5 things to do in London (for my London Prep class)

1. Courtauld Gallary

particularly this painting

It's called Lordship Lane Station, and it was painted by Camille Pissarrio. This painting is on the Honors Great Works list, so anyone who's an honors student should definitely go see it. The gallery, which is part of the museum mile in London, is especially known for its impressionist paintings like this one. Typical of impressionism, the painting doesn't really have a focus or center, but rather draws your eye from one area to another, creating a simple view of life in south London in 1871. This is just one of dozens of impressionism and post-impressionism masterpieces in the gallery, which also has works by Van Gogh, Manet, and Cézanne. The gallery costs £4.50 (concessions price, which generally applies to students), but it's free from 10 am to 2 pm on Mondays. It is open 10am to 6pm daily.

http://www.courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/about/index.shtm

1. Chariots of Fire

This movie is a classic, but if you haven’t seen it, don’t worry. The stage version will be playing at the Hampstead Theatre while we’re in London! The play goes through the story of two Olympic runners from the U.K. as they struggle to overcome prejudice. Their journey ends at the 1924 Paris Olympics. The movie is amazing (especially the music, which they use in the play as well), so I expect the play will be, too. Preview shows start May 5^th and opening night is May 22^nd. There are shows every Monday through Saturday at 7:30 pm, plus matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Concession tickets cost £15.

http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/london-shows/show/item132593/chariots-of-fire/

1. Westminster Abbey – Poets’ corner

I know we’re planning on going to Westminster Abbey as a group, but I just want to talk about one of the coolest parts of the abbey: Poets’ corner. I’ve wanted to see this since I discovered its existence about a year ago. Many of the greatest British authors and poets are buried here, and those that aren’t have memorials. I’m not kidding; Chaucer, Shakespeare, Tennyson, Dickens, Milton, Wordsworth and many more are honored here. I get excited just thinking about it. It was originally the burial place of Geoffrey Chaucer, and over the years, the remains of various authors have been moved there (often they were buried elsewhere first). To be honored in Westminster Abbey is one of the highest honors a poet or author can receive after death. The Abbey is open 9:30 to 3:30 Monday through Friday and 9:30 to 1:30 on Saturdays.

4. Madame Butterfly

I recognize that opera isn’t a generally popular thing, but I’m hoping someone else in the group is at least almost as excited as I am about this. The English National Opera is performing Madame Butterfly on various dates from May 8^th to June 2^nd. Puccinni is probably my favorite Opera Composer (I’ve seen La Boheme and Tosca), and I have heard from fellow opera lovers that Madame Butterfly is his best work. Everything about it should be beautiful, from the Japanese costumes, to the singing, to the tragic plot. Plus, they perform at the London Coliseum, which is gorgeous. Full price tickets start at £22, but there might be a student discount. I’m definitely going to this.

5. The Flying Dutchman

So I though I was going to be able to limit myself to just one opera while I’m in London, but I may have been wrong. I really want to see this one (also put on by the English National Opera), too, because, guess what, Wagner is another one of my favorite composers. It plays from April 28^th to May 23^rd and tickets start at £26. The opera tells the story of the legendary ship captain doomed to sail the seas for eternity. The fairly simple story is dramatized by Wagner’s powerful music. Anyone familiar with Wagner’s operas knows that his vocal melodies are generally pretty simple, allowing the instrumental accompaniment to take the primary role. In other words anyone with a love of classical music, even if that doesn’t necessarily mean a love of opera, will probably enjoy this one. Once again, it should be an overall beautiful experience.

Also, this isn’t very academically valuable, so I didn’t put it as one of my 5 things, but I will definitely be shopping at the Forbidden Planet, a science fiction store featuring Doctor Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Marvel and DC comics paraphernalia. I think I’ll get a Tardis watch… or maybe a Tardis bank… no, no, I definitely need the U.S.S. Enterprise pizza cutter… Oh the nerd inside me just can’t decide!

http://forbiddenplanet.com