British Holiday Traditions, Part I

Eat, Drink & Be Merry

Eat . . .
Afternoon Tea is one of Britain's most popular and time-honored traditions. Introduced in the early 19th century, afternoon tea was intended to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner when dinner customarily started at 8 pm.

Today, afternoon tea is usually associated with a special occasion.  It generally consists of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam (interestingly, a 20th century addition) and cake.

In London there is no shortage of afternoon teas to indulge in — a perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Some of my favorite places have put a festive twist on their afternoon — making it even better to re-visit one you love or try a new one altogether.

Biscuiteers

Brown's Hotel

Hotel Cafe Royal

Hotel One Aldwych — Charlie & the Chocolate Factory

The Ritz

Sanderson Hotel — Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

The Savoy

Watch this space for what you can Drink only this time of year . . .

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RCA Mini Masterpieces

1,800+ postcards to pick from

Established in 1994, the Royal College of Art (RCA) Stewarts RCA Secrets exhibition is one of the most popular art events of the year attracting both novice and serious art collectors. The exhibit will feature over 1,800 original postcard-sized pieces priced at £60 each by established and emerging artists. Postcards range from traditional drawing, painting and photography to even embroidery and sculpture. All proceeds of the annual sale benefit the RCA.

The ‘secret’ is part of the fun and intrigue. The postcards are displayed anonymously, and the artist’s is not revealed until the postcard is sold. Past contributors include David Bowie, Manolo Blahnik, David Hockney, Orla Kiely, Stella McCartney, Yoko Ono, *Grayson Perry and *Paul Smith (*confirmed for 2018).

The free exhibit opens November 30th (online viewing on November 29th) and runs until December 3rd. Purchases can be made on a first come first serve basis beginning on December 1st. The maximum number is four, but additional ones may be purchased on December 3rd, the final day of the exhibition. Online registration is required to view postcards online or to make a purchase.

Exhibition
November 30 : Noon – 7 pm
December 2, 3 : 10 am – 6 pm
December 1 : Noon – 6 pm

Collection
December 6 : 4 – 8 pm

Here’s your chance to purchase a masterpiece by an internationally known or an up-and-coming artist at a bargain price!
www.london.secret.rca.ac.uk
Senior Common Room, Darwin Building, Jay Mews, Kensington London SW7 2EU

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London's Best Holiday Windows

5 displays in 50 minutes

Black Friday, the day after US Thanksgiving holiday (fourth Thursday of the month), is considered one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Since 2010, it has gained popularity in the UK.

Even before this tradition crossed the pond, London has had a long history of some of the best window displays in the world. So while everyone is nabbing deals inside, get into the holiday spirit outside at five of the very best . . .

Harrods — Harrods is a British retail institution known throughout the world. Luxury merchandise is featured in 330 departments covering seven floors at its London store — the largest department store in the UK.
Walk 4 minutes to Harvey Nichols
www.harrods.com ✆ +44 2077 301234
87-135 Brompton Road, London SW1X 7XL

Harvey Nichols — Established in 1831, Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge is an eight-story high-end department store featuring hundreds of beauty, clothing, food and wine brands.
Walk 24 minutes to Selfridges
www.harveynichols.com ✆ +44 2072 355000
109-125 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RJ

Selfridges — Voted as one of the top department stores in the world, the Oxford Street flagship store includes beauty and food halls, shoe gallery, restaurants, spa and even an in-store psychics.
Walk 12 minutes to Liberty
www.selfridges.com ✆ +44 2077 301234
87-135 Brompton Road, London SW1X 7XL

Liberty — Since 1875, Liberty has been best-known for its in-house collection of print fabrics. Today, Liberty continues to collaborate with designers and has expanded its eclectic offerings beyond fashion to include cosmetics, home decor and jewellery*.
Walk 10 minutes to Fortnum & Mason
www.libertylondon.com ✆ +44 2077 341234
Regent St, Carnaby, London W1B 5AH, UK

Fortnum & Mason — Founded in 1707, Fortnum & Mason located in Piccadilly is considered to be London's oldest department store. Fortnum's signature, luxury picnic hampers, which made their debut in Victorian times at Royal Ascot and Henley Regatta, are still popular today. 
www.fortnumandmason.com ✆ +44 2077 348040
181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER

. . . all without spending a single pence!

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Poppies are back

Display ends November 18th

One of the most viewed London public artworks, the Tower of London poppies are back. In July - November 2014, the Tower of London featured a public art installation, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Britain’s involvement in World War I. Each of the 888,246 ceramic red poppies represented serviceman killed during the War.

The majority of the poppies from the installation were sold benefiting six charities. The ceramic artist Paul Cummins and conceptual designer Tom Piper received the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in honor of this civil achievement in 2015.

Two segments of the installation, The Wave and Weeping Window, will be on tour until Remembrance Day November 18th to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the end of the War. These installations will then enter the permanent collection of the Imperial War Museum (IWM).

A visit to IWM London to see Weeping Window and/or IWM Manchester to see The Wave before they are removed is well worth it!


