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Treat the Woman You Love to a Post Christmas - Christmas Present!By Madelyn Miller
FABERGÉ COLLECTION - until 07 Mar 2004. The Royal collection of works by Fabergé, the greatest Russian jeweller and goldsmith of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is unparalleled in size, range and quality. This exhibition, which incorporates the results of extensive new research in Russian archives, charts the royal passion for Fabergé through over 300 of his finest pieces. More details at: http://www.royal.gov.uk/textonly/Page1215.asp OSSIE CLARK - until 02 May 2004. This exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum of the work of Ossie Clark, one of the most influential British fashion designers of the 60s and 70s, features more than 60 garments, sketchbooks and photographs and covers the period 1965-1974 when Clark’s designs helped define the spirit of fashionable London. More details at: http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1250_ossieclark/ GIORGIO ARMANI: A RETROSPECTIVE - until 15 Feb 2004. This major exhibition explores the career of the internationally renowned fashion designer, Giorgio Armani. Featuring over 400 garments, alongside original sketches and video presentations. More details at: http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/?lid=991 HATS AND HANDBAGS – until 18 Apr 2004. Hats and handbags, accessories from the Royal Wardrobe, is a special exhibition featuring pieces commissioned by the Queen between 1950 and the present. Kensington Palace is right in the heart of one of London's most prestigious areas and close to many popular museums and fashionable shops. Included in the admission price is the splendid Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, containing period court dress and dresses worn by HM Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales. More details at: http://www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/content.asp?ID=331 WOMEN AND WAR - until 18 Apr 2004. At The Imperial War Museum, Women and War is the most ambitious of its kind ever mounted, a huge show examining the role of women in wartime from the First World War to the present. Among the exhibits are: Amy Johnson's flying tunic, Marlene Dietrich's Second World War uniform, a camisole worn by a survivor of the sinking of the Lusitania and a diary kept by Nurse Edith Cavell, executed for espionage in 1915. More details at: http://www.iwm.org.uk/women/displays.htm
JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA - until 27 Mar 2004. Witness triumph, tragedy and trailer trash as high art meets low in the new genre-breaking opera. Beginning life at a small arts centre, the concert version was the hit of the Edinburgh Festival 2002 and now the fully staged production is the National Theatre’s first ever new opera. More details at: http://www.jerryspringertheopera.com/jerry_opera.html NUTCRACKER! - until 24 Jan 2004. Mathew Bourne's Nutcracker! combines Tchaikovsky's much-loved score with sizzling choreography. It was the must-see show of last Christmas, and is back at Sadler's Wells for another acclaimed season. More details at: http://www.sadlerswells.com/whats_on/2003_2004/nutcracker.asp A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE - until 31 Jan 2004. Set amidst the grandeur of an English country home, Oscar Wilde's deliciously witty satire lays bare the moral contradictions of Victorian society. More details at: http://www.trh.co.uk/showing_now.html THE MOUSETRAP - until 29 May 2004. The longest running show in theatre history, Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap has been delighting and perplexing audiences for over 46 years. More details at: http://www.thisistheatre.com/londonshows/mousetrap.html Where to stay?Forget about staying in a boring hotel, the smart thing is to live among the natives in the house or flat of a real Londoner. They’re not there of course - you have the good fortune to be able to use their place while they’re away. This can also save you lots of money as well!
Full details of all their properties, together with how to book and lots of useful information for planning your London trip, can be found at Coach House London Vacation Rentals web site http://www.rentals.chslondon.com. Great GuidebooksHello Britain & Ireland
LONDON The Amateur Historian’s Guide to Medieval & Tudor England ACCESS LONDON |
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After all the hard work of
Christmas, the most important lady in your life needs a rest and a treat.
Take her to London. You’ll have the twin benefits of no tourist hordes and
marked down accommodation prices. The weather is always mild and there’s
lots going on in addition to the normal tourist attractions. Here are a few
out of the ordinary suggestions that might appeal to her.
While you’re in London whisk her off
to the theatre, among the shows running in January and February are:
Coach House London Vacation Rentals
are the leading specialist in short term central London rentals. Most of
their rentals are the properties of Londoners temporarily away the city so
you’ll have the informality, warmth and convenience of a real home rather
than the stiffness of a hotel or the impersonality of a serviced apartment.
They have over 60 properties on their books ranging from houses that will
sleep up to 12 people to cosy apartments just for 2. In the low season of
January and February many of their properties can be rented at a discount of
20%.
Each rental comes with its own mini
guide to the area covering the neighbourhood shops, local transport, pubs,
restaurants and cafés. They provide a starter pack of breakfast provisions
to cover the first day or two of your stay, and a telephone help line to
provide you with answers to questions about London, what to do and see.
They’ll also arrange a driver and car to meet you at the airport and take
you to your rental. 