Country Life rounds up the best things to see, do and book over the next few weeks.
Follow our quick links to find things to do by region:
London
Ireland
South East and Home Counties
Scotland
Northern England
Cotswolds and the Midlands
West Country
East Anglia
London
February 8 – March 8 – Kew Orchid Festival 2020: Indonesia, London TW9
This year’s showcase is inspired by Indonesia’s rainforests, orangutans, active volcanoes, carni-vorous plants and 5,000 species of orchid. Included with general admission.
February 27 – The Poet, the Lover and the Patriot: Lord Byron, Chiswick Auctions, South Kensington, Fulham Road, London SW3
A private collection of works relating to the Romantic poet will be offered for sale – highlights include a gold-and-enamel locket featuring a lock of his hair, a pocket watch bearing his crest and a letter from Byron to Francis Hodgson.
February 27 – Late Night Jazz: O’Higgins and Luft Play Monk and Trane, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7
Dave O’Higgins and Rob Luft pay tribute to Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane, with rare cuts and a special focus on the late 1950s. Doors open at 9.10pm, tickets from £12.
February 27–March 1 — Collect: The International Art Fair for Modern Craft and Design, Somerset House, London WC2
International galleries present ceramics, glass, metal, wood and textiles, made in the past five years by artists from Sweden, Uganda and Japan, in the beautiful rooms of the fair’s new venue. There will also be installations on show and a programme of talks. General admission £23.
Until February 28 — ‘William Van Sommer: Colour in the Garden’, RHS Lindley Library, Vincent Square, London SW1
See photographs that were among the first to capture gardens, plants, flowers and landscapes in colour.
German botanist and entomologist George Dionysius Ehret was born #OnThisDay in 1708. He was also a dab hand at illustration, as can be seen in his work of the 1750s 'Plantae and rariores papiliones', a copy of which is housed at the RHS Lindley Library. #BotanicalArt pic.twitter.com/DNjYsxJaQ4
— RHSLibraries (@RHSLibraries) January 30, 2020
February 20 – March 6 – New paintings by Frances Macdonald, Portland Gallery, Bennet Street, London SW1
Bold and vibrant pallet-knife paintings, capturing the drama of Scotland’s west coast.
February 20–27 – ‘Into a Land of Pure Magic’, Olympia Auctions, Blythe Road, London W14
The late Nell Gifford, co-founder of Giffords Circus, produced 60 paintings and drawings, including watercolours and balletic inks of horses and acrobats, which will be auctioned online from February 10–28.
March 10 — Lunch and conversation with Sophie Conran, The Kensington Hotel, London
An afternoon talking all things chic and stylish with British designer and cook Sophie Conran over lunch at the Town House restaurant in the elegant setting of one of London’s finest boutique hotels. Tickets £40.
Until March 27 – ‘James Turrell’, Pace Gallery, Burlington Gardens, London W1
Solo show by the artist who describes his works as an investigation of light, employing space, colour and perception.
March 28–April 15 – Rusalka, London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2
English National Opera presents Dvorák’s haunting tale of a love-struck water-nymph who chooses to become human. Tickets from £10.
November 15–May 4, 2020 – ‘George IV: Art & Spectacle’, The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London SW1
Exploration of the monarch’s public image and the art that inspired him against a backdrop of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. Includes Dutch masterpieces, French porcelain, books, drawings and watercolours. Adult tickets £13.50.
Until August 31, 2020 – ‘Abba: Super Troupers the Exhibition’, The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10
Immersive experience bringing to life the Swedish pop sensations through their music, costumes, gold discs, memorabilia and lots more, delving into the story of each band member. Adult tickets £27.
South East & Home Counties
January 25–March 1 – The Giant Houseplant Takeover, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey
The Victorian glasshouse will be overrun with houseplants growing in unusual places – such as up the staircase, in an armchair and through the ceiling – to encourage visitors to let their imaginations roam. Standard admission applies.
February 15–23 – Living with Nature, Hever Castle & Gardens, Edenbridge, Kent
Follow a nature trail to discover wildlife and animal tracks, watch a falconry display and enjoy workshops and face painting. Standard admission applies.
Until February 23 – ‘The Show Goes On: A Theatre of Portraits by The Royal Society of Portrait Painters, The Watts Gallery, Compton, Surrey
See artists’ representations of the likes of Sammy Davis Jr, Ken Dodd, John Osborne, Celia Imrie and Oliver Ford Davies.
Until February 23, 2020 – ‘Treasures of Osterley: Rise of a Banking Family’, Osterley Park, Isleworth, Middlesex
Art works, lacquer furniture, Chinese porcelain plates and a 17th-century French ebony cabinet from the Child family’s collection.
