April

April has arrived and we’re full of excitement with the promise of longer and warmer days. With the Easter holidays creeping upon us, we have some ideas of what to get up to this month in and around London, and not just for the kids, we’ve got the grown ups covered too.

The Chocolate Cocktail Club

19th-23rd April Easter weekend

Looking for a chocolate fix with a difference this Easter why not head over to The Chocolate Cocktail Club. Their mouth-watering cocktails range from creamy and intense to cool and refreshing, each drink is garnished with a treat to get the tastebuds flowing for a night of heavenly cocktails, what’s not to love...Chocolate and Cocktails! For more details click here.

Easter Egg hunts

1-28th April - Cadbury Easter egg hunt.

Looking to exhaust the kids over the Easter holidays? Why not explore one of the National Trust properties across the UK. With their enormous grounds and lush gardens the National Trust properties were clearly made for Easter Egg hunts. Make sure you’re breaking into a Cadbury egg come Easter by joining the big Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt. For more details just click here.

Sunrise Yoga at Sky Garden

From 2nd April - Sunrise Yoga at Sky Garden

36 floors high - Sky Garden is the perfect setting for sunrise yoga and a delicious breakfast.

Set among Sky Garden's luscious tropical greenery with a backdrop of incredible city views, take to the mat in the idyllic City Garden. With a dynamic, vinyasa flow style, this class is suitable for all levels and abilities and they offer two ticket options for each class - yoga and breakfast package or yoga-only ticket. For tickets and more info click here.

The London Marathon

28th April - London Marathon

The race is on and the 2019 London Marathon is nearly upon us! Join cheering crowds and fancy dress fundraisers at the world-famous London Marathon. Covering 26.2 miles and shutting down roads left, right and centre, it takes over the city for one weekend every April. If you want to cheer all the runner’s on just click here to find out all the spectator info.

Gin-House Burlesque

12th April - Gin-House Burlesque

Following a year of sold out roaring gin-house parties, London's premium vintage showgirls welcome you back to east London's best kept secret speak easy, The King's Head Members Club for evenings of Burlesque, Circus, Music and Vaudeville delights! For tickets and more info click here.

The Prince

Now open - The Prince

The Prince is from the same team behind Pergola on the roof so you know its going to be a good time. It’s made up of 1 street, 3 bars, music, food, drinks, 3 restaurants and an enclosed woodland garden.

Whether you’re looking for a stunning spot for a romantic date, an unusual location for those after-work drinks, or somewhere truly unique to celebrate a special occasion, The Prince has what you’re looking for. For more info and reservations just click here.

The B&H Garden Room

Now open - The B&H Garden Room

The next in line of London’s increasingly innovative drinking experiences, comes from stepping into this living, breathing botanical bar. Brought to you by experiential drinks aficionados Bourne and Hollingsworth, The B&H Green room will feature an array of fresh ingredients and garnishes ripe for the picking (and then promptly adding to your booze) in its brand new ‘Living Bar’. Green life will be running up the walls, along a trellis behind the cocktail bar, and across the room’s ceiling, helping punters to get inspired before they sip. For for info and reservations click here.

March

March is an exciting month as there is lot’s going on, the days are getting longer and sunnier with spring on the horizon. It’s time to get outside and embrace the warmer weather. To help inspire you we have a round up on all the different things to get up to this month in and around London.

Tom Daley’s Banana and Blueberry Pancakes

5th March - Pancake Day

Have your frying pans at the ready because Pancake Day is just around the corner. If you’re looking to perfect your pancake toss at home or venture out to explore some yummy treats check out the previous blog post for inspiration. If you live in the Greenwich area of you fancy a good giggle, check out the Flippin’ Good Pancake races at Greenwich market on the 2nd and 5th March. For more info just click here.

7th-10th March - The Affordable Art Fair - Battersea

The Affordable Art Fair returns to Battersea Park this month. Whether you know your Hockney’s from your Hirst’s, or are simply looking to dip your toe into the world of contemporary art. Friendly, expert gallerists will be on hand to help you choose the perfect piece to suit your space, taste and spend. Discover an array of original artworks from their curated collection of living artists, all priced between £100 and £6,000, and find that perfect piece to bring your home to life! For info click here.

WOW Festival

8th March - International Women’s Day - WOW Festival at the Southbank.

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. To mark the day why not attend WOW festival.

