London is an international centre of culture in terms of arts, music, festivals, museums and much more. The diversity of cultures within London is so great that easy definition is impossible. The city is home to more than 300 nationalities that have over time moulded and shaped the city's culture into what it is today. Jump to: navigation, search The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, which contains Big Ben London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ...

Classical music/Opera

Royal Albert Hall

London has five professional symphony orchestras; the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. There are also several chamber orchestras, some of which specialise in period instrument performances, including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Taken by A. Brady 27th March 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Taken by A. Brady 27th March 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences is an arts venue dedicated to Queen Victorias husband and consort, Prince Albert. ... Orchestra at City Hall (Edmonton). ... Jump to: navigation, search The London Symphony Orchestra (frequently abbreviated to LSO) is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom. ... The London Philharmonic Orchestra (frequently abbreviated to LPO), based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom. ... The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is an English orchestra based in London. ... The Philharmonia is an orchestra based in London. ... The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain. ... The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) is a British period instrument or baroque orchestra. ... The Academy of St. ...

The principal orchestral music venues are the Royal Festival Hall, and the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which are both in the South Bank Centre; the Barbican Centre; and the Royal Albert Hall, which hosts the Proms each summer. Chamber music venues include the Purcell Room at the South Bank Centre; the Wigmore Hall and St. John's, Smith Square. The Royal Festival Hall is a concert, dance and talks venue within the South Bank Centre in London. ... The Queen Elizabeth Hall (QEH) is a music venue on the South Bank in London. ... (This article is about the area of London called South Bank. For the similarly named area of Brisbane, please see South Bank Parklands, Brisbane) The South Bank is the area in London on the southern bank of the River Thames near Waterloo station that houses a number of important cultural... Barbican Arts Centre and lakeside terrace Interior - concert hall foyer; library and gallery above Interior - concert hall with orchestra The Barbican Arts Centre opened in 1982, after a long and at times painful gestation which dated right back to the area having been badly bombed during World War II. Situated... Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences is an arts venue dedicated to Queen Victorias husband and consort, Prince Albert. ... A Promenade concert in the Royal Albert Hall, 2004. ... The Purcell Room is a concert and performance venue which forms part of the South Bank Centre, one of central Londons leading cultural complexes. ... (This article is about the area of London called South Bank. For the similarly named area of Brisbane, please see South Bank Parklands, Brisbane) The South Bank is the area in London on the southern bank of the River Thames near Waterloo station that houses a number of important cultural... The Wigmore Hall is a concert hall specialising in classical music in Wigmore Street London. ... St. ...

The Floral Hall of the Royal Opera House

The Royal Opera House at Covent Garden is home to the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet companies. The other main opera company is the English National Opera. In the summer opera is performed in a temporary pavilion by Opera Holland Park, and there are occasional performances by visiting opera companies and small freelance professional opera companies. The major venues for contemporary dance productions include the Sadler's Wells Theatre and the Barbican Centre. Royal Opera House - Floral Hall - Bow Street - London - England - 240404 Photo taken by Tagishsimon on the 24th April 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Royal Opera House - Floral Hall - Bow Street - London - England - 240404 Photo taken by Tagishsimon on the 24th April 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Floral Hall of the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is a performing arts venue in London. ... The Floral Hall of the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is a performing arts venue in London. ... Jump to: navigation, search Covent Garden is a shopping and entertainment complex in central London. ... The Royal Ballet, which is based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, is the leading ballet company in the United Kingdom. ... Jump to: navigation, search The London Coliseum, home of the English National Opera English National Opera (ENO), located at the Coliseum Theatre on St. ... Opera Holland Park is a summer season of opera performances staged each year under a temporary canopy in Holland Park, a public park in a wealthy district of west central London of the same name. ... The London Coliseum, home of the English National Opera The English National Opera (ENO) is Londons second opera company, after the Royal Opera at Covent Garden. ... Barbican Arts Centre and lakeside terrace Interior - concert hall foyer; library and gallery above Interior - concert hall with orchestra The Barbican Arts Centre opened in 1982, after a long and at times painful gestation which dated right back to the area having been badly bombed during World War II. Situated...

