What To Book In London This November
WATCH A LIVE PERFORMANCE HERE: Sadler’s Wells
Alexander Whitley and his company is set to return to the main stage of Sadler’s Wells with socially distanced performances of new work Overflow from 27th-28th November, following the cancellation of its original run in April. Known for his adventurous use of technology, Whitley’s Overflow considers how our desires, fantasies and vulnerabilities are powerfully influenced by social platforms and explores what lurks beneath our compulsions to check, share and like. Featuring a kinetic light sculpture by Children of the Light, costumes from award-winning designer Ana Rajcevic and an original score from producer Rival Consoles – whose music features in Black Mirror – Overflow delves into what it means to be human in the era of big data.
Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell, EC1R 4TN; 27th-28th November
Visit SadlersWells.com
SEE AN EXHIBITION HERE: Design Museum
This is the closest you’ll get to a club this autumn – and a vital reminder of everything club culture has done for us. The Design Museum’s Electronic exhibition, which runs until February, is an immersive history of electronica, charting the music’s evolution from primitive bleeps more than a century ago into the central cultural phenomenon it is today. Along the way, you can dip into a vintage Chemical Brothers set, catch one of Kraftwerk’s historic 3D performances, and marvel at remarkable artefacts from global clubbing capitals including Detroit, Chicago and Berlin.
224-238 Kensington High Street, Kensington, W8 6AG; until February 2021
Visit DesignMuseum.org
TRY AN OLD FAVOURITE HERE: Koya
Since co-founders John Devitt, Shuko Oda and Junya Yamasaki launched Koya on Frith Street in 2010, it has become renowned for its handmade udon and dashi – in fact, it’s still the only restaurant in London to make its own udon. The menu has evolved over time, but many staples have remained, alongside its blackboard of innovative specials that have pushed the boundaries of Japanese cuisine in London. To mark its tenth birthday, Koya is bringing back some of its much-loved signature dishes from the past decade. Until mid-November, the dishes will each be available for one week only, including the ‘English Breakfast Udon’, kedgeree and Sunomono kohlrabi salad with green tomato, artichoke and Mexican marigold.
50 Frith Street, Soho, W1D 4SQ and 10-12 Bloomberg Arcade, Bank, EC4N 8AR; until mid-November
Visit Koya.co.uk
GET XMAS SHOPPING HERE: Selfridges Corner Shop
‘La Grande Dame x Yayoi Kusama’ experience will launch at Selfridges Corner Shop on 9th November. As the end of the year draws near, champagne house Veuve Clicquot and world-renowned artist Yayoi Kusama will send shoppers a cheerful message through a dynamic, multi-sensory bar and retail experience. Corner Shop guests will be able to view incredible art while simultaneously enjoying the La Grande Dame 2012 prestige cuvée. Kusama’s vibrant tribute to La Grande Dame includes a limited-edition case and bottle which features an opulent flower and her signature dots, plus art which will be available to bid on. Large buoyant yellow ‘champagne bubble’ dots will festoon the space and a giant version of Kusama’s signature flower will create a focal point. We predict you’ll be seeing this space on Instagram a lot.
400 Oxford Street, Marylebone, W1A 1AB; until 22nd November
Visit Selfridges.com
FEEL FESTIVE HERE: Oxford Street
On Monday 2nd November, Oxford Street will be the first to bring the festive spirit to London as its Christmas lights illuminate the famous shopping street. This year’s lights will showcase a poem, created in partnership with Selfridges, that pays tribute to London and key workers across the UK who have shown incredible acts of care, kindness and support as they’ve come together during the pandemic. Adhering to government guidelines, there will be no switch on event this year. However, the lights will be on display earlier than usual to give visitors more time to make the most of the festive season, enjoy the West End and get their Christmas shopping done nice and early.
Follow @OxfordStreetW1
STOCK UP ON PASTRIES HERE: The Connaught Patisserie
The Connaught has launched its own patisserie. Each day, pastries and cakes will be served to customers in the rose-hued surroundings of the shop, alongside coffee, artisan tea and champagne. Loaf cakes and ‘gâteaux de voyage’ – cakes historically designed to last throughout long pilgrimages – will sit on the counter alongside lemon madeleines, walnut financiers, chouquettes, chocolate hounds and an exclusive from The River Café, whose ‘Chocolate Nemesis’ will be delivered daily to The Connaught Patisserie – the first time the cake has been available outside the restaurant. Those in W1 will also be able to call up for hand-delivered patisserie and celebratory cakes, which will arrive beautifully boxed and ribboned.
Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2AL
Visit The-Connaught.co.uk
TAKE THE CHILDREN HERE: The Postal Museum
The Postal Museum reopens its door this month, with visitor numbers reduced to ensure social distancing. Newly adapted technology has made the museum as engaging as it was before closure, so visitors can continue to enjoy a hands-on, interactive experience. Buttons have been replaced with sensors, audio points can be enjoyed on visitor’s own devices and visitors will be provided with biodegradable styluses to operate touch screens, guaranteeing an absorbing, yet safe, visit. Visitors will be the first back on the adapted Mail Rail train which runs through the now-deserted postal railway tunnels beneath London’s streets. The tunnels – so secret they were used to hide the Rosetta Stone during WWI – were built to transport mail across the congested capital from Paddington in the west to Whitechapel in the east. Tickets for the museum as a whole must be pre-booked.
15-20 Phoenix Place, Farringdon, WC1X 0DA
Visit ThePostalMuseum.org
HEAD TO A HOT RESIDENCY HERE: Hot 4 U
Eddy Tejada (ex-St John and Silo) and Matthew Scott (ex-Cub) launched Hot 4 U over the summer, teaming up in the early days of lockdown to join London’s rapidly evolving delivery scene with a weekly-changing menu of original dishes. This month, the pair are hosting a residency at Carousel in Marylebone. Tickets cost £49.50 and the menu includes fermented potato crackers with malt vinegar powder; fried prawn heads with prawn tartare and chilli de adobo; Hot 4 U pancake with XO goat tendons; curds and whey; pumpkin with roasted yeast sauce; and a sake ice-cream sandwich.
71 Blandford Street, Marylebone, W1U 8AB; 3rd-7th November
Visit Carousel-London.com
HAVE AFTERNOON TEA HERE: The Lanesborough
The Lanesborough hotel is set to launch a new festive afternoon tea experience with bakery Peggy Porschen. The reimagined festive tea will feature some of Peggy’s signature creations, classic afternoon tea essentials such as finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream and jam, as well as afternoon tea blends. Highlights include Christmas turkey and stuffing; roast beef and horseradish cream; and honey-roast pumpkin and brie sandwiches; Peggy’s trademark lemon, raspberry and rose slice and strawberry and pink champagne tartlet, as well as a jolly gingerbread cupcake, chocolate and cherry snowflake cupcake and a cranberry Christmas pavlova. ‘Teas with a twist’ include a chocolate brownie black tea, white choco chilli Chinese white tea, and rhubarb and vanilla Chinese green tea.
Hyde Park Corner, Mayfair, SW1X 7TA; from 13th November
Visit OetkerCollection.com
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INSPIRATION CREDITS: Johan Persson; Caitlin Isola
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