If you're in London this weekend, you'll be spoilt for choice on what to do. Whether it's getting involved in the Festival of Remembrance, witnessing a magic show or watching a glow light festival, there are a number of fabulous events happening from 8-10 November. We've rounded up some of the best things to do...
Festival of Remembrance
Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, the annual Festival of Remembrance this Saturday will see members of the royal family, celebrities and the public gather at the Royal Albert Hall to commemorate all those who have lost their lives in conflicts. This year will mark the 75th anniversaries of the great battles of 1944 and the 100th anniversary of intelligence organisation GCHQ.
To book tickets, visit: britishlegion.org.uk
WHEN: Saturday 9 November 2019 - 2pm or 7pm Price: from £10
WHERE: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP
Join in with World Vegan Month
Warm up on these chilly winter nights with some delicious comfort food. To celebrate World Vegan Month this November, by CHLOE. has partnered with vegan chef Rachel Ama to create some tasty plant-based dishes inspired by Rachel’s Caribbean roots. Satisfy your cravings with BBQ Jerk Cauliflower, grab a Caribbean Mushroom Wrap for your work lunch or feast on a Thai Green Curry in the evening.
For more information visit eatbychloe.com
WHEN: Available until the end of November
WHERE: Available at by CHLOE. London Oxford Circus, Covent Garden, Tower Bridge and The O2.
Lose yourself in a jungle-themed cocktail bar
Escape the hustle and bustle of central London in this plant-filled cocktail bar and lounge, which recently opened this autumn. You'll breathe a sigh of relief as soon as you step into the stunning Rockwell, located just off Trafalgar's Square, which is a real oasis and the perfect way to spend an evening. Its jungle-themed interiors make for a truly unique and spectacular setting, but the cocktails will also leave you marvelling. The bar, headed by Francesco Pittala, produces all of its own syrups, infusions and cordials in house and Rockwell is the only bar in London to source its botanicals from a sustainable underground farm, which grows its produce 33 meters below the streets of Clapham. As for the food, there's a delectable range on offer, from seabass ceviche tacos to breaded chicken brioche sliders, to more substantial dishes including the classic fish and chips, and grilled salmon with rocket and parmesan salad. Rockwell has also just launched Mid-Week Magic, a series of events every Wednesday evening where fortune tellers, magicians and crystal healers take over the restaurant. Enjoy their performances while sipping on apothecary-style cocktails.
WHEN: Open now
WHERE: 2 Spring Gardens, St. James's, London SW1A 2TS
Visit the website at rockwellsw1.com
Watch a magic show
Looking for something a bit different? Witness close-up magic at The Magic Hour and prepare to be amazed. Magician Tony Middleton, who is known as Sonic and has appeared alongside the likes of Gary Barlow, Jonathan Ross and Simon Cowell, will wow the audience with his sleight of hand, misdirection and mind-reading.
Tickets cost £35 and can be purchased at designmynight.com
WHEN: Friday 8 November 2019
WHERE: Sheraton Grand, Park Lane, London, W1J 7BX
Treat yourself at Gordon Ramsay's Savoy Grill
Perhaps one of the most iconic restaurants you'll find in London is Savoy Grill, located just off the Strand. The fine-dining establishment is run by a team of Gordon Ramsay chefs, so you're guaranteed to have a good time. With hundreds of years of Hollywood history, the restaurant has seen the likes of Winston Churchill, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe grace its walls. And if looking at the menu is getting you muddled, why not treat yourself to the seven-course tasting menu? You'll sample the restaurant's most classic dishes, including the iconic beef Wellington, all whilst basking in the sophisticated ambiance of the venue. Doesn't get much better than this!
WHEN: Open now
WHERE: Strand, London WC2R 0EU
To buy a voucher, visit buyagift.co.uk
Make your own candle
Why not try your hand at candle-making? As we head into the colder winter months, Token Studio will help you create a gel candle, from decorating the bottom, using the different types of wax and essential oil, and even learning how to 3D shape the candle by hand. Whether it's a gift for a friend or a home comfort for yourself, it's a great way to relax and unwind while getting a treat at the end.
