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Theatre
Theatre Royal Stratford
Free Comedy They say a smile costs nothing, and that's certainly true in many of London's comedy venues. The Theatre Royal Stratford holds free comedy nights every Monday and on the last Sunday of the month. Wednesday evenings are a toss-up between the Comedy Café and Mirth Control at The Lower Ground Bar. Both will have you in stitches.
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Laurence Olivier Awards
Each autumn the Society Of London Theatre selects fourteen enthusiastic and knowledgeable theatregoers to join one of the four judging panels for Britain's premier theatre awards - the Laurence Olivier Awards. Panellists receive a pair of free tickets for all shows playing in the West End during the following calendar year. Members of the Theatre panel are expected to attend about 60 play or 20 musical performances, Dance about 40, and Opera and Affiliates (visiting shows in Off West End venues) about 20 each.
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Kids Theatre Club in the West End
8 to 12 year olds have the chance to explore famous shows through games and improvisation with West End professionals at the Theatre Museum on Saturday mornings.
Kids Week in the West End
Children go free to West End shows with paying adults during the last week in August.
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National Theatre
An extensive programme of events ranging from foyer music to platform productions and discussions, some requiring booking and payment, some not at 6.00pm, plus Watch This Space festival of outdoor events in Theatre Square during the summer months.
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Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass
A programme of afternoon masterclasses with actors, directors and writers for 17 to 30 year olds who have an interest in theatre, or are keen to pursue a career in the arts, plus workshops focussing on particular techniques.
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Royal Opera House
Occasional live relays of opera and ballet performances on a giant screen in the Covent Garden Piazza during the summer months.
Chamber music concerts on Mondays at 1.00pm
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Concerts
Free concerts all over London could be music to your ears. Tap your feet to free jazz at the National Theatre (Monday - Friday, 18.00; Saturday, 13.00 and 18.00), the Royal Opera House (once a month) and Octave in Covent Garden (Wednesday evenings). Free classical recitals can be heard drifting through the majestic stained-glass windows of many of the city's churches and cathedrals. Don't miss the lunchtime concerts at St. Martin-in-the-Fields.
If the weather's good, head for Covent Garden Piazza, where everyone from busking guitarists to full string quartets provide the soundtrack as you watch the world go by.
You may also want to try out the free Open Mic Night at The River Bar, for a great acoustic outdoor experience.
HMV
Various branches across the West End and City.
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Virgin Megastores
Various branches across the West End and City.
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Barbican Centre
Foyer music weekdays from 5.30pm and Sundays from 12.30pm, plus ad hoc talks, workshops and events related to current season.
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LSO St Luke's
Concerts on Fridays at 1pm, plus open rehearsals by the London Symphony Orchestra at various times.
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Royal Festival Hall
Foyer music of all kinds Wednesdays to Sundays from 12.30pm, jazz on Fridays from 5.15pm, plus outdoor events on the terraces in the summer months.
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Cinema
If you love the cinema, you can enjoy the big screen on a little budget at the Roxy Bar and Screen on Borough High Street. From film-noir classics to futuristic "video art", its innovative programme of free screenings caters for film buffs everywhere.
Occasionally on Sundays more free movies can be seen at British Museum and at National Portrait Gallery.
Churches
The Grosvenor Chapel W1
Concerts on Tuesdays at 1.10pm.
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St Anne's Lutheran Church EC2
Concerts on Mondays and Fridays at 1.10pm.
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St George's Cathedral Southwark
Organ and other recitals on Fridays (and occasional Saturdays) at 1.05pm.
020 7933 5256
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St Giles-in-the Fields
Spring and autumn seasons of recitals on Fridays at 1.10pm, plus occasional pre dinner concerts.
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St James's Piccadilly
Recitals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 1.10pm.
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St John's Waterloo
Concerts on Wednesdays at 1.10pm.
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St Martin-in-the Fields
Concerts on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 1.05pm.
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St Mary le Bow EC2
Concerts on Thursdays at 1.05pm.
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St Mary le Strand WC2
Concerts on Wednesdays at 1.05pm.
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St Pancras Parish Church
Recitals Thursdays at 1.15pm.
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St Paul's Cathedral
Organ recitals on Sundays at 5pm, and choral recitals on certain weekdays at 1.15pm.
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St Paul's Covent Garden (the actor’s church)
Piano recitals on Tuesdays at 1pm.
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St Sepulchre (the musician’s church)
Concerts on Wednesdays at 1pm.
