October rain is here…but London is a city that never sleeps. Great opportunity to get invloved in some of these events.
1. CHILDRENS BOOK WEEK
A fun way to encourage children to get excited about literature
Southbank Centre: Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London, SE1 8XX
Tube: Waterloo Station
Dates: 1st to 7th Oct 2012
National Children’s Book Week takes place every year in the first full week of October. Designed to highlight the fun of reading and to gently encourage children to get excited about literature, the event has been running for almost 80 years. Themes in the past include Words and Pictures, which sparked a full programme of games, readings and book related events nationwide and in schools and libraries in London throughout the week. Also new in recent years was StarLit, a week-long festival of children’s literature, organised by the Shoreditch Trust, when more than 70 authors, illustrators and poets will meet at Hoxton Square to celebrate the very best of writing for 5-15 year olds.
2. LONDON RESTAURANT FESTIVAL
A celebratory and all-encompassing food affair at venues across the capital
Covent Garden Piazza, Covent Garden, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD
Tube: Covent Garden Station
Dates: 1st to 15th October 2012
Attending the London Restaurant Awards several years ago, Evening Standard restaurant critic Fay Maschler decided it could be done better (no offence, Giles Coren). The London Restaurant Festival is the result, an altogether more celebratory and all-encompassing food affair, showcasing a huge variety of events at venues across the capital. The annual festival takes place during October and will incorporate over 800 different restaurants from around the capital. From festival menus to a range of one-off dining events, those who are in touch with London’s foodie scene will certainly not go disappointed. At the Covent Garden Piazza, a range of famous London restaurants will take part in the Supplier’s Market, where they will showcase their flavours, cooking techniques and individual flair as well as selling their produce to hungry consumers. Previous years have also included the highly popular Gourmet Odyssey, which took diners across the city to three top restaurants to sample a different course at each. And for those to enjoy their food with a view, the London Eye transformed a single capsule into a ten-seat ‘pop-up’ restaurant, with each night hosted by one of London’s most celebrated chefs. With esteemed names such as Gordon Ramsay and Richard Corrigan on previous line-ups, guests can be certain of a top class, once-in-a-lifetime dining experience. Note: The complete programme for 2012 is still to be announced, see the official website for more information.