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Time Out
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
London's most spectacular free festival has just announced its 2025 line-up
Whether you consider yourself a theatre fan or not, Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is always a highlight of the annual London calendar, bringing together spectacular, essentially unclassifiable outdoor entertainment to the open spaces of Thames-side London. In recent years shows have included a recreation of the Northern Lights, a bevy of glowing swans, and a performance on a melting artificial iceberg. Now it's back for 2025, and the first tranche of announcements for this year's festival are upon on. First things first: we have dates! The festival will run in its traditional late summer slot, this year August 22 to September 6. There's basically too much stuff to list in full, but I'll pick out a few highlights and you can catch up with the full bill here. You can always rely on GDIF for a spectacular opener, and this year it comes from hench French parkour troupe Lézards Bleus, who will get things underway with Above and Beyond (Aug 22, pictured top), a dazzling opener in which eight performers will astound gathered crowds as they leap over the roofs of central Woolwich. Great news for families: the beloved Greenwich Fair (Aug 23 and 24) will return to central Greenwich after skipping last year. It brings family friendly games and street performance to the heart of the borough; there's stuff on all day with highlights within the programme including all-female Belgian circus company Cie Des Chaussons Rouges's high wire show Epiphytes in Greenwich Park. Down on Greenwich Peninsula there will be another sub festival entitled Turning Worlds (Aug 30 and 31) that will include four collaborations between the world of technology, engineering and performance, including the delightfully named Robopole, a human/robot acrobatic act from German company ULIK. Perhaps the most spectacular show of the rest of the bunch is Dutch company Panama Pictures's performance The Weight of the Water (Sep 5 and 6), a physical theatre piece on the subject of climate change that will take place of a seesawing platform in the middle of Birchmere Lake in Thamesmead. Loads of other stuff has also been announced and more will be announced in the future. As everything at GDIF is free and none of it is bookable there's not a whole lot you need to do for now other than pay attention to further announcements and remember the dates.
Borneo Post
25-05-2025
- Borneo Post
My botanical affair: Falling in love again at Kew Gardens
I have always found joy wandering through gardens, whether in Malaysia or abroad. From the tranquil trails of Sandakan's Rainforest Discovery Centre to Singapore's futuristic Gardens by the Bay and the timeless grace of all the Royal Botanic Gardens. Each visit nourishes something deep within me. So when I had a chance to revisit the legendary Kew Gardens in Richmond on a recent UK trip, I didn't hesitate. Some fall in love in Paris, others lose their hearts in Venice. Me? I found my second great botanical romance at Kew – lush, leafy, and utterly irresistible. As a botany student at UKM, Kew shimmered in my textbooks like a faraway green paradise. I was no stranger to the plant world: from oil palm estates to chilly labs, stomatal debates to tree-whispering, chlorophyll coloured much of my life. At Cambridge, I dove deeper into the science of plant breeding – yet Kew remained a missed stop, just beyond reach. My first visit came only a few years ago. This was my second, but somehow, it felt richer, perhaps laced with nostalgia. I came for two reasons: to savour the lushness of this living sanctuary, especially the majestic Palm House, and to reflect on Kew's quiet but vital role in the history of the oil palm, a plant that transformed tropical landscapes, including Malaysia's. Now retired, I was no longer racing clocks. I wandered freely, breathed deeply and let wonder take the lead. Aging slows your step, but sharpens your gaze. What I felt was not discovery but rediscovery. As a believer in God the Creator, I see more than beauty in plants. I see design in the symmetry of petals, intention in leaf veins, divinity in the miracle of photosynthesis and more. Even palm oil metabolites carry whispers of awe about God. That day, in the soft spring light beneath ancient canopies, I fell in love again, not just with plants, but with their stories. Their quiet power to connect science and soul, memory and meaning. Kew doesn't just display flora, it honours