Tickets cost £38 and can be purchased at designmynight.com
WHEN: Saturday 9 November 2019 - 11am or 1pm
WHERE: Token Studio, Unit 1, St Saviours Wharf, 23 Mill St, London SE1 2BE
Last chance to see fireworks
If this year's bonfire night slipped by too fast and you didn't get the chance to get your firework fix, Wembley Park is the place to be. Combining the best of Bonfire Night and Diwali, Light Up The Night is a free event offering a carnival parade, funfair rides, street performers and a fireworks display across Wembley Park.
For more information visit eventbrite.co.uk
WHEN: Sunday 10 November 2019 - from 5pm
WHERE: Market Square, Wembley Park, HA9 0FA
Embrace your carnivorous side at The Game Bird
Now this is one restaurant for the meat-lovers. The Game Bird, located at The Stafford London hotel, has one of the best selection of meat dishes you'll find in the capital. Their autumn menu and the plush interiors of the restaurant are so inviting you'll never want to step out into the cold again. Tucked away in St James', The Game Bird offers venison, roast pigeon, wild boar, various steaks and more. Their ethos is to support local farms and serve fresh, seasonal food, which is why you'll find a range of British goods on the menu. The Loch Duart salmon, cured with beetroot, is absolutely divine for starters, as are the wild boar croquettes. For mains, there is a wealth to choose from but we strongly recommend the slow-roasted shoulder of lamb, soft and tender and drizzled with mint sauce. The Sunday roast is of course another popular order at the weekends, with the cuts of grass-fed beef served with a gargantuan Yorkshire pudding, all the trimmings and roasties from the roast potato trolley. The dream! Scottish lobster cannelloni, Colchester or Porthilly Rock oysters and a whole stuffed partridge are just some of the other decadent dishes on this crowd-pleasing menu.
WHEN: Open now
WHERE: 16-18 St James's Place, London SW1A 1NJ
To book a table visit thestaffordlondon.com/the-game-bird
Glow light festival
Brighten up your dark winter evening with the glow light festival this weekend. Over two nights, London will be lit up with lanterns, projections and installations created by over 300 local residents. This year's family-friendly event has the theme of illusion, so head down to Eastbury Manor House to see it transformed into projected moving image, or feast your eyes on a laser projection of Barking’s History of innovative power stations.
Tickets cost £5 and can be purchased at creativebd.org.uk
WHEN: Friday 8 November 2019
WHERE: Eastbury Manor House (Barking), £5, book ahead, from 5pm
Contemporary craft fair
Get the creative juices flowing this weekend at the annual contemporary craft and design fair, Handmade Chelsea. Head down to Chelsea Old Town Hall to shop for gorgeous textiles, jewellery, ceramics and glassware from over 100 designer-makers, and speak to them about their work.
For more information, visit eventbrite.co.uk
WHEN: 8-10 November 2019
WHERE: Chelsea Old Town Hall, King's Road, Chelsea, London SW3 5E
Enjoy dinner with a view
Make it a night to remember at Fenchurch, the refined-dining two AA rosette restaurant that overlooks London on level 37 of Sky Garden. The restaurant recently appointed their new Head Chef George Farrugia, and with him he brings his impeccable training in classic French cooking, alongside Mediterranean influences inspired by his Cypriot roots to Fenchurch’s elevated dining offering. Be sure to try the roasted Orkney scallop with crab mousse, sea vegetables and shellfish vinaigrette as well as the Aylesbury duck breast with fermented hispi cabbage and quince. To finish, indulge in the black fig and orange Bakewell tart with mascarpone sorbet.
For more information, visit skygarden.london/fenchurch-restaurant
WHEN: Available now
WHERE: 20 Fenchurch St, London EC3M 8AF
Have dinner at an exclusive members club
Now this is one very fancy way to spend an evening. Head to The Wellington Club in St James', a members club which actually opens to non-guests for meals. Downstairs you'll find a very chic and quirky restaurant, fitted with swanky and eccentric décor. Look out for the skull disco ball above the bar! Former executive chef of the Gaucho Group, Brett Duarte, has cooked up an exquisite menu featuring modern European cuisine. The pan-fried scallops served with sweetcorn purée, dried ham and shallot jus are a must-try, as are Duarte's signature crispy ox cheeks. For mains, you can't go wrong with a steak, and the perfect sharer has to be the crowd-pleaser chateaubriand. The steaks are the highlight, with cuts including ribeye, fillet, sirloin and more. Of course, pescatarians and vegetarians are also catered for at this fine-dining establishment. The whole Cornish Dover sole meunière and tasting of asparagus, tomato fondue, parmesan and truffle are just some of the other dishes on offer.
