All About London

2012-02-23T17:39:00.001Z

The Big EGG Hunt!

Join the Hunt!

This Easter get ready for the most eggstraordinary event in the history of London – The Big Egg Hunt! We’ve hidden over 200 very special eggs across the streets of the capital, and now the hunt is on. How many can you find? You’ll have to look hard though – some of them are hidden in eggsceptional places!

These magnificent eggs have been created by leading artists, designers, architects and jewellers. Grab one of our 12 zone maps and get searching, as the more eggs you find, the more chance you stand of winning a fabulous prize: The Diamond Jubilee Egg! We’re also giving you the chance to be the proud owner of one of these unique pieces of art through our eggsclusive auctions, and there’s lots of great egg goodies to buy at The Big Egg Shop at Selfridges.

So come on London, get cracking and join the hunt! More info and Join in the Hunt

2012-02-23T17:18:00.000Z

The Heart of The Great Alone, Scott, Shackleton and Antarctic Photography

Book Tickets Here

2012-02-23T12:56:00.001Z

Wicked Show and dinner at BBar

Free Dinner! Ticket Normally £62.50 and Dinner at Bbar

Combine a two course meal from the pre theatre menu at Bbar with a top price ticket for Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.

Package Availability:	Valid Monday to Friday evenings
	Excludes school holidays
Restaurant booked for :	6pm
Package Price	£62.50 Per person

About the restaurant

PRE THEATRE at BBar
Bbar restaurant and bar is located opposite Buckingham Palace Royal Mews, and minutes away from Victoria station and its surrounding theatres. The distinctly South African-influenced Bbar offers intimate surroundings making it a great location to enjoy delicious cocktails, more than 100 fine wines and modern bistro food with a South African twist - all served by friendly and attentive staff. It makes a wonderful setting for office parties, anniversaries and family occasions. View Menu

The Show

Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz and how one came to be called 'good' and the other 'wicked'...

Evening performance:	Monday to Saturday 7.30pm
Running Time:	2 hours 45 minutes

2012-02-23T11:04:00.002Z

Dinner and Dancing Night Out With Five Course Meal and Live Jazz For Two (£59.99), Four (£119.98) or Eight (£234) at Dover Street, Mayfair (Up to 55% Off)

Highlights

French restaurant with bar and dance floor
Live jazz, soul, funk and disco nights
Perfomances from Jazz Dynamos, Funkification and Big Girls Blues Band
DJs and dancing nightly until 3am
Upbeat party atmosphere
Prestigious Mayfair location

The Deal

Dinner, live jazz music, DJ and dancing until 3am for two, four or eight people
Five course Party Menu each
Soup course includes traditional French onion with croutons
Relevés course
Range of meat, fish and vegetarian main courses
Chocolate mousse gateau or mascarpone cheesecake
Coffee and petit fours
10% off next visit (Mon-Thu)

Dover Street

8-10 Dover Street, Mayfair
London W1S 4LQ
Company Website
View Larger Map

2012-02-23T10:56:00.002Z

Three Courses of Persian Cuisine For Two (£22) or Four (£42) at Esfahan Restaurant (Up to 60% Off)

Highlights

Authentic Persian food
Weekly entertainment
Close to Putney Rail station

The Deal

Sharing platter including freshly baked Persian bread to start
Mixed platter of grilled meats or stews for main course
Baghlava with ice cream for each diner for dessert

Esfahan Restaurant

282 Upper Richmond Road, Putney
London SW15 6TH
Company Website

2012-02-23T10:39:00.000Z

Two Course Lebanese Meal For Two (£24) or Four (£45) With Wine at Palmyra (Up to 60% Off)

Highlights

Authentic Lebanese restaurant with mezze and a full bar
Near Kew Gardens station
Open seven days a week

The Deal

Two course meal for two or four people
Glass of wine each
Starter choices include warak inab and makanek lamb
Vegetarian and meat options
Upgrade to main fish dish available at surcharge

Palmyra Restaurant

277 Sandycombe Road, Kew
Richmond TW9 3LU
Company Website

View Larger Map

Currency Exchange Rates

2012-02-23T10:18:00.000Z

Currency Exchange Rates: "Today's Exchange Rates in London on 23rd Feb 2012

BBC News - London's Globe Theatre celebrates first two PhDs

2012-02-23T10:17:00.000Z

BBC News - London's Globe Theatre celebrates first two PhDs: "Take a trip to the iconic Globe theatre in London and you might find yourself being studied rather closely.

