5 Wonderful Things To Do In London This Weekend (5-7 April 2019)
What's on in London this weekend (5-7 April 2019)
Mary Quant at Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington (all weekend)
The V&A is on a fashion roll. Hot on the heels of the current Dior retrospective, the museum has unveiled a new fashion exhibition celebrating the extraordinary impact of Mary Quant, the designer who pioneered the mini skirt. The sixties-infused showcase of high hemlines, Peter Pan collars and colour-popping pinafore dresses is the largest collection of Mary Quant memorabilia in the world. The exhibition, which is sponsored by the King’s Road, also features public donations accompanied by personal memories.
Mary Quant and models at the Quant Afoot footwear collection launch, 1967 © PA Prints 2008
Date:6 April-16 FebruaryTime:10am-5.45pm/10pm on Friday Price: £12 Location: Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, Knightsbridge, SW7 2RL Closest Station: South Kensington
Website: vam.ac.uk kingsroadlondon.com
RIXO opens on the King’s Road, Chelsea (all weekend)
Fanfare please: RIXO has opened a new summer pop-up shop on the King’s Road. The colourful boutique houses the entire collection of covetable vintage-inspired printed dresses, wafting blouses and side-split skirts, alongside one-off vintage finds sourced by founders Henrietta and Orlagh. Shoppers are also encouraged to recycle pre-owned pieces of RIXO in exchange for a discount off their next purchase.
Date: 1 April-30 July Location: 74 King’s Road London, SW3 4TZ Closest Station: Sloane Square
Website: rixo.co.uk
English National Ballet: She Persisted (all weekend)
The English National Ballet made headlines in 2016 when it debuted She Said, the ballet’s first all-female choreography programme. This weekend, the English National Ballet continues its empowering celebration of women on stage with She Persisted – a trio of new female-led performances. Among them is Nora by Stina Quagebeur, which is inspired by the lead character in Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House and beautifully follows translates a woman’s path to independence. Pina Bausch’s Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring) also returns, following a sold-out run in 2017.
Date: 4-13 April Time: from 7.30pm Price: from £48 Location: Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 4TN Closest Station: Angel
Website: sadlerswells.com
The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, Putney and Hammersmith (Sunday)
This Sunday, thousands of spectators will line the banks of the River Thames for the annual boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities. Beginning at Putney, the women’s race will kick off at 2.13pm, followed by the men’s race at 3.10pm. The historic event, which dates back to 1845, will travel through Putney, Barnes and Hammersmith and finish at Mortlake. While we can’t predict who will win, we can guarantee a lively atmosphere, as spectators spill out from the riverside bars and restaurants. For those who prefer to watch from the comfort of their own home, the boat race will also be broadcast live on BBC1 from 1.25pm.
Date: 7 April Time: we advise joining the crowds between 1-2pm Price: free Location: BetweenPutney and Mortlake Closest Station: Hammersmith
Website: theboatrace.org
The Underbelly Festival (all weekend)
The Southbank’s biggest summer festival returns this weekend for five months of diverse entertainment spanning the four Cs: comedy, cabaret, circus and children’s entertainment. Held in specially built tents and surrounded by alfresco bars and dining options, this year’s international line-up includes silent discos, swing music soirées and drag queen sensation Le Gateau Chocolat.