them, welcomes them like old friends. And for one glorious day, it felt like Mother Nature threw a garden party and I made the guest list. Oh, and if you're curious: 'Kew' comes from Old French kai (landing place) and Old English hoh (spur of land) fitting for its Thames-side perch. On this visit, I was fortunate to make a few thoughtful stops around Kew – each one a quiet marvel. Here's a little glimpse of what I discovered. Titan Arum: The Bloom That Clears the Room Stepping into the Palm House at Kew Gardens feels like slipping into a tropical dream – humid, green, and a world away from London's usual tempo. The air thickens with warmth and the earthy scent of damp foliage, while towering palms and broad-leafed giants reach skyward, their fronds grazing the glass dome that filters golden, dappled light. On this visit, I was blessed with a rare sight – one that quite literally stops you in your tracks: the Titan arum, also known as the corpse flower. In Bahasa Indonesia, it's 'bunga bangkai' – the dead body flower. Aptly named, gloriously grotesque and absolutely not for the faint of nose. I haven't seen this botanical beast in a while, but it's gearing up for a bloom and that's no small event. Towering up to three metres tall, with one of the largest inflorescences in the plant kingdom, the titan arum doesn't just flower, it stages a spectacle. Its claim to fame? That stench. A noxious cocktail of dimethyl trisulfide found in rotting flesh and sautéed leeks – makes this plant a master of morbid marketing. It doesn't politely invite pollinators. It screams: 'Free buffet for carrion beetles and flesh flies!' Native to the rainforests of Sumatra though some smelly cousins lurk in parts of Borneo, the Titan arum blooms perhaps once every decade. And even then, the window of pungent glory lasts just 48 – 72 hours. Miss it, and it's gone. Smell it, and it's forever burned into memory. The Titan's blooms have been witnessed by lucky visitors in botanical gardens throughout the world. Indonesian planters may speak of this mythical jungle marvel in hushed tones, but few have witnessed its grotesque grandeur. And yet here it is, under glass at Kew – young, brooding and preparing its olfactory ambush. So, if you ever find yourself at Kew and catch a whiff of something suspicious wafting through the Palm House, don't hold your breath. You might just be in time for the world's greatest stink-show. And trust me, it's worth every eye-watering second. Old Age Plant (OAP) in Palm House (for many others aka Old Age Person!) Meet the OAP of the plant world in the Palm House – the Eastern Cape giant Cycad at Kew Gardens. This leafy legend, officially the oldest pot plant on Earth, weighs over a tonne and towers above four metres tall. But don't be fooled by its grandeur; it's been chilling in its tropical Palm House since 1775. That is 250 years old! How did this ancient green giant get here? Thanks to Kew's original plant hunter named Francis Masson, who braved months at sea to bring it from South Africa's Eastern Cape. Imagine strapping a giant, palm-like plant to the deck of a wooden sailing ship – soaked by rain, basking in sunlight all the way to London. Once it arrived, it was ferried up the Thames by barge, finally settling into its new home. So, next time you spot this botanical heavyweight, remember: it's not just a plant, it's a survivor with tales taller than itself and a lot more leaves! Princess Tree with a Dowry Dream While strolling through a quiet grove in Kew, I stumbled upon an elegant tree with heart-shaped leaves that fluttered like whispered secrets in the breeze. It was Paulownia kawakamii – the Sapphire Dragon Tree. What a name! Equal parts poetry and fantasy. Honestly, who names trees like this? It's as if botanists moonlight as mythmakers Curious, I leaned in and found myself caught not just by its beauty, but by its story. This was no ordinary tree. This was a Paulownia, Japan's beloved kiri or Princess Tree. And it comes with an age-old tale worth telling. In Japanese tradition, when a baby girl is born, a kiri tree is planted in her honour. Fast-growing and noble in stature, it's not just a leafy ornament – it's a living time capsule. By the time the daughter is grown and ready to marry, the tree, too, is mature. Its fine-grained wood, light but strong, is then crafted into a beautiful dowry chest, rich with meaning and ready to carry keepsakes into her new life. Named after Anna Pavlovna, daughter of Tsar Paul I, this East Asian native has royal flair with humble roots. And while it may not come with a tiara, it wears its legacy with leafy