Category: Blog

Dating back to the 11th century, the Tower of London is one of the UK’s most popular and historic tourist attractions, attracting around 2.86 million visitors every year. The imposing building that overlooks the north bank of the Thames was once a prison.

Constructed in 1078, the castle has been renovated with regular improvements over the years. Today, it houses the Crown Jewels and visitors can enjoy guided tours and historical re-enactments.

© asiastock / Adobe Stock

It wasn’t always such a welcoming place and in years gone by, prisoners held there suffered some horrific and often fatal punishments. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Tower of London reached its peak when it came to housing prisoners and a common fate was death by beheading.

The phrase, “Off with his head!” is one that is often used in popular culture, beginning in the days of Shakespeare’s plays and popping up in Lewis Carroll’s famous 1865 novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, when the Queen of Hearts shrieks the words many times.

For the inmates of the Tower of London, it was a constant fear that this was how their lives would end! The first record of execution by beheading dates from 5th May 1388, when Knight of the Garter Sir Simon Burley was executed during the reign of Richard II for treason during a period of political unrest.

The last beheading was recorded in the 18th century, when the Scottish Jacobite Simon Fraser, the 11th Lord Lovat, was executed on 9th April 1747 for committing high treason.

 

History

The castle’s gory history, dating back almost 1,000 years, is a source of fascination for visitors. Construction began in the early 1070s, under the command of England’s first Norman king, William the Conqueror, following his victory in the Norman Conquests.

Conscious of the fact a rebellion was likely, he ordered the construction of the Tower, which would be England’s biggest stone fortress. It dominated the capital’s skyline, standing out on Tower Hill as a constant reminder of his victory.

It took around 20 years before it was finally completed, although William lived there while building work continued, from around 1079 until his death in 1087.

King Richard lived there from 1189 to 1199, spending £2,881 on refurbishing the Tower. Although this doesn’t sound like a lot of money today, back in the 12th century, it was the equivalent of £2.1 million in modern terms, taking inflation into account.

A number of smaller towers were added in the 14th century and the moat was enlarged. The Medieval Tower was the largest concentric castle in England. This meant one ring of defence was built inside a larger one for additional security.

The royal accommodation at the Tower became increasingly luxurious over the centuries. Members of the royal family would stay there during times of conflict to protect themselves and their valuables. Arms and armour were stored and tested there until the 1880s.

The Chapel Royal was where the royals worshipped and they also had a private zoo with exotic animals, which closed in the late 19th century.

 

Notable prisoners

The famous prison finally closed in 1952, after having housed some notorious inmates. Executions were common until the 20th century, with hanging being a regular punishment. There were only 11 executions, all by firing squad, between 1914 and 1941 – for spying during both world wars.

The last person to be executed there was Josef Jacobs on 15th August 1941. He was shot by a military firing squad on the East Casements rifle range. The 43-year-old was found guilty of being a German spy under the Treachery Act 1940, after being captured when he parachuted into the UK during the Second World War.

Prior to this, many high-profile prisoners had met their doom at the Tower of London. Many of them were political prisoners from the highest ranks of society, including Edward Plantagenet, the Earl of Warwick, who was beheaded on 28th November 1499 for treason.

Other prisoners executed by beheading included Edmund de la Pole, the 8th Earl of Suffolk, on 4th May 1513 – his “crime” being that he was the Yorkist claimant to the throne.

Queen Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, met her fate on 19th May 1536, after being found guilty of adultery, while Queen Katherine Howard, his fifth wife, was executed on 13th February 1542 on the same charge.

In 1952, when the Tower of London ceased being used as a prison, its notorious inmates included the Kray twins, of London gangland fame, who were jailed after they failed to report for their mandatory National Service.

 

Visitor attraction

Visitors flock to the Tower today to see the 23,578 pieces of opulent jewellery that make up the Crown Jewels, including famous diamonds. Visitors can find out more about the great jewels heist of 1671 and whether the culprits succeeded. Guided tours are available, while the Prisoners’ Exhibition details the jail’s most famous inmates.

See the legendary Yeomen of the Guard, better known as Beefeaters, who are the ceremonial guardians of the Tower. Check out Henry VIII’s armour, meet the famous ravens (the trademark of the castle), see the Traitors’ Gate and recoil in horror at the torture chamber in the Lower Wakefield Tower!

