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World video travel guide
News • Great Britain • 2012-04-24
April London Travel Trade Newsletter
What\'s New April 2012
Welcome to the April newsletter - keeping you up to date with all that\'s happening in London.
For enquiries please email [email protected] or dial the travel trade helpline on +44 (0)20 7234 5821.
Rock of Ages
Houses of Parliament
Music Festivals
Now rocking a double on Sundays.
Read More...
Take a guided tour around this historic building.
Read More...
Music festivals and stages pop up all over London.
Read more...
London & Partners News
Travel Trade Survey - Win a Pair of Tickets to see Ghost the Musical!
London & Partners works with the travel industry to promote London to individual leisure travellers and groups worldwide. Our Travel Trade Guide and website are designed to help you sell London to your clients. In order for us to improve our Travel Trade material, we would be grateful for our readers to complete a short survey. Your feedback is very important to us. To complete the London survey click here . All completed surveys will go into a draw to win a pair of tickets to see Ghost the Musical! (Tickets to be claimed by 30 September 2012).
Vote for London to Win a Group Leisure Awards 2012!
The voting deadline is 1 June 2012. Cast your London vote and you will instantly be entered into a prize draw to win an Amazon Kindle E-Book Reader. For more info visit www.groupleisure.com
Partner Offers and News
New Online Home for London’s West End
The West End Partnership has launched a new website, showcasing the best shopping, entertainment and culture that London has to offer. Westendlondon.com features all the latest West End news, as well as links to lots of useful partner sites. If your clients are visiting the West End, tell them to start by to visit www.westendlondon.com
Camp In London and The London Bicycle Tour Company
Camp In London and The London Bicycle Tour Company have united to provide bicycle tours from the London Olympic campsite. Camp In London is just two miles from the Olympic Park and four miles from central London. It is perfectly positioned to provide eco-friendly solutions to getting around. London Bicycle will offer daily rides, led by qualified guides, to connect campers to Olympic venues and popular London sights. For further information and camp site bookings please visit www.campinlondon.com. For bicycle hire pre-bookings please visit www.londonbicycle.com
Save 20.12% on Taste of London Tickets
Join 40 of London’s top restaurants in Regent’s Park this June from 21 – 24, for the most gastronomic and glamorous grazing session yet. Create your own tasting menu from 40 of London’s culinary hotspots. Between bites, get kitchen secrets from internationally famous chefs including Jamie Oliver, along with David Chang and Michel Roux Jnr in a programme of delicious demos and competitive cook-offs in the AEG Taste Theatre. To redeem the 20.12% discount offer, visit www.tastefestivals.com/london
The Original London Sightseeing Tour Introduces Portuguese Commentary
The Original London Sightseeing Tour has recently announced the addition of Portuguese commentary on two major routes around London. The Original Tour’s Red and Blue routes, visiting London’s major attractions & landmarks and top museums, will now feature a digitally-recorded Portuguese commentary, in addition to seven languages already offered. The Original Tour provides guided tours of the city to speakers of French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese and English. For info email [email protected]
Restaurants and Pubs
Peyton and Byrne
Peyton and Byrne is an independent restaurant group founded by renowned restaurateur Oliver Peyton. Restaurants and cafes are located in iconic London landmarks including The Royal Academy of Arts, The Wallace Collection, The National Gallery, St James’s Park, Kew Gardens, ICA and The British Library. Eating at Peyton and Byrne restaurants is all about experiencing the best of British produce, cooked with respect and great flair. All restaurants offer fantastic packages for groups. To view the collection of restaurants visit www.peytonandbyrne.co.uk and for more info email Barbara Wutte
Rainforest Café Salsa
Launched in the evening of Saturday 14 April and running every Saturday onwards, the Rainforest Café is hosting London’s largest Latin Party organised by Cubaneando and Oi Brasil in association with City Salsa ‘Jungle Fever’! Free dance tuition is available from 9pm to 9:30pm with top international guest instructors. Tables are available to book for Lite Bites or a great value £19.95 2-Course Set Menu including entry. Come and party in the heart of the West End every Saturday until 2am! For more info visit www.therainforestcafe.co.uk/salsa
Taylor Walker Pubs – Summer Festival of Britain
Taylor Walker Pubs Summer Festival of Britain begins on 1st May, the festival covers all key events of summer 2012 including Jubilee Weekend, the Olympics and more. Pubs will be serving their Taylor Walker Treats menu, including iconic British dishes, as well as providing all guests with a unique Taylor Walker Oyster Card wallet, featuring all the key date information, throughout the festival. For more info visit www.taylor-walker.co.uk
Shopping
Premium Services Packages at Westfield London
Westfield London\'s premium services packages are now available to purchase from Westfield’s Concierge. They are stylishly presented and deliver a unique shopping experience. Packages consist of your choice of vouchers that can be redeemed for a selection of our luxurious services, including Personal Stylist, Hands free Shopping and Valet Parking. Vouchers can all be redeemed on one date, or separately, and are valid for six months from the date of purchase.
