From music to oarsmanship to Ming, there’s loads going on in London this month. Moya Maxwell picks her favourites
The summer holidays are at an end, workers are starting to return to their desks refreshed (or in some cases not) after a few weeks in the sun and kids are returning to start another school year. While September often has the feel of returning to the drudgery of working life, there is some salvation as the social calendar cranks into gear and London once again becomes a melting pot of events, exhibitions and extravaganza.
Here are a few of our favourites at Unique Venues of London HQ to cast away those back-to-work blues…
1. BBC Proms 2014 (up to 13th September 2014)
We might be coming to the tail-end of one of the world’s biggest classical musical events but there is still plenty to enjoy at this year’s Proms, including the rousing final night in which orchestra and audience join together to celebrate a rich tapestry of classical music. This year’s line-up will excite any music lover with performances from legendary conductors Sir Simon Rattle and Marin Alsop as well as superstars Paloma Faith and Rufus Wainwright. To find out more and to book tickets click here.
2. ‘Ming: 50 years that changed China’ at The British Museum (18th September 2014 – 5th January 2015)
Visitors are invited to explore the beauty, mystery and intrigue of one of the most fascinating periods of dynastic rule in the world. Told through some exquisitely beautiful objects, drawn from the British Museum’s own and 20 other international collections, this exhibition explains how China became the country it is today. Charting five decades, it explores both the country’s unparalleled creativity as well as the dramatic centralisation of power that occurred during this period. Click here to book tickets.
3. Constable: The Making of A Master at The V&A (20th September 2014 – 11th January 2015)
John Constable is perhaps one of the best known painters of his generation and works such as ‘The Hay Wain’ and ‘Flatford Mill (Scene on a Navigable River)’ have become national treasures. This special exhibition will lift the lid on some of the hidden stories behind some of his most iconic pieces and offer an insight into how one of Britain’s most celebrated artists honed his craft. The event will also be accompanied by a series of talks, lectures and workshops throughout its run. To find out more and book tickets, click here.
4. Open House London, across the capital (20th – 21st September 2014)
This annual events offers a chance for both the nosey and the curious to step inside special locations around London not generally open to the public. Lose yourself for the day inside the London abode of one of America’s founding fathers at Benjamin Franklin House or marvel at the striking Elizabethan architecture of Middle Temple Hall. There are more than 800 guided tours and architectural tours taking place over this two day event so there is definitely something for everyone. To find out more, click here.
5. The Great River Race (27th September 2014)
Attracting almost 300 crews from all over the world, the Great River Race is a marathon on the river like no other. The event brings together serious sportspeople, to those who want to take part for the sheer fun of it. Taking place over a challenging 21-mile course, the route will pass many of London’s most famous landmarks. Starting at Millwall Dock Slipway, London Docklands, and ending at Ham House, the winners will receive the Challenge Trophy of The Company of Watermen & Lightermen of The River Thames and become the UK Traditional Boat Champions. To find out more about how to come and cheer on the competitors, click here.
Moya Maxwell is the chair of Unique Venues of London
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