Popular music

London is famous for its rock scene, and was the starting point of such bands as The Clash, Led Zeppelin, The Sex Pistols and Pink Floyd. Most major bands' tours will pass through London as well, favourite venues being the Brixton Academy, the Astoria, and the Hammersmith Apollo. Jump to: navigation, search The Clash was a successful British punk rock group that existed from 1976 to 1986. ... Jump to: navigation, search Led Zeppelin was a British rock band, who were pivotal in the development of hard rock and heavy metal, and became one of the most popular and influential bands of all time. ... The Sex Pistols in 1977. ... Jump to: navigation, search Pink Floyd (formed in 1965 in Cambridge, England) are a British progressive rock band, noted for their progressive compositions, sonic experimentation, album art and live shows. ... Brixton Academy The Brixton Academy is a large music venue in Brixton, South London with a capacity of 4,921. ... Astoria can mean: Cities in the United States (listed in order of population) Astoria, New York, formerly an independent town, now part of Queens in New York City The city of Astoria, Oregon The city of Astoria, Illinois The city of Astoria, South Dakota Famous Places The London Astoria, a... The Apollo, Hammersmith, London has been a rock venue for decades, and was originally known as the Hammersmith Odeon. ...

In addition to spawning the bands mention above, London, in its capacity as the UK's cultural centre, has served as the base of a number of internationally important acts, including The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, as well as being instrumental in the birth of dance music. Jump to: navigation, search The Beatles were a British pop and rock group from Liverpool. ... Jump to: navigation, search Jimi Hendrix Jimi Hendrix (27 November 1942 – 18 September 1970) was an African American and Native American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. ... Dance music is music composed, played, or both, specifically to accompany social dancing. ...

Festivals

Girl in Costume at the Notting Hill Carnival

London hosts several festivals, fairs and carnivals throughout the year. The most famous is the Notting Hill Carnival, the world's second largest carnival. The carnival takes place over the August bank holiday weekend, and attracts almost 1 million people. It has a distinctly Afro-Caribbean flavour, and highlights include a competition between London's steelpan bands and a 3 mile street parade with dancing and music. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1113x781, 366 KB) Description: A girl in costume for the Notting Hill Carnival in London. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1113x781, 366 KB) Description: A girl in costume for the Notting Hill Carnival in London. ... Carnival dancers on Ladbroke Grove. ... Carnival dancers on Ladbroke Grove. ... Jump to: navigation, search Steelpan (also known as pan or steel drum, and sometimes collectively with the musicians as a steelband) is a musical instrument and a form of music originating in Trinidad in the West Indies. ...

There are also large parades held on St. George's Day (April 23) and St Patrick's Day (March 17). The Dance Umbrella is held every October, and features a variety of dance companies putting on displays across London. In addition there are many smaller fairs and parades, including the Christmas Without Cruelty Fayre, a fair held annually to promote animal rights. St Georges Day (April 23) is celebrated in several nations of whom Saint George is the patron saint, including England, Georgia, Portugal, and Catalonia. ... Jump to: navigation, search April 23 is the 113th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (114th in leap years). ... St. ... Jump to: navigation, search March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in Leap years). ... Dance Umbrella is an annual festival of modern and contemporary dance, held in London every October. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Great Ape Project is campaigning for a Declaration on Great Apes. ...