pride. So there I was, unexpectedly wrapped in a moment where botany met tradition, and a simple tree whispered a centuries-old tale of daughters, dreams and dowries. Who knew an afternoon wander could bloom into such a story? Lily Giants: A Splash of Wonder at Kew's Lily House I stepped into the Lily House at Kew Gardens and instantly felt like I'd wandered into a botanical fairy tale where I had somehow shrunk to the size of a curious insect in a giant's greenhouse. This was no ordinary glasshouse. It was the watery kingdom of Victoria amazonica, the legendary giant water lily. Their enormous leaves, that can stretch over two metres wide, can float like regal green platters across the pond. Strong enough to support a small child (though best not to try – Kew's staff aren't fans of impromptu science experiments), they looked like nature's very own lily-shaped trampolines. This time, the lilies were still young – think awkward, oversized teenagers – but already hinting at the grandeur to come. I also wandered over to the Princess of Wales Conservatory, where another family of lilies put on their own elegant show. Here, with 10 computer-controlled climate zones, this conservatory is a glassy labyrinth leading visitor through a series of fascinating ecosystems. Clearly, at Kew, water lilies don't just bloom – they perform on site. The Lily House and the Conservatory are magical splash of grandeur and grace – proof that in the plant kingdom, sometimes bigger really is better. The Mighty Oak Gets a Digital Glow-Up This spring and summer, Kew Gardens decided it was time to celebrate one of Britain's botanical legends – the oak tree – with all the flair of a West End premiere. I happened to be there amid the leafy fanfare and stumbled upon 'Of the Oak', a glorious 6-metre-tall LED spectacle that had both nature-lovers and tech geeks gawking in awe. It was innovative, immersive and judging by its grandeur, probably not cheap. But oh, was it worth it. Created by the wildly inventive collective Marshmallow Laser Feast (yes, that's their real name and yes, they're as creative as they sound), this 12-minute interactive video installation transforms the humble Lucombe oak into a digital diva. Standing tall like a portal to an enchanted forest dimension, it guides you through the oak's transformation across all four seasons with visuals and sound that make you feel like you're inside the tree, or perhaps becoming the tree. Reminds me of the movie Avatar. You don't just see leaves change colour. You're taken on a hypnotic journey beneath the bark to witness the flow of water and nutrients, the oak's subtle act of carbon sequestration via its underground mycelial web aka nature's own WiFi, and the quiet release of oxygen that keeps us all breathing. Oh, and let's not forget the 2,000+ species that depend on this tree, because every great oak throws a party for the entire ecosystem. How did they pull this off? With a blend of sci-fi wizardry and cutting-edge tree-hugging. The team used LiDAR scanning to create a precise 3D model of the oak, photogrammetry to capture the fine textures of its leaves and limbs, and even Ground Penetrating Radar (cue futuristic soundtrack) to map its root system. This isn't just art. It's a high-tech love letter to one of nature's grandest elders. 'Of the Oak' isn't just a tribute. It's an immersive wake-up call that reminds us we're not separate from the natural world, but very much a part of it. Marshmallow Laser Feast's genius lies in turning data into wonder, science into story and trees into stars. I am just imagining if we can one day soon do the same tribute for oil palm. Temperate House Closed – A Botanical Letdown I have to say, I was genuinely disappointed to find the Temperate House closed during my visit – apparently for maintenance. I wasn't alone; many visitors wore the same puzzled, let-down look. What baffled me more was the lack of any announcement on the website. Surely, a heads-up about scheduled closures is the least a world-class garden could do? I even met an English lady in a wheelchair with her daughter, both equally crestfallen after planning their trip around this very highlight. No lush plants, no dreamy strolls through the Temperate House – just empty promises. A little courtesy goes a long way, especially when visitors travel far hoping for a green escape. Here's hoping next time, Kew remembers to send out an RSVP before closing the doors on eager plant lovers! Whispers in Bronze: The Beauty of the Leaf Spirit at Kew This spring, many days were kissed by golden sunlight, stretching lazily past 7 p.m. under