London hosts the final of the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham Stadium on 31st October 2015, the Frieze Art Fair draws the world's most influential art buyers to Regent's Park in October, the BFI London Film Festival rolls out the red carpet, and the London Restaurant Festival offers food for thought at the city's best restaurants.
Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr are back on the road again for several UK arena dates in support of their 13th studio album, Songs Of Innocence, which was given away free online to more than 500 million fans and has been streamed 81 million times. The Irish quartet are so huge there will never be an end to their commercial success - if proof were needed, demand for tickets for their O2 performances has led to the addition on an extra show - and there's no debating that U2 put on a tremendous live show so this should be something to savour if you're lucky enough to get tickets.
All-encompassing food affair the London Restaurant Festival is back in 2015 for another month of foodies events across the capital. The annual event takes place during October and incorporates over 350 restaurants around London. This year's programme includes restaurant-hopping tours where you can visit six restaurants in one day. Choose from Chinatown, Carnaby Village, Tapas Tours, Japanese Journeys, Victoria and Seven Dials (which includes Marcus Wareing's Tredwell's) and get a small plate and drink in each restaurant. Or opt for one of the Champagne Laurent-Perrier Gourmet Odysseys and get lunch at three top London restaurants - your first course in one, your main in another and dessert in a third. Grain Store, Trishna, Koffmann's and Trullo are just some of this year's highlights. This year's 'Inspired by London' dining experience will see the likes of Mark Hix, Marcus Wareing and Helene Darroze create a unique Sunday lunch that takes inspiration from other chefs, produce, sights or landmarks in the capital.
The Big Draw takes place nationwide throughout the month of October and museums, galleries, heritage sites, libraries, schools and parks all play host to a variety of events encouraging people of all ages to discover how drawing can connect them with their surroundings and communities. Put together by the Campaign for Drawing, a charity which aims to eradicate the words, "I can't draw", The Big Draw is one of the world's largest drawing festivals and more than 1,000 organisations in the UK and fifteen other countries participate each year. London institutions like the British Museum, National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, the Wellcome Collection, the British Library and Discover children's centre typically take part, hosting events so there's a good chance something will be going on at a venue near you.
Michael McIntyre is returning to what he does best this year for a long awaited tour, stopping by London's O2 Arena for an impressive seven gigs, followed by a further three dates at Wembley Arena from 22nd to 24th October 2015. McIntyre is one of those universally loved posh people accepted by everyone and despised by few. Long before Jeremy Clarkson got into hot water for joking about Gordon Brown's vision, McIntyre was ridiculing the "one-eyed Prime Minister" and his previous cabinet meetings between Tony Blair and David Blunkett ("there were only three good eyes between them"). Unlike Clarkson, the well-spoken and slightly tubby McIntyre pulled it off - like he does most of his observational gags. Since his laugh out loud stand up routines that have the audience screaming with laughter and exclaiming "that is so true!" He has since moved on to present Michael McIntyre Live at the Apollo, been the loveable judge on Britain's biggest talent show, 'Britain's Got Talent', and released his first book. His trick is simple: his enthusiasm is infectious, his voice hilarious, his observation exemplary, his delivery perfect while on top of that, he seems a genuinely nice chap. Hailed by audiences and critics alike as the best new stand-up to emerge in years, McIntyre is, according to The Telegraph, "quite simply, top-to-toe hilarious".
Hundreds of exhibitions in numerous galleries come under the umbrella of Photomonth, which despite appearances is actually a two-month photography festival in the East End of London. Into its 14th year now, Photomonth prides itself on exhibiting work by both established and emerging photographers in new and challenging ways, with everything from major exhibitions to photo tours by acclaimed photographers. This year's festival include the photobook weekend and the photoblock at the Old Truman Brewery, the photo-open and portfolio review at Rich Mix, and a wide-ranging programme of exhibitions, events, artist talks, seminars, workshops and courses to ensure everyone can get involved and get engaged in the photography.
Romola Garai, star of BBC TV drama 'The Hour', plays Isabella in Shakespeare's dark, provocative comedy Measure for Measure about a novice nun and a disguised Duke who join forces to undermine a puritanical judge in vice-riddled Vienna in the name of justice and love. The Young Vic production reunites Garai with director Joe Hill-Gibbins who she worked with for her last London stage appearance, in The Village Bike at the Royal Court in 2011. "He thinks very strongly that the play has an anarchic humour and a dark humour which isn't always explored," Garai told the Evening Standard so we can expect "elements of sex comedy as well as morality play" in this interpretation of Zoe Svendsen's adaptation.
The Cake and Bake Show has all the ingredients needed for a delicious day out. With new celebrity chefs and baking shows constantly bursting onto the scene, and the phenomenal success of The Great British Bake Off, baking has become more popular than ever. Bringing The Great British Bake Off television series to life, the tent becomes a stage at the Excel Centre where some of the stars from the current GBBO series as well as former champions, John Whaite, Jo Wheatley, and runner-up Brendan Lynch will be baking live. The day will also offer an array of tempting and tasty features as well as star speakers.