February 25–March 3 – Bronze casting including wax sculpting, West Dean College, Chichester, West Sussex
Join Shane Whitehead to learn how to create a cast-bronze sculpture using the lost-wax process, including a basic grounding in the technique and resulting in at least one small completed piece. £983pp.
Until March 1, 2020 – ‘Talking Maps’, The Weston Library, Bodleian Libraries, Oxford, Oxfordshire
Ancient, pre-modern and contemporary maps, plus imaginary and war maps, taken from the Libraries’ collection of more than 1.3 million examples. Highlights include the Gough Map – the earliest to recognisably show Great Britain – and fictional maps by C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien.
March 3 – Max Raabe & Palast Orchester, Congress Theatre, Eastbourne, East Sussex
The German singer and his accompanying white-tie orchestra perform the songs of the 1920s and 1930s, before moving on to appear at Cadogan Hall, London SW1 (March 4), Symphony Hall, Birmingham (March 5) and The Brigewater Hall, Manchester (March 6). From 7.30pm, tickets from £22.50.
Until March 22, 2020 – ‘Painting by the Thames: Swan Upping at Cookham’, Stanley Spencer Gallery, Maidenhead, Berkshire
A collection of paintings and drawings focusing on Spencer’s inspiration, the River Thames, as well as marking the centenary of the completion of the titular work.
Until March 22 – ‘Jeremy Gardiner: South by Southwest’, St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery, Lymington, Hampshire
Coastal landscapes from Kent to Cornwall, inspired by the artist’s explorations and travel posters, as well as guidebooks, postcards and ViewMaster reels, which will also be on show.
March 25 and April 3 – Magnolia Tour, Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath, West Sussex
Learn about the history of some 180 trees and shrubs, such as Magnolia sprengeri var. diva, the goddess magnolia. The Magnolia Gardiner Grove, planted two years ago with 48 specimens, will also be coming into bloom. 11am–12 noon, adult tickets £12, advance booking required.
Until March 29 – ‘Jake Wood-Evans: Relic’, The Gallery, Winchester Discovery Centre, Hampshire
More than 20 new works, including large-scale paintings and a series of curved canvases, fusing mythical and religious Baroque imagery with Modernist sensibilities.
April 5, 2020 – Bringing the House Down, Glyndebourne, Lewes, East Sussex
Special concert in aid of the Meath Epilepsy Charity, featuring arias and ensembles from opera and musicals, plus Classic FM presenter John Suchet. From 3pm, tickets from £40.
Until April 18 – ‘Microsculpture: The Insect Portraits of Levon Biss’, Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery, Basingstoke, Hampshire
This collection of images, created in collaboration with Oxford University Museum of Natural History, reveals the microscopic detail of insects using large-format photographic prints.
July 8–12 – Henley Festival, River & Rowing Museum, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
This year’s line up includes appearances from Madness, James Blunt, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Kathy Sledge, Myleene Klass, Rory Bremner and Milton Jones, plus food by Angela Hartnett. General admission from £50.
Scotland
December 7–February 15 – The Snow Queen, various venues
Hans Christian Andersen’s family-friendly fairy tale is brought to life by the Scottish Ballet to mark its 50th year, set to the music of Rimsky-Korsakov. Tickets from £19.
Northern England
November 16–February 23, 2020 – ‘Norman Cornish: The Definitive Collection’ The Bowes Museum, Teesdale, Co Durham
Retrospective of the artist’s work – portraits, industrial scenes and landscapes – almost 100 years after his birth, focusing on mining conditions and his local village. Adult museum entry £14.
February 14–March 1 – Dark Skies Festival, North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales
More than 100 events, including stargazing, Go Ape in the dark, night navigation, ghost walks and moonlit trail rides.
www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk
Until March 15 – ‘Saad Qureshi: Something About Paradise’, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, West Yorkshire
Exploration of paradise through three ‘monumental organic forms’ composed of landscapes and buildings, plus seven ornate wooden gates in the 18th-century chapel.
Until March 29 – ‘Geoffrey Willey: A Life Through the Lens’, Ryedale Folk Museum, Hutton le Hole, North Yorkshire
Explore the photographer’s life and passion for the countryside through his own images and film, which he left to the museum when he died, at the age of 103, in 2015.
Until April 20 – ‘The Art of the Brick’ , Great Northern Warehouse, Peter Street, Manchester
Nathan Sawaya’s extraordinary sculptures made from millions of Lego bricks – including an interpretation of the Mona Lisa – return to the UK. Adult tickets £14.50.
Cotswolds and the Midlands
February 8–April 19 – ‘Dissent and Displacement: A Modern Story’, New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, Leicester, Leicestershire
Major new show by artist Monica Petzal, celebrating storytelling and reflection in large-scale panels, inspired by the museum’s German Expressionist collections.