The Tower of London is open to the public all year round, with longer opening hours from March to October. H&H Van Hire’s minibus hire is a handy means for all members of your party to travel together.

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The annual river race between Oxford and Cambridge universities is one of the oldest sporting events in the world. The men’s race dates back to 1829 and the women’s to 1927.

This year’s Oxford and Cambridge River Race is due to take place on Sunday 7th April, when it will be raising funds for Cancer Research. It is one of London’s biggest free sporting spectacles, creating a party atmosphere on the banks of the River Thames.

Every year, up to 250,000 spectators gather to watch Cambridge University and Oxford University race along the 4.2-mile course between Putney and Mortlake. The women’s race will start at 2.15pm and the men’s race at 3.15pm.

 

Boat race origins

The famous boat race began when two former Harrow School pupils, St John’s Cambridge student Charles Merrivale and Charles Wordsworth (the poet William Wordsworth’s nephew) of Christ Church College, Oxford, met during the holidays.

Wordsworth went rowing on the River Cam in Cambridge and the two students decided to set up a challenge. The idea was launched at a Meeting of Cambridge University Boat Club on 10th February 1829, when the challenge was issued to Oxford University to take part in a race during the Easter holiday.

Oxford won the first boat race, with the crews competing in their famous eight-oared rowing boats, but for the next 25 years, it wasn’t an annual event. The second race moved to London in 1836 and it became an annual event in 1856.

The women’s race was founded in 1927, with the first being held on the River Thames. A report in The Times newspaper said a “large and hostile” crowd gathered on the riverbank because they objected to women rowing and felt it wasn’t a suitable activity for the “weaker sex”.

However, the women’s crews persevered, until like the men’s race, it became an annual event in the 1960s.

 

Charity fundraiser

This year’s event will be the 165th men’s boat race and 74th women’s race. The race’s official title is the Cancer Research UK Boat Race, as the sponsor, BNY Mellon and Newton Investment Management, donates money to the charity.

Cancer Research UK was founded on 4th February 2002, when the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the Cancer Research Campaign merged into one charity.

It is the largest independent cancer research charity in the world and carries out research into the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the disease. Its work is funded almost entirely by public donations and more than 40,000 people are regular volunteers.

Last year’s boat race took place on 24th March, following intensive training for the crew in the weeks preceding the event.

Cambridge won the women’s race, finishing around seven lengths in front of Oxford. It was a clean sweep, with the Cambridge men’s team also beating their Oxford rivals by three lengths.

A spokesperson for Cancer Research UK described the boat race as a “truly iconic British sporting event” and also explained how the charity’s work had fuelled medical progress that has led to cancer survival rates doubling in the past forty years. Two in four people survive cancer today and the aim is to improve this rate further.

 

Boat race day out

If you’re planning a trip to the Thames to join the party atmosphere of the boat race, you can watch along the full length of the course, on either side of the river.

Some of the best spots for a great view include Putney Bridge and embankment, and Bishop’s Park at the start. For the first mile, Craven Cottage, home of Fulham Football Club, boasts a great view, while mid-course, Barnes and Hammersmith are good spots.

At the finish, Duke’s meadows and Chiswick Bridge offer a good vantage point. Alternatively, you can watch the action on the big screen at a Boat Race Fan Park, live on BBC TV.

The main fan park is located in Bishop’s Park at the start of The Boat Race, where the whole family is welcome to join the fun. Open from noon, visitors can watch the live BBC coverage on the big screen, while enjoying street food.

There will also be several bars selling Wainwright beer, Chapel Down wine and soft drinks, and stalls at the park will be selling boat race merchandise.

The Wainwright Fan Park is located at Furnivall Gardens in Hammersmith, in the race’s middle section, where spectators can enjoy some of the best views on the course.

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The London Marathon is a British institution which has taken place every year since 1981. With more than 40,000 runners expected to leave the start line, this year’s race will be held on Sunday 28th April.

Run over 26 miles and 385 yards (the standard established by the International Association of Athletics Federations), it is one of the top six marathons in the world.

Entrants include serious elite runners, including disabled athletes, celebrities, ordinary members of the public and plenty of competitors in fancy dress, who run over a mainly flat course around the River Thames.

