What's on in London this week: 12 – 18 February 2024

Discover our pick of events in London this week: 12 – 18 February 2024.

Guy Johnston and Britten Sinfonia: The Protecting Veil

Cellist Guy Johnston collaborates with Britten Sinfonia in a compelling concert featuring works by Tavener, Beethoven, and Bartók. Tavener's The Protecting Veil showcases the cello's emotive qualities, with Johnston's performance reflecting his personal connection with the composer.

Date: 15 February 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS. Price: £15 + booking fee. Book now.

London Fashion Week returns. Photo by Toa Heftiba

London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week is marking its 40th anniversary with a vibrant celebration showcasing both menswear and womenswear designers. The schedule will include presentations from BFC NEWGEN recipients, the esteemed British luxury brand Burberry, and a lineup featuring Ahluwalia, dunhill, Emilia Wickstead, ERDEM, JW Anderson, Roksanda, Simone Rocha, and an array of other esteemed names in the fashion industry.

Date: 16 - 20 February 2024. Location: Throughout London. Click here for more on the schedule.

Bernie Sanders is back in town talking about Capitalism. Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen.

Bernie Sanders: It’s OK To Be Angry About Capitalism

On the London stage, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders makes a powerful return, urging audiences to confront the shortcomings of capitalism. Sanders passionately discusses the inequities of wealth distribution, the influence of money in politics, and the environmental crisis exacerbated by fossil fuel corporations. With a call for systemic change, he offers a vision of hope and possibility through a political revolution.

Date: 13 February 2024. Time: 8pm.Location: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: From £33. Book now.  

Pancake Day

It's that time of year again – Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is upon us! Explore our guide to the best places to enjoy pancakes in London.

Pancake Day. Photo by Chad Montano.

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Director Chelsea Walker brings Shakespeare's beloved comedy Much Ado About Nothing to life in a captivating production. The play is centred on two sets of lovers: the witty banter between Beatrice and Benedick, and the romantic entanglements of Claudio and Hero. Through humour and intricate plot twists, the play explores themes of jealousy, trust, and the blurred lines between illusion and reality.

Date: 12 -17 February 2024. Location: Milton Court Theatre. Price: £15 + booking fee. Book now.

Fashion City Late: Petticoat Lane to Savile Row at Fashion City Late

Step into the vibrant tapestry of London's fashion history, from the bustling lanes of Petticoat Lane to the suave elegance of Savile Row, at Fashion City Late this Thursday at the Museum of London Docklands. Embark on a journey through the iconic styles that have woven the fabric of the city's fashion identity, with a special spotlight on the influential contributions of Jewish designers. From colourful East End fashion to the glamour of Carnaby Street, expect music, workshops, and talks on topics ranging from the second-hand clothing trade to the role of M&S in fashion history.

Date: 15 February 2024. Time: 7-10pm. Location: Museum of London Docklands, No 1, West India Quay, Hertsmere Rd, London E14 4AL. Price: from £13. Book now.

Mr Fish mens fashion. Credit- Jimmy James. Shutterstocktock.

Colour and Fantasy

Pianist Javier Perianes joins the London Philharmonic Orchestra for a world premiere by Francisco Coll in a programme also featuring Stravinsky and Falla. Guest Conductor Gustavo Gimeno guides through a journey, from the simmering energy of Stravinsky’s youthful Scherzo fantastique to the perfumed harmonies and moonlit rapture of Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain. Expect pure ravishment from Perianes, along with wonderful surprises, as he premieres Coll’s Ciudad sin Sueño, a brand new concerto from one of Spain’s most imaginative young composers. hjbss

Date: 16 February 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall. Price: £14 ⁠–⁠ £70. Book now.

Valentine’s Day in London

Valentine’s Day at Lift 109

Elevate your Valentine's Day celebration with a sky-high experience at Lift 109, nestled in Battersea Power Station. Reserve a private session and ascend 109 meters above London's vibrant streets in a glass lift. Toast with champagne as you bask in the beauty of a stunning sunset (expected to be particularly breathtaking this week), surrounded by panoramic views of the city.

Location: Level 1, Turbine Hall A, The Power Station. Price: private ascent from £395 (for up to 18 people). Book now.

Lift 109. Photo by Joshua Atkins.

Cheat Codes at Platform

Platform is flipping the script this Valentine's season by offering a unique opportunity to those who have been wronged. They're inviting individuals to share their wildest cheating stories for a chance to win a special experience valued at over £250.

Click here to share your story for your chance to play, eat, and drink for free while also getting cheat codes to your favourite games.

