National Gallery’s New Wing To Be Designed By Japanese Architect

The National Gallery in London has officially entered its "Domani" era. On April 8, 2026 the gallery announced that legendary Japanese architect Kengo Kuma (of Tokyo Olympic Stadium and V&A Dundee fame) has won the international competition to design its newest wing.

This isn't just an extension; it is the most significant transformation in the Gallery's 200-year history. Dubbed Project Domani (Italian for "tomorrow"), the expansion aims to bridge the gap between the past and the future of Western art.

The Vision: A "Handshake" Between Eras

Kuma’s design—developed alongside UK firms BDP and MICA—was chosen unanimously over heavyweights like Norman Foster and Renzo Piano. The jury praised the design for being "innovative and beautiful," specifically highlighting its ability to respect the existing architecture while introducing something entirely fresh.

Portland Stone Cladding: The exterior will use the same iconic stone as the original 19th-century Wilkins Building, ensuring it feels like a natural part of the Trafalgar Square family.

The "Green Waterfall": Much like Kuma’s signature style, the building will feature a public roof garden and landscaped terraces, offering lush greenery and views over Leicester Square.

A New Interior Flow: The main floor will mirror the vaulted arches of the Sainsbury Wing, while the upper floor will shift into a modern, geometric design.

Breaking the "1900 Rule"

The biggest headline isn't just the building, but what’s going inside it. For the first time, the National Gallery will expand its collection beyond the year 1900.

By housing 20th and 21st-century works (including major loans from the Tate), the Gallery will become the only museum in the world where visitors can view the entire history of Western painting in a single continuous timeline.

National Gallery’s Project Domani fast facts:

Total Investment: £750 million overall, with £375 million dedicated specifically to the new wing.

Expansion Size: 2,300 square meters of new area (1,500 for permanent collections and 800 for temporary exhibitions).

Location: Situated at the St Vincent House site, directly north of the current Sainsbury Wing.

Completion Date: Scheduled to open to the public in the early 2030s.

Why This Matters

For years, the site behind the gallery was a point of contention (once famously called a "monstrous carbuncle" by King Charles III in a previous iteration). Kuma’s design seems to have finally cracked the code, offering a "supple and elegant" solution that brings a touch of Japanese minimalism to the heart of London.

With £300 million already secured from donors like the Julia Rausing Trust and Crankstart, the path is clear for the National Gallery to finally claim its full "tomorrow."

Frida Kahlo’s Popularity Raises Eyebrows At Tate Modern, 25 June 2026 – 3 January 2027

Interest in the Mexican artist has exploded since the gallery last exhibited her, making her pieces — whose fans include Madonna — harder to borrow.

Frida Kahlo may be helping to write women into art history, but her popularity has made it hard to gather paintings for an exhibition.

Curators of the forthcoming Kahlo showcase at Tate Modern have only been able to secure 36 of the Mexican artist’s pieces, with Madonna among those refusing to lend their cherished works.

When Tate Modern last held a major Kahlo exhibition in 2005, more than 50 paintings, including two owned by the pop star, were put on public display.

Tobias Ostrander, a curator of Frida: The Making of an Icon, which opens in June, said the difficulties securing loans were part of the reason the gallery had “slightly” fewer Kahlo paintings than two decades ago.

“In general the [36] works were very specifically chosen to address certain themes but you know, there are ones we have tried for that people won’t loan,” Ostrander said. “Madonna is someone who did loan in 2005 but won’t loan now, for example.”

Frida Kahlo, Still Life (I Belong to Samuel Fastlich), 1951 PRIVATE COLLECTION

There had been hopes that Kahlo’s record-breaking self-portrait, which was sold for £41.8 million in November, would be part of the exhibition. Ostrander said Tate was still trying to secure a loan of El sueño (La cama) from the artwork’s unidentified buyer but admitted it was “unlikely”.

Catherine Wood, Tate Modern’s chief curator, said in 2005 it had been “quite early” to give Kahlo a full retrospective, adding that this year’s exhibition was more focused on how the Mexican artist had “shaped the canon” for future generations.

Scores of works by about 80 artists influenced by Kahlo are due to be displayed alongside many of the Mexican artist’s most acclaimed pieces, including Untitled (Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird) and Self-Portrait in a Velvet Dress.

Wood said the exhibition would trace how Kahlo rose to become the “global phenomenon that she is today”, adding: “When we showed her she was one of the relatively few female artists who were being shown in museums and entering the pretty much all-male canon.