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Southwark Cathedral
Organ and other recitals on Mondays and Tuesdays at 1.10pm.
020 7367 6700
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Temple Church
Organ recitals on Wednesdays at 1.15pm.
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Westminster Abbey
Organ recitals on Sundays at 5.45pm, and band concerts in College Garden on Thursdays at 12.30pm in the summer months.
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Colleges
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
An extensive programme of lunchtime and early evening concerts during term time.
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Royal Academy of Music
An extensive programme of lunchtime and evening concerts during term time.
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Royal College of Music
An extensive programme of lunchtime and evening concerts during term time.
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Trinity College of Music
An extensive programme of lunchtime and early evening concerts during term time.
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TV & Radio
Applause Store
Recordings of TV & Radio comedy shows in London.
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BBC TV & Radio Shows
Recordings of a variety of TV & Radio programmes in London and Birmingham.
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Clappers
Recordings of TV comedy and light entertainment shows in London and the south of England.
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Granada Entertainment
Recordings of TV entertainment shows in London and the south of England.
Hat Trick Productions
Recordings of TV comedy shows in London.
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Lost In TV
Recordings of TV quiz, game and comedy shows in London.
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SRO Audiences
Recordings of TV light entertainment and comedy shows in London.
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TV Recordings
Recordings of TV comedy shows in London.
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Talks & Discussions (Academic Institutions)
Birkbeck College
Lunchtime and early evening lectures and seminars during term time.
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The British Academy
A series of lectures, symposia and other events throughout the year exploring the humanities and the social sciences.
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Goldsmiths College
Lunchtime and evening lectures and seminars on performing and visual arts during term time.
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Gresham College
Lunchtime and evening lectures and debates covering a wide range of topics.
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Imperial College London
Lunchtime and evening lectures and seminars during term time.
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Institute of Classical Studies
Lunchtime and evening lectures and seminars during term time.
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Institute of Education
Lunchtime and evening lectures and seminars during term time.
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Institute of Historical Research
Lunchtime and evening lectures and seminars during term time.
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Kings College London
Lunchtime and evening lectures and debates during term time.
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London School of Economics
Lectures and discussions covering topics across the full range of the social, political and economic sciences.
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Royal College of Art
Lectures by leading figures from the worlds of art and design.
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University College London
Lunchtime lectures during term time.
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University of London School of Advanced Study
A diverse programme of lectures, recitals and readings provided by 12 individual institutes.
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University of Westminster
Evening lectures during term time.
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Cultural Institutions
Asia House
A varied programme of cultural activities presenting the traditional and contemporary arts of Asia through exhibitions, performances and lectures.
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BBC Proms
A series of fringe events including poetry, lectures, talks and conversations with composers accompany the main concert programme each summer.
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Czech Centre
A range of cultural events embracing current issues in all the arts.
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Dana Centre
A wide ranging programme covering issues in contemporary science, technology and culture.
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Goethe Institute
A programme of lectures and seminars covering a wide range of European cultural topics.
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Great Britain China Centre
A range of performances, exhibitions and other Chinese cultural events.
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Hungarian Cultural Centre
A programme of talks, exhibitions, concerts and films related to Hungarian culture.
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Institut Francais
A programme of talks and debates bringing together French and British speakers aimed at helping us to understand our differences and similarities better.
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Italian Cultural Institute
A programme of discussions, lectures, exhibitions, symposia and concerts related to Italian culture.
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Nehru Centre
A programme of music, dance, films, discussions, lectures and exhibitions related to Indian culture.
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Polish Cultural Institute
A programme of exhibitions, plays, cabaret, concerts films and dances related to Polish culture.
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Societies & Associations
The Architecture Foundation
A programme of exhibitions, discussions, talks and events throughout the year exploring architecture and the built environment.
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The British Association For The Advancement Of Science
A series of talks and events throughout the year exploring scientific ideas and themes.
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The Ethical Society
A programme of lectures and debates throughout the year on philosophical and related issues, including current scientific and social controversies.
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Royal Academy of Arts
A programme of lunchtime lectures throughout the year on art and artists.
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Royal College Of Physicians
A programme of lectures and events throughout the year about medical topics.
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Royal Geographical Society
A programme of lectures, films and interviews about explorers, people and physical aspects of the planet.
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Royal Institute of British Architecture
A series of meetings, talks and events throughout the year covering issues relating to architecture.
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Royal Institution of Great Britain
A series of talks and events throughout the year covering science, medicine and mathematics.
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The Royal Society
An extensive programme of lectures and discussions covering scientific topics throughout the year.