Website: experienceplatform.co.uk.

Arena Flowers are offering the ultimate treat this Valentine's Day. Photo by Nikita Tikhomirov.

Free roses this Valentine's Day…but there's a twist

Arena Flowers introduces ‘PRICKS,’ a Valentine's Day promotion offering thorn-free roses to soothe the heartache of singles. Available online for free from 5 -13 February, with a daily reserve for victims of heartbreak, it's a humorous and comforting gesture in the run up to Valentine’s Day. Customers can even request a box of thorns stripped from the roses as a memento. Additionally, Arena Flowers provides a "prick stripper" tool for thorn removal from other flowers, ensuring a practical solution year-round.

Date: 5 - 13 February 2023. Order now.

Tarot readings at Sea Containers Hotel
Sea Containers Hotel, located on South Bank's iconic riverside, is teaming up with The Wellness Foundry to offer personalised tarot readings on Valentine’s Day. Whether you're coupled, single and seeking, or simply focused on self-discovery, these readings promise powerful insights, guidance, and clarity into matters of love. Held from 8 pm to 10 pm at Sea Container's Hotel, slots are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. After your reading, or to set the mood beforehand, head to the hotel's rooftop bar, 12th Knot, for a romantic drink and breathtaking panoramic views of London's skyline.

Date: 14 February 2024. Location: Sea Container's Hotel, 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PD. For more information and to secure your spot, visit seacontainerslondon.com.

Half-term activities in London

London is brimming with exciting activities to keep the kids entertained during the upcoming half-term holidays. From the Southbank Centre's annual Imagine Children's Festival to the Kew Gardens Orchid Festival and a celebration of women in STEM at the Florence Nightingale Museum.

Click here for our round-up of excellent half term activities in February.

Imagine Children's Festival takes place over 11 days at February half-term. Photo credit: Nadia McVey.

Arts & Culture 

Opening this week

Echoes of the Earth: Living Archive

Explore the future of art at Serpentine's Echoes of the Earth: Living Archive by AI artist Refik Anadol. An immersive experience blending AI with visual data from coral reefs and rainforests, the exhibition showcases innovation with works like Artificial Realities: Coral. The UK premiere of Living Archive: Nature transforms the gallery into an AI rainforest, highlighting 3D generative outputs. Developed through interdisciplinary research, the model draws from renowned institutions and anticipates future expansion with data partners.

Date: 15 February - 7 April 2024. Location: Serpentine North, Kensington Gardens,London, W2 2AR. Price: Free.

Refik Anadol, Artificial Realities: Coral, 2023. Courtesy Refik Anadol Studios.

BURTYNSKY: Extraction/Abstraction

Saatchi Gallery's exhibition, BURTYNSKY: Extraction/Abstraction opens this week. Curated by Marc Mayer, it presents Edward Burtynsky's largest collection yet, with 94 photos, 13 murals, and augmented reality. The showcase explores humanity's impact on Earth, including a multimedia experience titled "In the Wake of Progress" for reflection on sustainability. With five sections, it prompts contemplation of our environmental relationship and highlights sustainability-focused organisations.

Date: 14 February – 6 May 2024. Location: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, London SW3 4RY. Price: from £10. Book now.

 Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art

This week, Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art opens at Barbican Art Gallery. This compelling exhibition shines a spotlight on the transformative role of textiles in contemporary art. Featuring over 100 works by artists including Faith Ringgold, Louise Bourgeois, and Tracey Emin, it explores how textiles challenge power structures, transcend boundaries, and address themes such as gender, sexuality, colonialism, displacement, and ancient knowledge. From hand-crafted pieces to large-scale installations, the exhibition highlights textiles as agents of resistance and repair, offering a fresh perspective on this often overlooked medium.

Date: 13 February – 26 May 2024. Location: Barbican Art Gallery, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: £18. Concessions available. Book now.

Yoko Ono, Add Colour (Refugee Boat), 2016, at MAXXI Foundation. Photo © Musacchio, Ianniello & Pasqualini.

Yoko Ono

Tate Modern will open a major exhibition dedicated to Yoko Ono, the celebrated artist and activist known for her influential contributions to conceptual and performance art, experimental film, and music. Spanning over six decades, the exhibition features Ono's diverse body of work, including early performances, works on paper, objects, and music. Visitors will also have the opportunity to engage with some of Ono's significant activist projects, such as PEACE IS POWER and Wish Tree.

Date: 15 February – 1 September 2024.Location: Tate Modern. Price: from £22. Concessions available. Website: tate.co.uk.

