London Vintage Kitchen

Combining two of the city’s favourite trends – namely pop-up dining and a retro lifestyle – the London Vintage Kitchen hosts glamourous dining events that make you long for a time machine. Their next event takes diners back to the Bohemian world of Paris in 1913, and offers them a four-course menu of period dishes – served by a troupe of butlers – alongside Pernod Absinthe cocktails. After dinner in the candlelit secret location, guests can dance the night away to ‘newfangled’ jazz music. Tickets are £37. 25 May

Concrete Fragments, Shoreditch 

Want to get an exclusive look at tomorrow’s big names in contemporary art? Head to this exclusive two day show by Morgan Concrete Art Advisory London, which brings together seven young international artists for a cutting-edge exhibition featuring both static and performance art. Catch the opening night from 6pm to 11pm on Friday, or the day viewing from 11am to 6pm on Saturday. Entry is free. 24-25 May

IncrEdibles Festival at Kew Gardens

Learn about surprising sources of food at this fun festival, which explores the huge range of edible plants growing at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Not only can you attend a variety of interesting talks and workshops, but you can also enjoy the festival’s more frivolous side at the Rose Garden Tea Party and the Picnic Garden. A highlight will undoubtedly be the Tutti Frutti Boating Lake by renowned jelly-makers Bompass and Parr, which allows visitors to sail across a giant fruit salad to a pineapple island. Entry is £16 for adults; check the website for details of individual events. 25 May – 3 Nov

The Book Club’s May Film Hop

Shoreditch hotspot The Book Club presents an innovative take on the cinema experience this bank holiday weekend. Guests at their outdoor film screenings wear wireless headphones, which not only guarantees great sound but also means you can dance, drink and party along to the film. Three classic films, Grease, Dirty Dancing and Purple Rain, will be shown, and dance experts will be on hand before the screenings to show you the all-important moves. Tickets are £15. 25-27 May 

Foodies Festival at Hampton Court Palace

A food festival fit for a king, the Foodies Festival at Hampton Court Palace is a haven for the culinarily curious. Not only will TV chefs be demonstrating their skills, but you can also sample dishes from popular London restaurants, learn about new products and even take the kids for a cookery lesson. A day ticket costs £15 for adults. 25-27 May

The Star of Bethnal Green Street Party

To celebrate its fifth birthday, the Star of Bethnal Green is hosting a street party at which you can enjoy popular London street food, DJs and live entertainment that includes live graffiti. From 2pm to 9pm the party also features children’s entertainment, including a bouncy castle and face painting, then it moves inside the pub for more revelry until 2am. Entry is free. 27 May

More London events

The Chelsea Fringe

Commencing on Saturday, the Chelsea Fringe celebrates the forthcoming RHS Chelsea Flower Show with an extended programme of horticultural events around London. There is a huge variety of events – most of which are free – on offer: visitors can enjoy everything from treasure hunts to floral-themed cocktails. See the Chelsea Fringe website for full programme details. 18 May-9 Jun

Museums at Night

An inspirational festival for those of a nocturnal persuasion, Museums at Night opens up most of London’s cultural institutions for three evenings of learning, exploration and fun. Whatever your interests, there should be something for you; whether that’s a pyjama party at Hampton Court Palace, a 1940s-themed event at the RAF Museum or a tour of the magnificent Banqueting House. For a full list of events, times and ticket prices, visit the Museums at Night website. 16-18 May 

Propaganda: Power and Persuasion at the British Library 

A must for anyone who is curious about how governments communicate with and influence their citizens, the British Library’s new exhibition promises to be a fascinating insight into international state propaganda. Concentrating on the 20th and 21st centuries, the exhibition uses posters, films, cartoons and texts to illustrate the sometimes surprising ways in which people can be informed, mis-informed or persuaded. Entry is free for under 18s or £9 for adults.. 17 May-17 Sep

Curiosities and Quirky Fans at the Fan Museum

Celebrate the quirkier side of fan-making at this wonderful small museum in Greenwich. At this new exhibition you can explore the history of ‘alternative’ fan-making and see how craftsmen have incorporated both unusual objects and designs into their beautiful creations. Admission is £4 for adults. 15 May-1 Sep

Gefiltefest  

Get the best challah, falafels and bagels in town at the Gefiltefest London Jewish Food Festival. Taking place at Ivy House, the former home of ballerina Anna Pavlova, the festival will offer a mix of food stalls, cooking demonstrations, lectures, tastings and workshops. Highlights include talks by award-winning Jewish authors, a chance to find out who won the 2013 Jewish Food awards, and a debate on the merits of eating locust. Adult tickets are £25. 19 May

More events in London

If there’s one thing we love about the royals, it’s their clothes. From The Queen’s unending range of hats, to the Duchess of Cambridge’s maternity wear, we’re fascinated by what the other half wear. With the news that Princess Diana’s most famous dresses are to be auctioned for thousands of pounds this month, we’re looking at some of the places in London where you can see attire worn by the royal family - from recently worn clothes to much older garments.

