Month: September 2014

Love films? The BFI London Film Festival is for you

Posted on by Dukes Blog
The BFI London Film Festival logo
BFI London Film Festival

This October sees the 58th BFI London film Festival take place between the 8th and 19th October. 248 films will be shown across 17 different venues in London, including BFI Southbank, the Empire Leicester Square, the Odeon Covent Garden and the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

A firm favourite with the team at DUKES, if you’re staying with us do feel free to speak to our concierge – they’ll be only too happy to give you more comprehensive information about timings and venues (some of which are particularly close to us!).

The London Film Festival has a long history, beginning back in 1953 as it was felt that the London event would complement the events already being held in Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Edinburgh.

In order to make it easier for the film-going public to choose which films they would like to see, the films are categorised and most fall into one of the following groups:

  • Love
  • Debate
  • Dare
  • Laugh
  • Cold
  • Journeys
  • Sonic
  • Family
  • Experiments
  • Treasures

As these are films that have not yet been released to the general viewing public, it’s quite likely you’ll be able to see the stars heading to town to promote their films. It’s also not unusual to be involved in a question and answer session after the film is screened, as producers look for immediate feedback on their work. A truly memorable moment for any film fan!

There are a number of awards presented at the festival, some of the most notable being:

  • Best Film
  • Best British Newcomer
  • BFI Fellowship Award
  • The Grierson Award (presented for the best documentary)
  • The Sutherland Trophy (presented to the most original and creative film maker)

Of the 248 films to be shown, some of those that have caught our eye as ones definitely worth watching include:

  • ‘Fury’ starring Brad Pitt
  • ‘Foxcatcher’ starring Channing Tatum
  • ‘The Imitation Game’ starring Benedict Cumberbatch
  • ‘Mr Turner’ starring Timothy Spall.

So, if you haven’t already booked and you were looking for an excuse to take advantage of our Autumn Flutter offers every weekend in October, this could be just what you’re after – come to London, watch some great films and keep an eye out for the stars. You never know who you may meet!

Wembley Stadium: London’s most notable sporting venue

Posted on by Dukes Blog

An external, nighttime shot of London's Wembley stadium

The discussion around London’s most notable sporting venue can be a heated one. There are a number of claimants to that venerable crown and your views will no doubt depend on which sport your allegiances lie with.

If you are a tennis fan, your choice may be Wimbledon. A cricket fan will always go for Lords, whilst a rugby fan would choose Twickenham and for the all-round athletics fan, the choice would be the new Olympic Park, built especially for the London Olympics of 2012.

We’ll be providing details on each of these venues in future articles, but for now we will focus on Wembley Stadium, the home of English football, located in North London in the borough of Brent.

Built in 1923 for the British Empire exhibition and originally called the Empire Stadium, the first major event Wembley hosted was the FA Cup final of 1923. The original structure survived until 2003 when it was demolished,, eventually reopening in 2007 as the new Wembley Stadium.

Whilst the old stadium was famous for its twin towers, the new stadium is famous for its arch which, at a height of 440 feet (133 m) and with a span of just over 1,000 feet (305 m), is the world’s longest single span roof. Moreover the roof slides to ensure that all spectators can be covered yet at the same time allows direct sunlight to all parts of the pitch. The pitch itself is a mixture of synthetic and natural grass ensuring a high-quality playing surface all year round.

Containing 90,000 seats and boasting 98 kitchens (just enough to be able to feed 90,000 hungry spectators!), Wembley has seen many famous visitors over the years, particularly when you realise it’s been so much more than a fotball venue.

For example, it’s hosted many music concerts over the years, including Live Aid in 1985, whilst also being home to the Olympics in 1948 and the football World Cup final in 1966 when England famously won in the final against West Germany.. but only after extra time!

Wembley has even been host to a number of American Football matches in recent times and you might be able to catch a game if you are coming to see us in the next few weeks to take advantage of our Autumn Flutter offer (on any weekend in September or October).  The dates for the NFL games at Wembley are currently set to be:

  • 28th September – Miami Dolphins v Oakland Raiders
  • 26th October – Detroit Lions v Atlanta Falcons
  • 9th November – Dallas Cowboys v Jacksonville

Tickets for these events are in short supply at this late stage, but if anyone can find them, our concierge can so why not set him the challenge!

Able to help you get the most from your time with us at DUKES, our concierge will do as much as they can to make sure you see and experience Wembley Stadium exactly as you want to, whether that’s by attending a game, simply walking past, or via the way that’s always recommended: by taking part in one of the much revered stadium tours – enjoy!

5 fantastic things you can expect to see during the Thames Festival

Posted on by Dukes Blog

The Totally Thames logoTaking place for the first time throughout the month of September, the Thames Festival (also known as Totally Thames) is an exciting, new month-long celebration of the river across its 42 London miles.

This 30-day spectacular programme of events will feature arts, music, colourful regattas, river races, archaeology, environmental and educational activities; as well as river-linked activities throughout the 17 London riverside boroughs.

Here, we suggest five events that you definitely should try to see whilst Totally Thames is in full swing.

1.  Florentijn Hofman Commission

Something extremely large is coming to the Thames this September!

On Tuesday 2nd, renowned Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman will create an extraordinary new sculpture, which will be his first in the UK, and it’ll be situated at Nine Elms on the South Bank for the length of the Festival.

Inspired by the fascinating prehistory of the river, the installation will be semi-immersed in the water and will rise and fall with the tide.

2.  Richmond Riverside Festival

Every weekend in September, from 11am until 6pm, you can take advantage of live music, stalls and family entertainment.

Richmond can boast to having the longest single stretch of the river in London, and with its beautiful royal parks, theatres and town centre bursting with shops and restaurants, this September there’s even more reason to visit Richmond.

Plus, every weekend has a different theme, with local charities benefiting from each one. Perfect.

3.  Tower Bridge: A Celebration of 120 Years

Starting on the 12th September and running seven days a week is an exhibition showcasing the many different ways artists have pictured London’s most iconic bridge in its 120 year history. The show includes paintings from the Guildhall Yard Gallery’s permanent collection, contemporary interpretations and a fascinating array of ephemera and archive material.

4.  Handel’s Fireworks Music and Illuminations

Throughout the festival the historic Royal Palaces will host what promises to be an unforgettable performance of Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks.

Taking place in the romantic, riverside Privy Garden at Hampton Court Palace, it will be performed by Arcangelo, a 30-piece orchestra, and followed by a breath-taking Georgian fireworks display.

Be prepared for a magical evening in a spectacular, historic setting.

5.  The Great River Race

The 27th September sees the London River Marathon, a race up the Thames from Millwall in the east to Ham in the west in spectacular style. The awe-inspiring scene of 300 crews racing on the river is one not to be missed!

All levels of competitor are welcome, from fancy dress to serious sports individuals, and all will compete to become UK Traditional Boat Champions in the process.

These are just five of the events we think you should try to take in throughout the Thames Festival, but there are many, many others, including screenings of some of the best films ever made – E.T., The Goonies, and Raiders of the Lost Ark to name just a few (these are being shown at the More London Free Film Festival).

But whatever it is you choose to take part in, you definitely need to be in London during the month of September to just feel a part of the celebrations and events. It’s going to be a fantastic atmosphere!

Looking for somewhere to stay to make for a truly memorable visit? Check out our latest offers and give us a call here at DUKES Hotel to find out more.