West End Live

"Do you hear the people sing?" Of course you do, because more than half a million people are singing this weekend "thank you for the music" in Trafalgar Square.

The West End is well known because of its buildings, shops, monuments and tourist attractions. But one thing that makes this area unique, same that happens in Broadway, is the impressive amount of Theatres. The best plays in the World are performing, without any doubt, in the West End.

The only problem is that most of the shows are very expensive and many Londoners cannot afford to enjoy them. That's why West End Live is returning for its 11th year to bring the most impressive performances on stage for free.

London Marathon 2015

More than 38,000 people have taken part in the London Marathon last Sunday. Since the first time that it took place, on 29 March 1981, around £716 million have been collected.

From Greenwich to Buckingham Palace, the runners went over 26.2 mile (42.2km). This event was instituted to commemorate the Greek soldier Pheidippides who, in 490 BC, run 25 miles (40 km) from the battlefield near Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over Persia. In the present, this would be the same distance as the length of the Victoria line, twice.

And this year runners not only participated in the race to raise money. Some of them also made of it the most important day of their lifes.

The Spanish frigate Méndez Núñez

Everybody who visits London this weekend have the opportunity to walk on Spanish ground without leaving the country. How is that possible?

The Spanish Navy frigate Méndez Núñez is mooring on the West India Dock. The ship dropped anchor the past Friday and it will be in London until tomorrow. The ship is open to the public on Sunday (10:30-12:30 and 16:30-19:30) and Monday (10:30-12:30). The crew is organising a very interesting tour in which you can know everything you want about this ship and the Navy. 

The Méndez Núñez has returned from Scotland, where the ship participated in a NATO joint training exercise. The Joint Warrior was the largest military exercise in Europe with numerous warships, aircraft, marines and troops involved. In total, around 13,000 personnel participated in the practice.

Shakespeare in love

Shakespeare in love, a 1998 film, was directed by John Madden and starred by Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow. It was one of the most successful English films of all times. The movie is placed in 1593, a period in which William Shakespeare was suffering from writer's block. It is a story about true love and love about theatre, so bringing it on the stage seemed like a natural fit. 

Last year, it was the 450th anniversary of the birth of the English author, so it was the perfect moment to perform this adaptation. The chosen theatre to bring Shakespeare back to the West End was the Noël Coward. This stage was only about one mile away from where the playwright worked so, probably, he walked pass this theatre many times in his life to get to the Globe Theatre, in Southbank. 

The premier was the 23rd of July of 2014 and today, 18th of April, the curtain dropped for the last time. The play was really fun, from the beginning to the end, with some romance, tears and love. And all of this is possible thank to the work of one of the largest companies ever seen on a play on the West End with 30 performers and a dog.

Shaun in the city

Everything is possible in London's Spring, even if the weather is a little bit cold. The stress, tourists and pedestrians have to share the city now with the sheeps that came back to the capital for graze. 

From the 28th of March until the 25th of May, London is being taken by 50 giant sculptures of Shaun the Sheep. The animated character, created by Nick Park, is the protagonist of the main public art trail, taking place this year, and all the statues are grazing in green parks and important landmarks. 

Unfortunately, he came alone and his friends Bitzer, the Flock, the Farmer, the Naughty Pigs, Pidsley and Timmy and his mother couldn't walk with him.

Greek art at the British Museum

The ancient Greece spanned from the 9th Century BC until the end of Antiquity, around 600 AD. It was one of the most incredible and prolific civilizations in the History. Greece was the language of Homer, the sculpture of Phidias, the philosophy of Plato and the oratory of Pericles. 

There are just a few preserved artworks from this period. The paintings had weak support and the sculptures, despite they were made with durable materials, were destroyed and the stone and bronze were "recycled" in the Middle Ages.

Perfection, beauty, balance, harmony and technique were their goals and the main themes were gods and mythology, heroes and battles and athletes.

Game of Thrones at the Tower of London

We are in March but it looks like "winter is coming".

 The Tower of London is the perfect set to perform a battle, a treason, or a romantic escape. Seven months ago, the artist Paul Cummins symbolized the Flanders battlefields with 888,246 red ceramic poppies placed around the Tower. 

Happy Red Nose Day!

