Study, work or travel in the UK. British
culture and life.
Things to do in the UK in November 2008
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Study, work or travel in the UK. British
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Things to do in the UK in November 2008
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NOVEMBER
2008
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Ice skating tickets in London:
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| Fri 31 Oct - Sat 1 Nov 2008 |
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=87 |
| Fri 31 Oct - Sun 2 Nov 2008 |
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. |
| Sat 1 Nov - Sat 8 Nov 2008 |
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 often 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. Do not keep fireworks in your room, in case there is a fire. For more safety information, see: http://www.berr.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 (occasionally events may be cancelled in bad weather conditions, eg high winds or heavy rain, so check again on the day). Timings vary, but typically gates open at about 6pm and spectators should arrive at about 7pm, in time for fireworks (and in some cases a bonfire) at 7:30pm or 8pm. Some of the events are free, but many require a small payment of about £4-£7 for adults and perhaps a third cheaper for children (for some events you can avoid queuing by buying tickets online in advance). - Alexandra Palace (Haringey) N22 (Tube: Wood Green, then W3 bus) (website): Sat 8 Nov 2008 - Barking Park (Barking & Dagenham) NW10 (Tube: Barking, Upney) (website): Sat 8 Nov 2008 - Battersea Park (Wandsworth) SW4 (Tube: Sloane Square, or train: Battersea Park) (website): Sat 1 Nov 2008 - Blackheath, Shooters Hill (Lewisham) SE3 (Train: Blackheath) (website): Sat 8 Nov 2008 - Bishop's Park (Hammersmith & Fulham) SW6 (Tube: Fulham Broadway) (website): Friday 7 Nov 2008 - Brockwell Park (Lambeth), SE24 (Tube: Brixton) (website): Wed 5 Nov 2008 - Clapham Common (Lambeth), SW4 (Tube: Clapham Common, Clapham South) (website): Wed 5 Nov 2008 - Danson Park (Bexley) (Train: Bexleyheath, Welling) (website or website): Sat 8 Nov 2008 - Hampton Court (train: Hampton Court): Sat 1 Nov 2008 - Kingsmeadow Athletic and Fitness Centre (Kingston) (Train: Kingston, Norbiton, Berrylands) (website): Friday 7 Nov 2008 - Morden Park (Merton), SM4 (Tube: Morden, or train: Morden South) (website): Sat 1 Nov 2008 - Ravenscourt Park (Hammersmith & Fulham) W6 (Tube: Ravenscourt Park) (website): Sat 8 Nov 2008 - Roundwood Park (Brent) NW10 (Tube: Dollis Hill) (website): Wed 5 Nov 2008 cancelled - Southwark Park (Southwark) (Tube: Canada Water) (website): Wed 5 Nov 2008 - Streatham Common (Lambeth), SW16 (Train: Streatham) (website): Wed 5 Nov 2008 - Victoria Park (Tower Hamlets) E3 (Tube: Bethnal Green) (website): Sun 2 Nov 2008 - Wimbledon Park (Merton) SW19 (Tube: Southfields, Wimbledon Park) (website): Wed 5 Nov 2008 [there is also a fireworks display on the Thames after the Lord Mayor's Show - see below] There are other organised events in parks and other open spaces across the UK - see local newspapers or council websites for details. |
 Bonfire |
 Sparkler |
 Fireworks |
| Sun 2 Nov 2008 | 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 |
| Wed 5 Nov 2008 | 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 |
| Wed 5 Nov 2008 | 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 |
| Thu 6 Nov 2008 | Regent Street Christmas Lights, London The turning on of the Christmas Lights on Regent Street. In 2008 the theme of the lights is "stars" and they will be switched on by the band McFly (whose new release is the Official Children in Need single) at about 5:30pm [to be confirmed]. For further details, see: http://www.regentstreetonline.com * Pictures from this event: Ideas/Album/RegentStreetLights. See also: Ideas/Album/ChristmasLights |
 Regent Street Christmas lights (2008) |
| Fri 7 Nov - Mon 17 Nov 2008 |
bfm International Film Festival, London Film festival celebrating the work of black British directors, producers and actors. See: http://www.bfmmedia.com/festival/featuredfilms.php |
| Sat 8 Nov - Sun 9 Nov 2008 |
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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| Sat 8 Nov 2008 | 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 |
 The coach which takes the Lord Mayor to Aldwych |
 Fireworks on the Thames |
| Sun 9 Nov 2008 | 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 |
 Poppies are sold and worn in early November |
 The Cenotaph, Whitehall, London |
 Remembrance ceremony |
 Poppy wreathes are laid on war memorials |
| Wed 12 Nov 2008 |
Oxford Street Christmas Lights, London The Christmas lights on Oxford Street will be turned on from a stage at the House of Fraser. This year’s lights will be switched on by the Sugababes. There will also be performances by X Factor finalists. The event will be hosted by presenters from London’s Heart 106.2. Entertainment on stage will start at about 5pm and is expected to end by about 6:30pm. 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 (2008) |
| Wed 12 Nov - Sun 16 Nov 2008 |
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. |
| Fri 14 Nov 2008 | 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. An injured bear called Pudsey is the symbol for this charity appeal. For details of events and how to make a donation, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey. |
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| Wed 19 Nov 2008 | Marylebone Christmas Lights, London Christmas lights are switched on at Marylebone High Street (nearest Tube: Regents Park or Great Portland Street). The TV sports presenter Gabby Logan will switch on the lights on the main stage on Marylebone High Street at 6pm. Other events between 4-6:30pm include carol singing, a Santa's grotto, and a performance on stage by the choir Hear Me Now (featured on the BBC series Last Choir Standing). For details, see: http://www.marylebonevillage.com or http://www.marylebonechristmaslights.com |
| Wed 19 Nov 2008 | Football: Germany vs England Friendly football game between Germany and England, played in Berlin. The match is shown live on ITV1 from 7:30pm (the kick-off is at 7:45pm UK time). See: http://www.itv.com/football |
| Thu 20 Nov 2008 | 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 7HU (nearest Tube: Goodge Street; map). See: http://www.london.ac.uk/postgradopen.html |
| Thu 20 Nov 2008 | Bond Street Christmas Lights (Bond Noël),
London Bond Street will be turned into a "winter wonderland" from 5pm-8pm, with carol singers, musicians and entertainers. A celebrity 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 (2007) |
| Thu 27 Nov 2008 | 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. * Useful links for Americans in the UK: Links/USA |
| Thu 27 Nov 2008 | 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 |
| Sun 30 Nov 2008 | 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. * Photos of Scotland: Travel/Tours/Scotland |
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