London Weekend Ideas

If you are spending the weekend in London or haven’t made any plans yet, here are a few ideas to tempt you into our diverse capital city!

Tomorrow (Saturday) is the annual Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The 154^th encounter will see Oxford attempt to regain the crown from Cambridge.

Starting from Putney Bridge at 5.15pm, you can enjoy this most English of sporting events for free from one of the many viewing points along the race course. Either side of the river will provide you with a great view but Putney Bridge and Putney Embankment are recommended for starting excitement; Hammersmith and Barnes will afford good mid-way vistas and Dukes Meadows and Chiswick Bridge are the places to be if you want to see an undoubtedly thrilling finish!

So that you know who you are cheering on to the finishing line, Oxford wear dark blue and Cambridge wear light blue. Depending on the weather, expect up to 250,000 spectators along the river so get there early if you want a good spot!
Come on you blues! (I have to appear impartial!)

On Sunday there is a fantastic opportunity to hear the guitar trio Appassionata play live. Launching their new CD “Beyond Horizons”, Amanda Cook, Hayley Savage and Rebecca Baulch are performing music by Bridge, Dodgson, Dowland and Ireland and other English music for three guitars.

If you haven’t heard Appassionata perform yet then this is the perfect opportunity to witness three of the UK’s finest classical guitarists for the measly sum of £10! The concert kicks of at 7pm at St George’s Bloomsbury, Bloomsbury Way, WC1 and the nearest tube stations are Tottenham Court Road and Holborn. Tickets are available at the door but be sure to get there in good time to guarantee your seat.

For all you Dr Who fans out there, get yourselves along to Earls Court for the newly opened Doctor Who Exhibition! This is the largest ever Dr Who display in the UK and visitors can get up close and personal with monsters, creatures, K9, Daleks and Cybermen! With a huge display of costumes and props from all the latest episodes including the Christmas Special, this is not to be missed! The exhibition continues until September and new items from the fourth series will be added to the exhibition following transmission on BBC1. Adult tickets are £9 and Kids 4-16 only £7.

The Doctor Who Exhibition takes place in the Museum Hall, Earls Court.