Theatre

Mamet's A Life in the Theatre starring Joshua Jackson at the Apollo Theatre

There are over three dozen major theatres, most concentrated in the West End (see the articles West End theatre and List of London venues). West End theatres are commercial ventures and show musicals, comedy and serious drama. The subsidised or non-commercial theatre includes the National Theatre, which is based at the South Bank; the Royal Shakespeare Company which is based in Stratford, but presents seasons in London; The Globe, a modern reconstruction of the home of Shakespeare's troupe; The Royal Court Theatre which specialises in new drama; the Old Vic; and the Young Vic. London also boasts a vibrant fringe theatre culture including places such as the Battersea Arts Centre, The UCL Bloomsbury, The Place, and Tricycle Theatre. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1920x2560, 1026 KB)The Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, England in February 2005. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1920x2560, 1026 KB)The Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, England in February 2005. ... David Alan Mamet (born November 30, 1947) is a Jewish-American playwright, screenwriter, director and poet born in Flossmoor, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. ... Joshua Carter Jackson (born June 11, 1978) is an actor in American television and movies. ... Mamets A Life in the Theatre starring Joshua Jackson at the Apollo Theatre, February 2005 This article is about the London theatre. ... West End is the name of some places in the world, including: The West End of London, England West End Theatre, is where many of Londons major theatres are located and premier cinema screenings take place. ... // West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre in London, or sometimes more specifically for shows staged in the large theatres of Londons Theatreland . Along with New Yorks Broadway Theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of theatre in the... This is a partial list of entertainment venues in London. ... The Royal National Theatre from Waterloo Bridge The Royal National Theatre of Great Britain is a building and theatre company on Londons South Bank, located immediately east of the southern end of Waterloo Bridge. ... (This article is about the area of London called South Bank. For the similarly named area of Brisbane, please see South Bank Parklands, Brisbane) The South Bank is the area in London on the southern bank of the River Thames near Waterloo station that houses a number of important cultural... The Royal Shakespeare Company is a British theatre company, one of the most influential in the country. ... Stratford-upon-Avon Stratford-upon-Avon is a town in Warwickshire, England. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the Globe Theatre of Shakespeare, both the original and its modern reconstruction. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre in Sloane Square, in the Chelsea area of London noted for its contributions to modern theatre. ... The Old Vic is a theatre in the Waterloo area of London. ... The Young Vic is a theatre in the South Bank area of central London, which specialises in giving opportunities to young actors and directors. ... The Battersea Arts Centre (often abbreviated to BAC) is a performance space near Clapham Junction in Battersea London which specialises in music and theatre productions. ... Jump to: navigation, search Bloomsbury Theatre The UCL Bloomsbury Theatre is a theatre on Gordon Street, Bloomsbury, Camden, London, owned by University College London. ... The Place is a dance and performance centre in Dukes Road near Euston in London. ... The Tricycle Theatre is located in the Kilburn district of north London. ...

Art

The National Gallery from Trafalgar Square

The British National collection of Western Art to 1900 is held at The National Gallery. Other major collections of pre-1900 art are The Wallace Collection; the Courtauld Gallery at the Courtauld Institute of Art; and Dulwich Picture Gallery. The national collection of post-1900 art is at Tate Modern and the national collection of British Art is at Tate Britain. The National Portrait Gallery has a major collection dedicated to prominent British people from all periods. The Royal Academy's temporary exhibitions are also important. Download high resolution version (1280x960, 244 KB)A head-on shot from Trafalgar Square of the National Gallery in London. ... Download high resolution version (1280x960, 244 KB)A head-on shot from Trafalgar Square of the National Gallery in London. ... The National Gallery from Trafalgar Square The National Gallery is an art gallery in London, located on the north side of Trafalgar Square. ... The National Gallery from Trafalgar Square The National Gallery is an art gallery in London, located on the north side of Trafalgar Square. ... The Wallace Collection is a national art museum located in London. ... The Courtauld Institute of Art is a listed organisation of the University of London specialising in the study of the history of art. ... Dulwich Picture Gallery is an art gallery in Dulwich, London. ... Tate Modern from the Millennium Bridge Tate Modern from St Pauls Cathedral (note the rebuilt Globe Theatre in white to the left) Ólafur Elíassons The Weather Project in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern Tate Modern is Britains new national museum of modern art in London... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery in central London which was opened in 1856. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article refers to an art institution in London. ...

