Seven Dials shopping event

Great news fashion fans! Seven Dials and St Martin’s Courtyard in Covent Garden is hosting a traffic-free shopping evening  on 30 May where 120 stores will be offering 20% off from 5-9pm. The gorgeous shopping hub heaves with hip shops including Cambridge Satchel Company, Diesel, Kiehl’s, Office, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Superga, Twenty8Twelve and Urban Outfitters. Shoppers can also expect cutting-edge entertainment on the night – think mixology classes and balancing act window shows.

New Food Market

New market alert! One New Change Saturday Food Market is launching on 1 June with an appearance from celebrity chef Gizzi Erskine, who will be giving talks at 11am and 2pm, as well as signing copies of her new cook book Skinny Weeks and Weekend Feasts. After 1 June, the market will take place every Saturday from 11-3pm, serving up delicious fresh produce from across the globe.

Soho Flea Market

Roll up, roll up! Artisans, ceramicists, fashion and jewellery designers will be peddling their wares on Soho’s Dean Street on 2 June. The Soho Flea Market  will also be playing host to a slew of emerging music and comedy acts who will be performing on an outdoor stage.

Westfield Luxury Coach Service

Fancy visiting Europe’s largest shopping mall? It’s now become easier to shop at Westfield Stratford City thanks to a luxury coach service which will pick you up from central London and drop you at the East London shopping mall for five hours – just enough time to attempt to cram in the mall’s 220 shops and 70 eateries. Guests from outside the UK will be given a VIP pass, which guarantees discounts of up to 20% in a wide range of shops and restaurants. Happy shopping!

Last weekend, some of the world’s most glamorous theatre stars gathered at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden for the Olivier Awards. Here, stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Damian Lewis and Kim Cattrall talk about their love of the theatre. If they’ve inspired you to see a show, check out our London theatre guide, top 10 musicals, special offers and fun theatre facts.

London Coffee Festival at the Truman Brewery

London has a booming coffee culture, and this festival celebrates the crème de la (café) crème of the coffee world. Visitors can learn about the art of making the perfect cup of coffee, see demonstrations of everything from bean roasting to cutting-edge coffee science, and even find out how to set up their own coffee shop. You can also marvel at the level of skill displayed in the 2013 UK Barista Championships, enjoy live music in the festival zone, and taste a variety of fantastic coffee flavours in the Artisan Market. Adult tickets start from £9.50. 25-28 Apr

The Woman, The Gaze, The World at Hanmi Gallery 

Do women see the world differently than men? Explore the question at this thoughtful exhibition, which pairs photographic artists and writers to demonstrate the myriad variations on perspective and question the very nature of interpretation. The exhibition is open at the Hanmi Gallery from Tuesday-Sunday between 12 and 7pm, and entry is free. 23 Apr-5 May

Thunder and Lightning at York Hall, Bethnal Green

Enjoy a rare chance to see women’s boxing in London at what promises to be a thrilling contest between Britain’s Marianne Marston and Latvia’s Aleksandra Jasjukevica.Taking place as part of an evening of matches, which includes the competition for the International Masters Welterweight title, the fight promises to be especially poignant as Marston has dedicated it to her late mentor, former Heavyweight Champion of the World Smokin’ Joe Frazier. Tickets to the spectacular evening of boxing start at £30. 27 Apr

Secret Cinema 020 

Secret Cinema, which runs popular clandestine film events in interesting locations around London, is running its ‘most important and ambitious’ event to date. Although – for obvious reasons – no details are yet available, Secret Cinema’s 20th production promises to be a treat for all those who love cinema, adventure and the thrill of the unknown. Tickets are £43.50. 24 Apr-9 Jun

The Olivier Awards, Covent Garden 

Theatre-lovers will enjoy this great chance to see all the action from the 2013 Olivier Awards free in Covent Garden. Not only can you watch the glittering ceremony streamed live from the nearby Royal Opera House, but there will also be exclusive live performances from hit West End shows and a variety of very special guests. 28 Apr

Not only are there lots of fun, tasty and quirky events on this weekend, but it also contains two significant dates on which you can celebrate the women in your life. On Friday 8 March London will be hosting numerous events to mark International Women’s Day, then on Sunday it’s time to show your mum how much you care by taking her to a special event or meal for Mother’s Day.

