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News • London • Great Britain • 2012-09-29

September London Travel Trade Newsletter

What\'s New September 2012

Welcome to the September newsletter - keeping you up to date with all that\'s happening in London.

For enquiries please email trade@londonandpartners.com or dial the travel trade helpline on +44 (0)20 7234 5821.

London 2012: Legacy

Quirky Restaurants

Music Guide

Discover the long-term benefits of the Games.

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Take a guided tour around this historic building.

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Comprehensive gig listings for the best music.

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London & Partners News

Gold for London!

Following on from the success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, London’s celebrations continue with news that the capital has been voted the UK’s favourite city for the second year in a row. London has been ranked as the best city in the country by readers of trusted travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller. For more info click here

Partner Offers and News

Group Travel World

Group Travel World is the UK’s only subscribed to publication, providing a tool which keeps GTO’s and coach operators up to date with news, inspirational ideas for group breaks and some exclusive group rates. Available either in print copy or via our e-subscription it is a must read industry magazine. With some fantastic upcoming 2013 features across the UK & Europe go online www.grouptravelworld.com to subscribe or email Samantha Noble

Talk Tourism

Talk-Tourism - the ‘London Knowledge’ experts creating, managing and delivering Inbound London packages including Olympic Park area tours. Working with trade partners providing bespoke events, they include arranging schedules, itinerary planning, tourism guides, entry to events, accommodation, transport and insurance. We work in partnership to deliver high quality services, ensuring that your customers have a memorable experience when visiting London. For more info email enquiries@talk-tourism.co.uk or visit www.talk-tourism.co.uk

St. James Theatre, London’s Newest Theatre – Opens

St. James Theatre, the first newly built theatre complex in central London in 30 years, will open to the public this September. Rising from the site of the former Westminster Theatre at 12 Palace Street, in the heart of Victoria, the space will include a 312 seat theatre, a studio space, a brasserie and bar. The venue’s management and creative team is at work producing the first season, which will be announced in April 2012. David Gilmore, Artistic Director, and James Albrecht, Assistant Artistic Director, will produce a varied programme to include musicals, comedies and classic revivals. For more info visit www.stjamestheatre.co.uk

Shopping

Regent Street Christmas Lights

The switch on of the Christmas lights in Regent Street, London W1 will take place Tuesday 13 November, 2012. Visitors can download the recently launched Regent Street Shopping App which showcases Regent Street’s diverse shopping, fashion and lifestyle offer to make their Christmas shopping easier. Regent Street continues to attract new international and domestic shoppers who are drawn by the impressive array of flagship stores including the largest Burberry in the world, Superdry, Apple, Ferrari, Anthropologie, Banana Republic and Liberty. For more info email Lucia Ruz

Experience Christmas in the Heart of London

Christmas is waiting to be unwrapped in the heart of London with something for everyone this festive season. Share mulled wine with friends and colleagues in one of the many pubs and bars in Leicester Square or dine in one of the inviting restaurants. Visit Santa’s Grotto at The Rainforest Cafe or marvel at the beautiful window displays and festive lights on Piccadilly and discover luxury gifts in Jermyn Street and the Arcades. For more info visit www.leicester-square-films.co.uk or www.heartoflondonbid.co.uk

Events

Taste of Christmas, 7-9 December, ExCeL London

Celebrate the festive season at Taste of Christmas when it returns to ExCeL London this December. Learn from the best in the business with celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs including Michel Roux Jr. Once the pros have fired up your imagination – as well as your tastebuds – don’t miss the opportunity to dine from some of London’s best restaurants. Whether you’re looking for cheese and wine for your Christmas table, decorations and deli goods, or a unique gastronomic gift, Taste has Christmas all wrapped-up. For more info visit www.tasteofchristmas.com

Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival

Taking place from 16 November 2012 – 7 January 2013 Southbank Centre will be transformed into a festival landscape with a twist for Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival. Visitors will be able to explore a number of art installations across the site. There will be shows for all ages, from a beat-boxing clown and darkly comic cabaret, to candlelit classical concerts and baby opera. These will run alongside a programme of free events, including choirs singing by the river and gigs in the Royal Festival Hall foyer. For more info visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk/winter