You might even find yourself in the pages of the first two PhDs to be awarded in a joint venture between the Globe and universities in the capital."

'via Blog this'

BBC News - Site wanted for Marylebone Library

2012-02-23T10:16:00.000Z

BBC News - Site wanted for Marylebone Library: "Site wanted for Marylebone Library

One site being considered for the library is on Luxborough Street
A London library needs a new home after a council announced its current location is to close for extensive refurbishment works."

'via Blog this'

2012-02-22T15:43:00.001Z

BRILLIANT BISCUITS FREE EVENT AT THE GEFFRYE MUSEUM

Free Weekend Event for Young People

BRILLIANT BISCUITS

Saturday 3 March 2012, 2.00 - 4.00pm

Use lavender from the herb garden and lemon to bake biscuits and create a beautiful box to put them in.

Geffrye Museum, 136 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, London, E2 8EA

Tel: 020 7739 9893, Fax: 020 7729 5647

Web address: www.geffrye-museum.org.uk

Email: info@geffrye-museum.org.uk

Supported by Renaissance London

Photo: Participants in young people's workshop

The Geffrye Museum, Kingsland Road, London, UK, E2 8EA
Tel: +44(0)20 7739 9893

2012-02-22T14:34:00.000Z

Pub Lunch and J20 FOR £4.95 The Coal Hole Strand London


	The Coal Hole 91-92 Strand, London, WC2R 0DW 020 7379 9883

Dear All About London and Guests

Help us celebrate the good weather that we 'hope' is on the horizon by enjoying a tasty pub lunch and a J20 for just £4.95.

Choose from either Cumberland Sausage and Mash, 8oz Beefburger, Scampi and Chips, Cheese and Onion Melt, or Chicken and Bacon Sandwich - all perfectly washed down with a refreshing J20.

Need more vouchers? Then encourage your friends to 'like'Nicholson's pubs on Facebook where they can enjoy this offer as well.

Fingers crossed for sunshine!

Kind Regards

Annie Power

The Coal Hole in Strand London

2012-02-22T10:42:00.002Z

Three Course Thai Meal For Two With Rice for £28 at Ora Restaurant (Up to 60% Off)

Highlights

Modern Thai restaurant
Near Oxford Circus tube station

The Deal

Starter, main, and dessert from extensive set menu
Starters include chicken satay and crispy calamari
Mains include duck red curry with steamed rice or sirloin steak with chili and basil sauce
Vegetarian options available
Desserts include chocolate fondant or ice cream

Ora Restaurant

6 Little Portland Street
London W1W 7JE
Company Website

2012-02-22T10:37:00.000Z

London Ghost Walk For Two (£16) or Four (£32) at Great British Tours (60% Off)

Highlights

Range of historical, themed, and chauffered tours available

The Deal

150 minute London ghost walk
Hyde Park Corner meeting point
Locations such as Tower of London and All Hallows Church
Starts 7pm, ends 9.30pm

2012-02-22T10:33:00.001Z

Two Tickets to HYPER JAPAN 2012 Spring for £12 (Up to 50% Off)

Highlights

Japanese culture exhibition
Food, fashion, and film displays
Tastings, demos, and food stalls
Guest appearances from singers, dancers, and Judo stars
Exhibitors Nintendo, Suzuki, and Namco Bandai Games
In Brompton Hall, Earls Court
Free entry for children up to 10

The Deal

Entry for Saturday or Sunday
All day access to festival

About the event
Celebrating all things Japanese at the cultural hub of Earls Court Exhibition Centre, HYPER JAPAN 2012 Spring mixes fashion, films, and food into one big sushi roll. Saturday will see a guest appearance from actress and singer Natsuko Aso on the main stage - also the platform for the cinematic stylings of Director Satoshi Miki and actor Eri Fuse from Third Window Films on both days. Bushiroad will be showcasing their latest trading card game, Vanguard, and Nintendo will be giving visitors a chance to try out pre-release games and software.

