What's On In London...

The following listings are current community events that HWC have been advised of - they may exist within the NW3 or greater London area.

APRIL

Damien Hirst at London’s Tate Modern Beginning 4 April 2012

See more than 70 iconic works by celebrated contemporary artist Damien Hirst at London's Tate Modern. A shark suspended in formaldehyde, a bisected cow and calf… Damien Hirst is well known for his imaginative and sometimes shocking works.

The works on display in the Tate Modern's upcoming Damien Hirst exhibition span two decades and include: The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living; Mother and Child Divided, a four-part sculpture of a bisected cow and calf.

Damien Hirst got his first taste of fame in 1988 when he created and curated Freeze, an influential exhibition of work by himself and fellow Goldsmiths College students, staged in a disused London warehouse. Today Hirst is one of the most prominent artists on the British art scene, and known for exploring imagery associated with life and death. For more information visit www.tate.org.uk/modern

MAY

Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival 2012 13 May 2012
Mr Punch (of Punch and Judy) celebrates his 350th year in 2012 and this annual festival celebrating the art of puppetry is ready to doff its cap. Following the official Mr Punch's Big Birthday Party taking place on Saturday May 7, this festival brings together Punch and Judy professors from around the country and traditionally includes a procession, puppet shows and workshops, with folk music maypole dancing and clowns. Punch and Judy professors are also due to make an appearance at Covent Garden Piazza on Saturday May 12.

Chelsea Flower Show 22-26 May 2012
Come and experience the greatest flower show in the world at London's Royal Hospital Chelsea. Every year the grounds of the Royal Hospital are transformed into show gardens, inspirational small gardens and vibrant horticultural displays that make up the world's most famous flower show. The Chelsea Flower Show is attended by 157,000 visitors each year. The number is limited by the capacity of the 11-acre ground. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

The show has become an important venue for watching emerging gardening trends. New plants are launched at the show and the popularity of older varieties revived before the eyes of the horticultural world. It's the garden design equivalent of Paris Fashion Week. For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/chelsea

JUNE

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, Kensington Gardens 1 June – 31 October 2012
For the past 11 years the famous Serpentine Gallery has commissioned a different artist to create a Pavilion in Kensington Gardens during the summer. As part of the London 2012 Festival this year's Pavilion will be designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei, who jointly created the 2008 Olympic Stadium in Beijing. Their creation will take visitors beneath the Serpentine's lawn to explore the history of previous Pavilions. Twelve columns will support a floating platform roof 1.5 metres above the ground.

Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron have designed both public and private buildings in their long partnership. Their frequent collaboration with artists led them to internationally renowned Chinese conceptual artist Ai Weiwei, whose work has included the installation Sunflower Seeds at Tate Modern. This will be the fourth time the trio has worked together. Visit www.serpentinegallery.org for more information.

Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant 3 June 2012
See one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the River Thames, as London celebrates The Queen's 60th year as the reigning monarch. Up to 1,000 boats are expected to take part in the pageant, including those used by the armed forces and emergency services, as well as historic boats, wooden launches and steam vessels. Each craft will be decorated streamers and Union Jack flags, and the passenger boats will carry up to 30,000 members of the public.

Watch the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant for free along the River Thames. There will be up to 50 big screens along the route so wherever you're standing, you will see the flotilla! The pageant starts at Battersea Bridge between 2pm and 3pm and finishes at Tower Bridge between 5pm and 6pm. Visit www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org for more information.

MINT Polo in the Park 8 - 10 June 2012
MINT Polo in the Park, a three day celebration of international polo, will return to the London's famous Hurlingham Club on the banks of River Thames.

MINT Polo in the Park promises three games of Polo each day and more garden and bar space than ever before. Together with the ever-popular Veuve Clicquot Garden, four new experiential areas, the Harrods Food Court and an enhanced children's zone, MINT Polo in the Park promises to be the ultimate family day out next summer.

Featuring world-class players at the top of their game, the Polo in the Park '12 matches include teams from cities from across the world. Six teams each representing global cities (London, New York, Moscow, Buenos Aires, Geneva and Sydney) will play in a new 'Round Robin' format over 3 days, culminating with the Final and the presentation of the MINT Trophy on Sunday 10th June, 2012. Visit www.polointheparklondon.com for more information.