Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
Things to do in the UK in November 2007
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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 November 2007
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NOVEMBER
2007
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Ice skating tickets in London:
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| Wed 17 Oct - Thu 1 Nov |
London Film Festival, London Previews of British and international films, plus interviews with film-makers and other events. For details and on-line booking (from early October), see: http://www.lff.org.uk. If you haven't managed to obtain a ticket before, you may be able to buy a "standby ticket" at half-price half an hour before a screening. Some of the films are also shown later on tours in major cities around Britain. * British films: Britain/Films |
| Thu 1 Nov - Fri 30 Nov 2008 |
Student Rise, London Various events are organised by student unions and societies demonstrating the diversity of students in London and their opposition to racism. See: http://www.london.gov.uk/rise/student-rise |
| Fri 2 Nov - Sat 3 Nov |
National Graduate Recruitment Exhibition, Birmingham A chance to meet UK companies which offer jobs to graduates and to obtain information about job applications and careers. This event is at Birmingham's NEC (nearest train station: Birmingham International). Note that there is a similar event in October in London (see: Ideas/Events/October). For further information and to pre-register, see: http://www.gradjobs.co.uk/about_exhibition.php?exhi_id=71 |
| Fri 2 Nov - Sun 4 Nov |
The Language Show, London An exhibition for people who are interested in learning or teaching a foreign language, held at London's Olympia, Hammersmith Road, London W14 (nearest Tube: Kensington Olympia; map). For details see: http://www.thelanguageshow.co.uk. |
| Fri 2 Nov - Mon 5 Nov |
Bonfire Night fireworks, across the UK Celebration of the failure of a plan by a group of Catholics to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5th November 1605. The king at that time (James the First) was unpopular with Catholics because he passed laws which made them pay extra taxes unless they went to Anglican churches. A Catholic man called Guy Fawkes was found in a cellar underneath the Houses of Parliament with barrels of gunpowder. He was executed. The failure of this plan is celebrated each year by lighting a big fire (called a bonfire) with a "guy" on top (this is a model of a man, representing Guy Fawkes). In recent years the bonfire is combined with (or is sometimes replaced by) displays of fireworks. Fireworks are dangerous: if you buy your own, make sure that you always follow the Fireworks Safety Code. Never throw fireworks, and do not return to a firework which has been lit but has not exploded. For more safety information, see: http://www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks. Some of the London parks with fireworks displays are shown below (larger events are shown in bold). If you are planning to go to one of these please check the website for full details. The times shown are when the first bonfire or fireworks are lit: you may need to arrive at least 30 minutes earlier (check gate opening times). In some cases there is further entertainment before this. Some of the events are free, but many require a small payment. - Alexandra Palace (Haringey) N22 (Tube: Wood Green, then W3 bus) (website): Sat 3 Nov 7:30pm - Barking Park (Barking & Dagenham) NW10 (Tube: Barking, Upney) (website): Sat 3 Nov 8pm - Battersea Park (Wandsworth) SW4 (Tube: Sloane Square, or train: Battersea Park) (website): Sat 3 Nov 7:30pm - Blackheath, Shooters Hill (Lewisham) SE3 (Train: Blackheath) (website): Sat 3 Nov - Bishop's Park (Hammersmith & Fulham) SW6 (Tube: Fulham Broadway) (website): Fri 2 Nov 7:15pm - Brockwell Park (Lambeth), SE24 (Tube: Brixton) (website): Fri 2 Nov 7:30pm - Clapham Common (Lambeth), SW4 (Tube: Clapham Common, Clapham South) (website): Fri 2 Nov 7:30pm - Danson Park (Bexley) (Train: Bexleyheath, Welling) (website): Sat 3 Nov 8pm - Kingsmeadow Athletic and Fitness Centre (Kingston) (Train: Kingston, Norbiton, Berrylands) (website): Fri 2 Nov 8pm - Ravenscourt Park (Hammersmith & Fulham) W6 (Tube: Ravenscourt Park) (website): Sat 3 Nov 7:15pm - Roundwood Park (Brent) NW10 (Tube: Dollis Hill) (website): Mon 5 Nov 8pm - Streatham Common (Lambeth), SW16 (Train: Streatham) (website): Fri 2 Nov 7:30pm - Victoria Park (Tower Hamlets) E3 (Tube: Bethnal Green) (website): Sat 3 Nov 7:30pm - Wimbledon Park (Merton) SW19 (Tube: Southfields, Wimbledon Park) (website): Fri 2 Nov 6:30pm There are other organised events in parks and other open spaces across the UK - see local newspapers or council websites for details. |