2012-02-22T10:21:00.002Z

Vue Cinema West End (Leicester Square) What's On

The Descendants

When his wife is left on life-support after a boating accident, a rich landowner thinks bringing up his two daughters is his greatest challenge. It's about to get worse.

Running time:111mins. (Contains strong language)

Golden Globe winner
Oscar nominated

Standard film times

User rating

The Artist

As sound arrives in the movies and actors wonder if their film careers are over, a Hollywood hotshot meets an actress about to steal his heart.

Running time:100mins. (Contains scene of mild threat)

BAFTA winner
Golden Globe winner
Oscar nominated

film times

User rating

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D

Coming out of self-imposed exile, Blaze is commissioned to protect a mother and son from an other-worldly character.

Running time:95mins. (Contains one use of strong language, moderate fantasy violence and horror)

film times

User rating

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D

A lad and his mum’s boyfriend team up to go in search of his grandfather, who is stranded on a very strange island.

Running time:94mins. (Contains mild adventure action)

Standard film times

User rating

A Dangerous Method

Two titans of psychoanalysis – Freud and Jung – meet against a backdrop of damaged patients, pioneering treatments and illicit affairs.

Running time:100mins. (Contains strong sex)

Standard film times

User rating

Carnage

Two sets of middle-class parents meet up to discuss a fight their two sons have had but what starts out civilized soon turns ugly.

Running time:80mins. (Contains strong language)

film times

User rating

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

A budding genius boy and his father are extremely close. When the father is killed on 9/11, the boy is obsessed with finding reason in the madness.

Running time:129mins. (Contains infrequent strong language and discriminatory terms)

Standard film times

User rating

Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol

After being implicated with the bombing of the Kremlin, the IMF is shut down. The impossible mission this time is to clear its name.

Running time:133mins. (Contains moderate action violence)

Standard film times

User rating

Shame

A young guy spends his life chasing the women of New York. When his sister comes to live with him, however, he starts to look at what sort of life it is he's living.

Running time:101mins. (Contains strong sex and sex references)

Standard film times

User rating

Underworld: Awakening 3D

Vampire warrior Selene escapes from prison to head up the battle against humankind as they try to wipe out the Vampire and Lyca clans.

Running time:88mins.

Standard film times

21:30
23:55

2012-02-22T10:14:00.000Z

Rock Of Ages at Shaftesbury Theatre Special up to 50% Off

Was £57.50 NOW £28.75

Valid Monday to Thursday 27th February to 30th March and Tuesday to Thursday evenings and Sunday matinees 24th April to the 27th May. Must be booked by 24th February.

Was £35.00 NOW £32.00

Valid Monday to Thursday evenings and Friday matinees until the 20th April Excludes School Holidays

Was £57.50 NOW £39.99

Valid Monday to Thursday evenings and Friday matinee until the 20th April Excludes School Holidays

ROCK OF AGES, starring Justin Lee Collins and Shayne Ward, is the 'insanely fun' (New York Time Out) worldwide smash hit that features a raucous mix of 28 eyebrow-scorching tunes including Don't Stop Believin', We Built This City, The Final Countdown, Wanted Dead or Alive, Here I Go Again, Can't Fight This Feeling and I Want To Know What Love Is.

Set in LA's infamous Sunset Strip in 1987, ROCK OF AGES tells the story of Drew, a boy from South Detroit, and Sherrie, a small-town girl, both in LA to chase their dreams of making it big and falling in love. ROCK OF AGES takes you back to the times of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair! This five-time Tony Award nominated musical, now being made into a movie starring Tom Cruise, opens at the the Shaftesbury Theatre in September.

Be sure to book now to be one of the first to experience all the fun of London's hilarious new musical!

Contains strobe lighting and adult themes. Parental Guidance recommended.