“It is very interesting at this point to look at how she has shaped the canon for future generations.”

Kahlo, who died in 1954 aged 47, was relatively unknown during her lifetime and often in the shadow of her husband and fellow artist, Diego Rivera. Until the 1990s, the record price for one of her works at auction was under $500,000.

Interest in Kahlo was turbo-charged this century, perhaps helped by a biopic in 2002 starring Salma Hayek, with her self-portraits in particular increasingly drawing the attention of institutions and collectors.

Buying or securing the loan of a Kahlo masterpiece is further complicated by Mexico’s refusal to allow any of her artworks to be exported without authorisation.Buying or securing the loan of a Kahlo masterpiece is further complicated by Mexico’s refusal to allow any of her artworks to be exported without authorisation.

However, there is plenty of Kahlo merchandise to be bought. One section of Tate Modern’s exhibition will focus on “Fridamania” and the artist’s “transformation into a global brand”.

More than 200 objects “generated by the mass-market production of Frida Kahlo merchandise” — which has seen her image appear on thousands of items from period pads to Tequila bottles — will also be on display.

However, there is plenty of Kahlo merchandise to be bought. One section of Tate Modern’s exhibition will focus on “Fridamania” and the artist’s “transformation into a global brand”.

More than 200 objects “generated by the mass-market production of Frida Kahlo merchandise” — which has seen her image appear on thousands of items from period pads to Tequila bottles — will also be on display.

Frida Kahlo photographed by Julien Levy in 1938 COURTESY PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART

Ostrander said while Kahlo was a communist — one of her many affairs was with Leon Trotsky — the artist was “clear about her image being a product or having an exchange value”.

“One forgets that she was producing these self-portraits to sell,” he added.

The curator said the exhibition would be “self-conscious about the idea of a blockbuster, it will look critically at why we are so obsessed with Frida, what are we buying, what does she symbolise”.

He added: “It will be interesting because that Fridamania section will be right next to the [Tate Modern] shop.”

Please visit: https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
https://www.thetimes.com/profile/david-sanderson

Travelore News: Europe Approves Record 700m Skyscraper Project

In a groundbreaking move that reshapes the skyline, Europe is set to host its tallest skyscraper, soaring above 700 meters.

Situated in the heart of London, this architectural marvel promises not only to redefine urban landscapes but also to usher in new standards of sustainable building practices.

The newly approved skyscraper, dubbed “The Cloud Piercer,” is expected to stand at a staggering 730 meters. This will eclipse the current tallest building in Europe, the Lakhta Center in Saint Petersburg, Russia, by a significant margin. The project received the green light from London city planners earlier this week and has already begun capturing the public’s imagination and curiosity.

Designed by the renowned architect Sir Jonathan Reed, The Cloud Piercer is not just about height but also about revolutionary design and sustainability. It features energy-efficient systems, vertical gardens, and is built with recycled materials. “Our goal was to merge aesthetic beauty with environmental responsibility,” says Reed.

The approval of such an ambitious project has sparked a variety of reactions among Londoners. While many marvel at the design and the potential economic benefits, others express concerns about the changing cityscape and environmental implications.

Emily Carter, a long-time resident of London and a professional photographer, shares her mixed feelings. “On one hand, it’s thrilling to see London leading with such an innovative project. On the other, I worry about the shadow it casts, literally and metaphorically, on our historic city,” she explains. Emily plans to document the construction process through her lens, hoping to capture the transformation of her city.

Experts predict that The Cloud Piercer will act as a catalyst for local economic growth. “The construction alone is expected to create thousands of jobs, and once completed, the building will house offices, luxury residences, and retail spaces,” states economic analyst Henry Tillman.

Additionally, the skyscraper is anticipated to become a major tourist attraction, potentially drawing millions of visitors each year eager to view the city from its highest observation deck. This influx of tourists could provide a significant boost to local businesses and services.

Despite its benefits, the project also raises environmental concerns. The construction phase is expected to have a substantial carbon footprint, although efforts are being made to mitigate these effects through various green initiatives and technologies.

Looking forward, The Cloud Piercer is seen as a prototype for future skyscrapers that aim to balance human aspirations with planetary health. “This project sets a precedent for future developments to be more environmentally conscious and integrated with their surroundings,” notes urban planner Alice Robertson.

