Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
Things to do in the UK in November 2009
|
|
Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
Things to do in the UK in November 2009
|
||||
|
NOVEMBER
2009
|
||||||
|
Sun
|
Mon
|
Tue
|
Wed
|
Thu
|
Fri
|
Sat
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
|
29
|
30
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| Fri 30 Oct - Sun 1 Nov 2009 |
The Language Show, London An exhibition for people who are interested in learning or teaching a foreign language, held at London's Olympia (nearest Tube: Kensington Olympia; map). For details see: http://www.thelanguageshow.co.uk. |
| Sun 1 Nov 2009 | London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, London/Crawley/Brighton Old cars (built before 1905) travel from London to Brighton. This traditional event celebrates the removal in 1896 of the law which forced drivers to have a man walking in front of the car holding a red flag (at the same time the speed limit was increased from 4 miles per hour to 14 miles per hour). The official website for the event is http://www.lbvcr.com (there is also information on the website of the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain: http://www.vccofgb.co.uk/lontobri). The event starts at 7:00am at the Serpentine Road in Hyde Park (near Hyde Park Corner). About 400 cars take part - the last of these leaves Hyde Park at about 8:30am. Cars start to arrive at the finish at Madeira Drive in Brighton from about 10:00am - cars continue to arrive and often remain on display until about 4:30pm. You can also watch the event at Croydon or in front of the George Hotel in Crawley, or anywhere along the route. Some of the cars will also be on display in London's Regent Street on the day before the run (on Saturday). * Photos from this event: Ideas/Album/VeteranCarRun |
 Veteran car in Hyde Park |
 Veteran car driver |
| Tue 3 Nov | Regent Street & Oxford Street Christmas Lights,
London In 2009 the Christmas Lights on Regent Street and Oxford Street and at St Paul's Cathedral will be switched on at the same time, and will share the theme "A Christmas Carol" to mark the release of the new Disney film version of the story by Charles Dickens (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUBCBB5tL4I). Entertainment at each location will be from 5pm to 6:30pm, with the lights being switched on by the film's stars soon after 6:15pm. The Regent Street stage will be on the corner of New Burlington Street, near Calvin Klein. The host will be DJ Toby Anstis, from Heart Radio 106.2. The entertainment will include the following: - Daniel Merriweather (MTV Europe Award nominee; see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yur15Brfvhs) - The Noisettes (London indie band; see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJnJeQEKIto) - Excerpts from the musical Oliver! (featuring Jodie Prenger; see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zETrGr-Oxs) - London Community Gospel Choir (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1oNYDEcAxg) The lights will be switched on by Colin Firth. For further details, see: http://www.visitlondon.com/londonschristmascarol/regent-street-christmas-lights-switchon or http://www.regentstreetonline.com * Pictures from this event: Ideas/Album/RegentStreetLights The Oxford Street stage will be near Oxford Circus. The host will be DJ Harriet Scott, from Heart Radio 106.2, together with Jason Donovan. The entertainment will include the following: - The Saturdays (girl group; see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGPwmr2FWn4) - Taio Cruz (his song "Break Your Heart" was number 1 in the UK single chart in Sep/Oct 2009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOg_IHwXWsk) - Peter André - Excerpts from the musical Sister Act (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTnPt2QuGQ4) The lights will be switched on by Jim Carrey. For further details, see: http://www.visitlondon.com/londonschristmascarol/oxford-circus-christmas-lights-switchon or http://www.oxfordstreet.co.uk * Pictures from this event: Ideas/Album/OxfordStreetLights The third site will be at St Paul's Cathedral. The entertainment will include the following: - Spandau Ballet (pop group with numerous hits in the 1980s; see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e4WLdLNajs) - Little Boots (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McdqerXrwXE) - Faryl Smith (14-year-old 2008 Britain's Got Talent finalist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5NW_Qyz9Xw) - Excerpts from the musical Hairspray (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KKisLGiSz4) - The St Paul's Cathedral Choir - Andrea Bocelli (opera singer; see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z24YNcKouk) The lights will be switched on by Bob Hoskins. At 6:20pm there will be a world record carol singing attempt. Andrea Bocelli and the St Paul's Cathedral Choir, you can help London secure the world record for the most people singing a Christmas carol After the Christmas lights switch-on, the world premiere of Disney's A Christmas Carol will be held in Leicester Square at 7:30pm, attended by all the major stars including Jim Carrey, Colin Firth and Bob Hoskins and director Robert Zemeckis. |