It has been 30 years since Richard Curtis and Lenny Henry founded Comic Relief. Maybe they did not think about the importance of that decision, but nowadays, this British charity has became the major one based in the UK. Thanks to all the hard work, Comic Relief has raised over £950 million in all these years.

How can they do that? Very simple. The Charity has the "Golden Pound Principle". It means that every single penny donated, it is spent on charitable projects. The workers, and costs are covered by private sponsors. So, when you make a contribution, you know that your money is not going to be wasted.

Besides, Comic Relief organises two big biennales. Sport Relief and Red Nose Day. 

Today, and since it was first launched in 1988, is Red Nose Day. Every two years, people have the opportunity to have fun at work, home, school or uni while they help the needed.

Secret Cinema presents Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

It is a dark time for the Rebellion. Although the Death Star has been destroyed, Imperial troops have driven the Rebel forces from their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy.

Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet, a group of freedom fighters led by Luke Skywalker have established a new secret base on the remote ice world of Hoth.

The evil lord Darth Vader, obsessed with finding young Skywalker, has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of space....

Pancake Day

It has been a year already, and tomorrow it will be, again, Pancake Day. What does that mean? It means that we need to clear our cupboards and finish up all sugars, fats and eggs because Lent starts on Wednesday. 

There are many different recipes but lemon and sugar pancake is the classic one. If you don't care about the diet try it with banana, strawberries and nutella or berries and vanilla ice cream. Yummy!

If you are going to feel guilty because of the extra calories, you can participate in some of the races that will take place in the capital. Parliamentary Pancake Race will start at 10 o'clock while Bankside Pancake Day Race will begin in Borough Market at 12:30. At the same time, the starting signal at The Great Spitalfields Pancake Race will be happening. The participants will go through Brick Lane wearing fancy dresses and holding their crêpes.

So there are 48 days left before Easter Sunday. Are you ready to chose your Easter Egg?

Peppa Pig World

A family of pink pigs has captured the hearts of children from UK and all over the world since the first show was aired the 31st of May, 2004. 

This British preschool animated television series teaches our children through activities that Peppa, her family and her friends practise. Besides, in every five minutes episodes, kids can see and enjoy with rabbits, sheeps, cats, dogs, ponies, zebras, elephants, donkeys, foxes, kangaroos, wolves, goats, and pigs, of course. 

Psychologists point that one of Peppa's strenght is that adults and children are able to watch the show together. Dr Jane Herbert, psychologist at Sheffield University, remarks that “Peppa Pig is popular because kids like anything with child voices. It’s got very bright colours with all the pink so they'll like to look at it. Also, children see Peppa Pig down town, in shops and on the television so it's pervasive in their environment.” 

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, the musical

London has the flavours, sounds and laughs of Spanish because Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (known as Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios), the musical, finally started. From the 12th of January until the 9th of May, the Playhouse Theatre is going to be the capital of Spain. 

This fantastic film, directed and written by Pedro Almodóvar in 1988, won five Goya Awards, including the best film. But this crazy story was appreciated not only in Spain, because it also won awards and nominations all around the globe and it put the Spanish director on the international map.

This masterpiece occurs in the 80's. In that moment, Madrid was a city full of colours, music, fun, freedom and "mad people" like all these women.

Coca Cola Christmas truck is in London

If there is a brand that knows how to do clever and great marketing campaigns that is Coca Cola. It is not only a drink, it is a way to live, to think, to enjoy. And, of course, it is an essential drink on Christmas. 

Its iconic Christmas truck is on tour since the 28th of November. It started its adventure at Elgin and, after visiting 42 locations, it is in London.

Harrods

The 30th President of the United States Calvin Coolidge said that "Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas". But he forgot one thing, because Christmas is a time to spend money.

If you didn't finish your Christmas shopping yet, you are in time to visit one of the London's Big Five department stores: Liberty, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and, of course, Harrods.

And if, like most of the population, you don't have budget to shop in these stores, you can also enjoy the awesome windows that all of them have prepared for this special holidays.

Last year, Harrods Christmas set was inspired by the classic British steam train. On 2014, this emblematic store "celebrates Christmas with The Land Of Make Believe, a fantasy winter tale where magical mice arrive at Harrods to help Father Christmas transform the store ready for the festive season..." Designers like Zuhair Murad, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen have worked for the store this season.