Until February 23, 2020 – ‘Melvyn Evans: Imprinting the Land’, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, West Yorkshire
Drawings, paintings and bold lino prints inspired by the Yorkshire landscape and coastline, including the fossilised ruins of the submerged Doggerland causeway.
Until February 23, 2020 – ‘Sargy Mann: Let It Be Felt That The Painter Was There’, Attenborough Arts Centre, University of Leicester, Leicestershire
Largest public showing of the artist’s work, with unseen archival material, photographs and audio recordings, plus depictions of his home in Peckham in South London.
Until February 29 – ‘Jenny Wheatley NEAC: Journey’, Fosse Gallery, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
The first solo show by the British painter, comprising some 50 works capturing fishing boats, the Highlands and exotic Indian palaces.
March 13–15 – Spring Wellness Retreat, Daylesford, Kingham, Gloucestershire
Immerse yourself in crystal sound healing, yoga, meditation, a massage and a wellness workshop, as well as a cookery class, Market Garden tour and supper at The Wild Rabbit. £1,800pp including food, accommodation and activities.
April 22 – 26 – Talking Gardens, Highgrove, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Horticultural talks from the likes of Country Life contributor Alan Titchmarsh, Roy Lancaster and Rachel de Thame. Each event includes a tour of the gardens, as well as lunch or afternoon tea. Tickets from £95.
West Country
February 18–22 – Sarum Lights, Salisbury Cathedral, Wiltshire
‘Fully immersive light and sound spectacular’, using themed soundscapes and light projections located in different areas around the building to explore the cathedral’s history. Adult tickets from £5, time slots available from 7pm–9pm.
Until February 25 — ‘Ernest Gimson: Observation, Imagination and Making’, The Wilson, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Explores the works of a key designer of the Arts-and-Crafts movement, focusing on his architecture, textiles, metalwork and plaster. Adult tickets £5.
February 26–29 – Frost and Fire: Experimental Landscape Painting with Anthony Garratt, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon
Four-day course focusing on contemporary painting techniques using acrylics and water-based oils, suitable for both beginners and more experienced artists. £485pp including materials.
February 28–March 31 – Essex Book Festival, various venues
More than 100 events at 40 different venues, covering fiction, non-fiction, current affairs and poetry. Guest speakers include Val McDermid, A. N. Wilson, Kenan Malik, Louise Hare and Jess Phillips. Ticket prices vary, see website for the full programme and to book tickets.
April 4 – Dorset Hedgehog Conference, The Dorford Centre, Dorchester, Dorset
The best opportunity to find out all about hedgehogs, including how we can help them. In response to the steep decline in the UK’s hedgehog population the Dorset Mammal Group (DMG) is pioneering a successful approach to hedgehog conservation in Dorset, which co-ordinates community action, skilled hedgehog rescuers and veterinary practices. DMG will be sharing this strategy and placing it in the national scientific context of hedgehog decline at the conference. £25 per ticket, email hedgehogs@dorsetmammalgroup.org.uk or use the link below.
Until April 12 – ‘Beyond the Vessel: Narratives in Contemporary European Ceramics’, Messums Wiltshire, Tisbury
Works in clay by 14 artists commenting on modern-day issues, such as pollution and war, yet still drawing inspiration from ancient mythology.
April 22 — Spring in a Devon garden, Hayne, Zeal Monachorum, Devon
Enjoy talks from Noel Kingsbury and Christine Skelmersdale on perennials and bulbs, plus a walk around the garden with owner Milla Herniman. Tickets £150.
April 24 – Forage and Feast, The Gurnard’s Head, Zennor, Cornwall
Walk the local footpaths, hedgerows and shorelines, foraging for ingredients with Caroline Davey of the Fat Hen wild-cookery school, before returning for lunch. From 10am, £65pp.
East Anglia
June 19–20 – Garden Museum Literary Festival, Helmingham Hall, Stowmarket, Suffolk
An exploration of 500 years of garden history, including talks from garden designers, gardeners, novelists and artists. Adult tickets from £110.
Nationwide
February 20 – April 23 – Lady Chatterley’s Lover, various venues
New stage adaptation of D. H. Lawrence’s controversial novel, exploring war, love, female sexuality and toxic masculinity.
Until May 26 – Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, various venues
Screenings of short adventure films featuring spectacular cinematography, from skydiving in Mexico to ice skating on frozen Swedish fjords, will be shown around England, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland.
March 14 – May 16 – Geisha, various venues
Northern Ballet premieres the new production, which tells the story of Okichi and Aiko in 19th-century Japan. After the world premiere at Leeds Grand Theatre, the ballet will visit Sheffield, London, Edinburgh and Cardiff. Tickets from £10.
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