Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
Things to do in the UK in January 2009
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Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
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Things to do in the UK in January 2009
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JANUARY
2009
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 January sales |
Introduction January is the start of the second term (Easter term) at schools and universities. It is usually one of the coldest months of the year and the days are short. This is a time when people make New Year's resolutions. You can also buy some things cheaply in the January sales, as shops try to sell the goods which remain after Christmas. If you are in Scotland, be sure to enjoy the Hogmanay celebrations at the start of January, and then Burns Night later in the month. You should apply now if you would like a chance of getting a seat to watch the Queen's Birthday Parade or the Garter Day parade in June, or if you want to buy tickets to go to Royal Ascot. |
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Thu 1 Jan -
Fri 2 Jan 2009 |
Hogmanay
New year celebrations in Scotland (both days are a public holiday in Scotland). The celebrations in Edinburgh are especially famous; for full details, see: http://www.edinburghshogmanay.org. * Photos of Hogmanay in Edinburgh: Ideas/Album/Hogmanay * For details of tours from London to Edinburgh for Hogmanay see: Travel/Tours/Dates/December |
| Thu 1 Jan 2009 | New Year's Day Parade There is a free street parade in London. There are more than 10,000 performers (including marching bands, cheerleaders, historic vehicles, clowns, jugglers and acrobats), and giant balloons. The parade starts at Parliament Square (near Westminster underground station, next to the Houses of Parliament) at 12 noon. It travels along Parliament Street, Whitehall, Cockspur Street, Lower Regent Street and half way along Piccadilly, finishing close to Green Park underground station at about 3pm. Collectors along the route will be raising money for charity. For more details, including a map of the route of the parade, see: http://www.londonparade.co.uk. * Photos from this event: Ideas/Album/NewYearsDayParade |
| Thu 1 Jan 2009 | New Year's Day holiday A public holiday in the UK. Public transport is often similar to a Sunday service: check with transport providers for details. For details of the Transport for London services on New Year's Day, see: http://www.tfl.gov.uk. |
 Big Ben: the start of the year |
 Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh |
 Fireworks at the London Eye |
| Thu 1 Jan - Fri 13 Feb 2009 |
Get Into London Theatre, London Some specially priced tickets are available for a range of plays, musicals and dance performances in London's West End. This promotion is organised by the Society of London Theatre. Booking opens on 9 December 2008. For details, see: Life/Entertainment/Theatre/Tickets |
| Thu 1 Jan 2009 | Kew Gardens Free Entry, London Kew Gardens (nearest Tube: Kew Gardens) celebrates the start of its 250th year by offering free entry today. See: http://www.kew.org/events/newyearsday2009.html |
| Sun 4 Jan 2009 | The Lion's Part: Twelfth Night, London The Lion's Part put on a free celebration of seasonal English traditions. See the Holly Man, find out what mumming and wassailing are, and have a chance of becoming King Bean or Queen Pea! The event starts outside the Globe Theatre at 2pm (nearest Tube stations: Southwark or London Bridge; map). To check details, see: http://www.thelionspart.co.uk/twelfthnight. * Photos of this event: Ideas/Album/TwelfthNight. |
| Tue 6 Jan 2009 | Twelfth Night (Epiphany), all of the UK Christmas decorations are taken down on 6th January (Twelfth Night), which is 12 days after Christmas Day. |
| Tue 6 Jan 2009 | Farewell to Christmas, London There is a service to mark Twelfth Night at the Geffrye Museum. This is located on Kingsland Road in London (nearest Tube: Liverpool Street, then take bus 149 or 242 north from Bishopsgate; map). There is music and carol singing, holly and ivy decorations are burnt, and mulled wine and cake are provided (it is traditional to hide a bean and a pea in two bits of the cake: the people who get these are made King and Queen for the day). The event is held outside in the garden, so you should dress warmly. The event starts at 4pm and lasts for one hour. See: http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk. |
 King Bean and Queen Pea at the Lion's Part's Twelfth Night event |
 Christmas decorations burnt, Geffrye Museum |
 Carol service at the Geffrye Museum on Twelfth Night |
| Fri 9 Jan - Sun 18 Jan 2009 |
London International Boat Show, London Boat show at ExCeL in Docklands (nearest station: Custom House on the DLR; map). See: http://www.londonboatshow.com |
| Sat 10 Jan - Sun 25 Jan 2009 |
International Mime Festival, London A season of mime events at various venues in London. See: http://www.mimefest.co.uk |