Currency Exchange Rates

2012-02-22T09:36:00.000Z

Currency Exchange Rates: "Today's Exchange Rates in London on 22nd Feb 2012"

BBC News - Week-long wait for London's new Routemaster bus

2012-02-22T09:32:00.001Z

BBC News - Week-long wait for London's new Routemaster bus: "Week-long wait for London's new Routemaster bus"

BBC News - Brit Awards: Adele cut short amid triumph

2012-02-22T09:32:00.000Z

BBC News - Brit Awards: Adele cut short amid triumph:

Blackfriars Tube reopens | Transport for London

2012-02-21T21:19:00.002Z

Blackfriars Tube reopens | Transport for London: "An improved Blackfriars Underground station has now reopened as part of the Tube upgrade plan.

Circle and District line trains are now stopping at the station and there are better connections to rail services.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who toured the station yesterday, said: 'With its magnificent ticket hall, brand new lifts and escalators, and more than double the previous capacity, the rebirth of this central London station will improve the journeys of thousands of passengers every single day.

'An incredible amount of hard work and expertise has been invested in these improvements, and Blackfriars is now set to become a truly world-class station.'"

The Tube is back at Blackfriars after extensive improvements
Blackfriars' new station entrance has opened on the South Bank
A new entrance has opened on the north bank

The Tube is back!

The Tube is back at Blackfriars, restoring the link with the District and Circle lines that closed in March 2009. After extensive improvements, there is a larger, street-level ticket hall, with new and improved access through lifts and escalators to widened platforms. You gain access through the fantastic new steel and glass north bank common entrance.

Revealed: The new Tube platforms at Blackfriars

South Bank entrance

If you work south of the river or want to visit The Globe or Tate Modern, the new South Bank station entrance (above) will really speed your journey. Although work continues behind many hoardings, it has a staffed ticket office, ticket machines and a lift to platform 1. It opened on 5 December 2011.

A word of advice, though: lifts to platform 2, 3 and 4 aren't planned to open from this new entrance until the entire station is finished, in spring/summer 2012.

Ticket holders will be able to use the station bridge to cross the river but if you are using a Pay As You Go Oyster card you must catch a train from Blackfriars with either National Rail or London Underground to avoid a penalty fare.

Thames Path reopened

The Thames Path along the South Bank underneath Blackfriars rail bridge also re-opened on 5 December. Due to ongoing construction work, occasional short-term or overnight closures of the path will be required over the coming months. We'll make sure these closures are well signposted and advertised in advance.

New north bank station entrance

Blackfriars' new glazed north station entrance (above) also came into operation on 12 December 2011. It is open between 6am and 8pm Mondays-Fridays.

Inside the new north bank entrance is the new Tube station ticket office and a doorway through to stairs to National Rail platforms 1 and 2.

Travelling to and from Blackfriars station on the north bank

Use the new north bank entrance between 6am and 8pm if travelling west, north along New Bridge Street or east along Queen Victoria Street.

Travelling east from Blackfriars station on the north bank

You can also use the Queen Victoria Street exit via the Mermaid link on the north side of the station if heading east. This is also your route out of the station when the new north bank entrance is closed.

Travelling south from Blackfriars station

Use the new south entrance.

Please note: the National Rail station will be finished in the spring/summer 2012. This means that the escalators and lifts to the National Rail platforms won't be available in the north station in December 2011 and to reach the First Capital Connect ticket office, which will not have moved at this stage, you will need to take the stairs up to platform 1 and double back on yourself to reach the old station concourse.

2012-02-21T20:56:00.000Z

Where in London- George Vancouver

St. Peters churchyard, Petersham, Surrey, in southern England

Captain George Vancouver RN (22 June 1757 – 10 May 1798) was an English officer of the British Royal Navy, best known for his 1791-95 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of contemporary Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. He also explored the Hawaiian Islands and the southwest coast of Australia.

Vancouver Island, Canada; the cities of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Vancouver, Washington, US; and Mount Vancouver on the Yukon/Alaska border; are named after him.

