Your Ultimate London Bucket List for 2020

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travel 2020

2020 is set to be an exciting year in London, with plenty to see, do and discover. If you’re planning to take a trip to the city, it’s the perfect time, with so much for you to enjoy.

To help you make the most of what the capital has in store this coming year, read on for the ultimate bucket list guide. From wonderful art exhibitions to music performances you won’t want to miss, and so much more else, London has more than you can ever imagine waiting for you in the year ahead.

Upcoming exhibitions

In 2020, some of London’s leading museums and galleries will be showcasing some ground breaking and unique exhibitions that are well worth adding to your calendar now. With so many of them sure to be extremely popular, there’s always the risk of tickets selling out, so to be confident that you won’t miss the opportunity it’s a good idea to book ahead. Look out for great value Heathrow hotel deals  to help you plan the perfect visit to the city.

One of the most popular and eagerly anticipated exhibitions in London in 2020 is the Tutenkhamun show, held at the Saatchi Gallery. Showcasing the treasures of the legendary pharaoh, the exhibition features 150 incredible artefacts, on tour for the final time. Before the exhibition made its way to London, it attracted nearly 1.5 million visitors while on display in France, and is a rare and unique opportunity to see a piece of history in the flesh.

The exhibition is on until 3 May 2020, and tickets and family passes are available online. It’s wise to purchase advance tickets well before you plan your visit, as entry is extremely limited.

Later in the summer of 2020, the Victoria & Albert Museum will be hosting another exquisite exhibition, focused on the classic children’s character and story, Alice in Wonderland. Opening in June, the exhibition will explore the many inventive takes on the popular character, as well as the fascinating history about her origins. The exhibition will open on 27 June, and it’s a good idea to book ahead.

Meanwhile, the Tate Britain and Tate Modern Galleries have plenty in store throughout the year. If you’re visiting the Park Grand Osterley  in Autumn, look out for Tate Britain’s inspiring exhibition on Turner and the Modern World, celebrating the renowned artist, as well as his new role on the newest £20 note.

The Tate Modern has a host of fantastic exhibitions in store through the year, but one of the most exciting events will be the revelation of new sculptural works, including one exhibition that reveals the historic artist, Auguste Rodin, in a new light.

Live music in the city

London has no shortfall of incredible live music performances, from artists of all different genres, and 2020 is packed to the brim with some unmissable concerts and shows from leading artists. If you’re planning to travel to the city to see a show, choose a convenient place to stay such as the Park Grand hotel Hounslow, for a more comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Throughout January and February, the Queen of Pop, Madonna, will be returning back to the city for a series of exhilarating performances. With 15 dates to choose from, you might be lucky to catch a glimpse of the performer on her Madame X global tour, but don’t leave it too late as it’s sure to be a sell out event.  If you plan to fly into London for the concert, look out for Heathrow hotel deals  nearby.

The city will also be hosting other legendary artists from all kinds of genres. May welcomes the moody and evocative Australian rock star, Nick Cave, as he tours with his band the Bad Seeds, across the city and the Europe. With a reputation for delivering memorable and atmospheric shows, it’s a performance worth seeing. Also in May, fans of old school rock n’ roll won’t want to miss out on the chance to see icons of rock, Guns N’ Roses perform, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

As well as great stand alone concerts from leading contemporary artists, London will also be showcasing a variety of acts in its summer music festivals, including All Points East, held at Victoria Park in East London, Wireless Festival at Finsbury Park, and British Summer Time, in Hyde Park. While the full line up of the summer’s festivals is yet to be revealed, you can look forward with eager anticipation to some of the artists already confirmed, including the popular Taylor Swift, as well as the divine Grace Jones, who will be curating 2020’s Meltdown Festival.

Of course, as well as the larger stadium performances across the capital, London also has a thriving music scene for younger and emerging artists. If you’re in London at the Park Grand hotel Osterley  at any time of the year, it’s always worth checking out what’s on in the city, to give you a head start on some of the newest music trends to come.

Discover amazing theatre

As a hub of fantastic culture and the home of the West End, it’s no surprise that theatre lovers have plenty to look forward to in the year ahead in London. You’ll find everything from some of the world’s biggest stars of the acting world treading the hallowed stages of the city’s theatres, to bold and exciting new shows that bring a fresh new appeal to drama. With many of the capital’s theatres easy to get to from the Park Grand hotel Hounslow  via public transport, it’s definitely a good idea to spend a day in the West End, enjoying the best that the city has to offer.

At the Old Vic Theatre in January 2020, you’ll get to see two fantastic stars bring the post-modern favourite, Samuel Beckett to life in a new production of Endgame. Experimental and thought provoking, the show features a double bill of the Irish playwright’s two most interesting works. The main performance features Harry Potter star, Daniel Radcliffe, alongside Alan Cumming, and is sure to be a wry, inspiring and amusing piece of theatre.