The Cloud Piercer is poised to become a landmark of innovation and a testament to the possibilities of modern architecture and urban planning. Its development will undoubtedly keep environmental scientists, architectural enthusiasts, and the general public keenly watching as it reaches for the clouds.

https://www.twineearlylearningcenter.com/

London’s Secret Tunnels That Inspired James Bond Will Open To The Public, Complete With A Bar

There is a history-rich part of London that few people have seen, where the city braced for the Blitz, James Bond’s creator got inspiration and secret Cold War messages passed between Washington and Moscow.

It’s a network of tunnels 100 feet (30 meters) below the streets that was secret for decades — but could be the city’s next big tourist destination. Local authorities have approved plans to fill the 90,000 square-foot (8,400 square-meter) site with an intelligence museum, an interactive World War II memorial and one of the world’s deepest underground bars.

“It’s an amazing space, an amazing city,” said Angus Murray, chief executive of The London Tunnels, as subway trains rattled overhead. “And I think it tells a wonderful story.”

A vast bomb shelter

The tunnels lie directly below London Underground’s Central Line in the city’s Holborn area. Work to dig them began in secret in 1940, when Britain feared invasion by Nazi Germany. They were designed to shelter up to 8,000 people in a pair of parallel tunnels 16½ feet (5 meters) wide and 1,300 feet (400 meters) long.

The tunnels were never used for that purpose; by the time they were finished in 1942 the worst of the Blitz was over, and Underground bosses had opened up subway stations as air raid shelters for Londoners.

Instead, the tunnels became a government communications center and a base for the Special Operations Executive, a clandestine unit that sent agents — many of them women — on perilous sabotage missions in Nazi-occupied territory under orders from Prime Minister Winston Churchill to “set Europe ablaze.”

A naval officer named Ian Fleming was a liaison officer to the SOE, and the subterranean HQ may have provided inspiration for the world of secret agent 007 that he went on to create.

“This truly is the Q Branch of James Bond,” said Murray, referring to the thrillers’ fictional MI6 quartermaster and gadget-maker.

After the war, more tunnels were added to the complex and the site became a secure telephone exchange. From the mid-1950s it was a terminus of the first trans-Atlantic undersea telephone cable. After the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war in 1962, a “red telephone” hotline between the Pentagon and the Kremlin was established and ran through here.

Up to 200 people worked underground, bound to secrecy but with the compensation of an onsite canteen and bar. For a time, the site also housed a bunker to be used by the government in the event of nuclear war.

By the 1980s, technology had moved on and British Telecom moved out. The tunnels lay largely forgotten until BT sold them in 2023 to Murray’s private equity-backed group.

Plans include a memorial to the more than 40,000 civilians killed by German bombing in the war, cultural exhibitions and a nightspot that Murray boasts will be “the deepest bar in the world in a city.”

Secret wartime history

It also will house Britain’s Military Intelligence Museum, which is currently tucked away on a military base north of London with limited public access. Museum bosses have agreed to move a collection covering more than 300 years of history to the tunnels, bringing a much higher profile for a story they believe needs to be told.

”It’s not targeted at people who already have an interest in military topics,” said the chair of the museum’s board of trustees, who gave only his first name, Alistair, because of the museum’s connection to Britain’s armed forces.

“A heavy theme that will run through the new museum is that there are skills and tools that military intelligence has developed over years and centuries … and the fundamental one is, how do you tell truth from lies?” he said. “That’s a very big theme of now.”

The museum also will flesh out the secret story of the Special Operations Executive. The museum’s collection contains agent messages, supplies, weapons and sabotage equipment from the SOE’s wartime adventures.

“Most of the people that worked in SOE never talked about it, either at the time or afterwards, and many of the records have disappeared,” Alistair said. “So a lot is known about SOE, but we don’t know everything, and the chances are we will never know everything.”

A unique attraction

For now, the tunnel entrance is through an unmarked door in an alley, and walking the cool, dim corridors brings the thrill of discovering a hidden corner of history. Within the thick steel and concrete walls are chunky old generators and telecoms equipment, a staff canteen with its kitchen still intact, and the bar, its 1960s orange and brown décor giving off retro “Austin Powers” vibes

Here and there are graffiti tags and a few items left by urban explorers who snuck in over the years, including a set of bowling pins with ball, and — incongruously — a bear costume.

“If you go home and say, ‘I went to this really cool tunnel today,’ then we’re halfway there,” he said. “If what’s inside of it is even better, you’re going to go ‘Oh that’s fantastic.’”

https://apnews.com/author/jill-lawless London Tunnels aims to open in 2028, and to attract up to 4.2 million tourists a year. That may sound ambitious, but Murray says the site’s mix of “history and heritage and novelty” makes it a unique draw.