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Royal Society of Arts
An extensive programme of lectures from October through to May. Many of the historic rooms are open on the first Sunday morning of each month.
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The Zoological Society of London
A series of meetings, talks and symposia throughout the year covering a range of conservation and environmental issues.
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Other Institutions & Venues
Policy Exchange
Lectures and debates sponsored by the independent think tank whose mission is to develop and promote new policy ideas.
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Signs of the Times
Lectures and debates sponsored by the collective that exists to provide a space for open discussion on the left.
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Conway Hall
This landmark of London's intellectual, political and cultural life for over 75 years features a wide range of lectures, meetings and debates.
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St Mary le Bow
Debates on matters of public interest on Tuesdays at 1.05pm.
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Readings
Blackwell's
Academic, professional and specialist bookshops.
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Bookmarks
Britains leading socialist bookshop.
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Borders
Various branches across the West End.
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British Library Bookshop
Events based around new non-fiction works.
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Forbidden Planet
The nation's leading bookshop for science fiction and fantasy.
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Foyles
One of the world's greatest bookshops.
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Hatchards
Piccadilly's historic bookshop.
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Murder One
Europe's foremost crime and mystery bookshop.
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Ottakar's
Various branches across Greater London.
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Royal Court Theatre
Specialising in contemporary plays and publications on the theory and practice of modern drama.
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Stanfords
The nation's leading bookshop for travel writing and maps.
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Waterstones
Various branches across the West End and City.
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The Westminster Bookshop
The bookshop specialising in politics, history and biography.
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WHSmith
Various branches across the West End and City.
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Heritage
Central Criminal Court Old Bailey
The most famous court in the world surmounted by the statue of Justice herself.
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City Hall
The new centre of London government, on the Thames next to Tower Bridge and facing the Tower of London.
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Houses Of Parliament
The mother of parliaments, the centre of British democracy at work.
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London Silver Vaults
The combined stocks of 30 or so dealers in the vaults form the finest selection of antique silver in the world.
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Royal Courts Of Justice
The Supreme Court of England and Wales, consisting of two courts: the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal.
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Archives
Family Records Centre
The Centre provides access to some of the most important sources for family history research in England and Wales, including birth, marriage and death certificates and census returns.
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National Archives
The British government's official archive, containing 900 years of history with records ranging from parchment and paper scrolls through to digital files and archived websites.
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Parliamentary Archives
The archive comprises over three million records relating to British democracy, including records of the Houses of Commons and Lords from 1497 to the present day.
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Westminster Archives
The archive tells the story of the City of Westminster, with a collection that includes original hand-written documents, printed books, photographs, watercolours, maps, plans, prints and drawings.
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Auctions
Most of the sales at the major auction houses are open to the public, with viewing days preceding the sale.
Bonhams
Salerooms in Knightsbridge, New Bond Street, Bayswater and Chelsea.
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Christie’s
Salerooms in St James’s and South Kensington.
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Sotheby’s
Salerooms in New Bond Street and Olympia.
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Ceremonial Events
Buckingham Palace
The Changing Of The Queen's Guard takes place on alternate days at 11.30am.
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Horse Guards, Whitehall
The Changing Of The Queen's Life Guard takes place daily, Monday to Saturday at 11am and Sunday at 10am.
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Tower Of London
The Ceremony Of The Keys takes place every night at 9.30pm as the Yeoman Warders and military guard lock the outer gates and deliver the keys to the Resident Governor.
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Outdoor Events
Broadgate
Lunch time and early evening music and entertainment events May to September. Ice rink October to May with skating every afternoon and Broomball matches on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The Broadgate Live monthly diary gives full details.
020 7505 4000
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Canary Wharf
An arts and events programme throughout the year, outdoors in summer.
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Covent Garden
The centre of street entertainment in London, plus occasional live relays of opera and ballet.
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Leicester Square
Film premieres throughout the year, and performances by music and dance groups in the summer months.
More information from Westminster City Council
The Royal Parks
Most of the Royal Parks - Green, Greenwich, Hyde, Regent's, Richmond and St James's, and Embankment and Kensington Gardens, have music and other events in the summer months. The Summer Entertainment Programme booklet gives full details.
020 7298 2000
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The Scoop
An open air amphitheatre next to City Hall staging play performances, and lunchtime and early evening concerts July to September, and a children's play in December, plus other one off events.
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Trafalgar Square
Summer in the square music and entertainment events July to September, and the Christmas tree and carols during December.
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