Soulscapes

Soulscapes is an exhibition showcasing contemporary interpretations of landscape by artists of the African Diaspora. With over 30 remarkable artworks, including pieces by prominent artists such as Hurvin Anderson, Phoebe Boswell, and Njideka Akunyili Crosby, the exhibition features diverse mediums like painting, photography, film, textile, and collage. The exhibition challenges the perception of landscape as a solely historical genre, emphasising its relevance in modern contexts.

Date: 14 February – 2 June 2024. Location: Dulwich Picture Gallery, London SE21 7AD. Price: from £17.50. Concessions available. Book now.

Mónica de Miranda, Sun rise (detail), 2023, inkjet print on cotton paper. Courtesy of the artist and Sabrina Amrani Gallery, Madrid.

#FLOFavourites: This Week

From Palestine with Art

From Palestine with Art showcases Palestinian culture and struggles through diverse artistic expressions. Originally displayed at the 59th Venice Biennale Arte 2022, it's now at London's P21 Gallery, hosted by Palestine Museum US. Opening on 1 February 2024, the exhibition seeks to challenge stereotypes and create connections among diverse communities. It underscores the growing recognition of Palestinian art and culture on the global stage.

Date: 2 February – 2 March 2024. Location: P21 Gallery, 21-27 Chalton St, London NW1 1JD. Price: Free to visit. Website: p21.gallery

Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, THE REBIRTHING ROOM, 2023. Images courtesy of the artist.

Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley: THE REBIRTHING ROOM

Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley's inaugural exhibition, THE REBIRTHING ROOM at Studio Voltaire, offers an immersive gaming experience using cutting-edge VR technology to explore Black trans experiences. This innovative showcase repurposes VR headsets, transforming individual experiences into a collaborative journey through a forest environment. It challenges visitors to deeply engage with the intricate facets of Black trans lives, reshaping narratives through animation, sound, performance, and video game development.

Date: 31January – 28 April 2024.Location:Studio Voltaire,1a Nelson's Row, London, SW4 7JR. Price: Free. Website: studiovoltaire.org.

Doron Langberg: Night

Victoria Miro presents Doron Langberg's exhibition Night, featuring large-scale paintings of nightclubs and beach scenes that explore the nocturnal world and the ambiguity of spaces after dark. Langberg's works dissolve certainties of form, orchestrating multiple figures and details to create compositions where figures appear to move in or out of focus, emerging from or receding into their surroundings. The exhibition is accompanied by an essay by hannah baer, exploring the role of touch in bringing the figures into being and the smeared touch of individuality flickering in the night.

Date: 26 January–28 March 2024. Location: 16 Wharf Road, London N1 7RW. Price: Free.

Doron Langberg, Basement, 2023, oil on linen, 243.8 x 406.4 cm, 96 x 160 in, © Doron Langberg, courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro.

A dream Within A Dream

A Dream Within A Dream explores the delicate balance between reality and fantasy, inviting contemplation of the artists' enigmatic narratives. Alya Hatta delves into the diasporic human condition, drawing from her experiences in South London and Kuala Lumpur. Sophie Vallance Cantor blurs boundaries, presenting dreamlike scenes where joy and detachment intertwine. Aysha Nagieva's paintings transcend personal experiences, while Rafaela de Ascanio celebrates empowered female figures. Candice Dehnavi explores cultural familiarity and memory's nuances. Together, the exhibition celebrates the nuanced beauty emerging when imagination intertwines with existence.

Date: 2 February 2024 – 2 March 2024. Location: Haricot Gallery, 2 Blackall Street, London, EC2A 4AD. Price: Free.

The Blush Upon Her Cheek

Studio West presents The Blush Upon Her Cheek, an exhibition featuring Leo Costelloe, Florence Reekie, and Ki Yoong, drawing inspiration from Sir Peter Lely's Windsor Beauties. Costelloe explores gender and adornment through sculptural pieces, while Reekie liberates drapery to examine self-presentation and the beauty industry's false promises. Yoong's tender portraits revise Lely's idealised standards, emphasising each sitter's unique allure. Together, they challenge societal beauty norms, inviting viewers to reflect on the nature of beauty and its portrayal over time.

Date: 25 January – 22 February  2024 Location: Studio West, 216 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 1NR. Price: Free. Website: studiowest.art.

Choir by Abraham Kritzman & Daniel Silver at Elizabeth Xi Bauer. Photo by MTotoe.