UK Government Tentatively Backs Expansion Of Gatwick Airport, Country’s Second-Busiest

The U.K. government gave its provisional backing Thursday to the creation of a second runway at Gatwick Airport outside London if certain improvements were met, including on noise reduction — a move that has been met with incredulity from environmental campaigners.

FILE -A sign for the South Terminal is seen at London’s Gatwick airport, Dec. 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File)

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said in a written statement that she was “minded to approve” the expansion, which would involve moderately moving Gatwick’s northern standby runway used for planes to taxi or as a backup.

The original Gatwick project, which was rejected but then revised by planning inspectors, means that the final approval may be delayed by nine months.

Under the new plan, Gatwick will have to ensure at least 50% of passengers traveling to and from the airport do so by public transport and take steps to mitigate noise.

Gatwick, which is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of London and serves more than 40 million passengers a year, is the country’s busiest single-runway airport, and second-busiest overall behind London’s Heathrow Airport.

Under the plan, Gatwick will have to move the current emergency runway 12 meters (39 feet) north away from the main runway in order to meet international safety standards. That would allow it to be used for departures of narrow-bodied planes such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s.

The project, which will be funded privately, is expected to cost 2.2 billion pounds ($2.8 billion), could be completed by the end of the decade, if construction begins later this year.

The expansion would allow it to cater for another 100,000 flights a year, taking capacity up to more than 380,000. It’s projected to create 14,000 new jobs and generate 1 billion pounds ($1.26 billion) in annual economic benefits to the country.

Gatwick, which is majority-owned by France-based VINCI Airports, has until April 24 to formally respond to the new proposals, while Alexander is expected to make a final decision shortly after that date, although a deadline has been extended to Oct. 27.

Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate welcomed Thursday’s announcement, saying that the airport will “engage fully” in the extended process for a final decision.

“By increasing resilience and capacity, we can support the U.K.’s position as a leader in global connectivity and deliver substantial trade and economic growth in (southeast England) and more broadly,” he said.

Climate change activists, however, have railed against the new Labour government’s provisional thumbs-up, which came just a few weeks after it gave its full backing to the construction of a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport, the country’s busiest, as part of its drive to bolster the U.K.'s anemic economic growth over recent years. The government has made airport expansion a central plank of its growth plan.

“Such a decision would be one that smacks of desperation, completely ignoring the solid evidence that increasing air travel won’t drive economic growth,” said Greenpeace U.K.’s policy director, Doug Parr. “The only thing it’s set to boost is air pollution, noise and climate emissions.”

By PAN PYLAS

Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" Paintings Vandalized Hours After Activists Sentenced For Similar Incident

A pair of paintings by Dutch maestro Vincent van Gogh at London's National Gallery were vandalized Friday when climate activists splattered what appeared to be tomato soup on them. The incident came just hours after two activists with the Just Stop Oil environmental group were sentenced to at least 20 months in prison for a similar act two nearly two years ago.

Tourists and visitors queue outside the National Gallery in London where the "Van Gogh: Pets and Lovers" exhibition is being held. Peter Nicholls / Getty Images

The paintings from Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" series, which he painted in Arles in the south of France, were not damaged on Friday thanks to protective glass coverings. The gallery identified the two paintings as its own "Sunflowers" from 1888 and "Sunflowers" from 1889 on loan from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The three activists – also with Just Stop Oil – involved in Friday's incident were arrested while the paintings were removed, examined and then returned to their location. The gallery said the exhibition would reopen later on Friday.

The group posted a video of the attack on social media, showing three people throwing soup at the paintings. The action was apparently in protests against the sentencing earlier Friday of two other activists from the group, Phoebe Plummer, 23, and Anna Holland, 22.

Eco-activists sentenced to prison

Plummer received a two-year sentence while Holland was sent to prison for 20 months earlier Friday.

In October 2022, the pair threw two cans of Heinz tomato soup over the artwork at London's National Gallery before kneeling in front of it. They then glued their hands to the wall beneath the painting.

According to Just Stop Oil, the pair were demanding the U.K. government halt all new oil and gas projects.

Climate protesters hold a demonstration as they throw cans of tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" at the National Gallery in London, United Kingdom on Oct. 14, 2022. Just Stop Oil / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

In a post on X at the time, the activist group blamed the current economic turmoil and the climate crisis facing the world on fossil fuels, asking: "Is art worth more than life? More than food?"

The pair were found guilty of criminal damage by a jury in July.

