dust off your neon rave shades. Lovebox is back. This July, one of the capital’s biggest weekenders returns and it brings more tasty live music, DJs, dancing and general frolics than you can shake your moneymaker at.

Topping the Lovebox 2014 (Fri Jul 18 and Sat Jul 19) line-up will be Hounslow’s finest export: MIA. We predict that the badass rap diva’s dirty riddims will have you twerking so hard that even Miley would blush. Also on the bill are London duo Chase & Status, who will be bringing their ballsy basslines and epic drops to this year’s shindig and getting the crowd shaking in the best kind of way.

4.5 St Patrick's Day in London

Singing, dancing, a parade and a pint or two: the Irish have always known how to party...

Find your Irish roots for the weekend and join the paddy parade on Sunday Mar 16 2014. If anyone knows how to party, it's the Irish, and on St Patrick's Day they do it bigger and better than ever. Follow the St Paddy's Day Parade floats and marching band, which begins in Piccadilly at 2pm, then head to Trafalgar Square for a whole load o' craic at the anual festival. There'll be dancing, singing, Irish food, comedy and Gaelic-themed entertainment for the kids. Be sure to go green this March.

St Patrick's Day: what's the objective?

St Patrick's Day (Monday March 17) is a day dedicated to the Patron Saint of Ireland. Along with the religious aspects of the Saint's day, the festival is traditionally celebrated with 'wearing of the green' and shamrocks. The biggest of the festivities take place in Ireland but St Patrick's Day is widely celebrated by Irish ex-pats around the world. London has marked the day with public celebrations since 2002 and these celebrations attract huge crowds of revellers.

4.5 Silent Disco at The View from The Shard

                                 © The view from the shard. 

The silent disco phenomenon reaches new heights at these exclusive Time Out events. Pick your channel and choose your side as three DJs battle it out over separate wireless channels, playing the best in pop, rock and party classics, while you dance the night away at 1,000ft.

The View from The Shard is the visitor attraction at the top of Western Europe's tallest building, The Shard. With unparalleled, panoramic views, it offers visitors a unique perspective on the capital.

                                          

4.5.6 Billy Elliot the Musical

Current cast features Harris Beattie, Harrison Dowzel, Redmand Rance and Kaine Ward as Billy.

Six years after it first stamped, swore, and pirouetted into audiences' hearts, 'Billy Elliot the Musical' continues to mark itself out as one of the best nights in town. Both as tough as a miner's fist after a Friday night booze-up and as soaringly sensitive as one of Tchaikovsky's swans, it's a gritty story of hope that works its magic by defying sentimentality and slaying stereotypes.

What works so beautifully in 'Billy Elliot the Musical' is the miners' staunch embodiment of grimy-faced beer -without-frills masculinity – as threatened by the 12-year-old Billy's 'effeminate' attempts to express himself as a dancer, as they are by the rapacious, gorgon-style femininity of Thatcher. Hall and director Stephen Daldry exploit the gender clash to the full, both verbally and visually: so whether you're laughing at foul-mouthed ballerinas or miners in tutus, this is a glorious comedy – and near-tragedy – of dissonant values and shifting perceptions.

4.5 Presentation

 
 Hi! I'm Lucía Ron. In this blog I'm going to talk about Time Out in London. London is a big city full of life. This blog will serve to know about the culture, news and it will be your daily diary of London. If you want to know monuments, news, musicals... this blog is the perfect one.

I hope you like it!