London entertainment: museums, theatres (plays, musicals), concerts, galleries

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< Up	Life / Entertainment / London
Arts and entertainment in London


Sections:	Introduction
	Free events
	Cinema
	Information for the disabled
	Further information
	Links

INTRODUCTION

This section explains how to see various types of arts and entertainment in London.

Buy products connected with London theatre, ballet, opera or classical music:

Musical ticket ; Drama ticket ; Ballet/dance ticket ; Opera ticket ; Classical concert ticket
Stage show DVD

FREE EVENTS

Alex Wilson (R&B Latino)
At the Thames Festival, September 2002

There are free parades, festivals, carnivals and sports events in London through much of the year. Details of many of these are given in the Ideas/Events section of this website, and photographs from some of the events are shown in the Ideas/Album section.

Examples of some of the events are: the New Year's Day parade, Chinese New Year celebrations, the London Marathon, the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, the Greenwich Festival, Notting Hill Carnival, the Thames Festival, the Lord Mayor's Show, and the turning on of the Christmas lights.

There are free outdoor events in many of the royal parks in London during the summer (mainly in July and August): http://www.royalparks.gov.uk.

Alternative Arts: http://www.alternativearts.co.uk organise a wide range of arts events promoting new artists. There is a summer programme in Victoria Embankment Gardens (next to Villiers Street, by Embankment underground station; map), and a programme throughout the year at Old Spitalfields Market (Brushfield Street, close to Liverpool Street station; map).

The large bookshops often have free events such as book readings, and the large music shops sometimes put on free concerts in their stores. Ask at the information desk for more details.

Television and radio stations often provide free tickets so that they can make live audiences for their programmes. For BBC radio and television tickets, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/whatson/tickets.

Harden's London for Free
Authors: Richard Harden, Peter Harden
Publisher: Harden's Limited
Date: May 2003

CINEMA

London IMAX Cinema
Waterloo, London

If you like to see films very much, you may want to join the National Film Theatre, which puts on a large selection of films. Student discounts are available for films there.
National Film Theatre: http://www.bfi.org.uk/showing/nft

Vue Cinemas (formerly Warner Village): http://www.myvue.com
CineWorld Cinemas (formerly UGC Cinemas): http://www.cineworld.co.uk
Odeon Cinemas: http://www.odeon.co.uk
UCI Cinemas (United Cinemas International - UK Limited): http://www.uci.co.uk

Barbican: http://www.barbican.org.uk/film
Curzon Cinemas: http://www.curzoncinemas.com
BFI IMAX: http://www.bfi.org.uk/incinemas/imax

http://users.aber.ac.uk/jwp/cinemas/cinlondon.html

In some cinemas, student discounts may only be available at off-peak times (morning or early afternoon) or on certain days of the week (for example: Monday evening).

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INFORMATION FOR THE DISABLED

Chair lift,
The British Museum

The accessibility of arts events in London for people with a disability is improving, but it is always best to book in advance. Information is often available on a place's website, and many produce a free accessibility guide which can be sent to you. You can call the Artsline (telephone: 020 7388 2227) for information and advice on the arts in London for people with disabilities.

Modern buildings are usually accessible for wheelchairs, and older buildings have made adjustments where possible.
Theatres sometimes have a special entrance at the side, allowing level access to the stalls. Although these are the more expensive seats, it is usually the case that two tickets can be obtained for the price of one. A seat can be removed if the person wishes to remain in his/her wheelchair during the performance.

To read about the experiences of a disabled visitor to London, read Akemi's diary: Ideas/Diary/Akemi.

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FURTHER INFORMATION

"Time Out" is a detailed weekly guide to what's on in London.
Click here to subscribe online to: Time Out magazine

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