 Oxford Street Christmas lights (2008) |
| Thu 5 Nov - Sat 7 Nov 2009 |
Bonfire Night fireworks, across the UK Celebration of the failure of a plan by a group of Catholics to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5th November 1605. The king at that time (James the First) was unpopular with Catholics because he passed laws which made them pay extra taxes unless they went to Anglican churches. A Catholic man called Guy Fawkes was found in a cellar underneath the Houses of Parliament with barrels of gunpowder. He was executed. The failure of this plan is celebrated each year by lighting a big fire (called a bonfire) with a "guy" on top (this is a model of a man, representing Guy Fawkes). In recent years the bonfire is combined with (or is often replaced by) displays of fireworks. Fireworks are dangerous: if you buy your own, make sure that you always follow the Fireworks Safety Code. Never throw fireworks, and do not return to a firework which has been lit but has not exploded. Do not keep fireworks in your room, in case there is a fire. For more safety information, see: http://www.berr.gov.uk/fireworks. Some of the places in or near London with fireworks displays are shown below (larger events are shown in bold). If you are planning to go to one of these please check the website for full details (occasionally events may be cancelled in bad weather conditions, eg high winds or heavy rain, so check again on the day). Timings vary, but typically gates open at about 6pm and spectators should arrive at about 7pm, in time for fireworks (and in some cases a bonfire) at 7:30pm or 8pm. Some of the events are free, but many require a small payment of about £4-£7 for adults and perhaps a third cheaper for children (for some events you can avoid queuing by buying tickets online in advance). North London - Alexandra Palace (Haringey) N22 (Tube: Wood Green, then W3 bus) (website): Sat 7 Nov 2009 - Roundwood Park (Brent) NW10 (Tube: Dollis Hill) (website): Thu 5 Nov 2009 East London - Barking Park (Barking & Dagenham) IG11 8TA (Tube: Barking, Upney) (website): Sat 7 Nov 2009 - Victoria Park (Tower Hamlets) E3 (Tube: Bethnal Green) (website): Sat 7 Nov 2009 West London - Ravenscourt Park (Hammersmith & Fulham) W6 (Tube: Ravenscourt Park) (website): Sat 7 Nov 2009 - Syon Park (Brentford) TW8 8JF (Tube: Gunnersbury) (website): Thu 5 Nov 2009 - Westway: Maxilla Gardens W10 6NQ (Tube: Ladbroke Grove/Latimer Road) (website): Thu 5 Nov 2009 South-East London - Blackheath, Shooters Hill (Lewisham) SE3 (Train: Blackheath) (website): Sat 7 Nov 2009 - Brockwell Park (Lambeth), SE24 (Tube: Brixton) (website): Thu 5 Nov 2009 - Crystal Palace Park, SE19 2AA (Train: Crystal Palace) (website): Thu 5 Nov 2009 - Southwark Park (Southwark) SE16 (Tube: Canada Water/Surrey Quays) (website): Thu 5 Nov 2009 South-West London - Battersea Park (Wandsworth) SW4 (Tube: Sloane Square, or train: Battersea Park) (website): Sat 7 Nov 2009 - Bishop's Park (Hammersmith & Fulham) SW6 (Tube: Fulham Broadway) (website): Fri 6 Nov 2009 - Clapham Common (Lambeth), SW4 (Tube: Clapham Common, Clapham South) (website): Thu 5 Nov 2009 - Morden Park (Merton), SM4 (Tube: Morden, or train: Morden South) (website): Sat 7 Nov 2009 - Streatham Common (Lambeth), SW16 (Train: Streatham) (website): Thu 5 Nov 2009 - Wimbledon Park (Merton) SW19 (Tube: Southfields, Wimbledon Park) (website): Thu 5 Nov 2009 Kent - Danson Park (Bexley) DA16 (Train: Bexleyheath, Welling) (website): Sat 7 Nov 2009 - Leeds Castle (Maidstone) ME17 1PL (website): Sat 7 Nov 2009 & Sun 8 Nov 2009 Surrey - Hampton Court (train: Hampton Court) KT8: no event in 2009 - Kingsmeadow Athletic and Fitness Centre (Kingston, Surrey) KT1 3PB (Train: Kingston, Norbiton, Berrylands) (website): Fri 6 Nov 2009 Berkshire - Legoland (Windsor) SL4 4AY (website): 24-25, 30-31 Oct, 1 Nov, 7 Nov 2009 [there is also a fireworks display on the Thames after the Lord Mayor's Show - see below] There are other organised events in parks and other open spaces across the UK - see local newspapers or council websites for details. |
 Bonfire |
 Sparkler |
 Fireworks |
| Thu 5 Nov 2009 | Tar Barrels, Ottery St Mary (Devon) There is a special Bonfire Night tradition in Ottery St Mary, a town in Devon (near Exeter). Barrels which have been soaked with tar are lit and are then carried on people's backs through the streets. This has been done since the 17th century. The fires were believed to drive away evil spirits from the town. For more about this tradition, see: http://www.tarbarrels.co.uk To check details of this year's event, see: http://www.otterytourism.org.uk * Visitor guide to Exeter: Travel/Tours/England/Exeter |
