Turner Prize 2024 opens at Tate Britain

                        Tate Britain unveils an exhibition of work by the four artists shortlisted for the Turner Prize 2024: Pio Abad, Claudette Johnson, Jasleen Kaur and Delaine Le Bas. The exhibition will run from 25 September 2024 to 16 February 2025. The winner will be announced at an award ceremony at Tate Britain on 3 December 2024. This marks the prize’s 40th anniversary, as well as its return to Tate Britain for the first time in six years.

Pio Abad presents a restaging of his nominated exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, which explores cultural loss and colonial histories. Featuring drawings, sculptures and museum artefacts, Abad brings together in-depth research and collaboration to highlight overlooked histories and connections to everyday life, often from the perspective of his Filipino heritage. Newly added works include Kiss the Hand You Cannot Bite 2019, which reimagines an Imelda Marcos bracelet as a three-metre concrete sculpture, are shown alongside works like I am singing a song that can only be borne after losing a country 2023, a drawing that turns the underside of Powhatan’s Mantle - a Native American robe in the Ashmolean’s collection - into an imagined map of colonised lands.

Claudette Johnson presents a series of works from her nominated exhibitions at The Courtauld Gallery, London and Ortuzar Projects, New York, alongside new works. Using pastels, gouache, oil and watercolour, Johnson creates striking figurative portraits of Black women and men, often depicting family and friends. Her works counter the marginalisation of Black people in Western art history, shifting perspectives and investing her portraits with a palpable sense of presence. Friends in Green + Red on Yellow 2023 represents a recent development in her practice of creating double portraits, whilst Pieta 2024 is one of the artist’s first works on wood, made from pastel and oil on bark cloth.

London ranked second best city in Europe for walking and cycling tours

London has been revealed as one of the top-ranking cities for walking and biking enthusiasts, a new report from visitlondon.com finds. The UK capital comes in as second best in Europe, with 42 per cent of the walking and biking tours in the city scoring a five-star rating.

London has been ranked second best city in Europe, for having the most highly rated walking and biking tours

London revealed to have almost 1,500 walking and biking tours – coming in third place in the world for the most total amount

London also ranked as third best in the world for its total amount of walking and biking tours on offer (1,460) – just behind Rome (2,985) and Hanoi (1,696).

Of the 91 countries ranked, London has officially placed as the 29th ‘dryest city’, with cities including Istanbul, Paris and Amsterdam experiencing a higher average rainfall. The UK capital experiences an average of 690mm rainfall each year, which equates to around 94 rainy days a year – or 7.8 a month. London comes in just behind sunny Thessaloniki, Greece which has an average of 687mm.

According to a number of factors including price, points of interest, rainfall and total amount of tours, London ranks as the overall fourth best in the world for cycling and walking tours. The UK capital comes in just behind Barcelona, Paris and Rome, with an overall rating of 82.2/100 in the study’s index – trumping Amsterdam, New York and Berlin.

Rose Wangen-Jones, Managing Director at Visit London, said: “Being the first city awarded national park status, it’s unsurprising that London ranks so highly as a cycling and walking destination.

“An astonishing 20 per cent of London is public green space, and we’re working towards becoming 50 per cent green by 2050. Whether it’s uncovering the secrets of Jack the Ripper or Paddington Bear, of the 1,400 walking and biking tours in London, there’s certainly something for all tastes.”

London was previously ranked as the greenest city in Europe by comparison site Nerd Wallet, with over 3,000 parks and green spaces recorded in the capital.

Taylor on Strings: A free open-air classical concert on 13 August

City String Ensemble to play over a dozen innovative interpretations of famous Taylor Swift songs

Just days before Taylor Swift returns to Wembley Stadium for her August concert dates, Wembley Park presents an enchanting open-air concert featuring some of her most famous songs.

Taking place at The Sound Shell in Wembley Park’s Samovar Space from 6.30pm on Tuesday 13^th August, the dynamic string quartet, City String Ensemble, will deliver their innovative interpretations of more than a dozen Taylor Swift hits at the one-off ‘Taylor on Strings’ event. 

Wembley Park – Northwest London’s renowned entertainment district – has already hosted hundreds of thousands of Swifties for the superstar’s June concerts at Wembley Stadium. Now, fans will be treated to an exquisite evening of original performances of her songs. Tickets are free but must be booked online in advance as spaces are limited.

“We are excited to bring our unique interpretations of Taylor Swift's music to life at Wembley Park,” comments Sophie Poteratchi, Founder and Violinist of City String Ensemble. “This concert offers an opportunity for Swifties to experience Taylor’s music in a more intimate setting - with our signature style of bringing each song to life with string instruments.”

