Discover our pick of events in London this week: 11 – 17 March 2024.

Daunt Books Festival 2024

The Daunt Books two-day festival returns this week, featuring a series of talks at their quaint Marylebone store. It's the perfect opportunity to gain insight into excellent reads. This year's programme includes authors like Paul Lynch, Carys Davis, children's book writer Lauren Child, and journalist Sathnam Sanghera. Events are individually ticketed. Click here for the line-up of events.

Date: 14 - 15 March 2024. Location: Daunt Books Marylebone,84 Marylebone High St, London W1U 4QW. Price: From £8 (including a small bite). Book now.

La Mer

The London Philharmonic Orchestra concert, led by Guest Conductor Dima Slobodeniouk and featuring pianist Martin Helmchen, explores the theme of the ocean. Debussy's La mer, inspired by his longing for the sea, is celebrated despite his doubts about capturing its essence. Sibelius' Mediterranean-inspired piece complements Debussy's work. The concert begins energetically with Prokofiev's Classical Symphony and Strauss' lively Burleske, showcasing Helmchen's bold piano skills.

Date: 20 March 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre. Price: £14 ⁠–⁠ £70. Book now.  

Swan Lake at The Royal Opera House

Swan Lake is back at the Royal Opera House, telling the story of Prince Siegfried's encounter with the enchanted swan maiden, Odette. The ballet revolves around their love, betrayal, and Odette's struggle to break free from a sorcerer's curse. Make sure to book your tickets soon, as they're selling fast for this popular production, which runs until June 2024 and typically lasts about 3 hours.

Date: 6 March - 28 June 2024. Location: Royal Opera House,Bow St, London WC2E 9DD. Price: up to £175. Book now.

RHS Orchid Show

Experience the beauty of orchids at the RHS Orchid Show in 2024 at RHS Lindley Hall. For three days, explore wonderful displays, meet specialist growers, and purchase quality plants.

Date: 15 - 17 March 2024. Location: RHS Lindley Hall, Westminster . Price: from £6. Free for members. Book now.

London Symphony Orchestra: Family Concert

LSO Family Concerts offer an engaging and educational experience, presenting music based on a theme with opportunities for audience participation. Dive into Aaron Copland’s Wild West-inspired Billy the Kid, along with other musical characters, including heroes and villains. Perfect for 7 to 12 year-olds.

Date: 17 March 2024. Time: 2.30pm. Location: Hall, Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: £12 -£18+ BF. Book now.

The Grand Expedition: The Incredible Edible Journey

The Grand Expedition: The Incredible Edible Journey has returned to London after four years, opening last week at Dalston's Film Shed. Gingerline brings back its celebrated global culinary adventure, featuring delicious dishes, mesmerising acrobatic acts, and impressive choreography performed by dancers. Executive Chef Jenny McNeill curates a menu that reflects the cultures of each destination.

Date: from 6 March 2024. Location: Film Shed, 28 Millers Avenue, Dalston, E8 2DS. Price: Standard tickets from £99 (including entry, over four courses and full show experience).VIP tickets from £145 (including entry, over four courses, full show experience, luxury welcome cocktail and special keepsakes). Book now. 

London St Patrick's Day Run 2024

Join the fourth annual London St. Patrick's Day 5k run starting at the Lodge Cafe near Hyde Park Corner at 3pm. Runners will complete a social 5k lap around the Serpentine in Hyde Park before returning to the Lodge Cafe. After the run, head to the Horse and Groom Belgravia pub to watch Ireland play Scotland in the Six Nations at 4:45pm. A pint of Guinness is included in the ticket price. Don't miss out on being part of the wider St. Patrick's Day celebrations in London and join the global 'Mexican Wave' of Irish culture.

Date: 16 March 2024. Location: Lodge Cafe, 1 London Hyde Park Corner London W1J 7NT. Price: £25. Book now.

