Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
Things to do in the UK in November 2010
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Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
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Things to do in the UK in November 2010
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NOVEMBER
2010
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| [date to be confirmed] | Regent Street Christmas Lights, London There is entertainment on a stage in Regent Street followed by the switch-on of its Christmas lights. 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 |
| [date to be confirmed] | Oxford Street Christmas Lights, London There is entertainment on a stage in Oxford Street followed by the switch-on of its Christmas lights. 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 |
 Oxford Street Christmas lights (2009) |
 Regent Street Christmas lights (2009) |
| Fri 5 Nov - Sat 6 Nov 2010 |
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) - Roundwood Park (Brent) NW10 (Tube: Dollis Hill) (website) East London - Barking Park (Barking & Dagenham) IG11 8TA (Tube: Barking, Upney) (website) - Victoria Park (Tower Hamlets) E3 (Tube: Bethnal Green) (website) West London - Ravenscourt Park (Hammersmith & Fulham) W6 (Tube: Ravenscourt Park) (website) - Syon Park (Brentford) TW8 8JF (Tube: Gunnersbury) (website) - Westway: Maxilla Gardens W10 6NQ (Tube: Ladbroke Grove/Latimer Road) (website) South-East London - Blackheath, Shooters Hill (Lewisham) SE3 (Train: Blackheath) (website) - Brockwell Park (Lambeth), SE24 (Tube: Brixton) (website) - Crystal Palace Park, SE19 2AA (Train: Crystal Palace) (website) - Southwark Park (Southwark) SE16 (Tube: Canada Water/Surrey Quays) (website) South-West London - Battersea Park (Wandsworth) SW4 (Tube: Sloane Square, or train: Battersea Park) (website) - Bishop's Park (Hammersmith & Fulham) SW6 (Tube: Fulham Broadway) (website) - Clapham Common (Lambeth), SW4 (Tube: Clapham Common, Clapham South) (website) - Morden Park (Merton), SM4 (Tube: Morden, or train: Morden South) (website) - Streatham Common (Lambeth), SW16 (Train: Streatham) (website) - Wimbledon Park (Merton) SW19 (Tube: Southfields, Wimbledon Park) (website) Kent - Danson Park (Bexley) DA16 (Train: Bexleyheath, Welling) (website) - Leeds Castle (Maidstone) ME17 1PL (website) Surrey - Hampton Court (train: Hampton Court) KT8 - Kingsmeadow Athletic and Fitness Centre (Kingston, Surrey) KT1 3PB (Train: Kingston, Norbiton, Berrylands) (website) Berkshire - Legoland (Windsor) SL4 4AY (website) [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 at Leeds Castle |
| Fri 5 Nov 2010 | Diwali, across the UK Diwali is a Hindu, Sikh and Jain celebration known as the "festival of lights". Celebrations often include firework displays. The next day is the start of the Hindu New Year. * See: Ideas/Album/Diwali |
| [date to be confirmed] | Diwali on the Square, London Diwali celebrations in London's Trafalgar Square. For further details, see: http://www.diwaliinlondon.com or http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/diwali/index.jsp * Photos from this event: Ideas/Album/Diwali |
 Ganesh (Hindu god) |
 Floating lanterns |
 Indian dancer |
| Fri 5 Nov 2010 | 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 |
| Fri 5 Nov 2010 | 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 |
| Sat 6 Nov - Sun 7 Nov 2010 |
Leeds Castle Firework Spectacular, Kent Spectacular fireworks display set to music from the West End, in the grounds of Leeds Castle in Kent. For details: click here * Leeds Castle: Travel/Tours/England/LeedsCastle |
| Sun 7 Nov 2010 | 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 |
| Thu 11 Nov 2010 | Armistice Day, UK The fighting in the First World War finished at 11am on 11 November. At 11am there is a two-minute silence when people remember the victims of wars - you may be asked to stop what you are doing and should avoid speaking during this time. |
| Sat 13 Nov 2010 | 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 |
| Sun 14 Nov 2010 | Remembrance events, 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 |
| Sun 14 Nov 2010 | 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. |
| [dates to be confirmed] | 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. |
| [dates to be confirmed] | 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 |
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| [date to be confirmed] | 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 |
| [date to be confirmed] | 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 |
| [date to be confirmed] | 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) |
| [date to be confirmed] | 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. |
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| Thu 25 Nov 2010 | 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 25 Nov - Mon 29 Nov 2010 |
The Ashes: 1st Test, Brisbane (Australia) England play Australia in the first of 5 cricket matches. * Cricket: Life/Sport/Cricket |
| Tue 30 Nov 2010 | 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 |
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