Choir

Choir at Elizabeth Xi Bauer Gallery introduces Daniel Silver's sculptures, repurposing Greco-Roman statuary, and Abraham Kritzman's large-scale relief paintings influenced by global travels. Kritzman's works, housed in black box structures, and bronze reliefs showcase his exploration of man-made concepts, while Silver's recent sculptural endeavors delve into psychoanalytic theory. The exhibition also features his semi-abstract ceramic busts and large works on paper from the Untitled series, blurring reality and imagination while exploring human relationships.

Date: 2 February – 30 March 2024. Location: Elizabeth Xi Bauer Gallery. Fuel Tank 8-12, Creekside, London SE8 3DX. Price: Free.

Cinema 

Public House Portraits (12A*)

Artists in Residence

Three films delve into the evolution of public houses in East London, spanning from the 1960s to the present day. Pub by Peter Davis offers a glimpse into the Approach Tavern in Bethnal Green during Leslie Heath's tenure as landlord, created for Swedish TV. Donna Travis' The Last Pub captures the Anchor and Hope in Clapton two decades before its appearance in Therese Henningsen's After Time. Henningsen's film documents The Lock-In, showcasing artist Stanley Schtinter's 96-hour edit of scenes from the BBC soap opera Eastenders at the Queen Vic Pub, screened in real East End pubs in June 2022.

Date: 15 February 2024. Time: 6.30pm. Location: Cinema 3 , Barbican Centre Beech Street, London, EC2Y 8DS. Price: £13 + booking fee. Book now.

On show at the Barbican Centre, three films delve into the evolution of public houses in East London, spanning from the 1960s to the present day.

#FLOFavourites: Pick of the Week

Free events of the week

FLOW at Outernet

<FLOW> tells a history of Western art as a digital dance performance by animated giants.

Experience <FLOW>, a digital dance performance at Outernet, located conveniently next to Tottenham Court Road Station. Showcasing the history of Western art through animated giants on 360-degree screens, this free daily showing invites art lovers, tech enthusiasts, and everyone in between to witness the evolution of art. As the giants break free from convention, they express the essence of each era through dynamic movements, accompanied by a celebratory soundtrack by composer Tristan Barton. Created by innovative design company D'strict.

Date: daily. Location: The Now Building, Centre Point, London WC2H 8LH. Instagram: @outernetglobal.

Food news

Trejo’s Tacos

Hollywood star Danny Trejo is bringing his renowned LA-based Mexican taco empire to Notting Hill, marking the first European outpost. The menu features signature dishes like shrimp tostados and slow-roasted pork carnitas tacos with fresh pineapple and fermented hot sauce. There are also breakfast tacos, burritos, and plenty of plant-based options, including tacos filled with asada-style mushrooms, jackfruit, and roasted cauliflower. To complement the flavours, enjoy tequila and mezcal-infused cocktails served in both a cocktail bar and a late-night DJ lounge!

Opening: 15 February 2024. Location: 299-301 Portobello Road, W10 5TD. Website: trejostacos.co.uk.

Hollywood star Danny Trejo Taco restaurants land in London this week. @trejostacos.

Westminster Abbey will serve afternoon tea with a French twist in homage to Notre-Dame de Paris

Experience a French-inspired afternoon tea at Westminster Abbey's Cellarium, paying homage to Notre-Dame de Paris. Crafted by Benugo pastry chefs, indulge in savoury treats like Quiche Lorraine and sweet delights such as homemade scones and macarons. With an indoor dining area offering splendid views of the Abbey, it's an opportunity to immerse yourself in Parisian elegance.

Location: Westminster Abbey. Price: from £35.50 per person. Add Bailly Lapierre Crémant de Bourgogne Chardonnay NV £8 per glass of £45 bottle. Book now.

Parisian afternoon tea comes to Westminster Abbey.

Food of the week

Aperitivo Battersea

Aperitivo, London's newest Italian wine bar in Battersea, offers exceptional wines and authentic cuisine in an industrial chic setting. Indulge in legendary lasagne, charcuterie boards, and a fine selection of Italian wines just moments away from Clapham Junction Station. Ideal for pre or post-dinner drinks and light bites.

Location: 289 Lavender Hill, London, SW11 1LP. Website: aperitivoclapham.com. Instagram: @aperitivoclaphamjunction.

Wine bar Aperitivo opens in Battersea. Photo by MTotoe.

Cause of the week

It’s Ok.

It's OK. is a charity dedicated to supporting young people grappling with moderate to severe mental illness. Their efforts encompass advocating for improved mental health services and delivering tailored resources to offer valuable guidance and support.

Click here for details on how you can volunteer with It’s OK.

Website: itsokcharity.org. Instagram: @itsokcharity.