Part of the V&A's India Festival, The Fabric of India is the first major exhibition to explore handmade textiles from India. It will include an 18th-century tent belonging to Tipu Sultan, a range of striking historic costume, cutting-edge fashion from celebrated India designers and highly prized textiles made for international trade. The exhibition brings together over 200 objects ranging from the 3rd to 21st century, including items from the V&A's world-renowned collection as well as some from international partners.
The Classic Car Boot Sale moves to the newly opened Lewis Cubitt Square in October. With the move comes a larger collection of classic cars, as well as music, dance, walkabout entertainment and street food. Curated by the Vintage Festival team, the event sees over 100 petrol heads park up their classic cars and vintage vehicles to trade fine vintage fashion, homewares and pop culture memorabilia from their boots. Further goods on sale will include vinyl records and accessories.
Half Moon hosts a free family fun day as part of Fun Palaces - a free, nationwide celebration of arts and culture. Installing a pop-up Fun Palace in all the nooks and crannies of the theatre's building, there'll be 15 minute interactive storytelling performances by Tell Tale Hearts Theatre throughout the day, with tales of fishermen, fairies, beasts and Kings from around the world. There's also Pentapaper's interactive art installation The Machine of Visual Delights, performing arts and music workshops, crafts sessions, and a chance to enjoy the exhibition and follow the gallery trail. All events are free so you can dip into one or two events, or stay for the whole day.
Ireland, who have yet to get beyond the quarter-final stage in a Rugby World Cup, take on Italy in this Olympic StadiumRugby World Cup match. The game has been highlighted Paul Rees, rugby correspondent for the Guardian, as one of the tournament's "intriguing and affordable" matches "that catch the eye but hopefully will not break the bank".
Inviting London's bars and restaurants to join in on a big, week-long party once again, London Cocktail Week is back for 2015 and it's bigger than ever. Stretching across the capital, it sees hundreds of venues take part, hosting tasting sessions, pop-ups events, parties and masterclasses in the art of pouring the perfect concoction. The infamous Hub is back in Soho, with different rooms taking on a different personality to take festival goers on a unique cocktail journey, and a new feature will see Old Spitalfields Market host a huge cocktail village with pop-up bats, trucks, vehicles, food and music. Last year, in its fifth year, London Cocktail Week partnered with 250 bars, served over 125,000 cocktails and welcomed more than 22,000 guests. Let's see if it can top that this year.
The Science Museum hosts Gathered Leaves: Photographs By Alec Soth, the first major UK exhibition by the award-winning American photographer. The event will survey a decade of his work and show the UK premiere of his new eagerly anticipated series Songbook (2012-14), which chronicles many journeys across America and a search for human interaction in an era increasingly defined by social networks, noting the tension between American individualism and the desire to be united. Admired for his epic narratives of longing and loss, Soth is fascinated by the endless possibilities of his medium and this exhibition captures his distinctive vision.
Choreographers Alastair Marriott and Wayne McGregor bring a mixed bill of ballets inspired by science and fairytale to the Royal Opera House main stage in October 2015, introducing 'Connectome' and marking the return of 'Raven Girl', a collaboration with award-winning writer Audrey Niffenegger, first staged here in May 2013. The project, which paired the author of The Time Traveler's Wife with the maverick British choreographer, has resulted in a dark fable, the tale of a postman who falls in love with a raven, and fathers a human daughter with the soul of a bird.
One match that will leap off the fixture list for any Eagles fan is South Africa v USA at the Olympic Stadium in London. The Eagles travel to the iconic venue to take on the two-time Rugby World Cup winners on 7th October, and for many of the players representing the USA this fixture will undoubtedly represent a career highlight.
Every October London rolls out the red carpet for the BFI London Film Festival when Hollywood players and Indie film-makers from around the globe come to London. Having enjoyed its biggest turn out ever last year - with 163,000 people attending - the festival is set to be a highlight of the cultural calendar. The excellent film programme includes many world premieres and Hollywood blockbusters shown at the famous Leicester Square cinemas as well as more intimate screenings of independent and foreign language films shown at the BFI Southbank and selected cinemas across town. This year's line-up features the UK premiere of crime drama Black Mass, starring Johnny Depp and Benedict Cumberbatch; Carol, with Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara; and The Lady in the Van, starring Dame Maggie Smith. The opening gala, on Wednesday 7th October, will be the European premiere of Suffragette, starring Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep. The programme also includes correlating events, informal post-screening Q&As, guest appearances, workshops and masterclasses.
Part of a six-date UK tour, grime stalwart Lethal Bizzle is stopping by Scala on 7th October 2015. The highly anticipated Denchchat tour comes in support of his new single Fester Skank, which features long-time production partner Diztortion and already features on the BBC Radio 1 Xtra playlist. The MOBO award winner is renowned for his high paced energetic performances, creating an unforgettable show.
Back by popular demand, the OysterFest, a seafood celebration which marks the start of the native oyster season, welcomes special guests including Richard Corrigan, Chris Galvin and Frederick Lindfords to Newman Street Tavern for the four-day festival. Chefs from top restaurants including The Richmond, The Wright Brothers, J Sheekey and Balthazar are also taking part in the shuck off competition - to see who can shuck half a dozen oysters the fastest. Learn how to open an oyster at a shucking masterclass with Newman Street's head chef Peter Weeden, and enjoy champagne and oysters served from a dedicated window throughout the festival.
