With the most rainy April in 200 years behind us, May promises to not only have beautiful flowers, but seems to have wonderfully warm weather as well. Hopefully this will be the start of an excellent summer. And as the start of the pleasant season, many exhibits are beginning this month and will carry on throughout the summer. Here is a sampling of some:
Tate Modern
Set to open 11 May 2000, the Tate has moved their modern collection to a giant renovated power station – and it looks very promising. The new gallery is large enough to display all those wonderful pieces that had to be kept in storage at the other location (which will now focus on British works).
The Art of Star Wars
Long, Long Ago in a Community Centre Far Far Away…
If you are part of the 98% of the earth’s population who are fans of the Star Wars movie series, you’ll want to visit The Art of Star Wars exhibit going on at the Barbican Gallery through to the 3rd of September.
Even if you are in the minority 2% that either hasn’t seen the movies or simply just doesn’t appreciate high-art, you probably need a break anyway from visiting the endless array of manor homes, museums and monuments, which make up London’s traditional tourist fayre.
The exhibit features a vast array of paintings, drawings, models, costumes, and even sound effects. Highlights include Anakin’s full sized Podracer and life size Chewbacca and Darth Vader. Surprisingly the show doesn’t really seem to have much to appeal to children, as it focuses more on the artwork and technical aspects behind the productions, although it does have a computer game area and an area to try on character masks. Although the show is slightly over-priced, it’s definitely worth a visit for any Star Wars fans.
The exhibit is taking place at the Barbican Centre. The nearest tube is Barbican. Follow the signs and yellow line to the Barbican Gallery, as the Barbican is the really hideously ugly compound and it’s really easy to end up walking in circles.
Flowers
The Chelsea Flower Show is on this month, but if you can’t afford (or stomach) to mingle with the socialites, there are plenty of other places to view the wonderful flowers brought to us through those awful April monsoons.
Kew Gardens is excellent, although there is an admission charge. But the grounds are massive and feature several green houses, as well as a pagoda and a manor house. It’s definitely worth the trip if you like gardens, but if you’re not inclined to pay to see flowers there are still plenty of options.
The Inner Circle of Regent’s Park houses Queen Mary’s Gardens, my personal favorite in London. Statues, fountains, waterfalls, a rock-garden island and every type of rose imaginable make this a wonderful place to chill out. The south-east corner of Hyde Park also has gardens that are nicely arranged with good focal points, although a few too many Japanese tourists think that fountain is just a little too special. Nevertheless it makes for a little entertainment while you relax.
Courtauld Gallery/Somerset House
Located on the Strand, near the Church that’s in the middle of the road.
Covent Garden, Holborn, or Temple tubes.
Open daily.
Admission charge £4 (£3 concession), but Mondays 10-2 is free.
The Courtauld is the place to go if you’re into the Impressionists/Post-Impressionists. The 2nd floor features an amazing collection of Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Degas, and Toulouse-Lautrec to name a few. Unless you’re into Religious Art, I’d skip the ground floor and the 1st half of the 1st floor (curiously located 2 flights up).
The Courtauld is located in Somerset House, which is apparently one of the finest of its kind in Europe. What it’s kind is I’m not sure, but it is quite nice, and is a good example of how these buildings that look small and grungy from the street actually open into stunning courtyards and splendid buildings once you get through the gates.
The Somerset House is currently being prepared for public use for the first time, and is supposed to open in May. When I was there at the end of April the giant courtyard was still being worked on and didn’t look near ready, but you never know.
Saatchi Gallery
98a Boundary Road
St John’s Wood or Swiss Cottage Tubes
Open Thursday to Sunday noon-6pm
A smallish art gallery devoted to modern art, the Saatchi houses temporary exhibitions devoted to the cutting edge of modern art. Summer 2000 will feature a two part exhibit titled “Ant Noises“.
The gallery is famous for having featured some pretty out there pieces, such as Damien Hirst’s shark suspended in formaldehyde and Marc Quin’s frozen head made from nine pints of his own blood. The piece de resistance is Richard Wilson’s 20:50, which is an entire room filled with about a metre of used sump oil complete with a walkway that visitors can use to get a better look.
I have to say, in all seriousness, this is the most wild bit of artwork I’ve ever seen and (love it or hate it) is definitely not to be missed. Although the gallery only takes about an hour to see, it’s well worth the visit as the area it’s located in is a charming side of London most visitors never see. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants in the area, and if you walk south down Abbey Road, you will come to the famous Abbey Road Studios and Zebra Crossing (about a 10-15 minute walk).
NB: the gallery is closed 21 August – 1 September while exhibits are changed.
General Info on London
London’s huge. It’s also crowded and buzzing with an energy all
it’s own. With the exception of wildlife you can find everything
you’ve ever dreamt of – for a price.
When coming here the number one thing you can count on is that you’re not going to be bored. The number two thing is that you’re going to spend a lot more money than you planned (even considering most museums & galleries are free).
Guide Book Update
London has gone a little crazy for the Millennium and spent a lot of money on not so good attractions. The most expensive and famous of these is the Millennium Dome in Greenwich.
At £20 a ticket you can celebrate the Millennium inside what looks like a big circus tent. The dome is filled with different “zones” each offering entertainment and education. The Dome has been hugely controversial and is expected to fall short of its expected visitors target when it closes next year.
The London Eye, the world’s largest Ferris wheel, has been erected across the Thames from Big Ben. It was supposed to carry people during the New Years festivities, but a technical glitch left it spinning empty.
“The Eye” is now open – but you have to book at least 5 days in advance or they won’t let you on, even if there are empty cars! (This is so
typically British it’s not even funny)
Recommended Readings
Edward Rutherford’s “London.” Okay okay, it’s a long book, but
if you have a long plane ride the payoff is excellent. There’s
so much more to be had from the city when you can walk around
and understand how the things you’re seeing got there.
Getting Around
I know all guidebooks will tell you to take black cabs, and they
are pretty cool but also pretty expensive. You can get much cheaper
travel by finding a minicab, with whom you can negotiate the price
upfront. They are really easy to find at night, they hang around
outside of night clubs and other attractions, and they’re listed
in the phone book if you want to get one from your hotel.
Click here for a map of the London Underground that opens into a new window.
Where to Find Info
The what’s on bible for most Londoners is “Time Out” which is widely available and comes out weekly for 1.80.
Every Thursday the very similar (though not as comprehensive) guide “Hot Tickets” comes free with the 35p Evening Standard – which is sold on all street corners.