Get Ready for Chinese New Year 2013

On February 10 an expected 500,000 people will flock to the West End to welcome the Year of the Snake with a series of spectacular Chinese New Year celebrations. 2012’s event saw extravagant displays of dance, music, puppetry and acrobatics opening a year of celebration for London. Trafalgar Square played host to an afternoon of world-class festivities. Decked out in traditional decorations, Chinatown dressed up for the occasion and offered up a feast of Chinese culture.2013’s New Year of the Dragon celebrations are set to see the most spectacular yet. For more information please visit www.chinatownlondon.org

Theatre

Get Into London Theatre

Get Into London Theatre is an annual promotion offering unbelievable ticket deals from as little as £10 to more than 50 top London shows for performances in January and February 2013. There is also a unique programme of exclusive show and activity packages – see your favorite show, and take part in a special workshop or meet the talent behind London’s hottest productions. Booking opens in early December. For more up to www.getintolondontheatre.co.uk

Chariots of Fire Extends Booking

Chariots of Fire has announced extended bookings at the Gielgud Theatre to 2 February 2013. Based on the true stories of Olympic heroes Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, Chariots of Fire features the legendary music of Vangelis. For more info visit www.chariotsoffireonstage.com

Robert Powell Joins The Cast of Singin’ In The Rain

British television and film actor Robert Powell will join the cast of Singin’ in the Rain from 1 October 2012, playing the role of studio boss RF Simpson. Best known for his television and film roles in Jesus of Nazareth (1977), Holby City and The Detectives, Powell is “delighted to be back in the West End and joining this classic musical”. Singin’ in the Rain has also just announced the release of over 300,000 new tickets, taking bookings at the Palace Theatre to 1 September 2013. For more info www.singinintherain.co.uk

A Chorus Line – Legendary Broadway Production Comes to London

Told through captivating song, riveting drama and stunning choreography, the auditionees describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers. Based on true stories, A Chorus Line revolutionised Broadway, becoming the longest running musical in New York theatre history, breaking records, winning nine Tony Awards, seven Drama Desk Awards, the New York Critics’ Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Currently booking from 19 February - 13 July 2013, for more info visit www.choruslinelondon.com

Cirque Du Soleil Returns to London with a New Production - KOOZA

Cirque du Soleil is thrilled to return to London with a new touring show KOOZA. The critically-acclaimed production runs from Saturday 5 January 2013 for a limited engagement at Royal Albert Hall. Since its premiere in April of 2007, KOOZA has captivated close to 4 million spectators in North America and Japan. London will be the first destination of the 2013 KOOZA European tour. The show presents an unprecedented approach to the High Wire and a breath taking Wheel of Death – an act that Cirque du Soleil has never before presented under the big top. For more info visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/kooza

Attractions, Exhibitions & Tours

Digital Crystal: Swarovski at The Design Museum

Swarovski has been nurturing designers and architects for the past 10

years, commissioning them to produce a remarkable collection of works that

has served to define the face of contemporary creativity. Taking place from 5 September 2012 to 13 January 2013 this exhibition, the Design Museum and Swarovski work together with a new generation of designers with a brief to explore the future of memory in the digital age. For more info visit www.designmuseum.org

National Portrait Gallery: Royal Portraits by Mario Testino

Photographs of the Royal Family, taken by Mario Testino between 2003 and 2010 will be shown together for the first time at the National Portrait Gallery from 3 October 2012 – 3 February 2013. The eight portraits on display include the official engagement portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge taken in London in 2010. Admission is free (Room 40). For more info visit www.npg.org.uk/whatson

A Bigger Splash: Painting After Performance at Tate Modern

Taking place from 14 November 2012 - 1 April 2013 A Bigger Splash: Painting After Performance will take examine the dynamic relationship between performance and painting from 1950 to the present day. Taking its title from David Hockney\'s iconic 1967 image of a Californian swimming pool and Jack Hazan\'s film about Hockney\'s life, it will bring together a range of key works by over 40 artists including Yves Klein, Jackson Pollock and Cindy Sherman. This major group exhibition will show how the key period of post-war performance art has challenged and energised the medium of painting for successive generations. For more info visit www.tate.org.uk/whats-on