Close to half of Goya's 150 surviving portraits will come together at the National Gallery this autumn. Even during his own lifetime Francisco de Goya y Lucientes was seen as one of Spain's most celebrated artists, a supremely gifted painter who took the genre of portraiture to new heights. The exhibition shows the variety of media Goya used, from life-size paintings on canvas, to miniatures on copper and fine black and red chalk drawings. One of the stars of the show will undoubtedly be the iconic 'Duchess of Alba', showing Goya's close friend and patron dressed as a 'maja', which has only left the United States once and which has never travelled to Britain. Other highlights include 'The Count of Floridablanca' and 'The Duke and Duchess of Osuna and their Children' - both key and influential patrons - and 'Mariano Goya', the last work Goya ever painted, of his only, beloved grandson.
A bigger, louder re-working of the original piece, Political Mother: The Choreographer's Cut takes Hofesh Shechter's first full-length modern dance work and turns it into a rock gig for 40 dancers and musicians, presented at O2 Academy Brixton for the first time. With Political Mother the 35-year-old Israeli choreographer also composes - and often plays - his own music, giving his work a unique signature style best described as 'urban-guerrilla edginess' - he did a small piece for the opening of the second series of Channel 4's teen-drama Skins. In 2015, five years after Political Mother premiered, it is performed as part of #HOFEST, a 4 week long season of dance in some of the capital's leading theatres and most iconic venues including The Royal Opera House, Sadler's Wells, O2 Academy Brixton and Stratford Circus.
Get your dirndl dresses and lederhosen at the ready, Oktoberfest comes to London for the first time in 2015. Taking place at Tobacco Dock, the boozy event brings with it 100,000 litres of Bavarian beer and 50,000 traditional sausages. Herman ze German will be providing the sausages and sauerkraut, and schnitzel and spatzel will also be on the menu. Not all about beer and sausages, the event will also include live music, authentic German games and a penalty taking contest.
Former lead vocalist of Supergrass, Gaz Coombes will be coming to London this autumn for one of his biggest UK headline shows. Performing at The Forum on 9th October, the gig comes in support of his second album Matador, described at 'His masterpiece' by Q and 'Inventive throughout' by The Times.
In honour of Berlin-born British artist Frank Auerbach's 84th birthday, Tate Britain is assembling around 70 of his paintings and drawings from the 1950s onwards, reaffirming his status as one of the pre-eminent painters of our age. Curated by long-time model Catherine Lampert, who sat for Auerback every week for 37 years, the exhibition brings together the artist and sitter and is sure to offer an intriguing angle on the modern master.
The Fashion and Textile Museum presents Liberty In Fashion, celebrating 140 years since the opening of the Liberty department store with a look at its role in design and the decorative arts since 1875. A display of over 150 garments, textiles and objects charts Liberty's history as 'the' fashionable place to shop and explores its impact on British fashion, from Orientalism and Aesthetic dress in the 19th century, through Art Nouveau and Art Deco in the early 20th century, and the revival of these styles since the 1950s.
For six months only, visitors to the Museum of London can gain unprecedented access to highlights from the Metropolitan Police's Crime Museum collection, established in the mid-1870s as a teaching tool to educate officers. Previously only accessible to police professionals and invited guests, The Crime Museum Uncovered exhibition reveals objects and evidence from some of the UK's most notorious crimes, including the Acid Bath Murderer of 1949, the Great Train Robbery of 1963 and the Millennium Dome Diamond Heist of 2000. It will also examine some of the challenges faced in policing the capital, tackling themes from terrorism and espionage to counterfeiting and narcotics. An accompanying programme of talks and events will enable you to play cop, bringing you closer to these fascinating real-life case files.
After a successful debut last year when 20,000 people went to Africa on the Square the free festival returns. Celebrating African culture with performances by African drummers and a live talent show in Trafalgar Square, this year's festival fills the central London square with an African market, food stalls, a fashion show and lots of activities for kids. In addition there's a packed line-up of entertainment with live music, DJs, dancing and a talent show.
The Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon takes in four of central London's best loved parks, an iconic stretch of the Thames and some of the capital's most famous landmarks. What's more, at 13.1 miles, it's a manageable run for those still daunted by the colossal feat of a full marathon. Starting and finishing in Hyde Park, runners pass Buckingham Palace, St James's Park and the Houses of Parliament before following the river to Blackfriars Bridge and back. The next leg takes them under both Admiralty and Wellington Arch, through Green Park, all around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens (through avenues of beautiful autumnal trees) before passing the Royal Albert Hall and across the finish line. In its inaugural year back in 2008, the event was won by a man wearing a rabbit mask - later to be revealed as Kenyan middle distance ace John Muriithi. There's usually plenty to keep spectators busy - including The Brakes Food & Fitness Festival running from 8am-4pm in Hyde Park on race day. There's also the Pulse 3K run for 11-16 year olds and for those who don't fancy breaking into a sweat, there's always the Hearts and Heritage Walk.
