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Doing Jubilee Celebrations at Claridge’s

Celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in right royal style at Claridge’s, often described as the ‘Annexe of Buckingham Palace’. Over the course of her 70-year reign, the Queen has celebrated numerous personal and public occasions at Claridge’s, including her 60th birthday and her ruby wedding anniversary with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

To commemorate this joyous national milestone, Claridge’s is showcasing rarely seen treasures from its archives dating from the Queen’s 1953 Coronation. Curated by Claridge’s in-house archivist Kate Hudson, and displayed in the hotel’s lobby from 1st June, this special presentation includes an original swatch of the hand stitched and beaded fabric from the Queen’s Coronation gown and original menus and cocktail cards served at Claridge’s on Coronation Day in 1953.

Talking of cocktails, The Fumoir and Claridge’s Bar are celebrating the occasion with five new concoctions inspired by the coronation. Toast to Her Majesty with a Royal Stag or a Windsor Rose, which was originally served at Claridge’s on Coronation Day in 1953. Make sure to glimpse the parade of Union Jacks on leaving.

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Doing RHS Chelsea Flower Show

A highlight of the cultural calendar, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is back, with its spectacular garden designs, floral displays, hand-picked tradestands and fine-dining restaurants.

Central to this year’s showcase are bees and other pollinators, with many gardens demonstrating how to attract and protect them. Among the pollinator-focused gardens is the Royal Horticultural Society and BBC flagship garden designed by presenter Joe Swift.

Other standout Gardens include The New Blue Peter Garden designed by Juliet Sargent, the Mind Garden designed by the landscape and garden designer Andy Sturgeon and the smaller Sanctuary Gardens, among them John Warland’s Ice Garden, featuring a giant ice cube which will melt as the show progresses.

Once you’ve meandered around the curated gardens, head to the Great Pavilion, where you’ll encounter some of the world’s finest growers and nurseries. Expect impressive displays, gorgeous scents and the most glorious spring blooms.

After all that tramping around, refuel with a glass of fizz and a floral-inspired afternoon tea at The Drawing Room or, for something a little heartier, head to Jardin Blanc with Raymond Blanc.

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Dates
24 May 2022 — 28 May 2022
London Gallery Weekend is back and bigger than ever, with a series of events, exhibitions and curated tours happening across the city. Following the success of its inaugural edition last year, the free public event has expanded its perimeter to include a swathe of newcomers, including Addis Fine Art in Fitzrovia, Annely Juda Fine Art in Mayfair and Corvi-Mora in Kennington.

There are more than 150 galleries taking part in the initiative, from blue-chips like Hauser & Wirth and Thaddaeus Ropac to young galleries and emerging art spaces. As such, you’ll see a range of ambitious temporary exhibitions, featuring everything from contemporary painting and immersive installations to performance art and sculpture.

‘London is a global powerhouse when it comes to art and this weekend is a fantastic showcase of the incredible galleries we have here in the capital — and all for free,’ says Justine Simons, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries.

With so much to see in such a short time, it’s worth checking out the selection of Curated Routes, mapped by some of London’s leading creatives. Among our favourites is Simone Rocha’s, which starts at Hannah Barry Gallery in Peckham and then meanders through Mayfair before finishing at Public Gallery in Whitechapel. For something a little shorter, look to Justine Simons’ route, which takes you on a tour of Marylebone’s arty highlights.

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