flawless skies. It felt as though I had smuggled a sliver of Malaysia's tropical glow across continents, sharing a whisper of warmth with the UK, with love from Malaysians. As I was about to leave Kew after a long, soul-stirring day, something made me pause. Tucked quietly among the foliage stood Simon Gudgeon's Leaf Spirit – a serene bronze face unfurling from sculpted leaf forms, its open spaces offering glimpses of the garden beyond. It wasn't just a sculpture; it was an invitation. To breathe. To be still. To remember that nature doesn't shout; it whispers. In that tranquil moment, I felt embraced by the Leaf Spirit, as if it gently said, 'Rest here awhile.' It was a soft farewell, a promise of return. In a world spinning ever faster, this quiet companion reminded me that true beauty isn't only found in dazzling blooms – but in the silence between them. Farewell for Now, Dear Kew Visiting Kew Gardens was truly a memorable experience I want to share with first-timers. Nestled on 300 acres in southwest London, Kew Gardens is much more than a park – it's a living museum of over 50,000 plant species from around the globe. Transportation to get there is convenient. Its origins date back to the 1750s as part of the royal estate, blossoming into a world-renowned botanical garden and research center. The gardens played a crucial role in the history of plant science and global botanical exploration. For first-time visitors, I recommend setting aside a full day, wearing comfortable shoes and taking your time to absorb the beauty and science intertwined here. Kew is a perfect blend of history, nature and discovery – an oasis where the past and present of botany meet. As I leave the winding paths and hidden corners of Kew Gardens, I carry with me memories of leafy whispers, vibrant blooms and moments of quiet wonder. You have been a gracious host, a sanctuary of nature's marvels and human creativity intertwined. Though our time together is drawing to a close, I know this is not goodbye – just a gentle 'until we meet again.' I look forward to returning, to uncover new stories, new blossoms and that familiar sense of peace you can offer. Chelsea Flower Show – Or the One That Got Away Extra. As I flew back, a cheeky thought bloomed in my mind – I'd just missed the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show. Tragic. Officially dubbed the Great Spring Show, this annual floral fête, held from 20–24 May this year, is the crown jewel of garden shows. Hosted by the RHS at Chelsea since 1912, it's graced by the green thumbs of royalty and horticultural heroes alike. But fret not. In true London fashion, when the Chelsea Flower Show is in town, the city becomes one giant bouquet. Storefronts, sidewalks, even street signs, everything is abloom. It's as if the whole capital of London sighs in petals and perfumes. They call it the world's greatest flower show, and for good reason. It's not just a garden show; it's horticultural haute couture. Think cutting-edge garden design, show-stopping floral installations, and enough plant envy to make your plants blush. Alas, I missed it. But let's be honest, if I'd stayed any longer, it might've turned into another love story. And I've already got enough tales to tell. Next time, maybe.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Four-bedroom house in Thames-side village on the market for £1 million
A four-bedroom house valued at £1 million is on the market in the desirable Thames-side village of Sonning. The property, located on the private Old Bath Road, is within three miles of both Reading and Twyford train stations. According to the estate agent, the house, known as The Old Turn, has been 'lovingly renovated' by its current owners and offers 'flexible accommodation for a family'. (Image: Winkworth) The house is entered through a hallway which leads to a spacious lounge featuring a log burner, a bay window with a seat, and a stained glass window. A bespoke kitchen and breakfast room, equipped with integrated appliances and a wood burning stove, also feature on the ground floor. Another notable aspect of the property is its 29ft orangery which has underfloor heating. The estate agent said that this area could be used as a formal dining room, entertainment space, or family room. (Image: Winkworth) The ground floor also includes a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, which is currently used as a gym. Upstairs, the house has three double bedrooms and a bathroom. The master bedroom suite includes dual aspect windows, a walk-in wardrobe, and an en-suite shower. All the bathrooms in the property