WOW festivals began in the UK in 2010, launched by Kelly at Southbank Centre London, where she was Artistic Director, to celebrate women and girls, taking a frank look at what prevents them from achieving their potential, raising awareness globally of the issues they face and discussing solutions together.

This year WOW presents an incredible line-up of events to mark the launch of The WOW Foundation and begin the countdown to 2020 – the 10th anniversary of WOW. The programme includes two very special conversations, including on Friday 8 March – International Women’s Day – with Angela Davis, and with Naomi Klein on Saturday 9 March, as well as two full afternoons: WOW: What Now? and WOW: What Next? led by Jude Kelly – and more. For more info and tickets click here. Source: Wow Festival Southbank.

Source - Blue Plant II at the O2.

17th March - St Patricks Day

On the 17th March it is St Patricks Day, the pubs will be full to the brim and the rugby will be on. But if you want to do something a bit different why not check out what is happening at the O2 on the 17th March. We were all obsessed by Blue Planet II and now you can relive the best bits of the action as the show is going on a UK concert tour and it hits Londons O2 this St Paddy’s Day. Stunning film sequences from the series will be screened alongside the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra playing live, featuring music by Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea and David Fleming for Bleeding Fingers Music. And if you thought the programme looked epic on your telly, just wait until you get a look at it on the state-of-the-art 200sqm 4K Ultra HD LED screen…it’s going to be epic. For more info and tickets just click here.

The London Coffee Festival

The London Coffee Festival- 28th-31st March

Returning for 2019, 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. 

The festival is once again the flagship event of UK Coffee Week. Highlights include the Latte Art Live workshops where you can learn to craft milky masterpieces, home barista workshops and a brand-new multi-sensory, guided and meditative coffee tasting experience. For info click here. Source - London Coffee Festival

The Gloria

With the warmer weather and longer evenings just around the corner, it’s time to get out of hibernation and explore again. It’s also Mother’s Day on the 31st so if you’re looking somewhere new to treat your mum look no further. Here are our top picks of restaurants and bars to check out this month.

The Gloria - We all have dreams and fantasies. Today, one of our wildest ones at Big Mamma is coming true (spoiler: it’s not taking pizza to the moon ). Since the beginning, we’ve always wanted to open in London, the most exciting city with the craziest vibe.
So meet Gloria, a 172-seat traditional Italian trattoria in the middle of Shoreditch.
Joyful and lush by day, it also gets funky with a buzzing atmosphere and house made playlists.

For info and reservations click here.

EartH Kitchen

EartH Kitchen - Earth kitchen is situated in the recently launched music and arts venue Earth (Evolutionary Arts Hackney), a former art deco cinema in Dalston’ bustling Stoke Newington road.

The kitchen was established by Auro Foxcroft, founder of Village Underground and EartH, and Chris Gillard, who previously helmed the St. John Group as Executive Chef.

EartH Kitchen reflects Head Chef Chris’ passion for using the best available ingredients in line with the changing seasons. Restaurant Manager Toni Castillo, also formerly of St. John, will be running the floor and curating the wine list with a European focus, while the cocktail list will make the most of seasonal ingredients.

For more info and reservations click here.

BBQ Dreamz

BBQ Dreamz - Fresh from their triumph on My Million Pound Menu, where they secured investment from Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh, street food faves BBQ Dreamz will be popping up at MEATLiquor Kings Cross for a six-week residency. The 11-course tasting menu will consist of dishes that featured on the show, including grilled satay duck hearts (in homage to co-founder Lee Johnson’s auntie who runs a skewer stall back in the Philippines), their signature lechon kawali, adobo glazed chicken wings with lime aioli, and sour papaya noodle salad, with calamansi lime-spiked Bloody Marys on offer too (plus other drinks from the MEATLiquor bar). For more info click here.

DND

DND — Do Not Disturb. Is the cocktail bar hidden in the basement of the Vintry and Mercer Hotel in the City of London — it is the place for a clandestine drink in the City. Hand-beaded images of Ziegfeld Follies girls line the walls, beckoning guests into this secret bar through a darkened entrance tucked back on Garlick Hill.

February

You may be suffering the winter blues but we have a hit list of things to do this month that is sure to lift your mood.  It may be the shortest month but its jammed packed. From Super Bowl parties, Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, new exhibitions and festivals there is plenty of fun to get stuck into…

Chinese New Year London

The Year of the Pig

Marking the turn of the lunar year, the Chinese New Year has been celebrated for centuries in China. Also known as Spring Festival and Lunar New Year around the world, this colourful celebration starts on the last day of the last month in the Chinese lunar calendar and ends on the 15th day of the first month with the spectacular Lantern Festival.

