A selection of Europa House's recommended local restaurants, cafés, shops, museums, galleries, attractions and useful links, plotted on Google Maps for your convenience.
Below is a list of events and attractions taking place in London that we would recommend. Please click on each listing for further information...
Boat Cruise on Regent's Canal
All year around
Take a one way or return trip to Camden Lock on a traditional canal narrow boat, to discover the elegant regency architecture and industrial history of London's Regent's Canal.
Dickens and London
9th December - 10th June
Recreating the atmosphere of Victorian London through sound and projections, you'll be taken on a haunting journey to discover the city that inspired Charles Dickens' writings. Paintings, photographs, costume and objects illustrate themes that Dickens wove into his works, while rarely seen manuscripts including Bleak House and David Copperfield – written in the author’s own hand – offer clues to his creative genius.
Designs of the Year 2012
8th February - 4th July
The Design Museum’s Design Awards, ‘the Oscars of the design world’, showcase the most innovative and progressive designs from around the world, spanning seven categories: Architecture, Digital, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics, Product and Transport.
Lucian Freud
9th February - 27th May
Featuring over 100 works from one of the world's greatest artists.
Yayoi Kusama
9th February - 5th June
The nine decades of Yayoi Kusama’s life have taken her from rural Japan to the New York art scene to contemporary Tokyo, in a career in which she has continuously innovated and re-invented her style. Well-known for her repeating dot patterns, her art encompasses an astonishing variety of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, film, performance and immersive installation.
Picasso and Modern British Art
15th February - 15th July
In a major new exhibition Picasso and Modern British Art explores his extensive legacy and influence on British art.
Turner Inspired
14th March - 5th June
This exhibition offers the chance to compare closely related works by Turner and Claude and discover the extent to which Turner was inspired by Claude's mastery of light and landscape.
Victoria Revealed
26th March - 27th February 2013
The Palace re-opened on March 26, 2012, after major refurbishment, with the permanent exhibition 'Victoria Revealed', which looks at the life and reign of Victoria through her own words.
Beautiful Games
31st March - 9th September
Featuring over 70 examples of cutting edge sports equipment and historic memorabilia, including a state-of-the-art Planet X bike, an official 2010 World Cup football, a Cheetah® running blade, trophies, clothing, footwear and photography, Beautiful Games shows just what it takes to get to the top in sport.
British Design 1948-2012
31st March - 12th August
Innovation in the Modern Age - Celebrate the best of British post-war art and design from the 1948 ‘austerity’ Olympic games to the summer of 2012.
The Making of Harry Potter
31st March - 6th March 2013
Warner Bros Studio Tour London
Studio Tour London is a behind-the-scenes walking tour, which immerses guests into the world of film-making.
Damien Hirst
4th April - 9th September
The exhibition will include iconic sculptures from his Natural History series.
English National Opera
Caligula 25th May - 14th June
Billy Budd 18th June - 8th July
Dr Dee 25th June - 7th July
World Shakespeare Festival
23rd April - November
Venues nationwide. More information from here:
The World Shakespeare Festival is a celebration of Shakespeare as the world’s playwright, produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Thousands of artists from around the world will take part in almost 70 productions, plus supporting events and exhibitions, right across the UK, including London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Newcastle/Gateshead, Birmingham, Wales and Scotland and online.
Christian Louboutin Exhibition
1st May - 9th July
The Design Museum presents the first UK retrospective of iconic French shoe designer Christian Louboutin, celebrating a career which has pushed the boundaries of high fashion shoe design.
Leonardo da Vinci
4th May - 7th October
Discover how Leonardo da Vinci revolutionised the understanding of human anatomy in a new exhibition at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace. The drawings were found among his personal papers on his death in 1519 but their significance failed to be noticed for almost 400 years. Now you can admire them for yourself in a fascinating new exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist.
The Queen - Art & Image
17th May - 21st October
To celebrate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the National Portrait Gallery is bringing together 60 images from The Queen's 60-year reign. See how The Queen has been portrayed through painting, photography and press images by renowned artists and photographers
Open Air Theatre
18th May - 8th September
Set in the heart of one of London’s favourite parks, the wonderfully unpredictable nature of outdoor theatre makes each visit there extraordinary and thrilling.
Swan Lake on Ice
18th - 20th May
The dark and romantic 1895 Tchaikovsky ballet will be revived in London this May as Imperial Ice Stars take their interpretation to the Royal Albert Hall for Swan Lake on Ice.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
22nd - 26th May
One of London’s loveliest events, the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show blooms with perfumed buds and imaginative floral displays each May.
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee
2nd - 5th June
Celebrations around the city. Find out more from here:
A long weekend of celebrations to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. In addition to the late May bank holiday (4th June), there is an additional bank holiday on 5th June.
Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch
6th June - 9th July
An unprecedented season of ten works to celebrate the Olympic and Paralympic year's global focus by one of the most influential choreographers in dance.
Art Antiques London
14th - 20th June
Held in a marquee in Kensington Gardens, Art Antiques London includes furniture, paintings, jewellery, clocks, ceramics, rare books and more. The event incorporates the International Ceramics Fair and Seminar.
Royal Ascot
19th - 23rd June
It's all about fast horses and fancy hats at Royal Ascot, the world's most famous race meeting, and the most glamorous event in London's sporting calendar.
Yoko Ono
19th June - 9th September
Although best known as the widow of The Beatles' John Lennon, Yoko Ono is also a celebrated artist, filmmaker, poet, musician, writer, performance artist and peace activist. Now you can discover the work and artistic influence of Yoko Ono in a dedicated exhibition.
Taste of London
21st - 24th June
Direct your rumbling stomach to Regent's Park for four days of al fresco gluttony as over forty of London's best restaurants, including a flurry of Michelin stars, show off their culinary handiwork.
Londinium 2012
22nd June - January 2013
Londinium 2012 is the largest update to the Museum’s Roman gallery since it opened in 1994 and explores the parallels between Roman London and the today’s modern capital.
The Trojans
25th June - 11th July
The Royal Opera's big 'Olympic' offering is Berlioz's classical epic.
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
3rd - 8th July
This high-summer event takes place in the spectacular grounds of Hampton Court Palace and features gardens as well as marquees featuring work by some of the country's leading designers and nurseries.
Dance GB
4th - 8th July
English National Ballet, Scottish Ballet and National Dance Company Wales share in a programme created to mark the Olympics.
2012 Olympics
27th July - 12th August
Venues around the city. More information from here:
London is in preparation for the first Olympics and Paralympics Games to be hosted in the city since 1948.
20/21 British Art Fair
12th - 19th September
The Fair champions Modern British art and it's celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Chelsea Antiques Fair
19th - 23rd September
Chelsea Antiques Fair offers a Boutique style of intimate elegance in the Old Town Hall, built in 1906 in 17th Century style. Small and relaxed, the 36 exhibitors are delighted to chat with visitors, impart their knowledge and discuss collecting in all its forms.
LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair
19th - 23rd September
The LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair brings together members of the UK's largest association of antique dealers. If you're interested in medieval works of art, contemporary fine art, furniture or jewellery, don't miss this prestigious fair.
Mademoiselle Julie
20th - 29th September
Juliette Binoche stars in a French-language production of August Strindberg's tragedy.
Frieze Art Fair
11th - 14th October
Frieze Art Fair features over 170 galleries from around the world, providing a unique opportunity to see and buy work by leading artists.
Affordable Art Fair
1st - 4th November
The biannual Affordable Art Fair has become a well-loved institution in London's art scene.