Your Sunday morning best-of-Londonist weekly round-up sponsored this week by Spitalfields Music.
London News
- Voting has opened for the London Cycling Awards 2015. Show support for some of London’s best bike-friendly businesses, people and projects by voting for them.
- The London Assembly Conservatives are pushing for TfL to scrap providing free travel to friends and family of its staff.
- Just over 14,100 landlords have voluntarily agreed to the London Rental Standard which launched a year ago — at this rate, it'll take 100 years to reach the Mayor's target.
- Londonist Football League winners announced.
- George Galloway wants to be Mayor of London. Cue tumbleweed.
Must-read articles
- 31 May marks 100 years since the first aerial bombardment. This house was the first place in London to be attacked by a foreign military power in almost 1,000 years.
- If you find yourself on the windswept pastures of Blackheath, these are the best places to eat and drink.
- There was a time when FA Cup finals were held in Crystal Palace.
- This short film documents the final days of Soho's iconic 12 Bar Club.
- The sun shone briefly this week, so we went out hunting for a gelato fix.
- Crime novelist MH Baylis explains why Haringey's Green Lanes is so important to him, his books, and to London
- Looking for late night culture? Did you know about all of these museum lates on offer in London?
- Secrets of Paddington Station revealed #video.
- Too many festivals to pick from in London this summer? Here's our guide.
Top reviews
- Shakespeare's trashy crowd-pleaser As You Like It comes to The Globe ★★★★☆
- Like Henry Moore? You're in luck: there are 3 free exhibitions about him round Mayfair
- Peter Pan sets spirits soaring in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre ★★★★☆
- Visually spectacular Alexander McQueen play doesn't do justice to the designer's life ★★★☆☆
- The E17 Art Trail is back and it's vast and fun
Things to do
FESTIVAL OF LOVE: This year's Festival of Love at Southbank Centre is inspired by Nelson Mandela’s humanitarian work. Expect exhibitions, theatre, themed weekends, and the Big Wedding Weekend at the end of the summer. 6 June-31 August
VIVALDI BY CANDLELIGHT: Hear Vivaldi's Four Seasons performed by candlelight in Southwark Cathedral, alongside a programme featuring Elgar, Ireland, Piazzolla and Tchaikovsky. £15-24, 6 June, 7.30pm
Buy Tickets
HUGUENOT HERITAGE: Huguenot Summer is an epic festival celebrating the legacy of the Huguenots in the East End, other parts of the city and the country as a whole. Silverware, poetry, religion and hospitals are just some of the aspects of Huguenot heritage explored. 2 June-25 September
PÉTANQUE: The Londonaise International Pétanque Festival takes place at Barnard Park in Islington, and you're invited to enter a team of three and see whether you can be crowned champions. There's entertainment for spectators, including a food market and kids' activities. £11, 7 June, 9am
Buy Tickets
NEW ART: Another month brings another wave of art exhibitions - with so many to choose from, we've whittled it down to the top 10 to see.
SPIRITED SERMON: The Reverend JW Simpson’s sermons aren't your average sermon — mainly because they usually focus on booze. In Fitzrovia, spend an evening learning about (and tasting) plantation rums. £12.50, 2 June, 8.30pm
Buy Tickets
FRINGE THEATRE: Besides bringing you reviews of all the big shows each month, we also want you to know about the best fringe fare out there: those smaller shows and plays with brief runs which also deserve a look.
GREAT BRITISH CINEMA: The Philharmonia Orchestra are at Royal Festival Hall on Southbank for a night dedicated to British movies. Expect to hear theme music from the likes of Harry Potter, James Bond and The Great Escape. £15, 4 June, 7.30pm
Buy Tickets
WALLACE COLLECTION LATE: Painted ladies, life drawing, psychedelic pop, group art and comedy tours are just some of the activities on the programme at Wallace Collection's Experiment With Colour late. £12, 5 June
MAD HATTER'S BRUNCH: Christabel's is hosting a Mad Hatter's Brunch in an N1 location that will be revealed three days before the event. Bring a bottle and tuck into crispy bacon and maple syrup, scones, pancakes and chocolate brownies. £30, 7 June, 12pm
Buy Tickets
Buttons are provided by YPlan.
Spitalfields Music Summer Festival is back!
For its 39th year, Spitalfields Music returns to animate East London with its Summer Festival. Unique venues such as Shoreditch's Village Underground and Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula will host Renaissance music, jazz and opera.
This year's Associate Artists are composer Emily Hall, baroque ensemble La Nuova Musica and saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings who will be curating events throughout the festival. The programme includes gigs, talks, workshops and special children shows.
Spitalfields Music Summer Festival takes place 2-16 June in different venues around East London. Tickets start from £5, many events are free: check the full programme here.
This week’s Best of Londonist is sponsored by Spitalfields Music.
Want to get this as an email? Sign up for Sunday Best here.