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BONFIRE NIGHT
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 Bonfire |
 Sparkler |
 Fireworks |
| Sun 4 Nov | London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, London/Crawley/Brighton Old cars (built before 1905) travel from London to Brighton. This traditional event celebrates the removal in 1896 of the law which forced drivers to have a man walking in front of the car holding a red flag (at the same time the speed limit was increased from 4 miles per hour to 14 miles per hour). The official website for the event is http://www.lbvcr.com (there is also information on the website of the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain: http://www.vccofgb.co.uk/lontobri). The event starts at 7:30am at the Serpentine Road in Hyde Park (near Hyde Park Corner). About 400 cars take part - the last of these leaves Hyde Park at about 8:30am. Cars start to arrive at the finish at Madeira Drive in Brighton from about 10:30am - cars continue to arrive and often remain on display until about 4:30pm. You can also watch the event at Croydon or in front of the George Hotel in Crawley, or anywhere along the route. Some of the cars will also be on display in London's Regent Street on the day before the run (on Saturday). * Photos from this event: Ideas/Album/VeteranCarRun |
 Veteran car in Hyde Park |
 Veteran car driver |
| Mon 5 Nov | Tar Barrels, Ottery St Mary (Devon) There is a special Bonfire Night tradition in Ottery St Mary, a town in Devon (near Exeter). Barrels which have been soaked with tar are lit and are then carried on people's backs through the streets. This has been done since the 17th century. The fires were believed to drive away evil spirits from the town. For more about this tradition, see: http://www.tarbarrels.co.uk To check details of this year's event, see: http://www.otterytourism.org.uk * Visitor guide to Exeter: Travel/Tours/England/Exeter |
| Mon 5 Nov | Lewes Bonfire Night, Lewes (East Sussex) The Bonfire Night celebrations at Lewes remember not only the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, but also the burning on the stake of 17 Protestants in the town in 1555, and the restoration of a Protestant king (William of Orange) in 1688. There will be torchlit processions through the town, followed by bonfires and firework displays on the surrounding hills, organised by the various local bonfire societies. For more about this tradition, see: http://www.lewesbonfirecouncil.org.uk * Visitor guide to Lewes: Travel/Tours/England/Lewes |
| Tue 6 Nov |
State Opening of Parliament, London The Queen travels from Buckingham Palace to Westminster to open a new year's programme for Parliament. The British Parliament has two main chambers: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons has most of the power these days: its representatives (known as MPs: "Members of Parliament) are elected directly by the people in a general election. The main role of the House of Lords is to review the decisions taken by the House of Commons, and to recommend changes. Before the State Opening ceremony starts, the cellars of the Palace of Westminster are searched by the Yeomen of the Guard - a precaution dating back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Guy Fawkes and others planned to blow up Parliament. The Queen enters the House of Lords and sits on a throne. An official known as "Black Rod" walks to the House of Commons, but the door is closed in front of him (this represents the occasion when King Charles the First was refused entry, at the time of the English Civil War). Black Rod uses his ornamental mace (a heavy stick) to knock on the door, after which he is allowed into the House of Commons. He asks the MPs (Members of Parliament, who are chosen in a general election) to move into the House of Lords to listen to the "Queen's Speech". The Queen reads out details of planned