Visit London Blog » royal wedding http://blog.visitlondon.com Enjoy the very best of London Sat, 25 May 2013 09:00:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 What Else Happened in 1863, The Year The Tube Opened? http://blog.visitlondon.com/2013/01/what-else-happened-in-1863-the-year-the-tube-opened/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2013/01/what-else-happened-in-1863-the-year-the-tube-opened/#comments Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:30:42 +0000 Claire Doble http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=31166

The year 1863 began with the opening of the world’s first underground railway – London’s Tube – on 9 January, 150 years ago today! Further significant events from 1863 include:

  • JANUARY: In railway-related news, construction began in Sacramento, California, of the First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States.
  • FEBRUARY: US inventor Alanson Crane patents a fire extinguisher that uses a combination of sodium bicarbonate and sulphuric acid to shoot pressurised water (the world’s first fire extinguisher was patented in England in 1723)
  • MARCH: A Royal Wedding in the UK when The Prince of Wales Albert Edward (later Edward VII) married Princess Alexandra of Denmark at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
  • APRIL: George Gilbert Scott’s design for the Albert Memorial was formally approved by Queen Victoria (it took 10 years to build and opened in 1872).
  • MAY: The Salon des Refuses exhibition opens in Paris, featuring works of avant-garde artists including Manet’s Le dejeuner sur l’herbe.
  • JUNE: The Victoria & Albert Museum‘s recently opened North Court featured its first exhibition this year – a display of the wedding presents given to the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandria.
  • JULY: Madame Tussauds has been open in London’s Baker Street for 21 years. The exhibition at this time featured around 400 famous figures in wax including Horatio Nelson and Sir Walter Scott.
  • SEPTEMBER: London Zoo‘s public aquarium (the first in the world) has been open for 10 years.
  • DECEMBER: In more railway news, Romania’s first mountain railway opens between Anina to Oravita.

 

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2013/01/what-else-happened-in-1863-the-year-the-tube-opened/feed/ 0 Celebrate 150 Years of the Tube with a Souvenir Oyster Card http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/12/celebrate-150-years-of-london-underground-with-a-souvenir-oyster-card/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/12/celebrate-150-years-of-london-underground-with-a-souvenir-oyster-card/#comments Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:48:25 +0000 Janine Kelso http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=30574 Roll up, roll up! Transport for London (TfL) has created a fancy souvenir Oyster card to celebrate the Tube’s 150th birthday next year. London made history on 9 January 1863 when the world’s first-ever underground train made the 3.5-mile maiden journey between Paddington and Farringdon on the Metropolitan line, marking the start of a beast of a transport network that now shuttles around a staggering 1,107 million passengers a year.

On sale from 10 December, the limited edition Oyster card features the Tube’s shiny new 150th anniversary logo, set against an attractive background of vintage Underground designs. You can use the cards in the same way as usual, either as pay as you go or by adding your Travelcard to it, and they will be available to buy at London Underground stations and TfL Travel Information Centres. The special Oyster cards come hot on the heels of the success of the cards created for the Royal Wedding and the Diamond Jubilee. Grab one while you can – it might be 150 years before they make another one!

Visitors to London from the UK and overseas can buy visitor Oyster cards in advance, although they may not feature the limited edition design.

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2012/12/celebrate-150-years-of-london-underground-with-a-souvenir-oyster-card/feed/ 0 Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress to be Displayed at Buckingham Palace http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/06/kate-middletons-wedding-dress-to-be-displayed-at-buckingham-palace/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/06/kate-middletons-wedding-dress-to-be-displayed-at-buckingham-palace/#comments Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:10:41 +0000 Jenny http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=21536

There’s an extra reason to visit Buckingham Palace this summer as Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding dress will be on display from 23 July to 3 October 2011.

The famous dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, is made of ivory and white satin-gazar and features a 2.7 metre (9 ft) train.

The Buckingham Palace display will be the first chance for the public to see the dress up-close and appreciate the intricate embroidery detail; it’s covered in lace appliqué flowers, some of which are as small as 5p coins!

Kate’s wedding shoes, veil, diamond earrings and Cartier tiara lent by the Queen will be displayed with the wedding dress. The couple’s wedding cake will also be on display.