For more info visit uk.westfield.com/london/services/premium
The Big British Shop
Opening from 4 May 2012, The Concept Store in Selfridges\' Wonder Room, will be the ultimate destination for products ranging from fashion to food, irresistibly loaded with British character especially created for Selfridges by some of the most iconic British brands such as Fred Perry, Gieves & Hawkes and Vivienne Westwood. And just to make sure all key British staples are within shopping distance, Marmite, Branston pickle, Hellmann\'s mayonnaise, Tate & Lyle golden syrup and many other iconic mainstream brands will grace Selfridges\' Big British Shop as prime purveyors of a quintessential British experience. For more information email Bruno Barber
New Beauty Hall at John Lewis
The new Beauty Hall at John Lewis Oxford Street will be unveiled in May 2012 following a multi-million pound facelift. The Beauty Hall is set to become an international beauty destination, featuring fragrance, hair care, skincare and nailcare in the innovative concept of a \'Town Square\' providing the ultimate shopping experience for beauty junkies. The Beauty Hall will feature major international brands, including Chanel, Dior and Crème de la Mer, alongside niche brands including Jo Malone and Liz Earle. For more information email Katie Blake
Events and Festivals
West End LIVE
Taking place on Saturday 23 June 11:00-18:00 and Sunday 24 June 12:00-18:00, for the first time ever the casts from every single one of London’s world-famous musicals will hot-foot it from their theatres to Trafalgar Square to perform for the masses at London’s free entertainment festival West End LIVE. The line-up will include the best of the West End’s theatre and entertainment including Billy Elliot the Musical, Jersey Boys, We Will Rock You and The Wizard of Oz. A variety of family activities with marquees will feature some of London’s most popular attractions, museums and galleries. For more info visit www.westendlive.co.uk
President Bastille Festival
Every 14 July the streets of France come alive in celebration of the ‘storming’ of the Bastille and the birth of La République 1789. For the 5th year the French spirit takes London’s Bankside by storm on France’s National Day, London’s largest free Bastille Day celebrations. The festival sees an extravaganza of all things French and more with a French food focus at cosmopolitan Borough Market, restaurant Bastille Day menu specials, discounts and complimentary goodies, wine tours, tastings and samplings. For more information visit www.visitbankside.com
Superstar Jessie J to Perform at Sandown Park This Summer
Brit Award Winner Jessie J is set to rock Sandown Park Racecourse this summer, when she performs live after racing on Thursday 9 August. Hailed as one of the British music industry’s rising stars, Jessie J will perform her chart-topping hits including Price Tag, Do it Like a Dude, Who You Are and Domino. The singer songwriter, who is also appearing as a coach on BBC1’s The Voice, won the Critics Choice award at the Brits in 2011. To book tickets or for more information visit www.sandown.co.uk/pages/jessie-j
Theatre
Officiallondontheatre.co.uk and Insidethegames.biz Join Forces
The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) is delighted to announce a new partnership between
SOLT - run officialondontheatre.co.uk and insidethegames.biz - Olympic and Paralympic Games news website. The aim of the partnership is to share and provide essential news, information and resources to enhance both the London Theatre and London Games experiences for as wide an audience as possible. Officiallondontheatre.co.uk’s www.theatre2012.co.uk microsite includes listings of all the great shows on sale for the summer in addition to hints, tips and an indispensable travel guide.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
A dazzling and dramatic retelling of C.S. Lewis’ classic The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe opens in the historic grounds of Kensington Gardens this summer from the 8 May – 9 September 2012. In a unique collaboration this major new production is adapted by award-winning director Rupert Goold, staged by threesixty, who gained international acclaim for their first production, Peter Pan. This production will use threesixty\'s ground-breaking surround video and enchanting puppetry to bring to life the magic of Narnia in one of the world\'s best-loved stories.For more info visit www.visitlondon.com
