Londoners: share with me (and everyone else) what shows/readings/performances/exhibitions, etc you've got planned for the summer months...

[Earlybird]

What cultural experiences have you got planned for the summer (for yourself and/or with children)?

I am woefully out-of-the-loop, so am hoping for lots of good ideas from bang-up-to-date Mumsnetters!

lol at londoners but you had second thoughts at least

oh no you didnt you do just want lomndoners thoughts why

do they have a monopoly on cool or us provincilas not get out enough?

Touchy, touchy!! Didn't mean to offend by not being inclusive.

If there's something fab happening outside London (and I'm sure there is), please feel free to share.

I asked about London because we've been away for almost a year and will be visiting this summer. Just thinking ahead to what we might like to do...

lol was just messing really..lots of people do go to london to stuff tho on their 15 quid day returns

where have you been?

In America.

Getting excited about visiting old chums and familiar places, though will be odd to be in the city as visitors and not residents. Our cozy little flat is rented out to a tenant, so will be strange and emotional to stay elsewhere....

innocent smoothie village fete
This is not particularly cultural but we went to this last year and had a cracking day out. Lots of freebies, samples of smoothies and a lovely atmosphere.
We do lots of cultural things, the cartoon museum is quite nice, british museum, TheTates.
kidsweek this is good too lots of offers and free snippets of the shows in covent garden. A bit later in the year the Thames festival is also a great day out with an excellent parade and firework display.
We were once real culture vultures but when DD came along we have had to change our ways a bit but there is always something to do. She is still really too young to enjoy childrens activities but most of the museums have programmmes of free workshops

so are you returning or just visiting

Hopefully if the weather is nice Whitsun week I will take the children to the London Eye and The London Dungeons

Then off to see Wicked the musical on the 15th June, well I say me its him, me, his dad for his 11th birthday.

We will go away in the caravan at some point in the summer too.

Visiting, so am keen to make the most of it.

I am going to go to the V and A.

Never been there and friends say it is fab..

By the way the Princess Diana Garden in Kensington Gardens is lovely.A big pirate ship, sand and lots to climb on..

Yes, I see the V&A will have an exhibition about the Supremes. Feel slightly dubious about that - think it will either be fab, or crap. Not much scope for in between, imo.

I'm going on a girls' night out on 2 June to the recording of the 125th Cambridge footlights revue, starring Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson et al. It's free as well!

Am hoping to get tickets for the WE transfer of That Face, by Polly Stenham, and also Afterlife, by Michael Frayn, at the National (about Max Reinhardt).
King Lear at the Globe has attracted unusually good reviews for that venue
Kneehigh Theatre are doing a charming promenade version of Brief Encounter at the Odeon Haymarket
How old are your children earlybird? Ds loved The 39 Steps at the Criterion and I think it is still running (he was eight)
Oxford Street by David Levi Addai is a contemporary tragicomedy set in discount sportswear store and has also had great reviews. That's for adults!

Marina - have one dd, age 7. Will look into 39 steps and Kneehigh Theatre. Any other ideas? You're always on-trend.

I am waiting to book tickets for Piaf at the Donmar Warehouse (booking opens 2 June) with Elena Roger (from Evita). However, the show isn't until Aug-Sept so might be too late for you. Have also heard good things about That Face at Duke of Yorks.

kneehigh are good i saw them do an outdoor carmen with flames many years ago

Ah but I bet you have seen some great stuff on your travels too

...unless you've been holed up in Tomato Arkansas that is!

The Menier is being a bit coy about its forthcoming production post July, but right now they are previewing one of Simon Gray's best plays IMO, The Common Pursuit

22nd July there is a recital by Ann Murray and Malcolm Martineau at the Wigmore - Faure, Hahn, Mahler, Granados, Irish folk songs
Martineau is a fine accompanist and Ann has such a glorious voice
Oh and there is the Dr Who prom on Sunday 27th July
The RAH has lots of Messiaen, five and half hours of Stockhausen with no interval, and big on Vaughan Williams this summer

Goodness - is that the Canadian Ann Murray (Snowbird?) If so, haven't heard about her in ages...

No, the English namesake
both great singers though

Trooping the colour and Tate Modern
Shows - Wicked, Phantom of the Opera and Dirty Dancing.
Kids go free theatre in August.
Mayor's Thames river festival in September - went last year and it ended with a carnival parade and spectacular fireworks.

There are two Midsummer Night's Dreamses this summer - Regent's Park, and the Globe. Regent's Park is always fun & relaxed, & this year's version is specially "re-imagined" (so it says) with children in mind. Dates in July.

We did a perfectly ordinary, non-"re-imagined" Regent's Park MND a couple of years back & it was a riot. So this year I think it would work as a first go of the Globe. Dates throughout the season, b/w May & October.

Marina - have you got your Dr Who tickets yet? They were going to start processing after April 28th, but I've not had anything yet.

I'm going to see the poster exhibition at the Hayward with the kids this weekend I think (Street Posters From the Paris Rebellion). Looks really good. Don't know if that is still on in the summer.

That exhibition does look terrific fox
Bink, no. And they have indeed taken payment, so I know we have tickets!
I do wonder if Regents Park can keep the charm running now Ian Judge has retired.
Ds has expressed an interest in the Globe this summer "but only if Macbeth is on because it's short and gruesome"

Oh, and I was wondering about West Side Story at Sadlers' Wells (July/Aug)