WHEN: Open now
WHERE: 91 Jermyn St, St. James's, London SW1Y 6JB
To book a table visit thewellington.club
Get this great sporting event in the diary!
Champions Tennis is back again for 2019 and will be returning to The Royal Albert Hall on 28 November for a long weekend of competitive and entertaining action. Some of the greatest stars of the game will take to the court, including 25-time Grand Slam Champion Martina Hingis, recently retired Marcos Baghdatis and David Ferrer, as well as crowd favourites Tim Henman and Mansour Bahrami. This year the tournament will feature an exciting new format, which sees players working together in three teams as they compete for the coveted Champions Tennis trophy. The teams will be led by Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic, who will each be joined by two other legends.
Tickets are available from £18.50 here championstennis.co.uk
WHEN: 28 November - 1 December
WHERE: Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AP
Get cosy with a view of St Pauls at Madison Winter Terrace
It’s that time of year! Madison is fired up for the festive season with their annual winter rooftop terrace - designed to inject some magic and merriment into the heart of the City - and their ‘Enchanted Woods’ one this year is more beautiful than ever. Cosy up with blankets and a cocktail (our favourite is ‘Guilty Pleasure’) and enjoy one of the best views in London, opposite St Pauls.
WHEN: Opened Wednesday 6th November
WHERE: Madison, Rooftop Terrace One, New Change, London EC4M 9AF
Have the best Espresso Martini EVER at Bourne & Hollingsworth
Is there ANYWHERE more Instagrammable than B&H? The Ketel One Espresso Martini Garden, a sustainability-focused month-long pop-up, will run from the 7th November and is set to educate consumers about the alternative ways to reuse and recycle their coffee grounds, in the beautifully instagrammable B&H Buildings surrounded by elegant greenery provided by The Little Botanical. Enjoy an exclusive green fingers cocktail, or a delicious spiced ginger tea cocktail amongst the stunning greenery. They’re also Environmentally friendly drinking, never tasted so good!
WHEN: Opened Thursday 7th November
WHERE: Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, 42 Northampton Rd, Farringdon, London EC1R 0HU
Visit the ‘Flowerbed’ exhibition and 45 Park Lane
As one of China’s most influential contemporary artists, Zhuang Hong Yi is famous for his daring colour palettes. For his latest ‘Flowerbed’ series he pairs these vivid tones with striking origami rice paper flowers, inspired by the Chinese symbolism for growth, fulfilment, prosperity and good chi. Discover the three-dimensional canvases at 45 Park Lane, and see our lobby and BAR 45 area is transformed into a colourful oasis of flowers.
WHEN: Opened last month, running until January 2020
WHERE: 45 Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1PN
Be one of the first to visit the newest West London Bar
Opening this weekend, Bloom Kensington is West London’s newest bar, with an incredible dance floor. Sample their delicious food and cocktails, the Bloomtini is highly recommended, whilst enjoying the stylish setting, surrounded by neon. Grab a booth, and get ready to eat, drink and dance on repeat!
WHEN: Opening Friday 8th November
WHERE: 2 Kensington High Street, London, W8 4PT
Check out Cahoots’ new train station themed cocktail bar
If you haven’t taken a trip down memory lane at Cahoots, you are missing out. They’re just opened their brand new ‘Ticket Hall’ cocktail bar and it’s just as fun as their original bar. Think cocktails served in tin cans over the old station kiosk, high-spirited swing dances, and squiffy Scoundrels dressed in vintage attire, providing a 1940s experience from start to finish. The most notable cocktail on the ration book-styled menu will be the Churchill - a potent concoction of mysterious ingredients sourced from the Scoundrel’s allotment, served in a ceramic vessel designed as the British icon’s head…
WHEN: Opened Thursday 7th November
WHERE: Cahoots, Kingly Street