Feast at Tobacco Dock

This weekend there’s only one place foodies should be – the Tabacco Dock in Wapping. Here, renowned food festival Feast will be gathering London’s most exciting restaurant chefs and street food stalls for a four day dining extravaganza. You can either buy lunch or dinner tickets, which get you access to a range of tasty dishes from London favourites such as Bone Daddies, Dishoom and The Last Days of Pisco, as well as a variety of experimental cocktails and live music. If meandering between food stalls isn’t your thing, Rita’s Supper Club is providing a ticketed dining experience at the venue, at which you can enjoy a structured meal from their international menu and a range of drinks for £45. Tickets for general entry to Feast are £8. 7-10 Mar

Ballet Revoluciόn at the Peacock Theatre

Catch the first matinees of the Cuban Ballet Revolucion at the Peacock Theatre in Aldwych this weekend. Back in London for a limited three week run, the thrilling fusion of ballet, contemporary dance and hip hop is sure to make an impression with its dynamic choreography, sensual moves and humour. A pop music soundtrack, played by a live Cuban band, completes the memorable show. Tickets start from £15. 6-23 Mar

Fairtrade Market at the Divine Pop-Up Shop, Covent Garden

Head to the Divine Chocolate pop-up shop in Covent Garden – home to many cocoa-based delights until 9 March – for a special fairtrade food market on Saturday. Between 10am-5.30pm you’ll be able to buy tasty treats, wines, fashion and skincare products that have been produced in the developing world under the Fairtrade ethical purchasing scheme. You also have the chance to take home Divine’s two new chocolate flavours before they officially go on sale – yum! 8 Mar

Florimania at Hampton Court Palace

Inspired by their newly re-created model of Henry VIII’s crown, Hampton Court Palace is staging a colourful weekend festival of flower arranging along their Tudor route. Not only can you admire a series of magnificent displays as you explore the Royal Palace, but there are also regular flower arranging demonstrations at which you can learn the art for yourself. There will also be an oyster and champagne bar and opportunities to enjoy afternoon tea, making it a perfect option for a Mother’s Day treat. Access to the festival is included in the ticket price, which is £16.95 for adults. 8-10 Mar

Tudor Food Sampling at Eastbury Manor House

There’s even more Tudor-related fun to be had this weekend at Eastbury Manor House, where you can enjoy a free taste of what food from the era would have been like. The event is Lent-themed and you’ll be able to sample traditional fasting foods such as Kent Lent pie, tartes owte of Lent and almond biscuits. Sampling takes place between 2 and 3.30pm, and access to the event is included with a regular ticket to the historic house. (£4 for adults or free for National Trust members.) 8 Mar

More events in London

As London Fashion Week draws to a close, the spectacular Somerset House will morph into a giant shopping extravaganza for London Fashion Weekend (21-24 Feb). You can experience the buzz of the city’s biggest week of fashion by enjoying glamorous catwalk shows, insider talks and pop-up designer sales. The event is a shopaholic’s dream with more than 100 British designers selling one-off pieces, as well as their spring/summer 2013 collections at heavily discounted prices. Don’t leave without nabbing your free Radley bag! Tickets from £15.50.

Speaking of bags, The Cambridge Satchel Company has opened up its first-ever stand-alone store in Seven Dials, Covent Garden. Located at 15 Shorts Gardens, the former pop-up store offers quirky leather satchels, inspired by 1970s-style satchels, in an eye-popping array of styles and colours. If you want to personalise your bag, you can have your initials embossed on one.

British accessories brand Jack French London has launched a new pop-up shop at St Pancras Station. To celebrate the launch, the brand has created a limited edition St. Pancras bag. The deep-red bag reflects the colour of the station’s pipes, walls and tiles. Open until 13 March.

Are you passionate about popcorn? Then swing by the recently-opened Pop, Europe’s first popcorn boutique in Blenheim Crescent in fashionable Notting Hill, which produces an ever-changing popcorn menu. Forget sweet or salty, customers can munch on popcorn flavoured with orange caramel and chocolate, Bloody Mary, chilli and cheese, and English toffee and sea salt. Pop also sells a selection of cult drinks and sodas from the US, including A&W Root Beer, Vanilla Coke and Grape Soda.

If like me, you have a sweet tooth, Divine Chocolate is celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight with a pop-up shop in Seven Dials, Covent Garden (25 Feb-10 Mar). Expect lashings of chocolate to try, including Divine’s Easter range and new chocolate bar flavours, as well as a photography exhibition, Azonto Ghanaian dance lessons and the chance to meet some cocoa farmers.

In other news, the National Theatre’s West End transfer of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has extended its run at the Apollo Theatre by 14 weeks, following huge demand for tickets. It now runs from 1 March to 31 August.

After a sell-out run at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Private Lives is coming to the Gielgud Theatre this summer. Starring Toby Stephens and Anna Chancellor as the divorced couple who fall in love again, this classic Noel Coward comedy is directed by Jonathan Kent and runs from 22 June. Anthony Calf and Anna-Louise Plowman reprise their roles as the pair’s newly hitched and soon-to-be-spurned other halves.