In 2019, Chinese New Year falls on 5th February and celebrates the Year of the Pig. The main Chinese New Year events take place in London’s Chinatown, the West End and Trafalgar Square on 10th February. to find out more info click here.

The Valentine’s Party

The Valentine’s Party

After an alternative Valentines Day this year? Why not escape to a surreal and exotic underground society where madness and love collide, for a bohemian party overflowing with drinking and debauchery. Safe from prying eyes, guests will be welcomed into a seductive bordello, complete with a roster of outrageous performances, wayward rogues and beautiful temptresses. Enter a whispering world designed to feed your fantasies, and be snared by seduction and allured by intimacy in the ultimate lavish setting. As the clock chimes midnight, lost hearts and souls will meet on the dance floor in the Ballroom of Romance where infatuation, obsession and eccentricity intertwine. Throughout the night, entertainment will include risqué burlesque, theatrical performances, live bands, masquerade dances and sensory, interactive visual delights. So don your finest attire and come join and celebrate the darker side of love where scandal and desire are the order of the day.  For more info and tickets click here.

The Heartbreak Hotel

Heartbreak Hotel, a week-long festival in east London, will explore the many aspects of heartbreak, including self care and the journey back to love.

Exploring the reality of heartbreak and understanding it as a collective experience, Heartbreak Hotel Festival is the very first of its kind. Taking place from February 8th to February 14th, you can expect an array of visual art; from installations and photography, to spoken word and drag and burlesque performances. For more info and tickets click here.

V&A

Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams

Something for the fashion lovers out there.

"There is no other country in the world, besides my own, whose way of life I like so much. I love English traditions, English politeness, English architecture. I even love English cooking." Christian Dior

Spanning 1947 to the present day, this exhibition will trace the history and impact of one of the 20th century’s most influential couturiers, exploring the enduring influence of the fashion house, and Dior’s relationship with Britain. To find out more info and tickets click here. FYI, tickets are selling fast so be quick to book your chance to see this stunning exhibition.

Kew Gardens

Orchids: Celebrate the colour of Colombia

Escape the dreary winter with Kew's annual festival of orchids. 

This year, Kew are celebrating Colombia, the world's most biodiverse country, through a spectacular ensemble of orchid-laden displays along a curated route.

Their flagship display is a carnival of animals, depicting a toucan in flight, a hanging sloth and a swimming turtle. They will bring to life the breath-taking rainbow river Caño Cristales and Colombia's incredible forests - complete with life-sized jaguar!

A surprise around every corner, you'll spot hundreds of colourful butterflies suspended from the glass ceiling and a floating golden-yellow display to honour the legend of El Dorado. 

Colombia has 4,270 species of orchids alone. Together with its sprawling landscape of tropical beaches to snow-capped mountains, Colombia is the perfect inspiration for our vibrant festival.  For more info and tickets click here.

RE:IMAGINE

Get out and dance this February.

REIMAGINE is known for it's mind-blowing revisits of classic albums, with your favourite records being interpreted by a 16-piece orchestra. February sees two hip-hop goliaths getting the REIMAGINE treatment as Dre's '2001' and Biggie's 'Read To Die' get outings on the XOYO stage. Set to be two of the best events in London in February, you won't want to miss out.  For info and tickets click here.

Super Bowl Party at the Clapham Grand

Super Bowl LIII

Home to the BIGGEST SUPER BOWL screening in London for the last 10 years, 2019 is no different! 

Catch every moment on the biggest HD Screen in London - 24ft wide to be exact - along with two 8ft x 6ft HD screens and six 50 inch plasma tv’s thrown in for good measure too. Trust us, there isn’t anywhere where you can’t see a screen and be part of the action!

Combine this with a vast array of standing and seating options across the main auditorium, VIP Boxes and Balcony Bar and you have the ideal location for all your viewing needs. For more info and tickets click here.

Kalifornia Kitchen - CBD Latte

You may have seen our interview with Chloe co-founder of The London Botanists back in January. As we explore CBD oil and how it can be incorporated into our day to day life. We wanted to suggest a few London hot spots where you can try some CBD oil infused treats.

1. Kalifornia Kitchen

2. Glow Bar Ldn

3. Farmacy - High Tea