© babaroga / Adobe Stock

 

Race origins

The race was founded by the former Olympic track and field athlete Chris Brasher and the Welsh 3,000-metre steeplechase runner John Disley. They were regulars in a pub next to Richmond Park, The Dysart Arms, which was the base of Ranelagh Harriers running club.

Every Wednesday evening, the runners would pop in for a drink and chat about the New York Marathon, with its buzzing atmosphere and enthusiastic spectators, who cheered everyone to the finish line.

Some members of the Ranelagh Harriers had taken part in the New York Marathon in 1978 and marvelled at how different it was from marathons in the UK. At the time, most marathons in Britain took place around rural lanes and there were relatively few spectators.

Brasher and Disley were spurred into entering the 1979 New York Marathon and trained hard for the event. Brasher was unsure about running the marathon, since it was a gruelling course, but the duo both finished the race, running past world-famous landmark sights and animated, cheering spectators.

They found the race and the camaraderie of the runners exhilarating. Brasher, a journalist in later life, wrote an editorial in The Observer in which he described the event as “the world’s most human race”.

They wondered if London could stage a similar event, so after discussions with the Amateur Athletics Association, the police, the Greater London Council, the City of London and the London Tourist Board, they designed a course that took in many landmarks.

The route took in Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, the Cutty Sark, the Docks and the Embankment. The police approved the race and hence the London Marathon was born.

 

Charitable status

A stumbling block was the cost of staging the event, as permission had been given on condition it was self-funding, with no cost to the ratepayers, but sponsorship was gained from Gillette and it was granted charitable status.

Brasher and Disley detailed their aims for the London Marathon, which included raising funds for sporting and recreational facilities and improving the standards of British marathon running by attracting international competition and providing a fast course.

It was also aimed at boosting tourism in London and proving Britain was best when it came to organising major sporting events, but above all, they wanted the participants to enjoy themselves, with a sense of happiness and achievement in a troubled world.

 

Beneficiaries

Over the years, the London Marathon has grown in numbers and stature and has won massive public support. As a charity sporting event, it is unparalleled and has raised millions of pounds for worthy causes, as one-third of places are offered by charitable organisations.

The event has its own official charities, but runners can raise money for their own causes. Today, more than 750 British charities offer a total of 15,000 guaranteed places for runners.

In 2007, the London Marathon broke the Guinness world record by raising £46.5 million for good causes, as it was the world’s largest annual single fundraising event. Every year since, the record has been broken again.

More than £830 million in total has been raised for charities since 1981. On top of this, the company that organises the race, London Marathon Events Ltd, has raised more than £64.5 million for its own charity, The London Marathon Charitable Trust.

Beneficiaries over the years have included the Sports Aid Foundation, Middlesex Hospital Research Fund, the British Sports Association for the Disabled, the Wishing Well Appeal, the Battle of Britain Appeal, Action on Addiction, the NSPCC, the British Heart Foundation, the National Asthma Campaign and many more.

 

Prize money

Now sponsored by Virgin, the event is known as the Virgin Money London Marathon. There are cash prizes for the winners in various categories. Winners of the men’s and women’s elite categories each receive £39,000. Each runner-up gets £22,000, third place receives £16,000 and fourth place £10,500.

In addition, £70,000 is set aside to be divided between any runners in the men’s race who complete the marathon in less than two hours and five minutes, and any women who run it in less than two hours 18 minutes.

Any competitor who sets a new course record will receive £17,600. The men’s record is two hours three minutes and five seconds, and the women’s record is two hours 17 minutes and 42 seconds.

The men’s and women’s winners of the wheelchair races each receive £17,600. Total prize money divided between all the victorious wheelchair competitors is £100,260.

 

Elite runners

London Marathon 2018 was launched by Queen Elizabeth II from the grounds of Windsor Castle. The elite men’s winner was Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge, winning his third London Marathon. The elite women’s winner was Vivian Cheruiyot, also of Kenya.

The men’s elite runner-up was Ethiopian Tola Kitata. Britain’s Mo Farah was third, finishing two minutes and five seconds behind Kipchoge. Setting a new British record, Farah finished in two hours, six minutes and 32 seconds.

Madison de Rozario won the women’s elite wheelchair race and British athlete David Weir won the men’s wheelchair race for the eighth time.