Vancouver's first naval service was as a midshipman aboard HMS Resolution, on James Cook's second voyage (1772–1775) searching for Terra Australis. He also accompanied Cook's third voyage (1776–1778), this time aboard Resolution's sister ship,HMS Discovery and the first European sighting and exploration of the Hawaiian Islands. Upon his return to Britain in 1779, Vancouver was commissioned as a lieutenant and posted aboard the sloop HMS Martin surveying coastlines.

In the late 1780s the Spanish empire commissioned an expedition to the Pacific Northwest. However, the 1789 Nootka Crisis intervened. Spain and Britain came close to war over ownership of the Nootka Sound on contemporary Vancouver Island, and of greater importance, the right to colonize and settle the Pacific Northwest coast. Henry Roberts and Vancouver joined Britain's more warlike vessels. Vancouver went with Joseph Whidbey to HMS Courageux. When the first Nootka Convention ended the crisis in 1790, Vancouver was given command of HMS Discovery to take possession of Nootka Sound and to survey the coasts.

Credits Wikipedia

Photograph by Al Crosby

2012-02-21T17:49:00.003Z

The classic pancake

Ingredients

140g plain flour
200ml whole milk
2 eggs
25g unsalted butter , melted, plus a little extra for greasing
1. Sift the flour with a pinch of salt into a medium-size bowl and make a well in the middle. Mix the milk and 100ml of water together. Break the eggs into the well and start whisking slowly. Add the milk and water in a steady stream, whisking constantly and gradually incorporating the flour as you do so.
2. Whisk until the batter is smooth and all the flour has been incorporated. Set the batter aside to rest for 30 mins, then whisk the melted butter into the batter.
3. Heat the pan over a medium heat. Very lightly grease the pan with melted butter. Using a ladle, pour roughly 2 tbsp of batter into the pan and swirl it around so the bottom of the pan is evenly coated. You want to use just enough batter to make a delicate, lacy pancake. Cook the pancake for about 45 secs on one side until golden and then using a palette knife or fish slice, flip the pancake over and cook the other side for about 30 secs until it freckles.
4. Slide the pancake out of the pan and either serve immediately or stack on a plate with baking parchment in between. Continue until all the batter is used up.

2012-02-21T13:54:00.000Z

Science Museum Learning

February 2012

Science Museum Live on Tour

Back by popular demand, and with brand new experiments for 2012, Science Museum Live on Tour will propel your pupils on a theatrical adventure through the spectacular world of science. Coming to a theatre near you.

Tell me more

	Futurecade: Can science save humanity? Play Futurecade our brand new suite of four online games - Bacto-Lab, Cloud Control, Robo-Lobster and Space-Junker - which will get your students discussing the applications and implications of science through game play and thought-provoking questions.
		Tell me more

	Come and see us at The Big Bang Balance our giant scales and complete the human buzzer challenge with us at The Big Bang in Birmingham in March. From forces to materials, electricity to engineering, come and try some of the best experiments that the Science Museum has to offer.
		Tell me more

	Invitation to our Teacher Zone at Lates At our Lates event on Wednesday 25 April we’re hosting an exclusive Teacher Zone. Join us for a drink and nibbles and the chance to try out our classroom activities and resources.
		Tell me more

	National Science and Engineering Week Save Our Snacks is a fun and easy to run STEM activity that's ideal for National Science and Engineering Week.
		Tell me more

	Me in 3D What do you look like in another dimension? Take part in a scientific research project and meet the scientists building the world’s largest database of 3D images of faces.(Parental consent required.)
		Tell me more

2012-02-21T12:05:00.002Z

LOVEFiLM Instant Unlimited Movie Streaming For Six Months £9.99

View the Offer in More Detail/Buy

Highlights

Thousands of movies and TV series available instantly
Instant streaming to Smart TV, PS3, Xbox 360, laptop and iPad
LOVEFiLM learns your tastes and offers recommendations

The Deal

Six month subscription to LOVEFiLM Instant
Instant streaming only, with no discs to wait for or return
After six months, continue subscription or switch to a preferred package
Not valid for existing LOVEFiLM customers