Fall Out Boy, the American band featuring the vocalist and guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley, perform at Wembley Arena in support of their latest album, American Beauty/American Psycho. The multi-platinum selling Chicago four piece, a band who "ruled the hearts of emo kids in the mid-2000s" (Rolling Stone), have enjoyed an unexpected resurgence since 2012, returning after a three-year hiatus when their brand of poppy punk rock was as good as dead and continue to fill out stadiums with hit singles like 'Centuries' and 'Immortals' from the movie Big Hero 6.
A one-day one-stop-shop where you can source the latest furniture and home decor from fifty top mid-century dealers, Midcentury Modern is a major date in the interiors lovers' little black book. Taking place at the recently refurbished Haggerston School in Hackney which was originally designed by Erno Goldfinger, the fair includes traders like Saxon from Metro Retro who has supplied props for Bond films. If you like all things Eames and Jacobsen, you will definitely get your fill here.
In 2015 the Diwali celebrations in Trafalgar Square focus on the role the Indian sub-continent played in World War I. The colourful festival of lights, which has religious significance for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, is celebrated each year with a free concert of contemporary Asian music and dance, with traditional religious music and rites to open and close the show. At t his year's festival the children's parade continues the WWI theme, re-enacting the return of victorious Lord Ram to his Kingdom. You can also sample South East Asian vegetarian cuisine, enjoy children's activities, buy colourful trinkets, don a sari and pose for a photo at this celebration of the victory of light over darkness.
A new annual series of site-specific Hyundai Commissions at the Tate Modern Turbine Hall commences with Mexican sculptor Abraham Cruzvillegas, best known for creating improvised sculptural works from local found objects and materials. During the 1990s and 2000s Cruzvillegas was among the key figure of a new wave of emerging conceptual artists and early rumours suggest this installation will include planting.
In 2015 Frieze Art Fair, the country's leading contemporary art fair, returns to Regent's Park for its 13th edition with 'Live', a new performance art element introduced last year. Alongside over 160 of the most highly respected contemporary art galleries in the world are specially commissioned art works and curated exhibitions. It's packed into a vast temporary structure in the park with work by around 1,000 contemporary artists crammed in. The free-to-view Sculpture Park, located in the English Gardens of Regent's Park, is a particularly popular aspect of the fair - when serious sculptural works can be seen in the open air. Visit between 5pm and 7pm and you'll get a discounted ticket at just £15, or opt for a combined ticket and you'll get into sister fair, Frieze Masters, a showcase of Old Masters and art up to the 20th century. Tickets are on sale from July 2015.
Following its successful debut three years ago Frieze Masters, a showcase of Old Masters and a spin-off of Frieze Art Fair, London's leading contemporary art fair, returns to London's Regents Park in October 2015. Located in a bespoke structure on Gloucester Green, to the north east of Regent's Park, it's a short walk from its contemporary sister event, and the two fairs together present a unique perspective on the relationship between old and new art. Frieze Masters present over 90 of the world's leading galleries, with works by great artists like Warhol and Basquiat, Avedon and Hockney, Rubens and Picasso on display and for sale. A programme of talks accompanies the fair, bringing together leading international artists with the directors and curators of renowned historical and encyclopedic museums.
Returning to Berkeley Square in Mayfair for its ninth year, the PAD London Art Fair, or Pavilion of Art & Design London, a spin-off of its longer established Parisian sister, brings together exceptional works of modern art, design, decorative arts, photography, jewellery and tribal art from 1860 to today. In its "jewel-box" site, there are "blue-chip names" from some 62 galleries but what makes the event unique is the way in which it "brings a different 'eye' to the British scene" (Financial Times). The fair, which takes place at the same time as the Frieze and Frieze Masters art fairs, helps to attract the world's most influential art buyers to London each October.
The Dulwich Picture Gallery closes 2015 with an exhibition on mind-bending Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher. The first major UK show of his work, it brings together his best-known prints and drawings which made him one of the most famous artists of the 20th century. Featuring woodcuts, lithographs, drawings, watercolours and mezzotints, as well as exclusive archive material, it charts his career as a printmaker and interest in peculiarities of perspective and unusual vantage points.
One of the three big London art fairs which take over the capital in October, the Moniker Art Fair shows the international scope of street art and beyond. 'Moniker' has established a positive reputation among art collectors, critics and lovers alike with more than 14,000 people expected to attend this year. It aims to challenge traditional conventions with a variety of gallery exhibits and further signature project spaces. As well as the main art fair, 'Moniker Projects' commissions a series of off site projects which can usually be seen in the nearby streets, Dray Walk and Brick Lane.
Taxidermy, immersive theatre, craft beers and DJ sets, The Other Art Fair breathes fresh air into the tried and tested art fair format. Returning to The Old Truman Brewery for its 8th edition, the fair takes place during Frieze Week, the busiest week in the UK's art calendar, and distinguishes itself by being an art fair where unrepresented artists can showcase their pieces, and visitors can take something home without breaking the bank. Don't be mistaken though, you won't be presented with any old paintings. All 130 artists have been chosen by a selection of committee experts. With more than one thousand pieces starting at £50 as well as many arty events such as curated walks and live music, this is a completely unstuffy art experience.