This year’s summer opening also features an exhibition of The Queen’s Faberge collection.

In other Royal Wedding news, it was revealed today that Kensington Palace will be the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s temporary London residence.

Buckingham Palace Summer Opening runs from 23 July to 3 October 2011. Book tickets here

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/06/kate-middletons-wedding-dress-to-be-displayed-at-buckingham-palace/feed/ 10 Video of the Week: William and Kate return to Buckingham Palace after the Royal Wedding http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/video-of-the-week-william-and-kate-return-to-buckingham-palace-after-the-royal-wedding/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/video-of-the-week-william-and-kate-return-to-buckingham-palace-after-the-royal-wedding/#comments Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:41:25 +0000 Zoe Craig http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=20767

What else could possibly have been our choice as Video of the Week for this week?

Here’s an amazing film of the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – Prince William and Kate – on their way from Westminster Abbey after the wedding ceremony to Buckingham Palace. And it gives a great view of that gorgeous dress!

Did you see the Royal Wedding on TV? Or were you watching from the Mall? Perhaps you were hosting a street party in honour of the royal couple. Let us know in the comments below.

And don’t forget to add your Royal Wedding photos to the Visit London flickrpool.

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/video-of-the-week-william-and-kate-return-to-buckingham-palace-after-the-royal-wedding/feed/ 0 Video: Royal Wedding Regent Street Union Flags http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/video-royal-wedding-regent-street-union-flags/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/video-royal-wedding-regent-street-union-flags/#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:00:56 +0000 Zoe Craig http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=20748

Regent Street has really got into the Royal Wedding spirit, with an inspiring display of 125 giant union flags.

If you haven’t seen them yet, check out this gorgeous video from Regent Street TV. The flags’ll be there until Monday (2 May).

The gigantic flags run all the way along Regent Street, from Piccadilly Circus in the south to beyond Oxford Circus to the BBC’s Broadcasting House in the north.

We think it’s a pretty stunning way to celebrate the Royal Wedding, and makes one of the world’s most famous historical shopping streets look even more beautiful.

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/video-royal-wedding-regent-street-union-flags/feed/ 0 Betty Blue Eyes at The Novello Theatre http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/betty-blue-eyes-at-the-novello-theatre/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/betty-blue-eyes-at-the-novello-theatre/#comments Sat, 23 Apr 2011 10:15:06 +0000 Milly Kenny-Ryder http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=20576

Betty Blue Eyes is set in a Yorkshire town and is based around a plot to “pignap” an animal illegally raised by businessmen who hope to serve her up at a special party to celebrate the marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. It is a witty adaptation of 1984 film A Private Function, a bizarre and unlikely subject for a musical, but one that works surprisingly well. Thanks to talented writers, Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, the original story is kept intact with some hilarious additions.

It is no secret that I appreciate an enthusiastic feel-good production, but even I am a little tired of dreamworld musicals that envelop you in absurd utopian escapism. Betty Blue Eyes delights through a more realistic narrative; an ordinary couple and the struggles of frugal 1940s Britain, amidst ration hell.

The characters are endearing and here we see an impressively strong cast. The lead couple are both naturally brilliant on stage; Sarah Lancashire as social climbing Joyce Chilvers has a superbly strong voice and charming presence; her kind-hearted husband Gilbert is played by Reece Shearsmith, who pulls at the heartstrings with his optimism and has fantastic comic timing.

The villainous meat inspector was a caricature who reminded me of dastardly baddies from children’s literature. He is a strange character who has a penchant for painting; every confiscated piece of meat is passionately brushed with bright green paint. Though Adrian Scarborough was suitably vile, I found the role a little odd in comparison with the rest of the cast, and it occasionally broke my belief in the situation.

The adorable pig, Betty, is cooed at on every entrance. Shipped from Australia specially, and with three understudies, she is quite the diva, flashing beautiful blue eyes and fluttering her eyelashes at every opportunity. Kylie Minogue‘s voice has a fleeting role at the curtain call, though apparently it is not Miss Minogue that provides the creature’s funny farting and burping noises!