 

Celebrity runners

Every year, the London Marathon attracts a host of celebrity runners. The 2018 competitors included TV personality and model Katie Price, DJ and television presenter Chris Evans, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, American actress Caitriona Balfe, Welsh actress Eve Myles and Great British Bake Off star Selasi Gbormittah.

Ramsay has run ten consecutive London Marathons. He has also run other 26.2-mile marathons at locations worldwide, including Los Angeles and Edinburgh.

There was also a team of fellow Great British Bake Off stars in 2018, including Jane Beedle and Chetna Makan, who were running under the name, the Baker’s Dozen. All of the celebrities were running in aid of their chosen charities. Details of who’s running in the 2019 London Marathon will be revealed nearer the time.

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The Pearly Kings and Queens have been a vibrant and colourful part of London’s culture for over 150 years, but who are they exactly and why do they wear costumes covered with buttons?

© Gary Knight / CC BY-SA 2.0

 

Pearly history

The history of the Pearlies dates back to the Victorian era, when street traders in London, known as costermongers, would sew buttons up the seams of their trousers to distinguish themselves and denote their status. These costermongers were proud of their working class roots and established the ‘Lambeth Walk’ parade. As a tight-knit community, they were known for helping each other out.

A local rat catcher and street sweeper, Henry Croft, got to know the costermongers and was inspired by the costumes they wore. In 1875, Henry decided to make a similar costume of his own, covering it with 60,000 smoked, mother-of-pearl buttons. Various theories abound as to where Henry obtained the buttons. Some say he picked them up off the streets, while others say he found an abandoned haul of buttons on the bank of the River Thames.

Henry created the first full costume made from pearl buttons, known as a smother suit. He created a design on the suit with the slogan ‘pity the poor’, in the hope that he could collect money for the orphanage he grew up in. The costume quickly gained a lot of attention, and before long Henry, with the help of the costermongers, was raising funds for hospitals and other charitable needs.

The Pearly movement grew and by 1911, an organised society for the Pearly Kings and Queens was formed. At this time, 28 London boroughs had their own Pearly King and Queen, most stemming from the costermonger community. When Henry Croft died in 1930, 400 Pearlies attended his funeral.

 

Pearly traditions

The Pearly culture is still alive and strong in London today, with several active groups in operation. Pearly titles and traditions are passed down through families, of which there are currently around 30 Pearly families in the Capital.

Elaborate button-covered costumes are still worn by Pearly Kings and Queens. Buttons are sewn into the costume to represent specific symbols, designs or words, such as doves for peace, a heart for charity or a horseshoe to bring good luck. As many as 30,000 buttons can cover an outfit, often weighing around 30 kgs or more. Hats adorned with ostrich feathers are also worn by the Queens – or ‘donahs’, as the females are often called.

Donkeys are of special significance to the Pearlies, as they pulled costermongers’ carts to the market. The harvest festival is also important to Pearly culture and annual festivities include donkeys and carts, marching bands and maypole dancing.

 

Charity work

Charitable work is still a vital part of the Pearly King and Queen culture today. Outfits are worn by the Pearlies when raising funds for charity, but also for other occasions such as weddings, funerals and christenings.

 

Pearly inspiration

Although Pearly costumes are rooted in working class culture, they have become something of an iconic symbol in more recent times, revered by high-profile fashion designers and costume makers alike. Boris Johnson is said to be a fan of the Pearlies, and Kylie Minogue wore her own Pearly costume at the Queen’s Jubilee Concert. The Pearlies even put in an appearance at the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony in London.

Costumes worn by the Pearly Kings and Queens can be seen on display at the Museum of London, reinforcing the history of this unique and iconic British culture.

If you would like to immerse yourself in Pearly culture at the Museum of London, grab a few like-minded buddies and hire a top-notch minibus from H&H Van Hire.

The O2 Arena in London is one of the biggest live entertainment venues in the world, accommodating 20,000 people and welcoming more than two million visitors every year.

Built at a cost of more than £800 million to mark the UK’s millennium celebrations, it houses a spectacular year-long exhibition that began on 1st January 2000.

Initially called the Millennium Dome, the white building designed by architect Richard Rogers features one of the largest domes in the world and is a spectacular landmark on the capital’s skyline.

