Wedding Weekend at De Vere Wokefield Estate
Mark Bibby Jackson stays at the De Vere Wokefield Estate Hotel just outside of Reading for his cousin’s wedding. Reading has never been my idea of somewhere to visit from…
Relaxing at The Runnymede On Thames
Mark Bibby Jackson checks into The Runnymede On Thames where he enjoys a delightful night’s rest on the hottest day of the year. There can be few places better to…
London Theatres : a Review
Mark Bibby Jackson reviews London Theatres, a guide to London’s Theatres by Michael Coveney and Peter Dazeley with foreword by actor Mark Rylance published by Frances Lincoln. One of the…
A Wilde Stroll from Paddington to Camden
Mark Bibby Jackson spends a night at the Wilde Aparthotel in Paddington and goes for a stroll along the Regents Canal in London to Camden. As Johnson said, once you…
Nigel Homer, London Tour Guide
London Begins at 40 talks with Niger Homer a London tour guide with ToursByLocals, he explains the benefits of being shown the highlights of the capital by an expert. Tell…
Discover London Explored
Mark Bibby Jackson reviews London Explored, a photographic-led guide to London by Peter Dazeley published by Frances Lincoln. The greater you get to know London the more you realise how…
Mantis Draycott Hotel, Chelsea
Mark Bibby Jackson spends a night in Chelsea’s Mantis Draycott Hotel, an elegant boutique hotel with a homely feel and a great London location. Entering the Mantis Draycott Hotel is…
The Gate, Marylebone: Pioneer of Plant-based Food
Mark Bibby Jackson visits The Gate, Marylebone to sample the most wonderful food which just happens to be plant-based. One of the most significant trends in the global restaurant scene…
A Walk On the Streets London’s East End
Mark Bibby Jackson experiences street life in London’s East End discovering arguably the best samosas in London. The East End of London has always been one of my favourite parts…
Sky-high Cocktails at Hyatt Place London City East
On his visit to London’s East End, Mark Bibby Jackson stays at the Hyatt Place London City East, and discovers a wonderful new hotel with breath-taking views and excellent cocktails…
Is God Is a Revenger’s Tragedy?
The Royal Court’s ambitious and refreshing new programme has continued with Aleshea Harris’ revenge drama Is God Is at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs. Fast and furious from the off, Aleshea Harris’…
Sailing a Wherry Boat on the Norfolk Broads
Mark Bibby Jackson chills out while sailing a traditional wherry boat on the Norfolk Broads, a short drive from London. I am not a natural sailor. I was scarred for…
Once Upon a Time in Nazi Occupied Tunisia
Mark Bibby Jackson reviews Josh Azouz’s tragi-comedy Once Upon a Time in Nazi Occupied Tunisia at the Almeida. From the off as we are greeted with a character buried up…
Two London Guidebooks for 2021
Mark Bibby Jackson takes a look at a couple of London guidebooks released earlier this year that make navigating the myriad streets of London slightly easier. Like London buses just…
A Tour of Lord’s Cricket Ground
As The Hundred fever grips the country, Mark Bibby Jackson goes on a tour of Lord’s cricket ground which brings back strong childhood memories. London was my home for more…
Luxuriating in AIRE Ancient Baths London
Mark Bibby Jackson checks into the recently opened AIRE Ancient Baths London and emerges two hours later feeling like a completely different man. There will be a time when international…
Future of London Cinema Post Covid
London Begins at 40 editor Mark Bibby Jackson chats with Stuart Brown, BFI Head of Programme and Acquisitions, on the future of London cinema post Covid, and why he is…
Angel of Anarchy: Eileen Agar, Whitechapel Gallery
The Whitechapel Gallery’s exhibition of the work of Eileen Agar – Angel of Anarchy – highlights both the longevity and variety of one of the most important artists of the…
Redoubt: Matthew Barney, Hayward Gallery
The focal point of Matthey Barney’s first solo exhibition in the UK for more than a decade, currently showing at the Hayward Gallery on Southbank London, is the feature length…
Rubens: Reuniting the Great Landscapes
This summer will see the reunification of two of Rubens’ master landscapes A View of Het Steen in the Early Morning and The Rainbow Landscape at the Wallace Collection in…
Grand Trunk Road: No Compromise on Quality
Mark Bibby Jackson returns to a familiar Indian restaurant of his youth now transformed into the swish Grand Trunk Road, to see whether it justifies the accolade of the best…
Three Castles on a 1066 Country Day Trip
We are all seeking fresh ideas for day trips from London, but sometimes it turns out that what you are looking for has been around for centuries, as Mark Bibby…
David Hockney: The Bearable Lightness of Being
Mark Bibby Jackson visits The Arrival of Spring by David Hockney, and is struck by how wonderfully light the exhibition is, compared with the all-enveloping darkness that has preceded it….
Michael Armitage: Paradise Edict, RA
Mark Bibby Jackson attends the press preview of Michael Armitage: Paradise Edict at the Royal Academy of Arts, and discovers a rich and multi-layered gem. Although it might not quite…