Kensington Palace

One of the best places to view generations of female royal fashions is at Kensington Palace, where a wealth of garments are on display. You can, for example, see a magnificent collection of royal wedding dresses, or marvel at the clothes included in the Victoria Revealed exhibition (including the dress pictured above). Adult tickets are £15.

Buckingham Palace

This summer, Buckingham Palace is the perfect place to begin your exploration of royal fashions through the ages. From 27 July to 29 September, the palace’s State Rooms will host a celebratory display to mark 60 years since The Queen’s coronation. This will feature a range of dresses, robes and uniforms worn by those involved on the day, as well as the chance to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the historic occasion. Keep an eye out for the charming outfits of Prince Charles and Princess Anne, which provide a pleasing contrast to the adult costumes on display. Adult tickets are £19.

Hampton Court Palace

It may not be strictly an item of royal attire, but the replica of King Henry VIII’s crown at Hampton Court Palace is undoubtedly worth a look. Made by the crown jeweller, this stunning piece is on display in the Royal Pew and is crafted to the specifications set out in the King’s servants’ inventories. The original was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell after the English Civil War. Adult tickets to Hampton Court Palace are £16.

Museum of London

As you walk through the many galleries of the Museum of London, you’ll notice various displays of clothing that provide extra context to the eras under scrutiny. Some of these garments belonged to the royal family of the time and within the museum’s collection are royal clothes ranging from the  mid-17th century to the mid-20th. The most intricate items in their collection, however, may sadly never be on display.  Entry is free.

The Tower of London

The most compelling exhibit at the Tower of London is undoubtedly the Crown Jewels. An important symbol of the British monarchy, they are regularly worn by The Queen in state ceremonies and include some of the world’s most beautiful diamonds. Alongside these spectacular adornments you can also view royal armour in the White Tower and King George V’s military uniform in the Fusilier Museum. Entry costs £21.45 for adults.

Kew Palace

Visitors to Kew Palace can see George III’s (1738-1820) waistcoat on display. Made from pale blue damask, the waistcoat was designed for the monarch towards the end of his life and was especially crafted with his comfort in mind. You can check out the long sleeves and fine workmanship on this garment from 2 April when the Palace re-opens. Adult tickets are £6.

More royal attractions in London

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

And you’d definitely be getting into the cycling spirit. But what if you’d rather get more from your London trip? Perhaps you’d rather take a traffic-free route around London’s landmarks, but just aren’t sure where to go? The following guide-led cycling tours of London will not only get you freewheeling around the best the city has to offer, you’ll also learn as you turn those pedals. (Wearing a yellow jersey and inked-on sideburns is, of course, optional…)

1. Capital Sport – Gentle Cycling
Choose from a variety of London tours organised by Capital Sport: from a half-day tour of London’s Heart (taking in Buckingham Palace, Tate Modern, the Thames and more) to four-day trips from London to Richmond to Windsor and back! I particularly like the London to Greenwich and The Barrier and back tour: “a day tour with 8 or 15 miles of virtually traffic free flat cycling” – sounds like my kind of ride!

2. Fat Tire Bike Tours
Family-friendly and fun, the Fat Tire Bike Tours offer two unique cycling tours through London: Royal London and River Thames. With baby seats and super-comfy bikes for hire, Fat Tire Bikes are suitable for the whole family. If you’re a really inexperienced cyclist, try the Royal London Tour, which spends much less time on London’s roads, instead sharing with you the best of London’s Royal Parks.

3. London Bicycle Tour Company
The London Bicycle Tour Company has one of the largest selection of bikes for hire in London. They offer daily tours of central London and the West End, as well as weekend tours around East London and the London 2012 Olympic sites. Their new hire centre is just 3 miles from the Olympic Park at Camp in London, and is open daily from 8am to 8pm.

4. Mind The Gap Cycle Tours
With the Mind The Gap Cycle Tours, you really can travel in Bradley Wiggins’ footsteps. (Or should that be pedals?) Riding from Richmond to Hampton Court Palace, you pass Ham House and some great local pubs before visiting the very place where Wiggins started his historic time trial yesterday. Then you can leave the bikes to the guides while you enjoy a look around Hampton Court Palace before returning to London on public transport.

5. Association of Professional Tourist Guides
Finally, you can take a fully-guided cycling tour from the best tour guides in the business: London’s Blue Badge Tourist Guides. These guides are known throughout the world for the accuracy of their information and their incredible enthusiasm for sharing London’s most fascinating stories. They’ll even create a bespoke bike tour for you; find out more here.

