Welcome back: London awaits you
9 September, 2021
This could be the perfect time to visit London, with the
majority of people vaccinated and restrictions being eased, but
before the mass-market crowds return. And there is certainly plenty
to see, as our highlights below reveal.
The Beaumont is ready to welcome you back in a safe, relaxing
environment, with an innovative, ionized air-conditioning system
and - a rare thing in a luxury London hotel - proper opening
windows, ensuring that every room can enjoy plenty of fresh
air.
Returning visitors can expect a warm welcome from familiar faces, as all our staff were retained throughout the pandemic, including head chef Ben Boeynaems, who has been busy reinvigorating our menus and sourcing some superb new seasonal ingredients for the Colony Grill.
Camera action
The world's first real-life photo festival in 18 months, Photo London returns to Somerset House from 9 to 12 September, with 91 galleries attending from 17 different countries, as well as a special Robert Capa exhibition and the first full UK showing of Shirin Neshat's major new installation, Land of Dreams. This year's festival is accompanied by a programme of online talks as well as the second edition of Photo London Digital, which runs from 9 to 28 September.
Rego reigns
The Portuguese-born, London-based artist Paula Rego has been pursuing her singular vision of the world since the 1950s, and Tate Britain celebrates with the biggest exhibition of her work ever held. Inspired by folk tales and cartoons, her paintings, pastels, drawings and prints combine sharp observation and often savage wit with eroticism and menace - a powerful and haunting mix. This 100-work show runs until 24 October and has been widely acclaimed as this year's must-see show.
Viennese whirl
Only seven weeks into its first run, Tom Stoppard's Leopoldstadt had to close because of the pandemic, but audiences now have a second chance to see it for a limited time. Winner of the 2020 Olivier Award for Best New Play, Leopoldstadt follows a Viennese family through the epic upheavals of the 20th century, taking in war, revolution, famine, the Nazi annexation of Austria and the Holocaust. This passionate, heart-breaking tale of endurance runs until 30 October at Wyndham's Theatre.