Finally, don’t miss all the excitement building around the Olivier Awards. Firstly, theatre fans are being called on to vote for their favourite long-runner. Then there’s the news that Sheridan Smith (one of my favourite actresses) is going to be hosting the event. And not only is the show being broadcast live on BBC Radio 2, there’ll be highlights on ITV following the ceremony AND a live event for theatre fans in Covent Garden on the night. Put 28 April in your diaries now for a lot of theatrical fun.

London Casting News:

• Mariah Gale, Jamie Parker, Emma Cunniffe and Matthew Marsh will star in Proof at the Menier Chocolate Factory from March
• Jennifer Ellison is donning her wellingtons to join the cast of Singin’ In The Rain next month, when it splashes into its second year at the Palace Theatre
• Olivier Award winner Henry Goodman leads the cast of Lindsay Posner’s forthcoming production of The Winslow Boy at the Old Vic, opening in March
• Singer songwriter Declan Bennett and Croatian actress Zrinka Cvitešić are going to lead the cast of the Tony Award-winning musical Once when it opens at the Phoenix Theatre from 16 March

Thanks to reader Lucas Veuve who got in touch with this fab London video. Lucas says:

“When I first moved to London, I was struck by the number of people living in this great city and the speed at which they move from one place to another. I wanted to capture how I saw London when I first moved here.”

We think he’s done a great job. Look out for great shots of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Gherkin and The Shard, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, the Southbank Centre and Trafalgar Square.

Look out for more London videos on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/VisitLondonVideo

Here’s a great video of the Kensington Palace tree. From 1 December 2012, Kensington Palace is transformed into a palace-size advent calendar, with a daily programme of exciting events, music and activities, all inspired by the young Princess Victoria’s Christmas diaries.

Did you spot the elf?

In Covent Garden, there’s a unique 26ft (7.9m) tall Barrel Tree in the East Piazza. Interested in how it got there? Here’s a video explaning all:

Have you spotted any more amazing Christmas Trees in London? Make sure you add any photos you take to our flickrpool.

Cambridge Satchel Company Opens Debut Seven Dials Store
If, like me, you’re a fan of the Cambridge Satchel Company, you’ll be thrilled to hear the brand is opening its first standalone store in Seven Dials. Located on Short Gardens, the store will open in two phases: first as a pop-up store on Saturday this week in time for Christmas, and open until January. Then the rest of the shop will be completed in time for London Fashion Week in Feburary, where they’ll have an exclusive Bloggers Lounge. I’m really looking forward to this one.

Zaeem Jamal Opens New Kings Road Boutique
And here’s another store with a split opening, combining Christmas and London Fashion Week. Luxury eveningwear brand Zaeem Jamal opens its new flagship boutique on London’s Kings Road today, coinciding with the area’s late-night Christmas shopping evening. However the official celebrity launch is planned for London Fashion Week in February, where the brand will also launch a bespoke shoe service. Pop in to peruse the boutique’s two floors, with the ground floor dedicated to ready-to-wear dress, gown and accessories collections, while the lower section features a swish private bespoke area and suite.

Harvey Nicks Jewellery Designer Showcase: 6 Dec
Head to Harvey Nichols on Thursday between 7pm and 9.30pm for a special evening showcasing their beautiful jewellery collections. Enjoy up to 20% off on the evening, plus sip on complimentary Champagne and sample funky bejewelled canapes while you shop for that perfect Christmas gift. Stylist Melissa Lund will be on hand, running a Jewellery Clinic offering top tips on how to wear this season’s key trends, stones and colours. Make sure you RSVP: eventsrsvp@harveynichols.com

Quintessentially British Christmas Shopping on Sloane Street
On 6, 13 and 20 December, there’ll be special shopping events taking place on Sloane Street. Look out for a host of traditionally uniformed British butlers. Lining either side of the street between Basil and Pont Streets, the butlers will be on hand to open car doors, guide visitors into stores and provide information about Sloane Street’s luxury retailers. In full uniform and holding umbrellas, the butlers will act as beautifully dressed beacons on wintry evenings, welcoming all Christmas shoppers to the street.

This week, I wanted to share this great video from TheWorldCities, which gives some of London’s most famous locations a “toy-town” makeover.

Look out for Liverpool Street Station, the Houses of Parliament, Boris Bikes, Earl’s Court Station, Millenium Bridge, Charing Cross, Monument, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus and Tower Bridge as you’ve never seen them before!

Check out more London videos at youtube.com/user/VisitLondonVideo