changes to the law over the coming year (this is written by politicians from the government). The ceremony, which is a tradition which started over 500 years ago, is shown on television (usually on BBC1: 10.45am - 12.30pm). You can watch the Queen arriving or leaving in her coach: it leaves Buckingham Palace at 11am, follows The Mall to Horse Guards, passes through to Whitehall and then travels past the Cenotaph to Parliament Square. At 11.15 a cannon is fired in Hyde Park. Possible places to watch include the northern and north-eastern edges of St James's Park and in front of the Houses of Parliament (map; near Westminster Abbey). For further information, see: http://www.parliament.uk/faq/lords_stateopening.cfm * Photos of this event: Ideas/Album/StateOpeningOfParliament. * A brief guide to Parliament: Travel/Tours/London/Parliament |
| Wed 7 Nov | Oxford Street Christmas Lights, London The Christmas lights on Oxford Street will be turned on by the singer Leona Lewis, from a stage outside John Lewis. Westlife and the West End cast of Mary Poppins will also perform. The theme of the lights in 2007 is the Disney Christmas film "Enchanted". The stage show starts at 5pm, and the lights will be switched on at 6:17pm. For further details, see: http://www.oxfordstreet.co.uk * Photos of this event: Ideas/Album/OxfordStreetLights. See also: Ideas/Album/ChristmasLights |
 Oxford Street Christmas lights |
| Fri 9 Nov - Sat 10 Nov |
Diwali, across the UK Diwali is a Hindu, Sikh and Jain celebration known as the "festival of lights". Celebrations often include firework displays. In London many people go to pray at the temple Shri Swaminarayan Mandir - on Friday evening there is a fireworks display nearby in Gibbons Recreation Ground starting at 20:45 (nearest Tube: Neasden - there is a shuttle bus from stop BB outside Neasden station to the temple from 15:00 to 23:30 on Friday and from 10:00 to 22:00 on Saturday, and the bus back leaves from stop J in Brentfield Road (opposite the temple) except when the road is closed for a while around the time of the fireworks; for transport details see: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/diwali/default.asp) * See: Ideas/Album/Diwali |
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DIWALI
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 Ganesh (Hindu god) |
 Floating lanterns in Trafalgar Square |
 Indian dancer |
| Sat 10 Nov - Sun 11 Nov |
Discover Dogs, London A dog show in London organised by the Kennel Club. The event is at Earl's Court 2 (nearest Tube: Earl's Court; map). For details and to buy tickets, see: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/buying/discover_dogs.html * Photos of this event: Ideas/Album/Crufts |
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DISCOVER DOGS
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| Sat 10 Nov | The Lord Mayor's Show, London Since 1189 (during the rule of King John) there has been a Lord Mayor of London elected each year who represents the City of London, the traditional business centre of London (do not confuse the Lord Mayor with the Mayor of London, the role currently taken by Ken Livingstone). Each year a new mayor is elected and by tradition must travel from the City to Westminster to promise to serve the king or queen (on the second Saturday in November). There is a street parade which starts at the Guildhall (map) at about 10:55am; this is watched by the new Lord Mayor from outside of Mansion House. The parade includes about 200 horses, 60 floats (displays on top of a vehicle), 200 motor vehicles, 20 marching bands and 23 carriages. It takes about one hour to pass. The Lord Mayor follows at the end of this procession in his golden coach (built in 1757). The procession travels past St Paul's Cathedral (map) and ends at the Royal Courts of Justice in Aldwych (map). At 1.00pm the procession returns, starting near Temple tube station (map), and following Victoria Embankment and Queen Victoria Street back to the Guildhall, finishing at about 2:30pm. If you cannot go to the parade yourself, you can watch it on television on BBC1 between 10.45am and noon. Later in the day (starting at about 5pm) there are fireworks which are set off from a boat on the River Thames. Good places to see the fireworks are along Victoria Embankment, on Blackfriars Bridge or on Waterloo Bridge (all of these are near Temple tube station). For more details and the timetable of events during the day, see: http://www.lordmayorsshow.org. * Photos of this event: Ideas/Album/LordMayorsShow |