In sentencing the two activists Friday, Judge Christopher Hehir said the artwork could have been "seriously damaged or even destroyed."

Hehir was also the judge in the case against Roger Hallam, the co-founder of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, another environmental campaigning group, and had sentenced him to five years.

On Friday, he took aim at Plummer.

"You clearly think your beliefs give you the right to commit crimes when you feel like it," he said. "You do not."

Plummer, who represented herself and who had pleaded guilty, told the hearing that she would accept "with a smile" whatever verdict came her way.

"It is not just myself being sentenced today, or my co-defendants, but the foundations of democracy itself," she said.
Five days after her guilty verdict in July, Plummer was arrested for spraying paint on departure boards at Heathrow Airport.

Lawyer Raj Chada, defending Holland, said the two women checked that the "Sunflowers" was protected by a glass cover before throwing the soup.

A number of Just Stop Oil supporters gathered outside the court, some holding posters of historical figures jailed for activism.

Supporters of the two Just Stop Oil environmental protesters outside Southwark Crown Court in London during their sentencing. HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images

Over the past few years, Just Stop Oil has been behind a series of high-profile stunts, including at major sporting events and on Britain's transport networks. The attack on "Sunflowers" was the second artwork at the National Gallery targeted in 2022, after two Just Stop Oil activists glued themselves to John Constable's "The Hay Wain."

Van Gogh's 1888 masterpiece, painted in Arles in the south of France, was not damaged in the 2022 attack as it was covered by protective glass.

However, the gold-colored frame suffered $13,000 worth of damage. Museum staff had worried that the soup could have dripped through and caused immeasurable damage to the painting.

In June, activists with the group sprayed several of the ancient stones of Britain's iconic Stonehenge site with an orange substance. A video released by the group showed two activists running toward the prehistoric stones of the UNESCO World Heritage Site with what looked like fire extinguishers and then spraying them with what the group said was "orange paint powder." Two people were arrested.

https://www.cbsnews.com/

London’s Beloved And Futuristic BT Tower Sold For $347 Million To Be Turned Into A HHotel

The BT Tower, a futuristic landmark on the London skyline for 60 years, is to become a hotel, owner BT Group PLC said Wednesday.

The company, formerly known as British Telecom, said it has agreed to sell the tower to U.S. company MCR Hotels for 275 million pounds (about $347 million).

The 581-foot (177-meter) structure, originally called the Post Office Tower, was completed in 1964 and was London’s tallest building until 1980. A further section of aerial rigging brought the total height to 620 feet (189 meters).

The tower was covered in microwave aerials that carried communications across the U.K. and also housed a rotating restaurant with panoramic views across London. The restaurant was closed after a 1971 bombing, claimed both by anarchists and the Irish Republican Army. It never fully reopened to the public, apart from special events and occasional tours.

Technological changes have gradually rendered the tower’s original role in Britain’s telecommunications network obsolete. Its microwave aerials were removed more than a decade ago.

“It’s played a vital role in carrying the nation’s calls, messages and TV signals, but increasingly we’re delivering content and communication via other means,” said Brent Mathews, property director at BT Group. “This deal with MCR will enable BT Tower to take on a new purpose, preserving this iconic building for decades to come.”

MCR Hotels owns about 150 hotels, including the New Yorker Hotel and the modernist TWA Hotel at New York’s JFK airport. The company said it would work with British architect Thomas Heatherwick on the hotel’s design.

However, travelers shouldn’t plan on making reservations just yet. The hotel firm said it will “take a number of years” for BT to move out due to the complex equipment on site.

AP

London’s Iconic Underground Map Is Getting An Update, With 6 New Names And Colors

For anyone with even a passing acquaintance with London, the city’s Tube map is as iconic as the red buses or the black cabs.

But for the past few years, there’s been something not quite right about the map originally designed by Harry Beck in 1933 — a collection of orange train lines, mostly orbiting the inner city, known as the London Overground.

They are like interlopers on the carefully crafted and easy-to-navigate map.

Yes, it’s been confusing for Londoners too.

Now, London Mayor Sadiq Khan hopes to bring some clarity to the suburban rail network that was established in 2007 through the effective merger of previous routes, and has grown to carry more than 3 million customers a week across more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) of railway and 113 stations.

His solution, following widespread consultation, is simple — giving them names and new colors!

“Giving each of the Overground lines distinct colors and identities will make it simpler and easier for passengers to get around,” Khan said Thursday. “In re-imagining London’s tube map, we are also honoring and celebrating different parts of London’s unique local history and culture.”