The renowned contemporary theatre director, Jamie Lloyd, will also be continuing his run of exciting, must-see shows in 2020, after the success of his versions of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal, starring Tom Hiddleston, and James McAvoy in Cyrano de Bergerac. If you haven’t already had the good fortune to see Jamie Lloyd’s masterful and energetic skills in action, then make sure you book tickets for his version of The Seagull, by Chekhov, starring the Game of Thrones actress, Emilia Clarke.

The last decade has seen some exceptional musicals making their mark in the West End, and 2020 looks set to continue that trend, with some eagerly anticipated shows opening through the year. The Price of Egypt gives a new lease of life to the original Dreamworks animated movie, complete with memorable songs and thrilling costumes.

If you love the classic romantic movie, Pretty Woman, you won’t want to miss the musical version, set to hit the London stage in February at the Piccadilly Theatre. Featuring music from Canadian rock icon, Bryan Adams, it promises a fun day out that is perfect to enjoy with friends.

Most thrilling of all will be the upcoming stage version of the hit musical comedy, Sister Act, with Whoopi Goldberg set to take on her original film role, alongside the legendary English actress, Jennifer Saunders, as the sharp-eyed Mother Superior. Running from July to August at the Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, this is sure to sell out quick, so it’s best to book as soon as you can.

Enjoy exciting sport in the capital

London might be a hub of great culture, but it also has a wealth of other exciting events to enjoy, including some of the world’s most thrilling and well known sporting events.

You’ll find regular matches across its many football, rugby and cricket stadiums across the city throughout the year, and if you follow your favourite local team then there will be plenty of chances to catch some thrilling games. There will also be a number of world class events that sports fans will not want to miss out on through the city’s sporting calendar.

Wembley stadium

In May, Wembley Stadium will be hosting the FA Cup Final, with the electric atmosphere of the enormous space providing a truly memorable experience. Baseball fans meanwhile can catch Europe’s second Major League baseball match, in June, held at the London Stadium. Featuring the St Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs, the event will bring a little Stateside sporting magic to the city.

Tennis fans have plenty of excitement in store too, with the Wimbledon Championships taking place in June and July. As one of the world’s four main Grand Slam tournaments, it’s an incredible chance to see some of the sports best talents do what they’re best at. If you don’t get a chance in summer, don’t worry, as London will also be hosting the ATP Finals for the last time in November 2020, at the 02 Arena. After a thrilling run of matches in 2019, the tennis world looks set to be filled with change and new talent, with plenty to enjoy.

In April, meanwhile, the city itself will be the stage for one of London’s most famous sporting events, the London Marathon. Take part or cheer on the runners from the streets, as millions run past the capital’s most famous landmarks on its 150th anniversary.

Explore new finds in the city

Alongside the immense variety of art, music, sport and theatre set to make a mark in London in 2020, there will also be plenty more to experience and discover. The city is constantly evolving and changing, with new treats in store, and you’ll that even old favourites and popular haunts have something new to offer in the New Year.

Keep an eye towards the captivating London Eye if you’re in the capital during 2020, as the iconic fixture will be brightening up the skyline in a fetching shade of pink.  The city will also be welcoming some new and revamped additions, including the refurbished and restored Geffrye Museum, re-opening in summer 2020. The new museum will include a variety of new buildings and features for an insightful experience for visitors.

Over in Nine Elms, you’ll also get to see a unique new feature if you look above, with the opening of the new Sky Pool. Suspended above between two buildings, it is only open to residents but is sure to be an exciting sight to check out.

Food lovers in London will also have plenty to anticipate eagerly in 2020, with the launch of new restaurants and food markets, as well as plenty of new innovations and changes in some of the city’s most loved eating spots. Bishopsgate will be home to Eataly, which promises to be the biggest Italian food market in the world, with all kinds of delicious Italian food and drink to choose from. You’ll also find a new food market opening at an upcoming skyscraper in Bishopsgate, where you can nibble on offerings from various food stalls and kiosks at the weekend.

Italian food lovers will also want to keep an eye out for the second Padella restaurant opening, in Shoreditch. Their first branch, in London Bridge, already has lengthy lines waiting everyday for their delicious fresh pasta, so the second is sure to be just as popular.

If you love sweet treats, look out for the second branch of renowned bakery Dominique Ansel, set to open in Covent Garden. After creating the legendary cronut, the New York patisserie master’s original London branch in Victoria never fails to be packed with eager customers, so the second store is sure to be just as popular. You can look forward to beautifully presented cakes and pastries, as well as plenty of delicious and inventive concoctions made with ice cream, hot and cold drinks and much more.

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