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Seasonal Shopping in Surrey

High Street alternatives

Now that Halloween is over, the true holiday shopping season has begun. Mark your diary for some of the best off the High Street shopping Surrey — all with onsite free parking:

Squires Garden Centre (Multiple) November 8th — Shopping Evening 5 - 8:30 pm : Free glass of welcome Prosecco, live music, curry dinner in cafe from 6 - 8 pm and 15% off everything in the store. Given how early this event is they have promised no Christmas music.
www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

Garson's Farm (Multiple) November 14th and 28th — Late Night Members Shopping Event 5:30 pm - 8 pm : Welcome bubbly, holiday activities, samples and 10% off all purchases.
www.garsons.co.uk

AWS Gift Fayre (Cobham) November 18th — AWS 28th Gift Faye 10 am - 4 pm: One of Surrey’s longest running gift fayres featuring 120 stalls with all proceeds benefiting local charities takes places at ACS Cobham International School.
www.awsurrey.org
Portsmouth Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1BL

Priory Farm (Redhill) November 24th and 25th — Christmas Food Festival 10 am - 4 pm, Saturday and 10:30 am - 4 pm Sunday : With free samples from all exhibitors - it is a chance to try before you buy (if you have recovered from Thanksgiving!).
www.prioryfarm.co.uk ✆ +44 1737 823304
Sandy Lane, South Nutfield, Redhill, Surrey RH1 4EJ

Best of all you’ll have the satisfaction of having holiday shopping completed before December 1st!

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Half-Term Haunted Happenings

Halloween family fun

Claremont Landscape Garden (Esher) — Covering nearly 50 acres, Claremont is one of the oldest English landscape gardens with an original 18th century layout. Once enjoyed by royalty, including Queen Victoria, the Garden is on the Register of Historic Parks and described as the "the noblest of any in Europe". Unlike formal gardens of the past, these 'pleasure grounds' were designed to be natural, but in essence were made up of a series of planned views and vistas. Features include a turf amphitheatre, serpentine lake, stone grotto and thatched cottage complete with a kids play area and updated cafe. On October 26th Claremont will offer Spooky Walks around their garden for an additional £1 / child from 5 - 7 pm.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claremont-landscape-garden ✆ +44 1372 467806
Portsmouth Road, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9JG

Edible Cinema (London) — Intrigued by the idea of seeing and tasting a film at the same time? When you get to your cinema seat, there will be a tray of small numbered boxes that are to be opened at specific times during the film. The menu is based on an interpretation of what is happening on the screen. The team behind the creative menu includes experimental chefs, food designers and mixologists. Past films include Grosse Point Blank, Trading Places, and When Harry Met Sally. This year's Halloween screening is Silence of the Lambs on October 31 at Curzon Cinema, Mayfair in London. Tickets are £37.50 and includes bite-sized canapés and mini Conker Spirit and Fentimans cocktails.
www.curzoncinemas.com

The Ivy (Multiple) — The original location of The Ivy, West Street has been popular with celebrities and theatre* patrons for over 100 years. The Ivy Collection now features modern British dishes in upmarket brasseries and cafes in London and Surrey.  The Ivy in Cobham, Wimbledon and Marlow Garden in London will feature a special menu during Halloweek October 24-31 beginning at 4 pm.  Dishes include Tombstone Tartare Steak through the Heart' and 'Chocolate Skull' dessert along with Halloween-inspired cocktails and kid-friendly non-alcoholic juice. Halloween night will include some special Trick-or-Treats for the kids.
www.ivycollection.com

The Lightbox (Woking) — Located in Woking, The Lightbox is an award-winning museum designed by the same architects as the London Eye.  In addition to three permanent collections, The Lightbox hosts 20 temporary exhibitions a year, Past exhibitions include Gertrude Jekyll, Pablo Picasso, Auguste Renoir, William Turner and Andy Warhol. General admission is free and main and upper gallery exhibitions admission is £5 for a day or £7.50 for a year. A variety of Halloween-themed drop-in art and craft workshops will be offered for children ages 4-12 years old October 23-26.
www.thelightbox.org.uk ✆ +44 1483 737800
Chobham Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 4AA

Skywalk Adventure (Esher) — Located at Sandown Sports Club, Skywalk Adventure features two treetop adventure courses, including bridges, swinging logs, tightropes and zip wires landing into nets. The minimum age is 8 years and minimum height is 1.3 metres tall. There is an on-site cafe with hot pots, salads, sandwiches, snacks and wraps along with a fully stocked bar. They will be open extended hours October 25 - 31 as part of their SPOOKtacular Skywalk experience complete with supernatural sightings.  For a less Scary Skywalk adventure, they will be open as usual during the daytime. Admission is £15 for kids and £20 for adults for both courses (over 40% off regular prices). Booking by October 22 for discounted prices.
www.skywalkadventure.co.uk ✆ +44 1372 701107
Sandown Sports, More Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 8AN

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Two Popular West End Shows Return

Blood Brothers & Curious Incident

Blood Brothers is a musical that tells the story of twin brothers separated by birth — one raised by a wealthy family and another a poor family.  They are reunited when pursuing the same woman only to be tragically separated again.

Blood Brothers premiered in London's West End in 1983 and won the Olivier Award that year for Best New Musical. Following a UK tour in 1984 and a revival in 1988, the show than ran for 24 consecutive years before closing in November 2012. With more than 10,000 performances, it is the fifth longest running musical in West End history.

As part of its 30th anniversary, Blood Brothers is touring the UK with a limited run in Surrey October 29-November 3 at the New Wimbledon Theatre.  
General tickets £17.90 - £52.90 (plus £3.65 transaction fee)
Theatre Card members £15 - £49
www.atgtickets.com ✆ +44 8448 717627
New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1QG

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a play based on Mark Haddon's mystery noel by the same name.  It is about Christopher, a 15-year old boy who is mathematically gifted but has behavioral differences.

The play debuted in 2012 and has won 7 Olivier Awards and 5 Tony Awards including Best Play. Following a successful UK and international tour, the National Theatre production returns to London for a three month run November 29-February 23 at the Piccadilly Theatre in London.
Tickets £18 - £92.50
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk ✆ +44 2074 523000
Piccadilly Theatre, 16 Denman Street, London W1D 7DY 

Book now to avoid disappointment!

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