| Thu 5 Nov 2009 | Lewes Bonfire Night, Lewes (East Sussex) The Bonfire Night celebrations at Lewes remember not only the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, but also the burning on the stake of 17 Protestants in the town in 1555, and the restoration of a Protestant king (William of Orange) in 1688. There will be torchlit processions through the town, followed by bonfires and firework displays on the surrounding hills, organised by the various local bonfire societies. For more about this tradition, see: http://www.lewesbonfirecouncil.org.uk * Visitor guide to Lewes: Travel/Tours/England/Lewes |
| Sun 8 Nov 2009 | Remembrance events, London & across the UK Wild poppies grew in the fields of France and Belgium where many people died during the First World War. Paper poppies are sold and worn from the start of November to raise money for the Royal British Legion (http://www.poppy.org.uk), a charity which supports the families of people who have been killed or injured in wars. The Queen and representatives of Parliament, the Armed Forces and the Commonwealth lay wreathes (rings) of poppies at the Cenotaph. The Cenotaph is a memorial for those who died in the First and Second World Wars (it is located in London in the middle of the road called Whitehall to the north and called Parliament Street to the south, near Westminster tube station; see map). 10,000 veterans (former soldiers) march past the memorial. There will be a two-minute silence at 11am. The ceremony can be seen on television (on BBC, starting at about 10:30am). If you go to Whitehall to watch, you will get a better view if you arrive before 9:30am. * Photos of this event: Ideas/Album/RemembranceSunday |
 Poppies are sold and worn in early November |
 The Cenotaph, Whitehall, London |
 Remembrance ceremony |
 Poppy wreathes are laid on war memorials |
| Wed 11 Nov - Sun 15 Nov 2009 |
Country Living Fair (Christmas), London British crafts and small businesses display their products. A good place to find unusual Christmas presents. There is an entrance charge. The event is held at the Business Design Centre in London (http://www.businessdesigncentre.co.uk; near Angel underground station; map). For details, or to buy tickets in advance, see: http://www.countrylivingfair.com. |
| Sat 14 Nov 2009 | The Prince of Wales's birthday: gun salute, London Gun salute to mark the birthday of Prince Charles. Cannons will be fired in the following locations: - A 41-gun salute at 12 noon fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park, London (opposite the Dorchester Hotel: map; nearest Tube: Hyde Park Corner or Marble Arch) - A 62-gun salute at 1pm fired by the Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London (from the gunpark at the western end of London Wharf: map; nearest Tube: Tower Hill) For background information about the gun salutes, see: http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandCeremonies/GunSalutes/Gunsalutes.aspx or http://www.royalparks.gov.uk/tourists/gun_salutes.cfm. * Royal traditions: Britain/Countries/Royalty. |
| Sat 14 Nov 2009 | The Lord Mayor's Show, London Since 1189 (during the rule of King John) there has been a Lord Mayor of London elected each year who represents the City of London, the traditional business centre of London (do not confuse the Lord Mayor with the Mayor of London, the role currently taken by Ken Livingstone). Each year a new mayor is elected and by tradition must travel from the City to Westminster to promise to serve the king or queen (on the second Saturday in November). There is a street parade which starts at the Guildhall (map) at about 10:55am; this is watched by the new Lord Mayor from outside of Mansion House. The parade includes about 200 horses, 60 floats (displays on top of a vehicle), 200 motor vehicles, 20 marching bands and 23 carriages. It takes about one hour to pass. The Lord Mayor follows at the end of this procession in his golden coach (built in 1757). The procession travels past St Paul's Cathedral (map) and ends at the Royal Courts of Justice in Aldwych (map). At 1.00pm the procession returns, starting near Temple tube station (map), and following Victoria Embankment and Queen Victoria Street back to the Guildhall, finishing at about 2:30pm. If you cannot go to the parade yourself, you can watch it on television on BBC1 between 10.45am and noon. Later in the day (starting at about 5pm) there are fireworks which are set off from a boat on the River Thames. Good places to see the fireworks are along Victoria Embankment, on Blackfriars Bridge or on Waterloo Bridge (all of these are near Temple tube station). For more details and the timetable of events during the day, see: http://www.lordmayorsshow.org. * Photos of this event: Ideas/Album/LordMayorsShow |
 The coach which takes the Lord Mayor to Aldwych |
 Fireworks on the Thames |
| Sat 14 Nov - Sun 15 Nov 2009 |
Discover Dogs, London A dog show in London organised by the Kennel Club. The event is at Earl's Court (nearest Tube: Earl's Court; map). For details and to buy tickets, see: http://www.discoverdogs.org.uk * Photos of this event: Ideas/Album/Crufts |
 |
 |
 |