The six names and colors will be:

— Lioness, which runs through Wembley Stadium in north London and honors the recent achievements of the England women’s soccer team. It will be shown as double yellow lines on the map.

— Mildmay, which honors a small charitable hospital in east London that played a crucial role caring for those with HIV/Aids in the early days of the illness in the 1980s. It will be shown as double blue lines on the map.

— Windrush, which commemorates the ship that landed near London in 1948, carrying more than 800 passengers from the Caribbean to new lives in Britain. A number of the stations on the line have historic Black communities, such as Peckham Rye and West Croydon. It will be shown as double red lines on the map.

— Weaver, which runs from the heart of the financial district in Liverpool Street to places such as Spitalfields, Bethnal Green and Hackney, where the textile trade blossomed. It will be shown with double maroon lines on the map.

— Suffragette, which celebrates the role of the working-class movement in the east of the city in the fight for women’s rights. The line runs to Barking, home of the longest surviving suffragette Annie Huggett, who died at the age of 103 in 1996. It will be shown with double green lines on the map.

— Liberty, which celebrates the eternal freedoms of the city and goes through Havering, which has historically had more self-governance than other parts of London. It will be shown with double grey lines on the map.

Transport for London expects the full rebranding to be completed by the end of the year. It will include an updated Tube map and station signs as well as the rerecording of public address announcements.

Last summer, the mayor’s office said the rebranding project had an estimated cost of 6.3 million pounds ($8 million), the bulk of which would be used to update customer information.

The Conservative opposition at City Hall said the changes were a “wasted opportunity” and that the mayor could have earned tens of millions of pounds by tendering the naming rights to commercial sponsors, as often occurs with sporting stadia, for example, with the money raised used to finance upgrades elsewhere in London’s transport system.

Mayor Khan said that was considered but that the “key thing was to make sure the lines have a link with the communities they are from.”

Last year, Transport for London changed the name of Bond Street tube station to Burberry Street for a week as part of a sponsorship deal, drawing widespread criticism. Detractors said the temporary name change, along with signage in blue instead of London underground red, caused confusion for visitors.

BY PAN PYLAS

Tickets Now Available for Concours of Elegance 2024 – Show Returns To Hampton Court Palace From 30th August To 1st September

UK’s leading concours event will return to Hampton Court Palace in west London from 30th August to 1st September 2024

Now renowned as the finest concours in Europe

Event will assemble 70 automotive rarities drawn from private collections around the world, in the immaculately manicured palace gardens

900 other cars will be assembled, with a series of other displays, live stage discussions and much more

Range of ticket options available, priced from just £38.50

The Concours of Elegance, presented by A. Lange & Söhne, is delighted to announce that tickets for its 2024 edition are now on sale.

The three-day automotive extravaganza, now firmly established as Europe’s finest concours event, and one of the top three globally, will return to the grounds of Hampton Court Palace from Friday 30th August to Sunday September 1st with a jaw dropping array of 70 automotive rarities.

The event’s 13th edition will build on the success of a standout 2023 show, which included a landmark Le Mans centenary celebration, assembling arguably the most spectacular range of road and competition machinery ever seen on UK soil.

2024’s edition is set to reach new heights, convening the world’s rarest, most historically significant motorcars - many of which have never been seen in Britain before – all in the immaculate gardens of the UK’s most stunning historic royal palace.

The main concours display, curated by a panel of leading figures in the collector car world, will assemble cars in a wide range of categories, from the world’s most revered marques, and reflecting full sweep of automotive history.

The cars will be meticulously set around the glittering central fountain, and flanked by rows of glorious, three-hundred-year-old yew trees. The event will culminate in the awarding of the coveted Best in Show – uniquely chosen by the owners of the cars themselves, rather than a committee – before the ‘Grand Départ’ on Sunday evening, which will see the concours competitors roar out of the palace grounds.

Alongside the main concours display, the event will assemble 900 further cars in a series of special features and displays, including the women only Levitt Concours, Thirty Under 30 concours – which celebrates the next generation of collector, displays from the UK’s leading car clubs, as well as a Gooding & Company collector car auction.

Learn more about the Concours of Elegance at www.concoursofelegance.co.uk.

Hundreds Of Thousands Face Disruption At London’s Gatwick Airport This Summer After Strike Vote

Hundreds of thousands of British vacationers face potential disruption to their travel plans at the start of the school summer holidays, after almost 1,000 workers at London’s Gatwick Airport voted to strike in a dispute over pay.

