#FLOFavourite: things to do in London in October 2020
Despite the new regulations announced by Boris Johnson on Tuesday 22 September 2020 making life slightly more restricted in the UK, there are still several things you can do in London this month. From the reopening of the Clapham Grand to the annual London Cocktail Week, here's our guide of some of the things you can get up to in London this October.
London Cocktail Week
Where?
Citywide
When?
1 October – 31 October 2020
Price: £12.50 - £15
Image: Reza Jahangir
#FLODown: The annual cocktail week is back, but this year it has been extended to last the whole of October. With several London bars taking part, this cocktail festival is a massive celebration of London’s incredible cocktail scene with drink deals and a plethora of immersive events to enjoy. A wristband will provide you with £6 signature cocktails at participating venues all over London for the whole month - and costs a mere £15!
Click here to discover the bars taking part.
Frieze Sculpture Returns
Where?
Regent’s Park
When?
5 October – 18 October 2020
Price: Free
Image: Frieze London
#FLODown: Frieze Sculpture returns to Regent’s Park with 12 ambitious works from leading international artists. Frieze Sculpture will be presented as part of an expanded Frieze Week programme of activity throughout London and will coincide with Frieze London and Frieze Masters, which this year will be a combination of online and offline activity.
The 2020 line-up will feature artists David Altmejd, Fabio Lattanzi Antinori, Gianpietro Carlesso, Eric Fischl, Richard Long, Sarah Lucas, Gavin Turk and Rebecca Warren. They will also feature new works from Patrick Goddard, Kalliopi Lemos and Arne Quinze, alongside a recent commission by Lubaina Himid, created for the 2019 High Line in New York, and exhibited for the first time in the UK.
Click here for more.
Location:
Regent’s Park, Chester Rd, London NW1 4NR
Nearest station:
Great Portland Street, Warren Street and Baker Street
The Clapham Grand
Image: MTotoe
#FLODown: The Clapham Grand has reopened with a series of shows that will run until the end of the year (hooray!). Acts including Russell Howard and Jimmy Carr will be doing shows throughout the month. The venue will ensure that everyone is safe and socially distanced by reopening their top balcony for the first time in 15 years to increase capacity.
The venue raised £50k and some additional funds from a series of Save Live Comedy shows last month. This is in addition to receiving emergency financing as part of the government’s Culture Recovery Fund. All of these have ensured that they were able to reopen their doors once again.
Head to their website now to book one of their upcoming shows, and let's make sure the Grand survives another 15 years! Click here for more on what’s on.
Location:
21-25, St John's Hill, London SW11 1TT
Nearest station:
Clapham Junction
Visit Pantechnicon
Image: MTotoe
#FLODown: A new Nordic and Japanese creativity hub for food, drink and design has opened its doors in London! The Grade II listed building in the heart of Belgravia – on Motcomb Street – consists of 5 storeys of creative and culinary experiences dedicated to Nordic and Japanese culture. One of the main attractions for us is the roof garden bar, an elegant, chic location reminiscent of a Nordic garden, which will be a very welcome addition to the London rooftop scene. Treat yourself to a Nordic cocktail or some delicious Nordic dishes by chef Jonu Ketonen.
Pantechnicon was built in 1830 – previously home to an arts and crafts centre – and so seeing the building return to its creative roots is very fitting.
Click here to book one of their restaurants.
Say My Name Exhibition
Where?
Signature African Art Gallery
When?
27 October – 28 November 2020
Price: Free
Artist: Giggs Kgole
#FLODown: To coincide with Black History Month, the Signature African Art gallery is presenting, Say My Name. The exhibition celebrates influential figures and movements in the UK and USA.
The exhibition resonates with the Black Lives Matter movement and features 13 African artists who will honour black lives who died at the hands of police, including Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Through paintings and sculptures, they will also pay tribute to black activists who have fought for equality such as Angela Davis and Wangari Maathai, whilst reflecting on historical moments in black history, ranging from the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans to the Windrush Scandal.
The exhibition is curated by Khalil Akar and presented by filmmaker Ava DuVernay, who is best known for her critically acclaimed works, Selma, When They See Us and topical Netflix documentary 13th.
Click here for more.
Concert Series at the Barbican
Image: MTotoe
#FLODown: The Barbican have announced the return of live concerts this autumn. A socially distanced concert series will take place between 4 October and 13 December 2020. Tickets will be going on sale for £20 or, if you prefer, there is also the option for a live stream ticket for £12.50. There will be performances by the Kanneh-Mason family, the group of seven siblings who make incredible classical music together.
Click here for more on what’s on.
Location:
Art Gallery, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
Nearest station:
Barbican or Moorgate station
Art trail in Wembley
Where?
Wembley Park
When ?
Now
Price: Free
Image: Chris Winter
#FLODown: Last month Wembley Park launched a free public art exhibition. The free art trail consists of 13 pieces across a number of mediums, including paint, digital mixed media and up-cycled materials. It includes Legends Calling by Louisa Smurthwaite which showcases a number of Brent heroes including George Michael, Twiggy, Arthur Wint, Amy Johnson and Jayaben Desai who have all been commemorated in a new phone box art installation, and One in Four by Frank Styles which is artwork that has been co-commissioned with mental health charity Mind. The artwork features a series of 12 portraits that run down the steps - pictured above. The work alludes to how it sometimes requires a shift in perspective to understand mental health problems and how they typically affects one in four of us.
The art trail is part of Wembley Park Arts. This is an extensive cultural programme of live music, sports, entertainment and theatre designed for the local community and visitors to enjoy alongside shopping or eating out.
Click here to download your digital map of the art. Each map has QR codes allowing you to discover more information about the artwork ― including context, significance and the creator.
Location:
Wembley Park, HA9 0WS
Nearest station:
Wembley Park station
Wellness at The Mandrake
Image:@catherinemeditation
#FLODown: The Mandrake Hotel’s morning meditation sessions offer the perfect tool to balance city life with mother nature. The morning meditation takes place in their exotic terrace gardens which are open to the sky and brimming with Tasmanian tree ferns. The gardens also features jasmine and passionflowers tumbling down from the roof. This glorious floral haven creates an ambience of calmness and lightness that will have you forgetting you’re only a short walk from a busy Oxford Street.
The Mandrake has a weekly events programme that is based around Spiritual Wellbeing which ranges from intimate restorative sound healing sessions, bespoke shamanic ceremonies and rituals right through to energy cleansing work.
Click here to discover their spiritual and wellness treatments available to book now.
Location:
20-21 Newman St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1PG
Nearest station:
Oxford Circus or Tottenham Court Road station
Art exhibitions in London
Image: MTotoe
There are several exhibitions to see this month in London from Mayfair’s Annual Art Weekend, Kara Walker Fons Americanus at the Tate Modern picture above, to the London Voices Exhibition at the Pitzhanger Manor Gallery an exhibition that will celebrate influential figures and movements in the UK and USA.
Click here for our recommendations on exhibitions not to miss this October.