The Sunshine Boys – Danny DeVito Makes his West End Debut
Golden Globe and Emmy award-winner Danny DeVito makes his West End debut alongside Olivier and Tony award-winner Richard Griffiths, in a new production of Neil Simon’s hilarious and moving comedy The Sunshine Boys. Old rivalry and vintage hilarity abound in this classic comedy of showbiz and friendship. With its star cast and hilarious script, tickets to The Sunshine Boys are selling fast. The Sunshine Boys is currently booking 27 April 2012 to 28 July 2012 at The Savoy Theatre. For more info visit www.sunshineboystheplay.com
A Midsummer Night\'s Dream at Regent\'s Park
Performing from the 2 June 2012 to 5 September 2012, don\'t miss this new production of Shakespeare\'s glorious comedy, A Midsummer Night\'s Dream, in the perfect setting of Regent\'s Park Open Air Theatre. Packed with humour, magic and fairies, Shakespeare\'s A Midsummer Night\'s Dream remains a firm favourite among theatregoers. For this new production of Shakespeare\'s enduring comedy, director Matthew Dunster will be sprinkling some of his own magic dust on the woods of Regent\'s Park. For more info visit www.openairtheatre.org
Tours
Classic City Tours
Classic city tours are offering fantastic evening tours from 1st May until end of September, 2012, 8pm- 10pm pick up location by the Ritz hotel, enjoy a sightseeing tour, via Buckingham Palace along the thames, watching the evening as it draws in, just email us with any information about what you\'d like to see and we\'ll do our best to tailor a tour for you. Prices start from £20 per person, for more inform email Nick
History of Theatreland Walking Tour
Join tour guide Diane Burstein and learn about the history of London\'s theatres. The new route for 2012 focuses on the vibrant heart of the West End entertainment district. To book visit www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk Dates include 10 June, 24 June (sign-interpreted), 8 July, 26 August, 16 September. Start time - 2.30pm.
A Nous Deux Londres!
A Nous Deux Londres! Guided walks and tours, in French in London, has recently announced its new Jack the Ripper walk in French. Dates include 5 May and 7 July and 21 July, tours start at 7pm. Private walks are also available. For more information email Mary Coales or call +44 (0)20 8673 7110
Attractions & Exhibitions
What’s New Diamond Jubilee - June 2012
The first weekend of June will mark 60 years on the throne for Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. London will be hosting some of the main events and for visitors wanting to enjoy a regal weekend there are a number of activities from afternoon teas to exhibitions and of course the best places to see the action. For a comprehensive list visit www.londonandpartners.com/travel-trade/news
Sgt. Pepper and the Lonely ‘Arts’ Club for Beatles’ 50th Anniversary Year
Music fans can head down to top central London attraction, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! London, for a chance to see The Beatles like they’ve never been seen before. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison are now immortalised as part of the attraction’s newest exhibit – a portrait of the band made from 10,000 postage stamps. The new addition arrives in the same year that the band celebrates their 50th anniversary. For more info visit www.ripleyslondon.com
At Home with The Queen - Opens at The Museum of London
To mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II the Museum of London will be staging an exhibition celebrating the capital’s enthusiasm and affection for the Queen. Opening on 25 May until 28 October 2012, the exhibition will feature Londoners photographed in their own homes with their cherished souvenirs of Queen Elizabeth II. It will present a unique glimpse of Londoners at home with ‘their’ Queen and give a real sense of what she means to them. Royal commemorative souvenirs dating back to Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 from the Museum’s own collections will also be on display. Free admission, for more info visit www.museumoflondon.org.uk
Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist
Showing at The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, from 4 May - 7 October 2012, the largest ever exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s studies of the human body will be shown. Leonardo has long been recognised as one of the great artists of the Renaissance, but he was also a pioneer in the understanding of human anatomy. He intended to publish his ground-breaking work in a treatise on anatomy, and had he done so his discoveries would have transformed European knowledge of the subject. But on Leonardo’s death in 1519 the drawings remained a mass of undigested material among his private papers and their significance was effectively lost to the world for almost 400 years. Today they are among the Royal Collection’s greatest treasures. For more information visit www.royalcollection.org.uk
Accommodation
New Apex Temple Court Hotel in London
Apex Temple Court Hotel recently opened its doors as a 184 bedroom contemporary four-star hotel complete with restaurant, bar and gym. Situated just off Fleet Street in the conservation area of the Inner Temple, it enjoys a strong sense of tranquillity that is rare for a city centre hotel. The finished property, the eighth Apex hotel, offers a fusion of contemporary design and innovative technology with luxurious guest rooms and public areas and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.
For more information email Danica Smith
St Ermins Hotel
The St Ermins Hotel has re-opened following a £30m refurbishment, and are offering a 3 night Diamond Jubilee Package at £999 + VAT for 2 people sharing a deluxe room, including breakfast. Suites are available for an additional £300. The offer includes a tour of Westminster Abbey, a Royal afternoon QETea devised by Executive Chef, Hus Vedat, in the hotel’s library, full English breakfast, a regal picnic and a welcome pack of flags, hats and Royal Jubilee souvenirs. For more info visit www.sterminshotel.co.uk
Athenaeum Hotel Jewel of an Offer
To celebrate The Queen\'s Diamond Jubilee Athenaeum 5-star Hotel has created a jewel of an offer. Guests, who book two nights in a deluxe guest room, usually costing £299, will receive a third night for just £60. Guests will also enjoy complimentary drinks, snacks and coffee from the mini-bar, free Wi-Fi and children under 12 may eat for free, when dining with an adult. Booking dates from April to June 6. For more info email Tamsin Graham
London 2012
London 2012
On 27 July 2012 the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will begin in East London. All information related to the Games can be found on our travel trade website www.londonandpartners.com/traveltrade. For travel advice please visit www.tfl.gov.uk
Travelling to the Games
Around 10% of spectators will use bus and coach services to get to the London 2012 Games. A network of 300 coaches will provide express coach services to the Olympic Park. Around 500 buses and coaches will be used for shuttle services between venues and park-and-ride sites. A further 90 vehicles will connect park-and-ride sites on the edge of the M25 with the Olympic Park and Ebbsfleet, from where spectators will be able to take the high-speed Javelin® train service to the Park. Most London 2012 bus and coach services will be wheelchair accessible and a good option for disabled people and those who are less mobile. Bus and coach services will be an attractive option for groups wanting to travel together, families and those for whom there are fewer alternative transport options. For further info visit www.london2012.com/visiting
New Afternoon Olympic Walk
A new afternoon Olympic Walk was launched in the beginning of January, building on the success of the acclaimed Daily Olympic Walk run by London\'s Blue Badge Tourist Guides. This walk takes a new route, finishing at Stratford station operating on Tuesdays and Fridays from Bromley-by-Bow tube station at 13.30. For more information visit www.toursof2012sites.com
Stratford 2012 Games Walk
The London Borough of Newham has launched a new audio walk in map and audio format - which will be downloadable free of charge and will give visitors information on the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The walk will include key sites for spectacular views over the Olympic Park. For more information or to download a guide visit www.newham.com/walks
General Information
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