London-based City String Ensemble began as a quartet but has grown into a dynamic string orchestra. The classically trained musicians are renowned for their innovative interpretations of contemporary and classical music. Formed at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the group released its debut EP, ‘Twenty Twenty,’ in 2020, followed by further releases in 2021 and 2022. Live performances span genres including modern pop, anime soundtracks and classical favourites.

The enchanting interpretations delivered by City String Ensemble at ‘Taylor on Strings’ will include Love Story, Fortnight, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, Anti-Hero, Shake It Off, Cruel Summer and many other famous Swift songs.

The boldest new art-inspired hotel in London set to open next week

Already touted as the boldest new art-inspired hotel in London with spectacular bedrooms and suites offering 360-degree skyline views across the capital, art’otel London Hoxton opens its doors 24th April—and you’re invited.

Dive into the stylish-yet-playful hotel with legendary Signature Artist D*Face as your guide. Experience our restaurants and bars, immersive gallery and auditorium or explore the creative scene of London’s Shoreditch neighbourhood with cutting-edge galleries, street art, live music, hip bars and more just outside our doors with Liverpool Street Station and the underground network just a short walk away.

Choose from 357 stylish rooms and suites, all featuring the signature works of local London artist, D*Face.

The Brush is an all-day Grand Cafe, Lounge & Cocktail Bar in the heart of Hoxton. Coming in April 2024!

For more details and to make a reservation, visit the Radisson Hotel website.

. Special discount for a limited-time offer! Save up to 30% now. 
 

art'otel London Hoxton boasts 357 stylish rooms and suites, all featuring the distinctive pop-art style of D*Face. Book a memorable getaway and experience bold designs features and floor-to-ceiling windows that fill all rooms with natural daylight. Appreciate modern amenities during your stay including bedding and pillow selections, bathrobes and slippers, and unlimited free Wi-Fi.

The Hoxton restaurant and bar scene is about to get a whole lot sexier!

Etihad Airways celebrates two decades of flights between London and Abu Dhabi.

      Etihad Airways – the national carrier of the UAE – is today celebrating two decades of flights between London and Abu Dhabi. 

The airline’s first service to Heathrow Airport using an Airbus A340 landed on 28 March 2004, heralding the start of thrice-weekly flights between London and Abu Dhabi and establishing a highly sought-after route renowned for its excellence. 

Etihad now operates four daily flights between London and Abu Dhabi using a combination of Airbus A380s, which feature the legendary The Residence suite in the sky, and state-of-the-art Boeing 787s.  

Eligible guests can also use the luxurious Etihad lounge at Heathrow’s Terminal 4, which offers a sumptuous start for their flights and interiors inspired by the carrier’s Abu Dhabi home. Guests can enjoy specially curated menus along with quick and convenient boarding for departing flights. 

Jeremy Pollock, Etihad Airways Country Manager UK and Ireland, said: “Introducing flights from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi was a key part of the airline’s strategy following the carrier’s launch in 2003. 

“To celebrate 20 years since our inaugural flight is a fantastic achievement for everyone connected with Etihad Airways – especially our dedicated workforce across the UK and Ireland.  

“Etihad now operates four daily flights from London, highlighting the strong demand among UK-based customers to explore Abu Dhabi and the Middle East following a flight travelling in style and comfort, looked after by our excellent, award-winning cabin crew.” 

Henry Naya, Etihad Airways Airport Manager London Heathrow, joined Etihad just before flights to London began. He recalls the excitement surrounding the airline's first flight into Heathrow. It touched down at Etihad’s former home in Heathrow’s Terminal 3, with the founder Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan and a range of dignitaries on board to celebrate the start of the new route. 

London has been named the best European city for foodies......

London has been named the best European city for foodies, as new data reveals it has the highest number of 5-star reviews for restaurants, cafés and bars. 

Paris is next in second place, while Barcelona follows in third. 

Dutch lifestyle magazine, Dailybase, checked Tripadvisor data to uncover the number of 5-star reviews for eateries in European cities. This resulted in a ranking of 193 cities in Europe where Tripadvisor data was available. 

Taking the crown as the best city in Europe for foodies is the UK’s capital London, with an impressive total of 2,906 5-star reviews for its eating and drinking establishments. London is renowned for its traditional pub culture where you’ll find homemade pies and roast dinners, as well as a plethora of Michelin Star restaurants to tantalise your tastebuds, making it the perfect destination for your next city break. 

The French capital, Paris, closely follows in second place, with a total of 2,898 5-star reviews on Tripadvisor for its eateries. Foodies are clearly enjoying Paris’s culinary specialities such as escargot and entrecôte, which is a premium cut of steak to relish with chips in top-rated French bistros and cafés. 