In addition to Tate Modern major contemporary art venues include White Cube, the Saatchi Gallery, and The ICA. Tate Modern from the Millennium Bridge Tate Modern from St Pauls Cathedral (note the rebuilt Globe Theatre in white to the left) Ólafur Elíassons The Weather Project in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern Tate Modern is Britains new national museum of modern art in London... White Cube is a contemporary art venue in Hoxton in the East End of London. ... The Saatchi Gallery, a gallery for modern art was opened by Charles Saatchi in London, Spring 2003 and takes up 40,000 ft² (3,700 m²) of space at County Hall, the Greater London Councils former headquarters on the South Bank. ... The ICA The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) is a modern art centre on The Mall in London. ...

Museums

The main entrance to the British Museum

Main article: List of London museums

There are over 240 museums in London. Among the more important are the British Museum (antiquities from all over the world), the Victoria and Albert Museum (applied and decorative arts), the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the National Maritime Museum, and the Museum of London. British Museum, London, 1985, by Rick Dikeman File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... British Museum, London, 1985, by Rick Dikeman File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The main entrance to the British Museum The British Museum in London is the United Kingdoms - and one of the worlds - largest and most important museums of human history and culture. ... There are over 240 museums in London. ... The main entrance to the British Museum The British Museum in London is the United Kingdoms - and one of the worlds - largest and most important museums of human history and culture. ... The Cromwell Road entrance to the Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum viewed from Thurloe Square An interior courtyard of the Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) is on Cromwell Road in Kensington, West London. ... The Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London, has an ornate terracotta facade typical of high Victorian architecture. ... Science Museum The Science Museum on Exhibition Road, Kensington, London, is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. ... Imperial War Museum, Lambeth, London The original location of the Imperial War Museum was the Crystal Palace, located at the top of Sydenham Hill. ... The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich The National Maritime Museum (NMM) is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom, and one of the most important in the world. ... The Museum of London documents the history of London from the Palaeolithic to the present day. ...

Brixton Academy

Brixton Academy by C Ford taken March 04. ... Brixton Academy by C Ford taken March 04. ... Brixton Academy The Brixton Academy is a large music venue in Brixton, South London with a capacity of 4,921. ...

Night-life

Apart from the pubs and clubs, there are many music venues. Among the best known are Shepherds Bush Empire, Brixton Academy, Hammersmith Apollo, Wembley Arena, The Marquee, The UCL Bloomsbury, Albert Hall and the London Astoria. London is home to many clubs such as the Ministry of Sound. The Shepherds Bush Empire is a music venue in Shepherds Bush in West London, England. ... Brixton Academy The Brixton Academy is a large music venue in Brixton, South London with a capacity of 4,921. ... The Apollo, Hammersmith, London has been a rock venue for decades, and was originally known as the Hammersmith Odeon. ... Wembley Arena is a world famous live entertainment venue, located in Wembley, London. ... Jump to: navigation, search Legendary music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, UK when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts. ... Jump to: navigation, search Bloomsbury Theatre The UCL Bloomsbury Theatre is a theatre on Gordon Street, Bloomsbury, Camden, London, owned by University College London. ... This is an article referring to the actor Albert Hall. ... London Astoria The London Astoria is a music venue at 157 Charing Cross Road in London. ... Ministry of Sound is one of the most famous nightclubs in the world of electronic music. ...

Inspiration

The city of London has also served as an inspiration for other cities in the world, most notabaly Mumbai (Bombay), whose infrastructure and transport system is modelled on London . There are streets in Mumbai which bear the same name as streets in London. Jump to: navigation, search Mumbai (Marathi: मुंबई ) (pronounced in Marathi, and in English), formerly known as Bombay is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and is the most populous Indian city with a 2005 estimated population of about 13 million. ... Jump to: navigation, search Mumbai (Marathi: मुंबई ) (pronounced in Marathi, and in English), formerly known as Bombay is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and is the most populous Indian city with a 2005 estimated population of about 13 million. ...