Spring into London features free outdoor art and performances to encourage Londoners and visitors into the city this half-term and beyond
Immersive light installations by world-class artists, pop-up performances and discounted theatre ticket and restaurant offers
The programme marks the latest phase of Sadiq’s ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign – the biggest domestic tourism campaign the capital has ever seen
London, Feb. 02, 2022: The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced a free programme of fantastic outdoor art and performance events to encourage Londoners and visitors to rediscover the capital’s world-class culture safely this spring.
‘Spring into London’ will include immersive light installations by globally-acclaimed artists, pop-up performances and discounted theatre tickets and meal deals. The programme is the latest instalment of the Mayor’s Let’s Do London campaign, the biggest domestic tourism the capital has ever seen.
London’s culture and creative industries represent a significant part of the capital’s economy and have been heavily impacted by the pandemic. Live performance venues, museums and galleries have experienced huge drops in footfall, theatre shows have been cancelled or postponed and self-employed creatives have experienced immense job instability. The Mayor’s Let’s Do London campaign was launched last year to champion the capital’s businesses, cultural institutions and attractions and, through a range of unique experiences and attractions, it has already contributed around £70m into the economy.
A light installation trail will illuminate the City of London from11-20 February. ‘City Lights’ features internationally renowned artists including the work Colour by Light, which invites the public to transform the City into a colourful canvas with their smartphones.
From 17-20 February, central London streets will once again host pop up performances with some of the capital’s finest grassroots creative talent putting on free performances from storytelling to puppetry, dance, music and much more, celebrating the capital’s diversity.
The Mayor is also partnering with the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) for the Official London Theatre’s New Year Sale so audiences can enjoy the wonder of London’s West End with tickets from just £10 for 60 incredible shows. From extravagant musicals to heartfelt dramas, tickets are available to book via the Official London Theatre website.
Discover and enjoy some of London’s world-class restaurants, cafes and bars with a discount as part of the Mayor’s partnership with Hot Dinners, London’s biggest independent restaurant website, with exclusive dining deals through until March.
London has so many safe and enjoyable events taking place during half term, including the Imagine Children’s Festival (9-20 February) at the Southbank Centre. The biggest children’s festival of its kind in London, Imagine returns for its 20th anniversary with 160 events showcasing the very best of children’s theatre, comedy and literature. The festival celebrates the individuality of every child, with a great range of free accessible events that will keep the whole family entertained.
A new ‘Southbank to City Lights & Bites’ walking trail will help to direct visitors on a short scenic walk along the Thames to take in attractions like the Illuminated River as well as enjoy local places to eat and drink on the way to experience the City Lights installations.
On 9 March, fabric nightclub and English National Opera are collaborating for an evening of electronic music with live performances from Frank Wiedemann, Rival Consoles, LCY and Josh Caffe in the iconic setting of the London Coliseum for ‘fabric at the Opera’.
Visitors can look forward to brilliant exhibitions in the capital’s museums and galleries including the Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature exhibition at the V&A, and Beano: The Art of Breaking the Rules at Somerset House. There are also Rainbow Week family workshops at the National Maritime Museum to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month and Legacies: London Transport’s Caribbean Workforce at the London Transport Museum, celebrating the generations that have shaped London’s transport history and culture.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “London really comes to life in the spring and it’s a great time for Londoners and visitors to explore our city. From the brilliant installations lighting up the City to the fantastic performances taking place on London’s streets and in theatres, ‘Spring into London’ means there is something for everyone to enjoy safely this half-term. With all this and more taking place in the heart of our city as part of my ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign, there is no better time for everyone to experience the best the capital has to offer and help the creative industries drive our economic and social recovery from the pandemic.”
Jemma Read, Global Head of Corporate Philanthropy, Bloomberg L.P. said: “London has a wealth of diverse, dynamic artists who continue to play a leading role in our city’s economic and social recovery. Outdoor public art installations, such as City Lights, offer a unique experience for Londoners and their families to discover immersive artworks in everyday settings, as they explore the City’s streets. We’re delighted to build on our support of the Mayor’s ‘Let’s Do London’ campaign, showcasing Amelia Kosminsky’s work ‘Celestial Brainstorm’ in the public plaza outside the front of Bloomberg’s European headquarters, in the heart of the City.”
Elaine Bedell, CEO of the Southbank Centre, said: “We’re delighted to support the Mayor’s Let’s Do London campaign bringing visitors back to central London. We’re looking forward to welcoming families back for the 20th anniversary of our Imagine Children’s Festival, which features the very best children’s theatre, comedy, music, literature and music. This year, we have 160 events and over half of the festival is completely free, and there’s a special focus on wellbeing and mindfulness. We have a wide range of accessible events to ensure we can bring Imagine to as many families and children as possible.”