The Unite union said Friday that members, including baggage handlers and check-in staff, who are employed by four private contractors will walk out for four days from July 28 and again for a subsequent four-day stretch from Aug. 4.

The union said the action will “inevitably” cause disruption to flights at the height of the summer holiday season after the school year has ended. The airlines affected are British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, TUI, WestJet and Wizz Air.

Gatwick, which is just south of the U.K. capital, is London’s second-busiest airport behind Heathrow, with a particular focus during the summer to Europe’s beach resorts in the Mediterranean.

A total of 4,410 flights are scheduled to depart Gatwick across all the strike days, equating to more than 840,000 seats, according to aviation data company Cirium.

Those involved in the dispute are employed by ASC, Menzies Aviation, GGS and DHL Services, which conduct outsourced operations for airlines including ground handling, baggage handling and check-in. Unite said it has been in negotiations with the four companies since January.

“As part of Unite’s unyielding focus on the jobs, pay and condition of its members, the union has drawn a line in the sand and is committed to eradicating the scourge of low pay at the airport,” said Sharon Graham, the union’s general-secretary.

Phil Lloyd, a senior vice president at Menzies Aviation, one of the companies involved, said Unite rejected its offer for an 11% pay rise for its ground services employees at Gatwick, which he added is on top of last year’s 10% increase.

“We are in continued discussions with our airline partners and remain committed to seeking a resolution,” he said.

Britain has witnessed an array of strikes over the past few months as workers across various sectors try to get wage raises that at least keep pace with inflation. Though inflation has fallen from its peak, it remains high at 8.7%. Unite said the majority of workers who are set to strike are paid an average of under 12 pounds ($15.50) an hour.

Gatwick, like other airports in Europe, is already suffering major disruption because of air traffic control restrictions as a result of strike action, staff shortages and airspace closures related to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“We are aware of the recent ballot result and will support our airlines with their contingency plans to ensure that flights operate as scheduled,” a spokesperson for the airport said.

Source: AP

The Peninsula London Debuts, Bringing Spectacular New Style And Luxury To the Heart Of Belgravia

The Peninsula, whose portfolio of impeccably luxurious worldwide properties has drawn discerning travelers for nearly a century, is thrilled to announce that its stunning new hotel, The Peninsula London, is now accepting reservations for stays from 12 September 2023.

The newly-built hotel, designed and appointed to embody the finest British craftsmanship, and situated at one of the city's grandest junctures – where Hyde Park Corner meets Wellington Arch – is also extending an exclusive stay offer for its first guests. For a limited time, visitors who reserve one of The Peninsula London's lavishly appointed rooms or suites can also enjoy special privileges, including an exclusive opening offer of £1300 including daily breakfast for two; Peninsula Time, offering flexible check-in and check-out times, use of a House car; and complimentary airport pick-up for all suite reservations.

"We are delighted to launch The Peninsula London, which is the culmination of decades of looking for the most exceptional location in London. We believe that the investment we have made into this project, the dedication of our people and the project teams we have worked with, and the quality and the attention to detail that we have strived for, will make this a unique hotel that we believe will stand out not only in London but globally, and will be one of the most important hotels in our group for generations to come," said Clement Kwok, Managing Director and CEO of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, owner and operator of The Peninsula. "It is always an important ingredient of The Peninsula that the hotel has been designed and planned not only to service international guests but that it will also become an integral part of the local community. We are very excited to welcome local residents and international visitors to experience this exceptional property and to enjoy The Peninsula's sophisticated hospitality and service in one of the world's most dynamic cities."

London's Finest Address

With architecture conceived to gracefully harmonise with the heritage buildings of Belgravia, The Peninsula London also embodies a sleek, spacious aesthetic that floods its exquisite, Peter Marino-designed interiors with natural light. The hotel, along with 25 opulent luxury residences, centres around an expansive, off-street courtyard, landscaped in the style of a classic English garden with cascading ivy, wisteria vines, and 120-year-old Japanese maples allowing for a graceful and easy off-street arrival along with valet parking and underground garage. Many of the city's most iconic attractions, including Buckingham Palace, The Royal Parks, The Palace of Westminster, Harrods and the boutiques of Bond Street are less than a 15-minute-walk away – though guests can also opt for transport in one of the hotel's luxury chauffeured cars.