© Victor Moussa / Adobe Stock

 

History

The building was planned by John Major’s Conservative government as a World Fair-type showcase to mark the third millennium. Funding was largely provided by the National Lottery.

Construction work started in 1997, taking three years to complete. The exterior of the building features a large, white dome, with 12 yellow towers on top, each one standing 100 metres high. The 12 towers represent each month of the year, while the building’s diameter of 365 metres represents the number of days in a year.

Once the successful millennium exhibition had finished, the Greenwich building’s future was the subject of much debate and controversy. The millennium exhibition was never going to be permanent, and due to the huge cost of building the Millennium Dome, a more permanent use was sought for the premises.

Press reports claimed its maintenance costs were £1 million a month, even when empty. Apart from the commendable efforts that turned it into a temporary shelter for homeless people over Christmas in 2003, the Millennium Dome began to look like a “white elephant”.

 

O2 Arena

However, all of this changed in 2007, when Meridian Delta Ltd transformed it into the O2 Arena, sponsored by the telecommunications giant. Ever since, it has hosted live gigs by some of the world’s major superstars including Ed Sheeran, Celine Dion, Bon Jovi, Take That, Rod Stewart, Rihanna, Jay Z, Justin Bieber, Noel Gallagher and Prince.

In total, around 600 artists have played at the O2 Arena. The fastest-selling gig was the reunion concert by the Spice Girls in 2007, which had completely sold out in just 38 seconds!

The venue was even used as a filming location for the James Bond movie, The World is Not Enough, in 1999. Starring Pierce Brosnan as British spy 007, scenes from the film were filmed at the Millennium Dome, before it opened to the public.

Bond chases a beautiful villain in a speed-boat along the River Thames, but she tries to escape in a hot air balloon. Bond ends up on top of the O2, trying to grab the ropes of the balloon, but he loses his grip and falls on to the roof of the arena in the thrilling opening sequence.

 

Shows for 2019

This year, a number of top artists and events are lined up for the O2. The Brit Awards 2019 will be staged there on 20th February, hosted by Jack Whitehall for the second consecutive year.

Nicki Minaj will be playing live on 11th March, as part of her world tour. She will be showcasing her platinum-selling album, Queen, promising fans a “fully immersive experience”. The tour also features Chicago rapper Juice Wrld.

Take That have announced eight dates at the O2, starting on 2nd May, to celebrate their 30th-anniversary tour. They will be joined by pop superstar Rick Astley.

Olly Murs’ All the Hits Tour is stopping off at the O2 on 17th and 18th May. Now a host on TV talent show The Voice, he is the X-Factor’s most successful male artist, with more than 17.5 million followers on social media.

Rita Ora will be appearing on 24th May, followed by crooner Michael Bublé from 30th May to 1st June. Boy band Westlife are playing live from 13th to 15th June, celebrating their 20th anniversary with The Twenty Tour.

Backstreet’s back alright! Yes, the Backstreet Boys’ DNA World Tour on 17th and 18th June showcases their new album. Ariana Grande will be appearing from 17th to 20th August, followed by Cher on 20th and 21st October.

 

Rock icons

Veteran rocker Rod Stewart ends his 2019 tour with two massive nights at the O2 on 17th December and 19th December. The tour will be filled with both classic hits and the latest songs from his new album, Blood Red Roses. Stewart is one of the best-selling artists of all time, having sold more than 200 million records across the world.

Legendary singer Elton John is kicking off his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour at the O2 on 4th November and has a further four shows lined up, before he embarks on the colossal world tour throughout 2020 and 2021.

It will be taking in many places where the superstar has played during the past 50 years and will consist of 300 shows across five continents. He says the UK dates will be “emotional” and “a lot of fun”, marking what he says will be his last ever live tour.

If you’re planning to watch your favourite stars playing at the O2, hiring a minibus from H&H Van Hire is an ideal way for groups of people to travel.

Enjoy the build up to the gig and arrive together in comfort. A minibus will also cut out the hassle and expense of taking several individual cars. Our minibuses provide a cost-effective travel solution when you divide the hire fee between you.

Please contact us for further details of our comfortable nine, 14 and 17-seater minibuses.

Have a great show!

When the festive fun is over and Christmas is but a distant memory, it’s time to look ahead to the big New Year clear-out. Start 2020 as you mean to go on with a clean-up of your home and garden.