| Wed 18 Nov 2009 | Marylebone Christmas Lights, London Christmas lights are switched on at Marylebone High Street (nearest Tube: Regents Park or Great Portland Street). For details, see: http://www.marylebonevillage.com or http://www.marylebonechristmaslights.com |
| Wed 18 Nov 2009 | State Opening of Parliament, London The Queen travels from Buckingham Palace to Westminster to open a new year's programme for Parliament. The British Parliament has two main chambers: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons has most of the power these days: its representatives (known as MPs: "Members of Parliament) are elected directly by the people in a general election. The main role of the House of Lords is to review the decisions taken by the House of Commons, and to recommend changes. Before the State Opening ceremony starts, the cellars of the Palace of Westminster are searched by the Yeomen of the Guard - a precaution dating back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Guy Fawkes and others planned to blow up Parliament. The Queen enters the House of Lords and sits on a throne. An official known as "Black Rod" walks to the House of Commons, but the door is closed in front of him (this represents the occasion when King Charles the First was refused entry, at the time of the English Civil War). Black Rod uses his ornamental mace (a heavy stick) to knock on the door, after which he is allowed into the House of Commons. He asks the MPs (Members of Parliament, who are chosen in a general election) to move into the House of Lords to listen to the "Queen's Speech". The Queen reads out details of planned changes to the law over the coming year (this is written by politicians from the government). The ceremony, which is a tradition which started over 500 years ago, is shown on television (usually on BBC1: 10.45am - 12.30pm). You can watch the Queen arriving or leaving in her coach: it leaves Buckingham Palace at 11am, follows The Mall to Horse Guards, passes through to Whitehall and then travels past the Cenotaph to Parliament Square. At 11.15 a cannon is fired in Hyde Park. Possible places to watch include the northern and north-eastern edges of St James's Park and in front of the Houses of Parliament (map; near Westminster Abbey). For further information, see: http://www.parliament.uk/faq/lords_stateopening.cfm * Photos of this event: Ideas/Album/StateOpeningOfParliament. * A brief guide to Parliament: Travel/Tours/London/Parliament |
| Wed 18 Nov 2009 | Christmas Grand Sale, London About 150 stalls selling seasonal gifts from 6-9pm in the Royal Horticultural Halls (nearest Tube: Victoria or St James's Park). There is an entrance charge. See: http://www.horticultural-halls.co.uk/events/calendar/details/?id=6 |
| Thu 19 Nov 2009 | University of London Postgraduate Open Evening,
London Free event for people who are interested in taking a postgraduate course at one of the members of the University of London. See: http://www.london.ac.uk/postgradopen.html |
| Thu 19 Nov 2009 | Bond Street Christmas Lights (Bond Noël),
London Bond Street will be turned into a "winter wonderland" from 5pm-8pm, with carol singers, musicians and entertainers. A celebrity will switch on the lights at 6pm, from a stage set up on the corner of Burlington Gardens and Old Bond Street (nearest Tube: Green Park or Bond Street; map). For details, see: http://www.bondstreetassociation.com * Photos from this event: Ideas/Album/BondStreetLights. See also: Ideas/Album/ChristmasLights |
 Bond Street Christmas lights (2007) |
| Fri 20 Nov 2009 | BBC Children In Need, across the UK An annual event to raise money for British children's charities. You can get involved in one of many fundraising events in the UK, or you can help by donating money to the charities. There is a special programme on television on BBC1 throughout Friday evening. An injured bear called Pudsey is the symbol for this charity appeal. For details of events and how to make a donation, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey. |
 |
 |
 |
| Thu 26 Nov 2009 | Thanksgiving Day Americans celebrate the harvest season, often eating a family meal including turkey and pumpkin pie. Although this day is not widely celebrated in the UK, some restaurants offer the traditional meal. * Useful links for Americans in the UK: Links/USA |
| Thu 26 Nov 2009 | Edinburgh's Christmas, Edinburgh The start of Edinburgh's Christmas celebrations. For details see: http://www.edinburghschristmas.com |
| Mon 30 Nov 2008 | St Andrew's Day, Scotland Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. He and his brother - Saint Peter - were fishermen who became Apostles of Jesus Christ. He was crucified (killed on a cross) on November 30th in Greece. The cross of Saint Andrew is on the Scottish flag (the Saltire). Scottish celebrations often include traditional food, music, songs, poetry and dance. For information about St Andrew's Day events in Scotland, see: http://www.scotland.org/standrewsday * Photos of Scotland: Travel/Tours/Scotland |
|
|
|