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LORD MAYOR'S SHOW
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 The coach which takes the Lord Mayor to Aldwych |
 Fireworks on the Thames |
| Sun 11 Nov | Remembrance events, London & across the UK Wild poppies grew in the fields of France and Belgium where many people died during the First World War. Paper poppies are sold and worn from the start of November to raise money for the Royal British Legion (http://www.poppy.org.uk), a charity which supports the families of people who have been killed or injured in wars. The Queen and representatives of Parliament, the Armed Forces and the Commonwealth lay wreathes (rings) of poppies at the Cenotaph. The Cenotaph is a memorial for those who died in the First and Second World Wars (it is located in London in the middle of the road called Whitehall to the north and called Parliament Street to the south, near Westminster tube station; see map). 10,000 veterans (former soldiers) march past the memorial. There will be a two-minute silence at 11am. The ceremony can be seen on television (on BBC, starting at about 10:30am). If you go to Whitehall to watch, you will get a better view if you arrive before 9:30am. * Photos of this event: Ideas/Album/RemembranceSunday |
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REMEMBRANCE DAY
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 Poppies are sold and worn in early November |
 The Cenotaph, Whitehall, London |
 Remembrance ceremony |
 Poppy wreathes are laid on war memorials |
| Wed 14 Nov - Sun 18 Nov |
Country Living Fair (Christmas), London British crafts and small businesses display their products. A good place to find unusual Christmas presents. There is an entrance charge. The event is held at the Business Design Centre in London (http://www.businessdesigncentre.co.uk; near Angel underground station; map). For details, or to buy tickets in advance, see: http://www.countrylivingfair.com. |
| Wed 14 Nov | Carnaby Christmas Lights, London From today brightly coloured "paper chains" will decorate Carnaby Street and the surrounding roads (next to Regent Street, nearest Tube: Oxford Circus; map). For details of the shops in this area, see: http://www.carnaby.co.uk |
| Thu 15 Nov - Mon 24 Dec |
Christmas Deluxe at Covent Garden, London Christmas market and seasonal entertainment in Covent Garden Piazza, from 10am-7pm each day (nearest Tube: Covent Garden; map). See: http://www.christmas-deluxe.com |
| Thu 15 Nov | Marylebone High Street Christmas Lights, London From 4-6pm there will be carol singing by local schoolchildren and live music performances on a stage at the junction of Devonshire Street and Marylebone High Street (nearest Tube: Baker Street; map). Children can meet Father Christmas at Santa's Grotto, there are street entertainers, and the local shops put on their own special events. At 6pm the lights will be turned on by the male quartet Teatro. The event will end at about 6:30pm. For details see: http://www.marylebonevillage.com |
| Fri 16 Nov - Sun 25 Nov |
Lorraine Clarke Art Exhibition / Festival, East
London Art exhibition and mini-festival, presented by Lorraine Clarke and some 40 guest collaborators. "Nosce Te Ipsum" includes installations, soundscapes, animation, mixed media works, mime, performance and poetry. Open from 1-9pm each day, at: Boiler House, The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL (nearest Tube: Aldgate East or Liverpool Street; map). For full programme details see http://www.nosce-te-ipsum.co.uk. |
| Fri 16 Nov | BBC Children In Need, across the UK An annual event to raise money for British children's charities. You can get involved in one of many fundraising events in the UK, or you can help by donating money to the charities. There is a special programme on television on BBC1 throughout Friday evening. For details of events and how to make a donation, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey. |
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CHILDREN IN NEED
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| Sat 17 Nov | Euro 2008 Qualifiers: Scotland vs Italy, Russia
