DK Travel : London : History & Culture

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Royal Opera Highlight

In 1892 Gustav Mahler conducted the first British performance of Wagner’sRing at the Royal Opera House.
Royal Opera House

One of the greatest opera houses in the world, this theatre is home to the Royal Ballet Company, and hosts international opera productions. Apart from the sumptuous main auditorium, there are the smaller Lindberg and Clore theatres which have music and dance. There are regular backstage tours and occasional big-screen live simulcasts of opera in the Piazza.
Royal Opera House

London’s impressive premier music venue is home to both the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet Companies. The present Neo-Classical theatre was designed in 1858 by E M Barry and incorporated a portico frieze recovered from the previous building, which had been destroyed by fire. The Opera House has recently spread its wings into the lovely Floral Hall, once part of Covent Garden market and now housing a champagne bar.
Rubens Knighted

The Dutch painter Peter Paul Rubens was knighted by Charles I in 1629 after painting the Banqueting House ceiling.
Sadler’s Wells

After winning a reputation as the best dance theatre in London in the 1950s, Sadler’s Wells now also hosts music and opera. The stunning new building prides itself on its community events as well as its international dance shows.
Samuel Pepys

The extraordinary Diary of Samuel Pepys (1633–1703) begins on New Year’s Day, 1660 and ends on May 31, 1669. He vividly describes contemporary life, the Plague and Great Fire, and an attack on London by the Dutch. The work was written in shorthand and only deciphered in 1825.
Science Museum

Traces the history of scientific and technical innovation
Shakespeare Arrives

The first mention of William Shakespeare (1564–1616) as a London dramatist was recorded in 1585.
Shakespeare’s Globe

To see a Shakespeare play at the reconstructed Globe is a magical experience. Seated in three tiers, open to the skies, the audience is encouraged to heckle and shout as they did in Shakespeare’s day. Except when a matinee is playing, visitors to the exhibition next door are given guided tours of the theatre by staff.
Shepherd Market

The market was named after Edward Shepherd who built a two-storey house here in around 1735. Today, this pedestrianized area in the heart of Mayfair is a good place to visit on a summer evening for a drink or meal. Ye Grapes, dating from 1882, is the principal pub, while local restaurants include L ’Artiste Musclé, Le Boudin Blanc and The Village Bistro. During the 17th century, an annual May Fair was held here, giving the area its name.