 

Rank	City	No. of 5-star Tripadvisor reviews
1.	London	2,906
2.	Paris	2,898
3.	Barcelona	1,475
4.	Rome	1,407
5.	Athens	1,403
6.	Madrid	1,395
7.	Lisbon	1,177
8.	Berlin	1,074
9.	Prague	1,015
10.	Milan	814

The lively city of Barcelona takes the third spot, with a total of 1,475 5-star Tripadvisor reviews for its restaurants, cafés and bars. Popular for its exciting nightlife, this Spanish city will wow foodies with its tapas, which includes patatas bravas, which are cubes of potato in a spicy tomato sauce, and as well as the classic rice dish, paella.   

Rome ranks fourth, with 1,407 reviews awarding the Italian capital city 5-stars for its food and drink joints. As well as sampling the street food bites in Rome, venture into the city’s restaurants to try traditional pasta carbonara and cacio e pepe, two simple yet flavourful spaghetti dishes, to find yourself in foodie heaven.  

Large swathes of air space over London to close during U.S. President Biden's visit.

 

The UK's Civil Aviation Authority is issuing notices to pilots warning them not to fly under 3,500 feet over large swathes of the skies over London during a state visit by the U.S. President.

As part of an overarching security operation, the Secretary of State for Transport has ordered the change in flying regulations to keep the skies safe and free of traffic at lower altitudes.  

The majority of restrictions apply to the air space over London Stansted, central London and a corridor between London and Windsor. 

Between 1900 and 2300 on 09 July and 1200 and 1600 on 10 July no aircraft is to fly under 3,500 feet in a wide area over Stansted (area A on the map).

During the same time, an air corridor between Stansted and Central London will be restricted air space under 2,500 feet. (area B on the map) 

A wider area of sky over Central London will be restricted under 2,500 feet between 1900 on 9 July and 1600 July. (area C on the map)

A corridor between London and Windsor between 0900 and 1600 on 10 July will also be out of bounds to all aircraft under 2,500 feet. (area D on the map)

These restrictions do not apply to certain official aircraft, including police, coastguard, air ambulance and The Kings flight helicopters.  There are also exceptions for planes that are approaching or taking off from the key London airports, as long as they are being controlled by air traffic controllers or the RAF. 

However,  the restrictions do apply to all other types of aircraft, including unmanned aircraft (drones) balloons, kites, parachutes or parascending parachutes or paramotors. 

The full briefing sheets have been issued in the normal way by the CAA and NATS and is available on their website. 

Skywise 

 

Travel service provider Trip . com sees 145% flight booking surge from US to UK

Leading travel service provider Trip.com has seen remarkable flight and hotel bookings growth from outbound US travellers to the UK and the rest of Europe.

Despite high global inflation, long-haul travel sentiment from US travellers to Europe is improving. Trip.com flight booking data reveals a remarkable year-over-year increase of 145% from the US to the UK in the first half of this year.

This surge in air travel highlights the growing demand for transatlantic travel and the increasing interest of American travellers in exploring various European destinations.

Trip.com hotel bookings for the UK reveal that London, Edinburgh and Manchester are the top three most popular destinations for US travellers.

At the forefront of facilitating seamless travel experiences with its all-in-one app strategy, Trip.com's impressive booking growth further solidifies its position as a leading travel service provider.

Data on travellers from the US to the whole of Europe is further encouraging, with flight bookings growing 101% over the same period. London (UK), Barcelona (Spain), Paris (France), Rome and Milan (Italy), Athens (Greece), Lisbon (Portugal), Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Dublin (Ireland) are the most popular flight arrival cities for US travellers to Europe.

A guide to celebrating the Coronation in London......

London is gearing up for another royal year of celebration, as the city prepares for the crowning of a new monarch for the first time in 70 years. With less than 50 days to go, the Coronation of King Charles III is set to bring together visitors from all around the world to London, where the official ceremony and celebrations will take place.

From the official line-up of events, to themed experiences, city-wide decorations and royal sites you can visit all year round, Visit London has rounded up the best ways visitors can be a part of the Coronation in the capital.

Take part in the official Coronation Weekend programme

Saturday 6 May: The Coronation of King Charles III will begin with a procession (known as the ‘King’s Procession’) from Buckingham Palace to the location of the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony will not be open to the public, but those looking to watch the ceremony on the big screen can head to one of many pop-up screenings in central London, such as in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair. The Secret Garden Party will run all weekend long, with food and drink aplenty, and is free to enter.

Sunday 7 May: London and the rest of the UK are invited to take part in The Coronation Big Lunch, during which communities will come together to share food and fun in a nationwide act of celebration and friendship. Sunday evening will star the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, and while the public ballot is now closed, there’s plenty of events running across London to make the most of the celebratory atmosphere. An interactive guide to all Coronation events taking place in London and across the UK can be found here.

Monday 8 May: A nationwide bank holiday will be held to mark the occasion, with the new King and Queen pioneering ‘The Big Help Out’, a charitable initiative encouraging everyone across the nation to get involved with local and national projects. Details on how to get involved in London-based endeavours can be found on the official website.