There’s nothing worse than starting a new year with clutter and most people find it very invigorating to get rid of all the junk that has accumulated, not only over the festive period, but throughout the past 12 months too. It’s time to get rid of all the rubbish that’s been hiding in your shed for the past 10 years!

© Ramil Gibadullin / Adobe Stock

 

Christmas rubbish

Over the festive period, you will probably have amassed plenty of rubbish. If you’ve been partying, there will be the associated waste, such as empty bottles, cans and maybe paper plates from a buffet. You’ll also have lots of empty cardboard boxes, packaging and wrapping paper.

With recycling bins filled to capacity, it’s time to take your waste to the local recycling centre. This also includes your Christmas tree, if you’ve had a real tree. Check with your local council where you can recycle trees.

Anything that’s completely unsalvageable can be taken to your local tip. No-one wants to start the New Year with their wheelie bin overflowing with rubbish and extra bags sitting in the garden for the local cats to rip up!

Once you have all your waste bagged up and ready to go, hire a van to take it all in one trip. This is a vastly superior way to transport your rubbish, as opposed to packing it into your car and probably having to make several trips, which will take up more of your time and money in fuel costs.

 

Toys and games

It’s a good time to get rid of old and unused toys and games during your New Year clear-out. The best thing to do is to give them to charity shops so that someone else can benefit from them – after all, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure!

Check in your garage and shed too and be brutal – if you’ve been hanging on to the kids’ old bikes, or any other items from their childhood, such as old buggies, tricycles, ride-on pedal cars or larger items, give them away too and clear some space.

Again, hire a reliable van, so you can fit all the toys and other items inside and get rid of them in one trip, even if it involves stopping off at several different shops en route. Most charity shops will take good quality toys, board games and books.

With larger items, such as bicycles, you may be able to sell them to a second-hand dealer and make yourself some extra money, turning your trash into cash.

 

Garden

While you’re in the mood for clearing out clutter, why not sort out your garden as well? It could be a brilliant new year’s resolution to give your garden a tidy-up in time for spring. If you’ve already done your house, garage and shed, the garden is the final piece of the jigsaw to give your home a fresh new feel.

At the very least, you can dead-head any old flowers and bushes ready for them to bud again, weed the flower beds, lawn and pathway and cut back any plants that have been left to their own devices for the last few years.

Hiring a van will enable you to bag up all your garden waste and take it to your local tip or recycling centre, where there’s usually a specific skip for green waste.

Make sure 2019 gets off to a clean start by organising your own big New Year clear-out, with help from H&H Van Hire. Be sure to hire a reliable van for a convenient and cost-effective means of clearing out the clutter. Please contact us for further details.

As the fun and excitement of Christmas comes to an end, don’t let the anti-climax lead to the January blues. With so many things to do in London at the start of the year, you’ll surely have no time to be fed up when you visit some of the amazing attractions and events.

Whether you’re still enjoying time off work, or you’re simply looking for a weekend getaway to brighten up the winter months, London is the perfect place to be.

© Tomsickova / Adobe Stock

An added bonus is that January is traditionally the quietest time for tourists, so it’s well worth visiting the popular city, safe in the knowledge you’re unlikely to get jostled or be faced with long queues.

 

January sales

Make the most of London’s January sales and grab yourself some bargains! For shopaholics everywhere, the post-Christmas period means only one thing – and that’s the sales. Make sure you wear a pair of sensible shoes and save a fortune on clothing, fashion accessories, mobile phones and other tech. Make a day out of it with your friends and treat yourself to lunch while you’re at it – a sure fire way of banishing the winter blues!

 

Burns Night

Celebrate Burns Night on Friday 25th January – eat, drink and be merry in honour of Scotland’s national bard, Robbie Burns, who was born in 1759 and became an icon. Burns Night in London is celebrated with a traditional supper and music, with many bars and restaurants holding special events. Suppers of haggis and tatties will be served up, while there will also be poetry readings and bagpipe music, followed by traditional ceilidh dancing and a wee dram of whisky.

 

Harry Potter

Hogwarts in the Snow is running at the Warner Bros Studio Tour until 27th January. See young wizard Harry Potter’s school, Hogwarts, at wintertime, when a replica festive feast adorns the long tables as special-effect fires blaze in the grates, and a section of the grand hall hosts an orchestra of magical instruments amidst the snow and icicles. You can visit the Gryffindor common room and see the Hogwarts Castle model enveloped in snow.