reportedly have underfloor heating and bespoke tiling. (Image: Winkworth) The house also has a partly boarded loft which could be converted into additional living space, subject to planning consent. The outdoor space includes landscaped gardens with a patio, lawns, and a raised deck that accommodates a hot tub. The property also features a detached garage with an electric vehicle charging point. The estate agent suggests that the house would suit a growing family and that viewing is highly recommended. According to the estate agent, the location of the house is also noteworthy. The village of Sonning, through which the River Thames runs, is described as having a 'community feel' with amenities including The Bull Public House, The Mill Theatre, the church, and the Berkshire Cricket and Hockey Clubs. (Image: Winkworth) Fine dining is available at The Ivy and The French Horn. The area is also home to several schools, including Inglewood nursery, Sonning Church of England Primary, and Blue Coat School. Reading and Twyford railway stations, which offer direct links to London Paddington, are within three miles of the house. The M4 junction 10 is about six miles away via the A329M, providing access to Heathrow and the motorway network. The estate agent added that the latest celebrity to reside in Sonning is Hollywood actor George Clooney, who has recently purchased a riverside home in the village.
Telegraph
07-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Accountant loses battle over £1.5m ‘Versace Tower' flat ‘missing a bathtub'
An accountant has lost a court fight after complaining that the bathroom of her £1.5 million flat in a south London block nicknamed the Versace Tower had no bath. Mi Suk Park said she was promised 'the ultimate in luxury' when she paid a £381,000 deposit on a two-bedroom flat and parking space in the 50-storey Thames-side Aykon London One tower in the redeveloped Nine Elms district. The building was nicknamed the Versace Tower because of its interiors, which were designed with the fashion house. The off-plan purchase was made in November 2015 after Ms Park, 54, viewed a brochure and floor plan and made the 'lifetime decision' to buy the flat, intended to be the 'main home until retirement' for her and her husband. However, Central London county court was told she refused to move in and then sued for £700,0000 because the built apartment was 'materially and manifestly different from the layout of the apartment as set out in the plan and description'. Her main complaints were over a one square metre utility cupboard, which she said impinged on an 'open plan living space', and that one of the two bathrooms did not have a bathtub. Ms Park refused to complete the purchase and purported to rescind the contract in a letter dated 14 Oct 2022. Subsequently, the defendant served notice to complete on Nov 2022 and then issued a notice of termination on Jan 9 2023. Ms Park started proceedings in April 2023, but her case was thrown out after Judge Alan Johns ruled that the 'small' cupboard being moved to a different place had not affected the property's value. 'The utilities cupboard always had to go somewhere – this was not the introduction of a new factor which reduced the usable area of the apartment,' he said. 'Buyers in this development were more likely to be interested in buying in an up-and-coming area and the Versace branding, rather than the position of the utilities cupboard.' Ms Park had sued for more than £700,000 over the deposit she paid, money to cover five years' rent and other claimed losses. But lawyers for developer Nine Elms Property Ltd, a Jersey-based entity owned by a parent company in Dubai, insisted her deposit had been forfeited. They argued that the brochure was for illustrative purposes only and an example of a 'typical layout'. Nazar Mohammad, for Ms Park, who runs an accountancy business in Surrey, told the judge that 'irredeemable breaches' of the contract included the fact that 'the utility cupboard impinges on the living space. It cannot be altered ... the second bedroom is smaller ... the second bathroom has no bathtub'. But barrister Rupert Cohen, for the developers, said the brochure had shown example apartments and pointed out that 'at the top of each page ... it says 'typical layout'.' Judge Johns ruled that it was 'common sense that changes may be made to the plans', adding: 'I have reached the firm conclusion that the repositioning of the utilities cupboard was not a material change.' Regarding the bathroom, he said: 'Many modern purchasers would prefer a walk-in shower. The claim is dismissed.'