This autumn the National Portrait Gallery presents the first major exhibition to cover the aspect of Alberto Giacometti's work. Giacometti: Pure Presence promises to be an unmissable opportunity to enjoy portraiture by the Swiss artist, who is widely regarded as one of the most important and distinctive artists of the 20th century. The show will cover the entire span of his career, with notable paintings, sculptures and drawings within sections devoted to each of his principal models, illuminating his obsession with the human presence.
The Imperial War Museum delves into the astonishing life of Lee Miller with new exhibition Lee Miller: A Woman's War. A model, artist and photographer, Miller socialised with Man Ray, Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso in the 1920s before moving to London to become one of the most important female war photographers of the twentieth century, capturing images of the Blitz, the liberation of Paris and concentration camps. This exhibition is the first to address Miller's vision of gender, featuring many photographs, objects, art and personal items never before seen on display.
One of the world's leading dance festivals, Dance Umbrella has been bringing new dance experience to London since 1978 and celebrates its 37th anniversary in 2015. The 17-day festival begins on Thursday 15th October with Of Riders and Running Horses, an outdoor performance on the roof of a car park in Farringdon. There follows two and a half weeks celebrating dance through performances at Sadler's Wells and the Barbican, 16 Singers, a specially-commissioned piece for the very young, and Walking Stories, an immersive outdoor spontaneous dance piece in four London parks. Internationally acclaimed productions include Voetvolk's production of AH/HA at The Place and an evening of loud and informal dance by hip hop choreographer Tony Adigun, featuring BBC Young Dancer finalist Kieran Lai.
Housing is a hot topic in London. High rises and high rents are all too often the reality. But here are 100 ideas to solve the London housing crisis. New Ideas for Housing shows the top 100 ideas, the result of an international competition, displayed in a free exhibition at the NLA galleries in The Building Centre from 15th October. Ambitious proposals include creating a mega-city near the M25, better use of London's canal and river network - floating homes which could be complete in a mere six months - redeveloping the suburbs and repurposing rooftops. Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners - the firm behind the Pompidou centre in Paris - shows how easy-to-build prefab buildings can make single apartment homes both well-designed and affordable.
Rounding off chocolate week, The Chocolate Show at London Olympia is an all-encompassing celebration of the sweet stuff with a tempting array of demonstrations, tastings, activities and shopping opportunities. This year sees a number of exciting additions to the programme, including the complete live production of chocolate from the bean - the first show ever to do this. The children's area is hosted by the Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Musical, with chocolate workshops and the iconic Great Glass Elevator, while the likes of Will Torrent, Paul A Young, Chris & Jeff Galvin, and GBBO winner Edd Kimber will showcase their patisserie and chocolate recipes live on the main stage. But let's be honest, what everyone really wants is to sample the goods and that can be done in the Tasting Room and at the food stalls, which see top chocolatiers such as Rococo, Hotel Chocolat, Divine and Marou sell their produce.
Xanadu at the Southwark Playhouse recreates the cult roller-skating 1980 musical movie - "a fabulously insipid turkey" (The New York Times) - starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. Can a play be "simultaneously indefensible and irresistible?" asked The New York Times reviewing this play eight years ago. "Why, yes it can" came the reply, going on to describe 'Xanadu' as an "outlandishly enjoyable stage spoof of the outrageously bad movie".
Fourteen of the country's best porridge connoisseurs battle it out for the prestigious title of Porridge Champ at the Rude Health London Porridge Championships. Aspiring home-cooks, instagrammers and bloggers will battle it out against expert cookery writers and restaurants for the right to say they make the capital's best porridge. Porridge-loving Frances Quinn, winner of the Great British Bake Off, is on the judging panel and members of the public will also be given spoons to taste the entries for themselves as well as mini-packs of porridge oats to take home with them.
Director Benedict Andrews returns to ENO to direct a new production of La bohème, starring Corinne Winters in the role of Mimi. This is a visually stunning, contemporary new production from sought-after Australian director Benedict Andrews, whose work was most recently seen in London with the Young Vic's award-winning 2014 production of A Streetcar Named Desire. Puccini's soaring vocal lines and beautiful orchestration will be conducted by the exciting young Chinese female conductor and Italian repertoire specialist Xian Zhang. Singing Mimì will be the brilliant soprano Corinne Winters, alongside lyric tenor Zach Borichevsky as Rodolfo.
The UK's largest celebration of contemporary surf culture, the London Surf Film Festival brings together the best surf films from around the globe, all handpicked to create an exciting line-up of premieres that inspire, excite and entertain. Taking place over two weekends, with one at The Genesis Cinema and one at The Regent Street Cinema, it offers four nights of film premieres accompanied by Q&A's, a gallery show and live music.
The first Quarter Final game of the the Rugby World Cup takes place at Twickenham on 17th October when the winner from Pool B plays the runner-up from Pool A. On the same day over at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff the second Quarter Final match kicks off at 8pm when the winner of Pool C takes on the runner-up of Pool D. By the end of the day we will know which two teams are going through to the semi-final to be played on 24th October 2015 at Twickenham.
