London is leading the way with an art project in the capital that sees 2400 people each stand on the fourth plinth in the famous Trafalgar Square for an hour each.

This is leading artist Antony Gormley‘s brainchild, and is causing a stir with a much wider audience through the live webcam feed which is attracting a lot of commentary on twitter.

The lucky ‘plinthers’ have been selected at random from those that chose to apply, or knew about it, and so far it’s thrown a variety of different approaches although with a certain similarity. The effect has been dubbed like ‘a middle class big brother’!

Tags: antony gormley, fourth plinth, London, trafalgar square

West End Live

West End Live is an event that takes place in the UK capital, originally based on a New York Broadway event. London’s version is in Leicester Square and provides free entertainment for Londoners and tourists alike, in the form of short sets from members of the cast of many of the popular west end musical shows. In 2009 this all happened last weekend and theatre breaks was there to capture some of the performances.

Wicked Theatre Breaks

Alexia Khadime is Elphaba in Wicked

Priscilla Queen of the Desert West End Live 2009 theatre breaks

Dirty dancing west end live 2009 theatrebreaks

We Will Rock You West End Live 2009 theatre breaks

Sister Act West End Live theatre breaks

Tags: Alexia Khadime, dirty dancing, Leicester Square, London, priscilla queen of the desert, Sister Act, theatre breaks, west end, Wicked

Richmond is a stylish area of West London next to the river Thames and it the location of one of the best preserved old Odeon cinemas.

The Richmond Kinema opened on 21st April, Easter Monday,  1930. The first films shown that day were Gold Diggers of Broadway and The Cockney Spirit In War.

It was built for the Joseph Mears Theatres circuit. It had an original seating capacity of 1,533 in stalls and circle levels, making Richmond Kinema the largest Cinema yet built in teh West London area.  It was re-named Premier Cinema from 29th June 1940  this was to enable the removal of the Richmond name on the cinema, in case German parachutists landed nearby).

It was taken over by Oscar Deutsch’s Odeon Theatres Ltd. from 3rd January 1944 and was re-named Odeon in May 1944. Converted into a triple screen from 30th December 1972. Screen 1 in the old circle is beautiful. It retains the original Atmospheric style auditorium, modelled in the style of a 17th century Spanish courtyard.  Its owners confidently informed the public that their intention was to “make this Kinema equal to any in the West End,” The front of the auditorium was modelled on a fanciful recreation of a seventeenth century Spanish Grandee’s courtyard, features included ornate grillwork, Spanish tiles, Moorish windows and an intricate system of coloured lights was projected onto the ceiling to create an artificial sunrise and sunset in the intervals between films.

Features include ornate grillwork, Spanish tiles, Moorish windows, even stone and plaster oranges and doves. Screens 2 & 3 are located under the circle and both have seating provided for 118. The entrance foyer plasterwork depicts all the various trades of the people the original owner (Joseph T. Mears) employed, lots of them.

In 2008, the seating capacities are given as 406, 178 and 178.

The Richmond Odeon is a Grade II Listed building because it’s the most architecturally interesting of Richmond’s Cinemas. It is believed to have been the first “semi-atmospheric” cinema in Britain.

Tags: Joseph T. Mears, Listed, London, Odeon, odeon cinemas, Oscar Deutsch, Premier Cinema, Richmond, Thames, West London

Just a few days ago Google Maps unveiled Street View for the UK with most of London and several other major cities covered. So now you can explore all the inner city streets and byways.

Tags: Google, google maps, inner city streets, London, major cities, street view, UK

Why London Theatre Breaks?

London is easily the centre for musicals, comedy and plays in Europe with Paris showing only a fraction of the shows so if it’s big shows you are looking for then London theatre breaks are the way to go. It’s not simply each of the individual shows which alone might justify a visit, but the sheer concentration of great theatrical entertainment in one small area of the capital. London must surely boast more traditional theatres per square mile than anywhere else on the planet, and within London’s Theatreland they are all protected listed buildings of significant architectural interest.

Other attractions in London

By choosing London for a short break or night out at the theatre, you then have countless other opportunities during a stay to see a host of famous sights, experience an exhibition, river trip, flight on the London Eye or anything else you might imagine.

London Hotels for Theatre Breaks

By booking a London theatre break with hotel and show tickets inclusive you can make the most of that great after-show feeling of exhileration without being let down with a bump by having tall the hassle of a nasty long journey home experience. Theatre breaks also guarantee the best inclusive deals, really smart hotels and top show tickets.

Top Shows for London Theatre Breaks

These are some of the top shows currently on offer in London’s West End.

Hairspray
Phantom of the Opera
Mamma Mia
Dirty Dancing
Wicked
Billy Elliot
We Will Rock You
Jersey Boys
Les Miserables
Chicago

and there are always some new ones coming up such as

Zorro
Carousel
Imagine This
Come Dancing

Tips for booking London Theatre Breaks

• be flexible with your dates
• Read some reviews of the shows you might fancy or pick a standard favourite
• Check prices for staying two or three nights – these can be very worthwhile
• If coming from UK regions, book rail fares as well – save up to 40%

Tags: attractions in london, billy elliot, hairspray, jersey boys, les miserables, London, london hotels, London Theatre Breaks, Mamma Mia, Paris, phantom of the opera, river trip, short break, UK

Hello to London, Paris, Rome, Berlin and all the other capitals but it’s not really about location. It’s all about the lifestyle.

Capital Style is about living in the city, and also about getting away from it.

Travel to and from the capitals in style with eurostar fast rail Paris breaks, or weekend flights to the sunshine.

Make your interior beautiful with shabby chic furniture.

Find out where to shop, eat, drink and hang out in the coolest places that only the local city residents know about in Capital Style .co.uk

Tags: berlin, capital, capital style, capitals, eurostar, lifestyle, living in the city, London, Paris, paris breaks, Rome, shabby chic furniture, Travel, UK