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Week 1: Concerts and cosy socks

This week's destinations: Barbican for the World Doctors Orchestra, Mirror and the Light at the Gielgud, Cabinet War Rooms, Paddington Basin, Queen Elizabeth Hall for Vikingur OlafssonHuge thanks to walking buddies: Ruth, Sara, RayDiscoveries: My wet weather gear is exactly that... wet!Pleasures: Cosy socks for my Docs. Playlist: Happy Feet...

Art for London Lovers

Created as a wedding gift for a young Florentine couple, Sandro Botticelli’s sensuous portrait shows Venus and Mars idling away the afternoon in a shady glade. The message? Perhaps that Venus, goddess of love, has disarmed Mars, the god of war. Yet all may be not as idyllic as it seems. Venus throws her lover a frosty stare as he snores away, oblivious to the satyrs playing raucously with his armour. And perhaps the wasps buzzing about above Mars’ head offer a warning of the sting love can b...

Mental Wealth Festival tours

Join us for two tours as part of City Lit's Mental Wealth Festival on 13 and 14 September 2017, including Mental Wealth Discovery Walk at 11am, leaving from the doorstep of CityLit and A PIcture of Health at the National Gallery at 4pm.  Tours run on both days and are free of charge.  Places can be reserved at www.mentalwealthfestival.co.uk....

Secret London: Woodberry Wetlands

Discovered this summer: The Campfire Club at Woodberry Wetlands in the middle of urban Finsbury Park.  Music in a secret glade as dusk draws in.  A treat!...

New illustrated tour materials

We love the enchanting illustrations Amanda Perkins has created for our children's tour materials. Take a look at her work on our children's tour page and about the range of illustrations, cards and prints available for sale at www.amandaperkins.co.uk....

See our new programme of taster tours

Our public tours take place every 3rd Friday of the month throughout the year and are open to all. Over the coming months we'll be visiting the National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery and British Museum and exploring the quiet backwaters of Hampstead, the stylish streets of St James and the heart of medical London. So why not discover what's on your doorstep this summer! You'll find all the details here....

Together we've raised £1,095 for Movember with our Magnificent Moustaches tour of the National Portrait Gallery!

A huge hairy thank you to everyone who came on one of our Magnificent Moustache tours throughout November! If missed it by want to make a donation, it's not too late. Just visit mosista.co/tinage...

Help raise funds for men's health

Join us for our Magnificent Mos tour of the National Portrait Gallery every Friday evening throughout November and help raise funds to support men facing prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health issues. Click here to find out more and to book your place....

Book benches brighten summer days

You'll find brightly coloured benches illustrating well-known children's stories all over London this summer.  How many will you spot?  Dr Seuss? Alex Rider? Paddington Bear? You can find out more about all the books here: www.booksabouttown.org.uk/...

Sensational Butterflies

Today I took a wander through the butterfly tent in the grounds of the Natural History Museum. Magical!  The exhibition is open until mid September.  ...

Take a rooftop dip at Bath Spa

A bargain at £27 for a 2 hour session.  Take in amazing views from the outdoor rooftop pool, relax in the scented steam rooms and unwind over a cup of herbal tea....

Hot Ticket: Handbagged

Memories of 80s and 90s Britain come flooding back on this whistlestop tour through the political milestones of the Thatcher years, as seen through the Queen's weekly meetings with the Prime Minister of the day. Marion Bailey plays a cracking Queen and Fenella Woolgar delivers uncannily accurate Mrs T accent....

Yummy London: Afternoon tea at St Ermin's Hotel

I've just enjoyed one of the first days of summer sitting on the peaceful first floor terrace of the St Ermin's Hotel. It's in a quiet courtyard tucked away from the bustle of Westminster and St James Park.  A brilliant selection of tea and the cakes were amazing.  We couldn't eat them all, so they let us take them home!  http://www.sterminshotel.co.uk/eating-drinking/afternoon-tea/...