Do you have any tips for exploring London by bike? Please share them with us in the comments below.

If you’ve always longed to learn the polka or fancy a bit of umbrella jousting, the event line-up in London this weekend is looking peachy.

The Chap Olympiad
If you’d rather be stroking your pipe and adjusting your moustache than running the 100 metres, Bedford Square in Bloomsbury is the place to be this weekend. Gentleman’s magazine The Chap invites well-mannered men (and ladies) to its seriously silly event, The Chap Olympiad. The “celebration of athletic ineptitude and immaculate trouser creases” will see contestants throwing cucumber sandwiches instead of the discus and battling in Ironing Board Surfing, Umbrella Jousting and the Pipathlon. 7 – 8 Jul

Hampton Court Flower Show
Look out for energetic scarecrows at the annual flower show at the majestic Hampton Court Palace. The well-loved scarecrow competition has adopted a ‘porting Champions theme this year to reflect – what else? – the Olympic Games. Green-fingered experts will be on hand, along with displays like this year’s central feature which is focused on community gardening. A topical addition to the line-up is the ‘low cost/high impact’ gardens, showing how a much you can do with a limited budget. Until 8 Jul

The London Open at The Whitechapel Gallery
Spot the art stars of the future at The Whitechapel Gallery‘s open submissions exhibition which showcases current London art trends. The 35 contributors were chosen by a panel of experts and their pieces range from a directory of fictitious telephone numbers by conceptual artist Martin John Callanan to a print of Saddam Hussein’s gold bath taps on an imitation Versace silk scarf by Pio Abad. Until 14 Sept

Soane Museum’s new spaces
This little-known museum is a hoard of treasures kept by architect Sir John Soane at Lincoln’s Inn Fields in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The first phase of the £7 million restoration of his neoclassical townhouse is now complete, and this weekend is the first chance to poke around parts of the building never seen before such as the geometric staircase painted to look like the walls of a Roman catacomb. There’s also a brand new gallery with an exhibition exploring the design of Olympic venues. Exhibition until 22 Sept

The Kensington Palace Party
All abilities are welcome at these free outdoor dancing lessons and demonstrations in the gardens of Kensington Palace. This year’s workshops pay tribute to the two Queens who have celebrated a diamond jubilee: polka and Morris dancing reflect trends in Victoria’s reign, while a rock and roll class led by the London Swing Dance Society will honour us “new Elizabethans” and today’s queen. Head to the Gold Gates to find a spot – it’s first come, first served. 7-8 July

Enjoy unlimited access to some of London’s finest buildings with an annual Historic Royal Palaces family membership.

As a member, you and your family can visit London’s five Historic Royal Palaces for free, all year round, including The Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace.

As well as discounts in HRP catering outlets, you’ll also have the chance to meet the curators, gardeners and celebrity members behind London’s Historic Royal Palaces.

Prize winners will  also be invited to the exclusive members-only Ceremony of the Keys in January 2012.

Enter now for your chance to win this fantastic family prize.

London 2012 has announced a new route for the Olympic road cycling races.

The world’s leading cyclists will race through six London boroughs, passing attractions including:

• The Mall (the race’s start and finish point)
• Westminster
• Richmond Park
• Bushy Park
• The river Thames
• Hampton Court Palace

The road cycling race is one of the first major events of London 2012.

Seb Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said, “Following our success in Beijing, the road cycling events really will bring the magic of the Games to life for many thousands of spectators.”

The races are provisionally scheduled to take place on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July. The men’s race on Saturday will be 250km (156 miles) long and the women’s race on Sunday will be 140km (87 miles).

See a map of the new route here: http://www.london2012.com/documents/venue-documents/cycling-road-race-route.pdf

Read our previous blog entry on the Olympic Cycle Route

It was a bitterly cold night but as I left the train station and saw the palace colourfully illuminated for the occasion, I was very glad I’d made the journey.

It really was a spectacular setting. There was a brass band playing carols, hot chocolate, mulled wine and mince pies to snack on in the café and of course, the chance to ice skate in front of Hampton Court Palace.

Check out some (rather brief and grainy) footage of the rink below:

Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink. Open until 9 Jan 2011. Book Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink tickets here

If you hadn’t guessed, we love this time of year! This morning, there’s a real chill in the air, but the lovely winter sunshine is making us wish we were outside enjoying the city at Christmas.

One of our favourite things to do when the weather turns crisp-cold is to head out and play on one of London’s fantastic ice rinks. We’re not the greatest skaters in the world, but practice makes perfect!

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If you’re inspired to get your skates on sometime soon, don’t forget to book your place on your chosen ice rink online with Visit London.