Two years in the making, actor and director Kenneth Branagh presents a five-play, year-long season at the Garrick Theatre in 2015. Launching the season, this reimagined production of Shakespeare's tragicomedy The Winter's Tale sees Judi Dench play Paulina and Kenneth Branagh play Leontes. Branagh will also co-direct with Rob Ashford following their triumphant staging of Macbeth in Manchester and Manhattan. The exciting season, which involves designer Christopher Oram, brings together an exceptional cast of actors, including Rob Brydon in The Painkiller, and Lily James and Richard Madden in Romeo and Juliet.
Eugene O'Neill's timeless classic, a reflection on the effect of industrialisation on class and identity, The Hairy Ape, is directed by multi award-winning director Richard Jones - whose credits include Anna Nicole at the Royal Opera House - when it comes to the Old Vic this autumn. Labourer Yank is proud of his status as the strongest stoker on a transatlantic ocean liner until Mildred, herself the "waste product" of her father's steel company, calls him a 'filthy beast'. Yank's resulting awakening takes him on a quest to find belonging, finally leading him to the monkey house at the zoo. The Old Vic production is directed by acclaimed director Richard Jones who has won three Olivier Awards for his work in opera and two in theatre.
The fourth Quarter Final game of the the Rugby World Cup takes place at Twickenham on 18th October when the winner from Pool A plays the runner-up from Pool B. On the same day over at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff the third Quarter Final match kicks off at 1pm when the winner of Pool D takes on the runner-up of Pool C. By the end of the day we will know which two teams are going through to the semi-final to be played on 25th October 2015 at Twickenham.
Anne-Marie Duff returns to the National in October to play Lizzie Holroyd in Husbands and Sons, which interweaves three of D H Lawrence's greatest dramas and plays them simultaneously. The play follows the women of Eastwood, a village located on the cracked border or Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, as they struggle to hold their families together in the shadow of the great Brinsley pit. Directed by Marianne Elliott, the play will be staged in the round, with the audience seated on all four sides of the stages and everyone in the Pit swapping seats to the opposite side during the interval.
The BFI is bringing romance to London and further afield this autumn with its UK-wide blockbuster Love season. Love: Films To Fall In Love With... Films To Break Your Heart encompasses three different themes - The Power of Love, Fools For Love and Fatal Attractions - with film screenings and Q&As with directors Stephen Frears (My Beautiful Laundrette, Dangerous Liaisons), Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral), Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham, Bride and Prejudice), Adrian Lester (Hustle), an d Claire Grogan and John Gordon Sinclair (Gregory's Girl). Further event highlights include a discussion with Kate Winslet, Jennifer Aniston and Amy Schumer on 24th October; a celebration of Bollywood romance on 7th November; a Jane Austen Day with screenings of Clueless and Sense and Sensibility and a Valley Party on 21st November; and free exhibition In Love with Costume on BFI Southbank's Mezzanine gallery.
Some of London's leading chefs take to the kitchens with the aim of elevating the humble bar snack to new heights in a cook-off and blind tasting to find the nation's best Scotch Egg. Having previously taken place at The Ship in Wandsworth, the Scotch Egg Challenge moves to The Canonbury Tavern in Islington for 2015. A must-see (and taste) event for any posh foodie fan, the competition sees entrants judged on three categories - taste, texture and appearance - and there's enough scotch eggs for the audience to feed their faces for free. Previous finalists have included the Harwood Arms, Duck and Waffle, The Modern Pantry and Cinnamon Soho, with outlandish combinations including chorizo and fennel, curries smoked haddock and wild boar, heart and liver, black pudding and also vegetarian. With a big screen showing all the action live from the kitchen, this is a truly egg-cellent event.
The Barbican Centre hosts The World of Charles and Ray Eames this October, delving into the world of the pioneering architects, designers and filmmakers. The extensive exhibition surveys their careers and extraordinary work at the Eames Office - a 'laboratory' that was open for four decades where the Eameses, their collaborators and their staff produced a number of pioneering designs. Featuring film, multi-channel slideshows and photography, the Barbican explores how their work was driven by philosophical ideals, embracing the potential of technology and science for the common good.
High quality contemporary craft and design fair Made London - The Design and Craft Fair returns to One Marylebone this October, displaying a beautiful range of glassware, textiles, jewellery, ceramics and furniture across the four floors of the Sir John Soane designed church. Exhibitors at the event come from the UK and further afield and will be on hand to meet buyers to discuss their work further. If you're planning on visiting the fair from outside of London and are looking for accommodation in the area, check out our hotels near One Marylebone .
The Moscow State Circus returns to the UK with the first European tour of its latest show, Zhelaniy, based on the Russian folklore story of Cvetik-Semicvetik, or "the flower with seven colors". Set in an enchanted garden the story follows Zhenya, a girl (played by Kushka Veslovskiy) who is granted seven flowers by an eccentric old man (Vladimur Georgieski), each representing a wish. Wizard Wacko and his crazy side kick Natalia Mezentceva guide us through this fable, told through a multitude of flying, back flipping, juggling, wire walking and roller-skating performers. Acts include the award winning Ruban 13 people springboard troupe, Stynka on the horizontal bouncing Russian bar, the roller-skating Veslvskiy, Eliza Khachutryan the ballerina on the high wire and the Trio Atlas on the floating globes. There are some excellent individual performances including one by Tatiana Ozhiganova who is "elegance personified" (The Circus Diaries) as she uses a small folk accordion as a prop while performing a graceful routine on a single aerial strap.