| Sat 17 Jan 2009 | HotCourses International Student Fair, London An event in London for international students who are interested in taking a course at a UK college or university. It takes place from 11am-4pm at the New Connaught Rooms in Great Queen Street (nearest Tube stations: Holborn, Covent Garden or Aldwych; map). For more information about the event and how to register, see: http://www.hotcourses.com/fair * Finding courses at a British college or university: Course/University |
| Wed 21 Jan 2009 | Postgraduate Study and Training Fair (ULCS), London Fair providing information for people who want to do postgraduate study. The event is held at the Business Design Centre in London (near Angel underground station; map). For details about the fair, see http://www.careers.lon.ac.uk/postgrad. * Finding a postgraduate course in the UK: Course/Postgrad |
| Wed 21 Jan 2009 | MBA Fair (ULCS/Association of MBAs), London Fair providing information for people who want to take an MBA course at a business school. The event is held at the Business Design Centre in London (near Angel underground station; map). For details about the fair, see: http://www.careers.lon.ac.uk/mba. * Finding an MBA course in the UK: Course/MBA |
| Sun 25 Jan 2009 | Burns Night, Scotland Burns Suppers are traditional celebrations of the birth of the most famous Scottish poet (Robert Burns) on 25th January 1759. They take place throughout Scotland. Poetry readings (including "To a Haggis"), a meal of chicken and leek soup ("cock-a-leekie" soup) followed by haggis, turnips ("neeps") and potatoes ("tatties") and sherry trifle ("tyspy laird"), finishing with the joining of hands and singing of "Auld Lang Syne". There may also be a Scottish ceilidh (traditional evening of music and dance). For details of events, see: http://www.scotland.org/burns-night. * Scottish dancing: Life/Entertainment/Dance |
 Scottish music ... |
 ... dancing ... |
 ... and food |
| Mon 26 Jan 2009 | Australia Day, all of the UK Australians celebrate their national day on the anniversary of Foundation Day (26 January 1788). Popular locations for celebrations in the UK are the Walkabout bars: http://www.walkabout.eu.com * Useful links for Australians coming to the UK: Links/Australia |
 Australia Day celebrations: out on the streets ... |
 ... and in the Walkabout bars |
| Mon 26 Jan - Sun 1 Feb 2009 |
Chinese New Year celebrations In the Chinese calendar 2009 is the Year of the Ox, starting on Monday 26 Jan. On Sat 31 Jan there will be lion dancing in Chinatown only (Gerrard Street, Lisle Street, Newport Place, Wardour Street and Macclesfield Street) from 1pm until 6pm with stalls throughout Chinatown. The main public event in London is on Sun 1 Feb in Trafalgar Square (with stage performances from 12-6pm), Leicester Square, Chinatown and Shaftesbury Avenue. * Photos: Ideas/Album/ChineseNewYear |
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Applying for tickets to Trooping the Colour and rehearsals
(in June):
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| Dates and approximate costs for seats at Trooping the
Colour and rehearsals are: - The Major General's Review (Sat 30 May 2009): Free - The Colonel's Review (Sat 6 June 2009): about £10 - The Queen's Birthday Parade: Trooping the Colour (Sat 13 June 2009): about £20 You can apply for tickets between 1 January and the end of February by sending a letter (including a stamped self-addressed envelope) to: Brigade Major, HQ Household Division, Horse Guards, Whitehall, London SWlA 2AX A ballot is held in mid-March and successful applicants are notified and asked for payment (cheques must be paid from a British bank). For further information, see: http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4934.asp * Pictures of Trooping the Colour: Ideas/Album/TroopingTheColour |
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Applying for tickets to Garter Day event in Windsor
Castle (in June):
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| The next Garter service will take place on Mon 15 June
2009. A limited number of tickets is available for members of the public
to stand inside the precincts of Windsor Castle and watch the procession
to St. George's Chapel. Apply by sending a letter (including a stamped self-addressed
envelope) between 1 January and 1 March to: The Superintendent, Windsor
Castle, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1NJ. A ballot is held and successful applicants
are notified. For further information, see: http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4944.asp * Pictures of Garter Day: Ideas/Album/GarterDay |
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Applying for tickets to Royal Ascot (in June):
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| Bookings for Royal Ascot usually start in early January.
The official opening will be on Tuesday 16 June 2009, and Ladies Day will
be on Thursday 18 June 2009. To buy tickets, see: http://www.royalascot.co.uk. * Pictures of Royal Ascot: Ideas/Album/RoyalAscot |
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Preparing for Valentine's Day (in February):
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| This month is a good time to prepare for Valentine's Day (14 February). For some ideas of possible presents of treats, see: Ideas/Gifts/Valentine |
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