Brixton Chamber Orchestra at Brixton Performs Festival

The Brixton Chamber Orchestra will host a day of free musical events at Brixton Recreation Centre’s 3G Football Pitch this week, as part of the Brixton Performs Festival organised by Brixton Bid. The day kicks off at 1pm with ‘Discover the Orchestra!’, a workshop tailored for ages 8-12, offering an interactive introduction to orchestral music. An open rehearsal from 3pm to 6pm provides a behind-the-scenes look into the orchestra's preparation. The day concludes with a concert at 7.30pm led by renowned fiddle player Dermot Crehan and conductor Matthew O’Keeffe, featuring a diverse program from Rossini's La Cenerentola Overture to lively Irish melodies celebrating St. Patrick’s Day weekend. 

Date: 16 March 2024. Location: Brixton Recreation Centre, 3G Football Pitch. Website: brixchamber.com.  

The Big Life

In 1950s London, four young men from the West Indies arrive with high hopes and dreams of success. Determined to build new lives, they make a bold pact to abstain from wine and women for three years. However, their resolve is tested when they meet Sybil, Mary, Zulieka, and Kathy, who challenge their commitment to The Big Life. Set against the backdrop of post-war England and the Windrush generation, this joyful Ska musical combines Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost with a vibrant portrayal of immigrant life.

Date: 16 February - 30 March 2024. Location: Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Theatre Square, London E15 1BN. Price: from £16. Book now.

Cinema

Io Capitano

Matteo Garrone's film, nominated for Best International Feature, tells the story of two young boys from Senegal, Seydou and Moussa, who embark on a perilous journey to Europe in pursuit of their dream of becoming pop stars. Shot in Senegal, Morocco, and Italy, the film draws inspiration from real-life migrant journeys. It is a poignant tale of hope, heartbreak, and the harsh realities faced by those seeking a better life. Starring Seydou Sarr, Moustapha Fall, and Issaka Sawadogo, the film offers a compelling exploration of the challenges and dreams of migrants from Africa to Europe.

The film is being showcased as part of the Babricans screening of this year's Oscar-nominated films, extending the celebration beyond the awards ceremony. Alongside it, notable films like Society of the Snow, Maestro, The Zone of Interest, and American Fiction will grace the screens until 14 March 2024.

Date: 13 Mar 2024. Time: 8.15pm. Location: Cinema 3, Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: £13 + BF. Book now. 

Arts & Culture

Opening this week

Soufiane Ababri

Moroccan-born artist Soufiane Ababri is making his UK institutional solo debut by transforming the Barbican Curve with an exhibition that draws from his personal experiences and a variety of influences, including film, music, and history. Through his artwork, Ababri explores themes of identity and minority perspectives, particularly focusing on his experiences as a gay Arab man. Using drawings and performances, he navigates the intersections of Western and non-Western cultures, shedding light on marginalised narratives and challenging historical imbalances.

Date: 13 March —30 June 2024. Location: The Curve, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: Free. Website: barbican.org.uk.

Helen A Pritchard - The Homeless Mind

TJ Boulting presents The Homeless Mind by Helen A Pritchard, exploring materials and metaphysical balance. Originally at City Racing in Shropshire, the exhibition showcases discarded waste and excess materials as art, inspired by Peter L. Berger's book. The towering ‘Block Heads’ challenge viewers, while smaller maquettes incorporate everyday objects to question consumerism. Through her work, Pritchard seeks balance between materiality and meaning.

Date: 15 March 2024 – 13 April 2024. Loctaion: TJ Boulting, 59 Riding House St, London W1W 7EG. Price: Free.

Marck's Playground

Bluerider ART showcases Marck, a Swiss artist known for his innovative video sculptures. Renowned Swiss art historian Dr. Andres Pardey highlights Marck's focus on video, design, women, and narrative, inspired by Nam June Paik and Wolf Vostell. Marck employs technology to evoke emotions and explore modern psychological states at the Marck's Playground exhibition.

Date: 14 March 2024 – 26 May 2024. Location: Bluerider ART, 47 Albemarle St, W1S 4JW. Price: Free.

Li Hei Di, 700 Nights of Winter

Pippy Houldsworth Gallery presents Li Hei Di's debut UK solo exhibition, 700 Nights of Winter, exploring primal urges through fluid paint application. Her paintings balance abstraction and representation, offering portals to dreamlike spaces. Li challenges sexual and gender norms, reflecting on erotic love's clandestine nature and its connection to nature. She also investigates desire's manifestation and decline under the pharmacopornographic regime.