Following a successful appearance at Lovebox in the summer geeky electrock synth troupe Hot Chip play two nights at the Brixton Academy, the culmination of a worldwide tour. Three years after they last played the south London music venue, the London-based five-piece - who are Alexis Taylor, Al Doyle, Owen Clarke, Felix Martin and Joe Goddard - have a new album Why Make Sense? which features guest appearances from De La Soul's Posdnuos and Scritti Politti's Green Gartside (Love Is The Future). The band have a unique sound typified by Taylor's airy falsetto backed up by a series of jumpy and quirky beats. This is Oxbridge-schooled geektronica at its very best.
WHY? What's Happening for the Young at the Southbank Centre celebrates the rights of children and young people and explores what rights they really have today. Talks from TV presenter and author Cerrie Burnell, authors Lemn Sissay, Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Morpurgo, a large scale sing-along protest by hundreds of children, and workshops to develop financial understanding are just some of the activities on offer. Hot topics for parents including gender stereotypes, refugee children and online safety, a young people's play performed by Contact Young Company examining young attitudes to sex and a peace mosaic made up of children's handprints are all covered at the festival.
Showcasing films, videogames, comics, sci-fi and animation, MCM London Comic Con is Britain's biggest pop culture festival. Held at ExCeL, it welcomes a number of top comic creators and special guests. The line-up for this year is yet to be announced but 2014 welcomed the likes of Daniel Radcliffe, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and the stars of Welcome to Purgatory. Further event highlights include a special gaming zone, cosplay and masquerade and a number of dealer stalls, providing the chance to buy the best merchandise from the worlds of movies, anime, manga, TV, comics, trading cards and action figures.
Located at the ExCeL, the expo will be close to Greenwich and, multi-purpose music venue, the O2 Arena. To find the best hotel deals close to the event, have a look at our Nearby Hotels page.
American superstar yoga teacher Tara Stiles will be one of the stars of this year's OM Yoga Show which installs an air of meditative contemplation at Alexandra Palace, a new home for this annual show. Tara, dubbed the 'Yoga Rebel' by the New York Times, is just one of the leading yoga teachers at the show; she's joined by David Sye, Claire Missingham and Michael Gannon. As well as hundreds of free yoga sessions there are Ayurvedic therapies, dietary advice and stalls selling everything from chemical-free yoga mats to three-week meditation holidays. The workshops are really worthwhile; some are free, for others you need to book and pay and there's something for all levels of ability. Remember to wear comfortable clothes and stay clear of heavy foods for an hour or so before the show if you want to join in.
COMPETITION: We've got 10 pairs of tickets to the OM Yoga Show to give away. Go to LondonTown's competitions page to find out all the details.
Three time Olivier Award winner Roger Allam appears as John Christie, founder of Glyndebourne, in The Moderate Soprano this autumn. David Hare's new play tells of the passion of the opera festival founder whose admiration for the works of Wagner leads him to embark on an ambitious project: the construction of an Opera House on his estate in Sussex. It's the story of a love affair between unlikely bedfellows, in the face of scrutiny, sacrifice and war in Germany. Hare returns to Hampstead following his sell out hit The Judas Kiss, starring Rupert Everett, which transferred to the West End two years ago.
Following a successful return at the beginning of December 2014, Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber's long-running musical based on TS Eliot's 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats' returns for ten week run from 23rd October 2015 for Christmas at the London Palladium. One of the longest-running shows in the West End - it played for 21 record-breaking years - Cats is a wonderful show about the Jellicle cats who meet on one special night of the year at the Jellicle Ball. Long term Associate Director of Cats Chrissie Cartwright recreates Trevor Nunn's original direction featuring Gillian Lynne's choreography and some wonderful and well loved songs including Memory which became a Top 10 hit in the UK in 1981 for Elaine Paige. Beverley Knight stars as Grizabella, replacing Nicole Scherzinger who took on the role in 2014, originally played by Paige.
A newly revamped version of ZooNation's award-winning production that stormed the West End in 2008, Into The Hoods presents a contemporary and urban twist on the 1980s Broadway hit. This interpretation of Sondheim's musical by one of the UK's finest street dance crews enjoyed great acclaim when they first presented this version in the West End seven years ago and now they're recreating the magic at the Peacock Theatre this Christmas. Two children get lost on the wrong side off the tracks in the Ruff Endz Estate and meet a number of familiar-ish fairytale characters to a soundtrack of fresh new RnB, and classic hip-hop and Motown. Terrible puns abound - for example, Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get it On' accompanies the scene when the Ugly Sistas try to force themselves into Spinderella's gold Adidias - but the real pleasures come from the dance moves, which are fast, tight and effortlessly cool. Good family entertainment for the hip-hop generation, with some old skool Sondheim stylings for the grown-ups.