Telegraph
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
That Marvellous Atmosphere, Stanley Spencer Gallery: Intoxicating mayhem in a quaint Berkshire village
That Marvellous Atmosphere at the Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham hones in on the artist's last major work, Christ Preaching at Cookham Regatta (1952-9). The ambitious painting, just over 2m x 5m, was nine years in the making and left unfinished upon Stanley's untimely death in 1959. It relocates the New Testament episode of Christ preaching from a boat on Lake Galilee to the Grand Evening Concert at the Cookham Regatta. Christ, clad in a black boater and cassock, lunges, fire and brimstone, out of his wicker chair aboard the old horse ferry barge towards the assembled villagers, in their Sunday best. For those who are not familiar with Spencer's unorthodox work, the adaptation of biblical stories to a familiar socio-temporal iconography was an idiosyncratic part of his oeuvre. Some of his most famous paintings present religious scenes through the lens of the historic Thames-side village in which he grew up, most notably The Resurrection in Cookham Churchyard (1924-7), which depicts Stanley's contemporaries rising from the dead at the graveyard of the local Holy Trinity Church. Spencer is also known for his more provocative works. His paintings have sparked controversy as recently as 2023, when Love Among the Nations (1935) was deemed too 'racist' to keep on show at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Curator Amy Lim succinctly sums up the artistic world of Stanley Spencer as 'God, sex and Cookham'. He considered the village in which he grew up to be a 'Holy Suburb of Heaven' and often used his childhood memories as fodder for creative inspiration. This directs us back to the centrepiece of the Spencer Gallery's summer exhibition, which draws on the artist's recollection of the Cookham Regatta, a bustling social event that took place on Ascot Sunday to conclude the week of races in June. At its peak in 1890, the regatta was attended by 10,000 people, and the popularity of boating on the Thames is reflected in contemporary literature such as Jerome K Jerome's Three Men in a Boat (1889) and Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows (1908), which was written in the nearby Cookham Dean. The Spencer family's keen interest in the festivities is documented by Spencer's brother Gilbert who recalled 'how the gentry and their ladies in their evening clothes joined in with the hoi polloi … the mix-up was attractive and complete'. Spencer funnelled his whole imaginative world into this last great painting. His writings record that he stayed up sketching until four in the morning, and one of the studies on show was drawn on loo paper – it seems there wasn't a moment when he wasn't thinking about Christ Preaching. Unfortunately, Spencer was fiscally irresponsible and romantically indecisive (he at one point had two wives simultaneously, and ended up divorcing both). This meant that he spent the final decade of his life fulfilling commissions in order to support himself, rather than working on his less commercial passion project. Spencer's tableau Dinner on the Hotel Lawn (1956-7) is one-part surrealist, one-part Botticelli, and two-parts mad. If this picture, on loan to the Stanley Spencer Gallery from the Tate, is anything to go by, the finished version of Christ Preaching at Cookham Regatta may even have rivalled his paintings at the Sandham Memorial Chapel in Burghclere for a position to be his masterpiece. When Spencer died, he had completed three-fifths of the canvas; his patron Viscount Astor bought the unfinished painting and exhibited it at the 1960 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, where it was praised as 'the epitaph of Genius'. The Stanley Spencer Gallery was founded soon after this in 1962, in a converted Methodist chapel that Spencer used to attend with his mother. The gallery is run entirely by volunteers, who are admirably dedicated to upholding the legacy of this local artist. From the talented and exceptionally knowledgeable Lim, to the wonderful trustees who get involved in the intricacies of gallery logistics (right down to designing the tote bags) – it is impressive to see the community coming together to celebrate this kooky Cookham disciple. Until Nov 2;