Feeling like in Howarts

Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross

Everyone knows that London is one of the best settings for cinema. Awarded films, successful TV series and impressive documentaries have been filmed in the English capital. But, maybe, one of the best examples is J.K.Rowling's masterpiece, Harry Potter's saga. 

Many scenes from these magical movies were shot in central London. To see the most famous place to get into Hogwarts, you need to go to King’s Cross. In this station you'll find the mysterious platform 9¾. But Leadenhall Market, Borough Market, the Australia House, Westminster Underground Station or the Great Scotland Yard have been chosen to be part of the movies too.

Christmas Jumper Day

On the 12th of December you can join the woolly revolution. The only thing that you have to do is to wear a Christmas Jumper and make a donation to help Save the Children's project. On the past two years, the organization raised more than £1.6 million. Are you going to participate in this third season? 

But the British are not the only ones supporting this proposed. The UK government is going to double each donation, up to £5million, and all this money will help them to "save mothers' and babies' lives through their work in Kenya".

Around this project, Save the Children has developed more events to help them to raise money and make a little bit of fun. 

Join them and make the world better with a sweater.

The magical Winterville is open

Winterville opened today, for the very first time, at Victoria Park. This new town can be a great alternative to Winter Wonderland. It has "an outdoor Ice Rink, Horse-Drawn Carriages, a Fairground, Ferris Wheel, an On-Site Pub, a Wall of Death, a Food Hall, a Christmas Market with a twist, Street Food traders, a Craft Beer area and more Bars than you can shake a yuletide stick at". You will enjoy with the Cabaret, the Comedy, the Pantomimes and the Live Music. Everything will be possible in East London. 

Do you live in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets or in the E9 Hackney postcode area? Winterville wants to thank to his neighbours with some discounts. Check online and buy your tickets in advance.

If you want to live a perfect experience and you don't want to miss anything, plan your visit before going. And remember that Winterville will only be open until the 1st of January.

Merry Christmas!

Paddington Goes to Town

It was 58 years ago when Michael Bond bought a bear, as a present for his wife, at Selfridges. At this time nobody knew it but on that Christmas Eve, on 1956, Paddington was born.

The teddy bear was the source of inspiration for Bond. In only ten days, he wrote the first book in which Paddington, named after Paddington station, was the main character. On the 13th of October of 1958 A Bear Called Paddington was published.

Nowadays, Paddy has become a classic member on children's literature and Bond's books have been translated into more than 30 different languages.

Next Friday, 28th of November, Paddington will be brought to the big screen. The film, by the director Paul King, is the perfect movie to enjoy this Christmas with the entire family.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

On Friday 21st November, begins again Winter Wonderland, one of the main attractions in London. The Christmas market will be open from 10 am to 10 pm every day, except on Christmas Day, until the 4th of January. 

Hyde Park will become the perfect entertainment for the entire family. Ice skating, shopping, the Bar Ice, Santa Land, the Magical Ice Kingdom, amazing attractions... Everything is ready to embrace Christmas.

But Winter Wonderland is not the only Christmas market in the capital. A new festive treat will be taking place in Victoria Park from the 2nd until the 31st of December. Winterville will have an ice skating rink, the House of Fairy Tales, food, drink, pantomimes, a roller disco and much more.

And of course, you can't miss the traditional Southbank Centre Christmas Market. It is the best option to enjoy a succulent mince pie and a mulled wine while you are delighted with an incredible view.

What are you waiting for? Wrap up warm and enjoy Christmas

Remembrance Sunday and Poppy Day

Next Tuesday will be a day to remember and to honor all the members of the army who have died while they were in duty. The Poppy Day. 

And we celebrate it this exactly day to make it coincides with the end of the confrontation of World War I at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month on 1918. After six hours, the armistice was signed in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiegne, France. With the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, the 28th of June of 1919, the War was officially ended.

On the Remembrance Sunday, United Kingdom celebrates two minutes of silence. This period start and end with the firing of an artillery piece. In London, some of the main commemoration points will be held in Whitehall, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Big Ben.