Central London Area Guide

A selection of over 500 drawings, prints and works on paper by students graduating from The Drawing Year 2025 postgraduate-level programme.

See London from the top of an open-top bus for the best views of the city! Your guided commentary will describe the sites, sounds and history of the historical and royal capital. Hop on and off as many times as you like throughout the day, explore the landmarks, or stay on for the two and a half hours it takes to see sites such as Big Ben, The London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Sq, the River Thames, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and many, many more. Get your tickets now for 24-Hour Hop on Hop off London Bus Tour!

Discover the world’s oldest clock and watch collection in its new home at the Science Museum. The collection includes more than 600 watches, 90 clocks, 30 marine chronometers and a number of fine sundials and examples of hand engraving, mapping the history of innovation in watch and clock making in London from 1600 to the present day. Assembled by the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and once located in the Guildhall, this remarkable array of timepieces traces the story of the capital’s clockmakers—from their first marine chronometers and mechanical clocks through the evolution of the wristwatch. John Harrison was the inventor of the marine chronometer. Among the collection’s highlights is the fifth chronometer he made, which he completed in 1770, and a four-month duration longcase clock by the father of English watchmaking, Thomas Tompion. An intricate British-made watch, the Space Traveller II, is now on display. Watchmaker George Daniels made almost every part of this watch by hand in the early 1980s.

A regular highlight of Christmas in Chelsea, the Mozart Symphony Orchestra returns to Cadogan Hall for its annual performance of the timeless classic, The Snowman, for which the film is shown on the big screen with live symphony orchestra providing the soundtrack. 16-year-old Alice Mackenzie sings the aria made so famous by Aled Jones: ‘Walking in the Air’. Following the huge success of The Gruffalo (composed for orchestra and narrator by Philip Mackenzie) at Cadogan Hall last Christmas, it makes a welcome return alongside its sequel, The Gruffalo’s Child. Rather like Peter and the Wolf, each character in the tale is represented by a different instrument of the orchestra… what will the Gruffalo be? This concert is the perfect antidote to panto and a wonderful Christmas treat for all the family. This performance is family-friendly. Babes in arms (children up to 2 years of age) are permitted to share a seat with each full-paying adult; children aged two years or more will require a paid ticket and seat. Booster seats are available on request (Stalls only, limited availability on a first-come, first-served basis). (Image © Snowman Enterprises Limited. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs is published by Puffin. The Gruffalo © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 1999. Published by Macmillan Children Books. The Gruffalo’s Child © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 2004. Published by Macmillan Children’s Books.)

Cadogan Hall’s unmissable regular comedy series returns, as March’s show is headlined by national treasure Jenny Eclair. Stand-up comedian Jenny Eclair was the first woman to win the Perrier Award – the UK’s top comedy award – in 1995. Since then, she has taken multiple shows on tour, starred in BBC1’s Grumpy Old Women and co-hosts the podcast Older and Wider, the podcast for “people who don’t know what a podcast is”. Jenny featured on Series 15 of Taskmaster and hosts Taskmaster: The People’s Podcast. Jenny is also a critically acclaimed author with seven novels, a collection of short stories and a number of non-fiction books under her belt. Comedy at Cadogan Hall is our regular mixed bill comedy night. Our beautiful auditorium is a unique and intimate space to see big household names as well as the best emerging talent. The first show was headlined by Sara Pascoe, and since then our stage has been graced by Ed Gamble, Dylan Moran, Lucy Beaumont, Nish Kumar, Kemah Bob, John Robins, Bridget Christie, Sam Campbell, Richard Herring, Ivo Graham, Phil Wang and Desiree Burch, to name a few. “Superb line-ups” Bruce Dessau, Beyond the Joke This event is presented by Cadogan Hall with Berk’s Nest, the award-winning live comedy production company behind shows from Nick Mohammed, Catherine Cohen, Sophie Duker, and many more. Line-ups, including headliners, are subject to change. Refunds will not be offered in the event of line-up changes. Age guidance: 14+.

Immerse yourself in the lap of luxury at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel! Prepare for an enchanting afternoon tea experience like no other, where you'll be captivated by the splendid King's stables while indulging in delectable sandwiches, heavenly pastries, and scones lavishly adorned with clotted cream. The best part? Time is on your side as you savor each delightful morsel. Be prepared to be enthralled by the stunning vistas, exquisite culinary offerings, and an extensive tea selection that promises pure delight. This is a tea adventure you simply can't afford to miss! Secure your spot now and savor a once-in-a-lifetime treat! Black Friday .hidden-word { display: none; }