Starring the winner of ITV's 'Superstar', Ben Forster, as Buddy the Elf and Girld Aloud's Kimberley Walsh as Jovie, Elf the Musical is an upbeat musical version of the 2003 festive film starring Will Ferrell. The story begins when an orphan boy, Buddy, mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to find his birth father, discover his true identity and help New York City remember the true meaning of Christmas. Morgan Young directs the hilarious tale, with music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin.
The second production in Kenneth Branagh's year-long season at the Garrick Theatre, this production of Terence Rattigan's Harlequinade sees Branagh perform and also co-direct with Rob Ashford. First performed in 1948 at the Phoenix Theatre, Harlequinade is a rarely-seen comedy that follows a classical theatre company as they attempt to produce The Winter's Tale and Romeo and Juliet with the disruption of the company's personal dalliances. Boasting a star-studded cast, the rest of the season includes The Winter's Tale with Judi Dench, which runs alongside Harlequinade, The Painkiller with Rob Brydon, and Romeo and Juliet with Richard Madden and Lily James.
Shakespeare's As You Like It comes to the National Theatre for the first time in 30 years this autumn. Polly Findlay directs while Rosalie Craig plays Rosalind in the breezy comedy of banishment, cross-dressing and unexpected romance. The story follows Rosalind as her father, the Duke, is banished and in exile so she and her cousin leave their lives in court behind them and journey into the Forest of Arden. There Rosalind experiences the liberating rush of transformation and she disguises herself as a boy and falls in love.
Internationally renowned fashion designer Hussein Chalayan - famous for his sculptural designs (who can forget his catwalk show where he turned a table into a skirt?) - turns his hand to dance. In his first theatrical work, Chalayan has worked with award-winning choreographer Damien Jalet (Babel) to create Gravity Fatigue, a production which takes its inspiration from themes of identity and displacement and the disconnection we experience in public spaces at moments of transition. Chalayan is the artistic director and he has also, of course, designed the costumes which are "integral to the performance" (Telegraph).
The world's oldest surviving Bible and the earliest complete copy of the New Testament are among 200 objects that make up Egypt: faith after the pharaohs, the first major exhibition to deal with 1,200 years of Egyptian history. The British Museum display gives a unique insight into the lives of Christian, Islamic and Jewish communities in ancient Egypt and how they interacted with one another, a period that has shaped the modern world we know today. Stand-out pieces include examples of the Hebrew Bible, the Christian New Testament and the Islamic Qur'an, paired with humble everyday objects to emphasise the relationship between religion and its everyday practice, two key themes of the exhibition.
The loosing teams from the Rugby World Cup semi-finals, played at Twickenham on 24th and 25th October, meet at this Bronze Final at the Olympic Stadium a week later on Friday 30th October 2015, the day before the grand World Cup Final is played over at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 31st October 2015.
After 48 fixtures held over six weeks in 11 host cities the Rugby World Cup, a tournament in which 83 nations have taken part, concludes with a hotly anticipated final at Twickenham on Saturday 31st October 2015. The global qualification process, which began in 2012 spanning a record 201 matches, reaches its climax at the Rugby World Cup Final.
The Regent Street Motor Show gives Londoners the chance to see 300 cars that span 125 years of motoring up close and personal on one of London's busiest shopping streets. The famous West End street is closed from Piccadilly Circus to Oxford Circus for the UK's largest free-to-view motor show featuring an impressive display of cars from the past, present and future. Petrol-heads will be in their element as the free show, which is staged on the eve of the Veteran Car Run, offers a unique and interesting display of motoring from the 19th century to the present day. The street is split into zones with around 100 period vehicles, 20th and 21st century displays and a future concept display from some of today's leading manufacturers. Added to all this are stage shows, presentations and competitions making it an exciting day out for car fans.
The European Outdoor Film Tour comes to the Royal Geographical Society, showing a hand-picked selection of seven adventure sports films. The film tour is shown to audiences in 14 countries across Europe from October till December and in London you can see it at the Royal Geographical Society in October and at the Rocket Complex for one night only in November. The line-up features films portraying the world's elite extreme sports athletes whether it's mountain-biking, whitewater rafting, skiing and snowboarding or a 3,000-mile adventure from Mexico to Canada on mustangs. If you'd like to know what it feels like to fling yourself off a mountain but you don't fancy actually doing it, this is as close as you'll want to get.
A lonely couple yearn for a child of their own in Snow Child, a story about family, love and the power of dreams brought to the Half Moon Theatre for 3 to 7 year-olds by tutti frutti and York Theatre Royal. When their wish magically comes true, their little girl built from ice and snow is unlike all the others and brings laughter to the whole village. But it's not easy, bringing up a wild daughter of the blizzards and the wind.
The London Science Festival prompts us to see science in the city. Through collaborations with leading scientists, artists, museums, universities and independent organisations including the Natural History Museum and Centre of the Cell, a science education centre at the Whitechapel Campus of Queen Mary, University of London, the festival opens science up to inspire audiences of all ages. Essentially, the London Science Festival creates forums for debate and encourages participation through events, many of which are free of charge and drop-in.