 

London Art Fair

The London Art Fair 2019 takes place at the Business Design Centre from January 16th to 20th. It features more than 100 galleries, showing everything from early 20^th century artwork to the leading artists of today. The exhibition includes two sections relating solely to new works, contemporary photography and less-established galleries. Immerse yourself in paintings, sculptures, photos, ceramics and much more.

 

Les Miserables

Book to see the famous musical, Les Misérables, at the Queen’s Theatre. Follow the moving story of Jean Valjean, whose life changes forever when he agrees to look after factory worker Fantine’s young daughter, Cosette. The sensational musical has already been seen by millions of people worldwide, so join them by booking your tickets to this spectacular London musical and hear the popular hit songs, such as I Dreamed a Dream and One Day More.

 

Ice-skating

Visit the Natural History Museum Ice Rink, which is open until 20th January. Enjoy ice-skating in the magical surroundings of the museum’s open-air rink, where people of all ages can have fun in front of the legendary South Kensington building. The rink is surrounded by fairy lights for a glittering experience. Visit the museum’s Café Bar for warming winter food and beverages and watch the skaters glide by from the balcony.

There’s something for everyone in London this January and it’s an ideal destination for groups of friends and family members to enjoy the sights and sounds together.

 

Travel together in comfort and style!

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Contact us today for further details of our comfortable nine, 14 and 17-seater minibuses.

Jam packed full of a host of fun activities for all the family, Hyde Park will be one of London’s major visitor attractions this Christmas, thanks to its Winter Wonderland festive event, which has returned bigger and better for 2018.

Hyde Park always pulls out all the stops when it comes to Christmas – and since Winter Wonderland made its debut in 2007, thousands of people have been pouring into the capital to enjoy what has become one of the biggest Christmas events in the world.

© famveldman / Adobe Stock

 

What is Winter Wonderland?

Winter Wonderland has been helping people to get into the Christmas spirit for more than a decade. With free admission, it’s a family event that features a host of festive activities, including circus shows, ice skating, a giant wheel and a special Christmas market.

Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland 2018 gives visitors the chance to skate to live music on the UK’s largest ice rink. The Winter Wonderland rink also hosts world-class skaters the Imperial Ice Stars who perform a live show, Peter Pan on Ice, for all the family. Meanwhile, a host of mythical creatures made from snow and ice are on show in the Magical Ice Kingdom’s Secret Forest.

Marvel at the acrobats performing daring feats at Cirque Berserk and Zippos Christmas Circus and enjoy the thrills of the funfair, where visitors can brave nine rollercoasters and the giant loops! The giant observation wheel enables you to soar into the sky and see the sparkling lights and attractions below and across London.

There are also interactive workshops where people can create their own ice sculptures. Meanwhile, The Snowman Experience, presented by the Backyard Cinema, is an amazing cinematic extravaganza for people of all ages. Younger kids will enjoy the Teletubbies’ Christmas Show.

 

Christmas markets

Winter Wonderland’s Christmas markets are among the largest of their kind in the capital, featuring more than 200 chalets full of festive wares.

There is also an Angels Christmas market, where shoppers can purchase unique and unusual gifts, craft items, jewellery, trinkets and decorations.

A feast of mouth-watering smells wafts across the park, with a bevy of festive food and drink to choose from – including food on the move, a full sit-down meal or a Christmas drink at one of the many eateries and bars at the site.

German foods such as traditional sausages are on offer in the Bavarian village, while the amazing Bar Ice features a bar and tables that are all made out of ice – so wrap up!

Warm and inviting, crackling fires at the Fire Pit Bar welcome you to enjoy some live music. If karaoke is your thing, try the Bar Hütte, where you can also enjoy Christmas cocktails and cuisine.

 

Meet the man himself!

It wouldn’t be Christmas without Santa’s Grotto! Come and meet the jolly man in red at Winter Wonderland’s festive grotto. Children will receive a small free gift if they’ve been good! There are also some fun rides for small children.

From 10am- 10pm, Winter Wonderland is open every day except Christmas Day, until 6th January 2019.

