With the streets of London buzzing once again, there’s a boom of cultural delights on offer this autumn. Whether you’re inclined to catch a concert or delve into the whimsical world of Surrealism, there is truly something to suit every taste through these crisp and colourful months. To get you thinking, we’ve drawn together a few of the most intriguing examples…

 

David Bailey – Vision and Sound at 45 Park Lane

 

 

Legendary photographer, David Bailey is best known for his captivating portraits. He’s considered a founding father of contemporary photography, capturing the look and free-wheeling feel of the ‘60s. From 23^rdSeptember, 2022 – January, 2023 you can take in a vast and varied array of his work at 45 Park Lane. Expect portraits of icons of the era like Grace Jones and Mick Jagger, plus outtakes from some of his most infamous record cover shoots that are sure to stir the imagination.

 

Leighton House Re-Opens

 

 

We’ve long had an appreciation for the spellbinding environs of Leighton House, photographing our own Capricorn collection within its storied walls. 15^th October marks its reopening, welcoming visitors back into the former home and studio of Victorian artist, Frederic Leighton. It’s a stunning example of the Victorian conception of a creative domain, with inspiring interiors and no shortage of cross-cultural décor. They’ll be kicking off this new era with an exhibition called ‘Artists and Neighbours: The Holland Park Circle’, which runs through 19^th March, 2023. Stop in to explore this 19^th-century architectural gem and enjoy new acquisitions from other once local artists like Julia Margaret Cameron and Colin Hunter.

 

Objects of Desire: Surrealism and Design, 1924 – Today at the Design Museum

 

 

If you ever lose the thread of inspiration, the Surrealist domain is often an excellent place to track it down again. The Design Museum’s latest exhibition – running from 14^th October, 2022 – 19^th February, 2023 – starts at the very beginning, showing the earliest stages of this mind-mining mode of creativity. They move on to explore its influence across various disciplines, tracing its weird and wonderful character beyond the canvas and into fashion and design. Expect the usual suspects like Leonora Carrington as well as off-piste acolytes like Björk.

 

Battersea Power Station Opening Festival

 

 

The hotly anticipated unveiling of Battersea Power Station is finally upon us. Visit this reimagined Thames-side stalwart from 22^nd – 23^rd October to catch the opening celebrations, with a ‘Festival of Power’ taking place all the way along its adjacent Electric Boulevard. They’ll be hosting performances and events throughout the weekend, with no shortage of gastronomic delights to keep you fuelled. It’s slated to be an event for the whole family, offering an exciting outing over the half-term break. The beautifully executed redesign is sure to dazzle, as will the boutiques and city views from Lift 109, which sweeps you up the height of its chimney.

 

La bohème at the Royal Opera House

 

 

Puccini’s classic opera is back at the Royal Opera House from 14^th October – 17^th November, bringing with it all the passion, creativity, and tumult of fin de siècle Paris. It feels like an especially fitting performance as we move from warmer days into brisk and starry evenings. If the ballet’s more your speed, you can also enjoy an informal glimpse behind the scenes with the resident Royal Ballet’s ‘Friends Rehearsals’, which are open to the public from 18^th October, 2022 through 8^th March, 2023.

 

Bob Dylan at The London Palladium

 

 

The great American folk musician, now 81 years old, is still very much at it as he rounds out the first year of his latest world tour. You can catch Bob Dylan’s ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ in London from 19^th October – 24^thOctober. He’s taking an old-school approach, with a strict no-phones policy to keep fans focused on the action. Frankly, as the first songwriter to win the Nobel prize for literature, he’s earned the right to call the shots. Trust he will make it up to you with classics like Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright and Girl from the North Country.

 

Cézanne at the Tate Modern

 

 

This career-spanning retrospective of Cézanne’s engrossing oeuvre is sure to delight those with even the faintest appreciation for the Post-Impressionist style. The exhibition examines Cézanne’s work in the complete context of the artist’s life – full of the contradictions and tensions which gave rise to a new artistic language. Make your way to the Tate Modern to see it for yourself from 6^th October, 2022 – 12^th March, 2023.

 

Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature at the V&A

 

 

There’s quite a lot more to Beatrix Potter than meets the eye. We know her as a great illustrator and storyteller, but this latest exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum shines a light on the joyful explorations as a natural scientist which animated her work. It’s a show that will illuminate both parents and children, as you wind through the pastoral scenes of her original watercolours and paintings. The exhibition runs through 8^thJanuary, 2023, leaving lots of time to delve behind the pages and into the beauty of nature, in all its idiosyncratic wonder.

 

 

 

Text by Annabel Colterjohn