Date: 15 March - 20 April 2024. Location: Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, 6 Heddon St, London W1B 4BT. Price: Free.

Jean-Marie Toulgouat: Gardening Giverny

Born in Giverny in 1927, Jean-Marie Toulgouat, great-grandson of Claude Monet, returned in the 1960s to restore Monet's gardens, crafting vibrant oil paintings of Giverny's landscapes. The exhibition Gardening Giverny displays Toulgouat's works alongside Andrew Lawson's archival garden photographs, offering a glimpse into the evolution of Monet's gardens, from inception to restoration.

Date: 13 March - 24 April 2024. Location: Garden Museum, 5 Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 7LB. Price: from £14. Concessions available. Book now.

#FLOFavourites: This week

Peju Alatise: We Came with the Last Rain

Rele Gallery presents We Came With The Last Rain, featuring Peju Alatise's whimsical sculptures and installations exploring societal issues, particularly concerning children. Through fantasy and intricate narratives, Alatise addresses themes of hope, cultural heritage, and personal narratives, drawing on Yoruba cosmology and folklore. Her art challenges historical narratives, advocates for girls' rights, and inspires viewers to reconnect with their inner child, serving as a powerful commentary on contemporary society.

Date: 22 February - 23 March 2024. Location: 5 - 7 Dover Street, Mayfair, W1S4LD. Price: Free.

LAST Chance

Elysian Arcs

Experience Elysian Arcs while you still can! This towering 20 ft-high rainbow-coloured installation, located at the foot of the Leadenhall Building, is am interesting display of light and sound. Created by design studio Atelier Sisu and commissioned by ECB ID London, this free outdoor immersive experience aims to support the mental, physical, and environmental wellbeing of workers in the City and across London as part of the RECHARGE 2024 campaign.

It is open daily 10am- 8pm until 15 March 2024.

Fourth Plinth Shortlist Exhibition 2024

For 25 years, the Fourth Plinth commissions in Trafalgar Square have sparked public reflection on who and what we celebrate in our public spaces, showcasing London's creativity and inviting everyone to engage as art critics. Seven international artists, including Chila Kumari Singh Burman MBE, Gabriel Chaile, Ruth Ewan, Thomas J Price, Veronica Ryan QBE RA, Tschabalala Self, and Andra Ursuţa, have been shortlisted for the next commissions in 2026 and 2028. Models of their proposed artworks are currently on display at the National Gallery until 17 March 2024.

Click here to vote for your favourite shortlisted artwork.

Date: until 17 march 2024. Location:The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN. Price: Free.       

#FLOFavourites: Pick of the Week

FREE EVENTS OF THE WEEK

Imperial Lates

This week, Imperial College London in South Kensington is hosting a dynamic post-work event focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its future impact. Delve into talks, demos, and workshops led by experts exploring the potential benefits of an AI-managed world. Experience interactive activities such as AI-proof face painting and more.

Date: 14 March. Time: 6-9pm. Location: Imperial College London
South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ. Price: Free. Website: imperial.ac.uk.

Food of the week

TOAD Bakery

TOAD Bakery is a charming local spot in Camberwell, well-loved for its delicious cakes, pastries, sandwiches, and more. Be sure to try their everything bagel croissant with cream cheese, the unique choc chip soy sauce cookie, and their freshly baked Spelt & pumpkin seed sourdough bread!

Location: 44 Peckham Road, London, United Kingdom SE5 8PX. Instagram: @toadbakery.

Cause of the week

Bubble Club 

Bubble Club, a non-profit learning disability arts programme established in East London in 2005, offers high-quality, accessible nightclub experiences at various top venues across the city. In addition to these events, they provide development programmes for learning disabled artists and DJs within their community. The clubs cater to both learning disabled and non-disabled audiences, featuring live music, DJs, open mic stages, sensory spaces, and more in a creative and inclusive atmosphere where everyone is welcome. 

Supported by dedicated volunteers, click here if you want to learn more about how you can volunteer with Bubble Club to contribute to workshops, events, or share creative ideas. 

Website: bubbleclub.org. Instagram: @bubble_club_east