As an ideal way for groups to travel this Christmas, arrive in style at Winter Wonderland in a minibus from H&H Van Hire. Please contact us for details of our comfortable nine, 14 and 17-seater minibuses.

A traditional choir leading the carol singing is a big part of Christmas, which wouldn’t be the same without classics such as Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen and many more.

The tradition of singing special Christmas songs dates back many hundreds of years. Even in ancient Rome, before the birth of Christianity, people held a winter festival called the Saturnalia, when there was singing and dancing to brighten up what was otherwise a cold and bleak time of the year.

© veneratio / Adobe Stock

 

Origins of carols

After the birth of Jesus Christ and the spread of his teachings to many parts of the world, his followers wanted everyone to know about the wondrous event. They began to put Christian lyrics to the favourite old songs of the time.

They didn’t become known as “carols” until around the mid-12th century, when the French used the word “carole” to describe a popular new dance, accompanied by singing, when everyone stood in a circle. By the late Middle Ages, the singing of carols had become specifically associated with the nativity and Christmas celebrations.

Many of the carols that we know and love today were written by the church leaders in the 19th century. People traditionally sang carols in their own homes, while professional choirs in the churches sang more sophisticated Christmas music and led the singing at the services.

 

Westminster Abbey Choir

One of the most renowned and accomplished choirs today is the Westminster Abbey Choir. It comprises boys aged eight to 13 years. There’s even a special school, the Westminster Abbey Choir School, where the young choristers receive their formal education. It’s the only choir-based school in England and has 36 students, who are either full-time choir members or studying ready to join the choir.

Auditions are held when the boys are eight years old. The choir is traditionally made up of boys because experts say boys and girls each have distinctive voices and only those boys with the purest tones are chosen for Westminster Abbey Choir.

The subject of why choirboys have such beautiful, pure voices is such a source of fascination that scientific research has been carried out into why this is the case. It’s all down to the vibrations caused by the folds within the larynx when a person sings. This is why, as the boys get older, their voices will begin to change, as their larynx grows wider as they approach adolescence.

Boys whose soprano voices can soar to unbelievable heights, including amazing soloists whose voices peak above those of the rest of the choir, are chosen for one of the world’s most prestigious church choirs.

 

Choral performances

The youngsters sing at Evensong at the abbey six days a week and also lead the hymns at three Sunday services. When the boys reach the age of 14, they must leave the choir, due to their voices breaking. Some of the former choristers became lay vicars, while others have gone on to achieve musical careers outside the church.

These have included the world-famous English composer Orlando Gibbons, who was a choirboy in the late 16th century, before composing some of the most famous songs of the 17th century as an adult. His fellow English composer, Henry Purcell, was also a former Westminster Abbey choirboy, before going on to write his unique style of Baroque music in the 17th century.

As well as singing at special events and occasions at Westminster Abbey, the choir also undertakes international tours. In recent years, they have travelled to the United States and Moscow to perform concerts. They have also made records of their singing.

The Westminster Abbey Choir was founded in the 15th century. It might even have been earlier, as the abbey was founded by Edward the Confessor, who was consecrated on 28th December 1065, but the earliest formal records of a choir date from 1479, when it was noted that William Cornyshe was appointed choir-master.

 

Christmas carol service

The annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey is a breathtaking occasion which attracts people from far and wide. Popular carols, such as Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, Carol of the Bells, We Three Kings and many more are sung by the choir of Westminster Abbey.

This years’ service will take place on Thursday 13th December from 7pm, when harpist Lucy Wakeford will be joining Westminster Abbey Choir for a feast of traditional music. They will be accompanied by organist Peter Holder and conducted by James O’Donnell.

Composer Benjamin Britten’s magical Ceremony of Carols, a choral piece consisting of 11 movements, written in 1942, will be the centrepiece of the Christmas concert. There will also be a selection of well-known festive choral works, traditional carols for everyone to sing and seasonal readings. The doors open at 6.15pm and the performance will end at around 8.15pm.

If you’re planning to visit beautiful Westminster Abbey to enjoy the Christmas concert, travelling by minibus from H&H Van Hire is ideal for groups of people.

Divide the hire fee between the party members for a convenient and cost-effective solution to your Christmas travelling needs. Please contact us for further details of our comfortable nine, 14 and 17-seater minibuses this Christmas.