London’s Lost Jewels: The Mystery of the Cheapside Hoard

In 2013, the Museum of London will open a major exhibition investigating the secrets of the Cheapside Hoard. This extraordinary cache of 16th and 17th century jewels was discovered in 1912, buried in the City of London, but questions still remain: who owned the Hoard, when and why was it hidden, and why was it never reclaimed? Tickets on sale from June 2013, exhibition opens 18 October 2013 – 27 April 2014. For more info email groups@museumoflondon.org.uk

GoToMidtown Christmas Walks

Get into the festive spirit on a free GoToMidtown walk around Bloomsbury, Holborn and St Giles. The December walks include ‘Christmas Crackers’ on Wednesday 12 @ 13:00 - Visit the birthplace of a man who put his wife’s corpse on display! ‘Christmas Story’ on Friday 14 @ 13:00 - See where the first Christmas card was printed and a monument honouring the first Christmas tree. ‘Christmas Surprise!’ on Wednesday 19th & Friday 21st at 13:00 - A surprise walk ending at a local venue for seasonal refreshments. For more info visit www.gotomidtown.co.uk

Accommodation

Luxury Became Affordable – The Westbridge Hotel

Conveniently situated on a door step of Westfield Stratford City, 15 min away from Excel Exhibition Centre and just 30 min away from the City Centre, The Westbridge Hotel offers luxury at affordable prices. Grade II Listed building dating back to 1740s offers 18th century themed suites from just £129 per night. For email Alla Vasjucenoka or visit www.thewestbridge.com

Ibis London Blackfriars Opens on 1st October

Ibis London Blackfriars o pens on 1st October as a flagship UK hotel, showcasing a repositioning of the economy brand with fresh contemporary design, technological innovation and outstandingly comfortable beds. The newly built hotel has 297 bedrooms, all featuring a new ergonomically-engineered Sweet Bed by ibis, designed to deliver the ultimate good night’s sleep. A modern and stylish open plan ground floor incorporates the reception, bar and restaurant, creating an inviting ‘living space’ in which guests can relax, socialise and work. Located in the heart of the newly regenerated Blackfriars, the hotel has convenient transport links across London. For more info visit www.ibis.com/7943

Novotel Opens New Generation Hotel

Opening this October, the newly built 4-star Novotel London Blackfriars boasts 182 contemporary and spacious ‘New Generation’ bedrooms, sleek modern public spaces, and a stylish bar and restaurant in the heart of Blackfriars SE1. The hotel is the Group’s most tech-savvy to date making it one of the most technologically advanced and innovative hotels in London. Located in the heart of the newly regenerated Blackfriars, the hotel has convenient transport links with the new Blackfriars station providing an 8 minute link to the Eurostar and Kings Cross St Pancras. For more info visit www.novotel.com/7942

Café Royal – Luxury New Hotel

Cafe Royal will be launched as a luxury hotel on 1 December 2012. Its reopening heralds the return of an iconic London institution which has continually evolved to define and capture the mood and style of the capital throughout its 150 year history. Located on 68 Regent Street – with elegant Mayfair to the west and creative Soho to the east – Café Royal sits in the heart of London’s beating West End. It features 159 rooms and suites, an array of dining venues, a private members’ club, The Café Royal Club, high-tech meeting rooms and Akasha, a holistic wellbeing spa. For more info visit www.hotelcaferoyal.com

General Information

Post Office - Bureaux de Change

Visiting London or any other part of the UK and need to buy Pound Sterling you should visit the Post Office. They have the largest network of bureaux de change in the UK, including 360 bureaux in London alone – so you’re never far from a Post Office. As the UK’s No 1 bureaux de change they offer competitive exchange rates www.postoffice.co.uk/our-london-bureaux-de-change and also offer helpful advice on mailing postcards and souvenirs!

Transport Information

A list of planned station closures and track closures for the next six months is available in PDF format. For this and further information on travel in London visit www.tfl.gov.uk

Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace

www.changing-the-guard.com provides information on Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace and publishes and distributes guide books including \'Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

Coach Parking

For details of coach parking facilities and other useful information for coach drivers in London, visit www.tfl.gov.uk/coaches

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