vs Israel Scotland played Italy as part of the Group B qualifying group for Euro 2008. Italy won 2-1, meaning that Scotland will not qualify. Russia played Israel as part of the Group E qualifying group. Israel won 2-1, meaning that England will qualify for Euro 2008 if it wins or draws the game against Croatia on Wed 21 Nov.. * Football: Life/Sport/Football |
| Tue 20 Nov | Regent Street Christmas Lights, London The turning on of the Christmas Lights on Regent Street. Those who wish to take part are asked to meet at 5:45pm on Regent Street at either the north end (nearest Tube: Oxford Circus) or south end (nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus). From either location the groups of people will be led by a festival parade of futuristic stilt walkers and drummers to the junction of New Burlington Street and Regent Street. The lights above will be lit up as the procession walks by. The lights will change each day, depending on how many people are walking on the street and on the weather conditions, and will be on during the hours of darkness from now until 6th January. For further details, see: http://www.regentstreetonline.com * Pictures from this event: Ideas/Album/RegentStreetLights. See also: Ideas/Album/ChristmasLights |
 Regent Street Christmas lights |
| Wed 21 Nov | Euro 2008 Qualifier: England vs Croatia, Andorra vs Russia England play Croatia in Wembley as part of the Group E qualifying group for Euro 2008 (a European international football competition). The game will be shown live on BBC1 from 7:30pm (kick-off is at 8pm). [England lost 2-3, so will not qualify for Euro 2008] * Football: Life/Sport/Football |
| Thu 22 Nov | Thanksgiving Day Americans celebrate the harvest season, often eating a family meal including turkey and pumpkin pie. Although this day is not widely celebrated in the UK, some restaurants offer the traditional meal. There is a Thanksgiving festival in Plymouth, Devon (the Pilgrim Fathers set sail from here in 1620, heading for a new life in America): http://www.thanksgivingplymouth.info A Thanksgiving dinner in London can be booked using this link: click here Pubs and bars in London with special Thanksgiving events are listed here: http://www.citypublife.co.uk/thanksgiving.htm * Plymouth: Travel/Tours/England/Plymouth * Useful links for Americans in the UK: Links/USA |
| Thu 22 Nov | Edinburgh Light Night, Edinburgh The switch-on ceremony for Edinburgh's Christmas lights. For details of this and other Christmas events in Edinburgh, see: http://www.edinburghschristmas.com |
| Thu 22 Nov | Bond Street Christmas Lights, London Bond Street will be turned into a "winter wonderland". Sophie Dahl (a British supermodel, author and actress) will switch on the lights at 6pm, from a stage set up on the corner of Burlington Gardens and Old Bond Street (nearest Tube: Green Park or Bond Street; map). For details, see: http://www.bondstreetassociation.com. * Photos from this event: Ideas/Album/BondStreetLights. See also: Ideas/Album/ChristmasLights |
 Bond Street Christmas lights |
| Tue 27 Nov | University of London Postgraduate Open Evening, London Free event from 4-8pm for people who are interested in taking a postgraduate course at one of the members of the University of London. The location is ULU, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HY (nearest Tube: Goodge Street; map). See: http://www.london.ac.uk/postgradopen.html |
| Thu 29 Nov - Sat 22 Dec |
European Christmas Market, London There will be a Christmas market each day from 10am-8pm with traders from different European countries, offering arts & crafts, festive gifts and a wide selection of food and drink. There is no entrance charge. The venue is Potters Fields Park, on the South Bank close to Tower Bridge (nearest Tube: London Bridge or Tower Hill; map). For details, see: http://www.londonchristmasmarket.com. |
| Fri 30 Nov | St Andrew's Day, Scotland Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. He and his brother - Saint Peter - were fishermen who became Apostles of Jesus Christ. He was crucified (killed on a cross) on November 30th in Greece. The cross of Saint Andrew is on the Scottish flag (the Saltire). Scottish celebrations often include traditional food, music, songs, poetry and dance. * Basic introduction to Scotland: Britain/Countries/Scotland * Photos of Scotland: Travel/Tours/Scotland |
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