It is not often a new musical succeeds; shows like Wicked are certainly in the minority… but with our own royal wedding just around the corner hopefully the British public will go and see Betty Blue Eyes even if just for the sake of a happy coincidence.

Betty Blue Eyes is on until 22 October 2011, book Betty Blue Eyes tickets here.

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/betty-blue-eyes-at-the-novello-theatre/feed/ 0 Free Tickets for Williams and Catherines at the tkts Booth Next Friday http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/free-tickets-for-williams-and-catherines-at-the-tkts-booth-next-friday/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/free-tickets-for-williams-and-catherines-at-the-tkts-booth-next-friday/#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:30:29 +0000 Zoe Craig http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=20623

Are you called William or Catherine? Do you fancy a free trip to the theatre?

Then head down to the tkts booth on Leicester Square early on the morning of the big day (Friday 29 April): if you’re among the first 10 Williams and Catherines in the queue, you can get one free ticket to the show of your choice!

You can choose a show on the big day itself, or book ahead (subject to availability).

What show would you go for? A wedding theme (Mamma Mia!); a Queen theme (We Will Rock You); or a ROYAL wedding theme (Betty Blue Eyes)?! Or something totally different: check out our Top 10 London Musicals for something to inspire you.

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/free-tickets-for-williams-and-catherines-at-the-tkts-booth-next-friday/feed/ 3 London Photo of the Week: Buckingham Palace http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/london-photo-of-the-week-buckingham-palace/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/london-photo-of-the-week-buckingham-palace/#comments Sat, 02 Apr 2011 08:00:03 +0000 Lettice http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=20532

This ariel photo of Buckingham Palace by Intrepide98 is making us even more excited about the Royal Wedding! After the ceremony, the grand procession ends at Buckingham Palace.

If you’re staying in London for the wedding, check out our Royal Wedding feature for lots of useful information. If you haven’t been invited to the wedding, you can still book tickets for a Buckingham Palace tour this summer.

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/london-photo-of-the-week-buckingham-palace/feed/ 9 Video of the Week: The Royal Mews Prepares for the Royal Wedding http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/video-of-the-week-the-royal-mews-prepares-for-the-royal-wedding/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/video-of-the-week-the-royal-mews-prepares-for-the-royal-wedding/#comments Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:00:04 +0000 Zoe Craig http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=20454

With just one month to go before Kate and Will’s big day, we thought we’d share this fantastic video of the Royal Mews staff making their preparations for the Royal Wedding.

I think you’ll agree, it makes fascinating viewing to find out about the horses, carriages and cars that’ll be used on the day.

It’s also really nice to see the excited little smiles (from Mark Hargreaves, the Head Coachman and Alex Garty, the Transport Manager) when these otherwise rather serious-sounding men talk about their feelings about the wedding.

 (I can’t help wondering if Hargreaves wears that hat all day, every day?!)

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/04/video-of-the-week-the-royal-mews-prepares-for-the-royal-wedding/feed/ 3 Royal Wedding Stamps and Commemorative Oyster Card Announced http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/03/royal-wedding-stamps-and-commemorative-oyster-card-announced/ http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/03/royal-wedding-stamps-and-commemorative-oyster-card-announced/#comments Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:35:31 +0000 Jenny http://blog.visitlondon.com/?p=20505

With exactly one month to go until the Royal Wedding, Royal Mail have announced a special set of stamps to commemorate the big day. The Mayor of London Boris Johnson also unveiled TfL’s Royal Wedding commemorative Oyster card design.

The stamps feature the official engagement portraits of Prince William and Kate Middleton taken by Mario Testino in November last year.

The Royal Wedding stamps will be available from all Post Office branches from 21 April. If you can’t wait till then, order online from 7 April or pre-order now by telephone on +44 (0)8457 641 641.

Around 750,000 royal wedding Oyster cards will be available from 21 April from all London Underground and London Overground stations, some National Rail ticket offices, as well as TfL Travel Information Centres, while stocks last.

For more information visit www.royalmail.com/royalwedding and http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets

Are you planning to get any Royal Wedding memorabilia? Tell us about it in the comments below.

]]> http://blog.visitlondon.com/2011/03/royal-wedding-stamps-and-commemorative-oyster-card-announced/feed/ 3