Exquisite Accommodations and Event Venues

The Peninsula London's 190, understatedly luxurious guest rooms (from 51 – 59-sq-m/549 – 635-sq-ft) and suites feature bespoke furnishings, textiles, and artworks that evoke the feel of chic private residences. All include mahogany-panelled dressing rooms, exquisite bathrooms of honey onyx, and customised fittings crafted by renowned British artisans; many have floor-to ceiling-windows with unparalleled views over Wellington Arch and historic Belgravia.

Equally impressive are the hotel's numerous special-event venues opening later this year, which include the sweeping pillarless St. George Ballroom (with back-of-house elevators large enough for motorcars), and other gathering spaces ranging from capacious and configurable conference rooms to an intimate private cinema. All are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and the attentive service of the hotel's special-event staff.

Premier Cuisine, Wellness, and Shopping

World-class dining and drinks can be enjoyed at The Peninsula London's stylishly refined restaurants, bars, and lounges. The hotel's signature rooftop restaurant, Brooklands, offers Modern British cuisine from Michelin-starred Chef Director Claude Bosi, as well as top-flight libations, a tasting lounge and cigar storage helmed by Manu Harit, certified "Master of Havana Cigars," in a collection of spaces inspired by classic British aviation and motorsport. At Canton Blue and its adjacent bar, Little Blue, innovative Chinese cuisine, cocktails, teas, and exotic décor celebrate the spice-trade union of Asian and British cultures. And at The Lobby, traditional Peninsula Afternoon Tea and globally inspired fare are served beneath soaring ceilings, and often accompanied by live music. A more casual offering, including fresh-made salads, sandwiches, and sweets, is available throughout the day at The Peninsula Boutique and Café.

A diverse array of relaxation and well-being choices are available to guests later this year at The Peninsula London – including an extensive menu of mind-body therapies at the hotel's Spa and Wellness Centre, exercise classes and workshops offered at the fully equipped modern fitness centre, and swimming in a dramatically lit 25-m indoor swimming pool. A dedicated digital Wellness Portal also provides guests with in-room, round-the-clock access to wellness programming.

For guests who enjoy high-end shopping, the hotel's ground-floor retail arcade entices with nine luxury boutiques such as Asprey London, DMR – David M Robinson Jewellery and Watches, Mouawad, Moussaieff Diamond and a floral shop. Also, The Peninsula London will be home to Topaz Detailing, one of the world's most exclusive detailing and paint protection film specialist for supercars, offering their first location in Central London.

"Best of British" Craftsmanship

The Peninsula London's superbly curated and quintessentially British aesthetic is the result of exclusive collaborations with some of the country's most acclaimed artists and creators. The design elements and amenities custom-crafted by these creative partners – including fashion designer Jenny Packham, perfumier Timothy Han, and more than 40 artists from The Royal Drawing School ­– grace all the hotel's public spaces, as well as its guest accommodations.

Peerless Guest Amenities and Services

As with all Peninsula properties, The Peninsula London offers guests the superb comfort and flawless attention to detail that are synonymous with the brand. Whether via in-room amenities and technology; inspiring, destination-specific arts programmes and cultural experiences; or global proprietary services like Peninsula Time (fully flexible check-in and check-out) and PenChat (access to a 24-hour digital concierge), the hotel exemplifies The Peninsula's enduring commitment to its guests and larger community.

For reservation options, please:

Visit http://www.peninsula.com and/or speak with your preferred travel advisor.

Westminster Abbey To Offer Barefoot Tours

People who visit London’s Westminster Abbey after the coronation of King Charles III will be allowed to stand on the exact spot where he was crowned, but they will need to make sure they don’t have holes in their socks for the shoeless tour, designed to protect the abbey’s medieval mosaic floor.

Abbey officials said Friday that the section of the church’s floor known as the Cosmati pavement, where the chair in which Britain’s monarchs are crowned has been placed for some 700 years, will be on display during Charles’ May 6 coronation after being hidden away under carpets for decades because of disrepair.

The pavement area, normally roped off to the public, will be open to small guided “barefoot tours” after the crowning ceremony. Visitors will be asked to remove their shoes to avoid wear and tear to the floor, which was restored to its former glory after a two-year conservation project was completed in 2010.

“Standing on the pavement and feeling that sense of awe of being in the central part of the abbey is a really amazing experience,” Scott Craddock, the head of visitor experience at the famous church. “It will give people the opportunity to feel what it’s like being at that center stage of the coronation.”

King Henry III commissioned the intricate mosaic of marble, stone, glass and metal, located in front of the abbey’s high altar, in the 1200s. Italian craftsmen and English masons made it.

It is where English — and, later, British — coronations have taken place ever since, but the area was covered by carpet at many previous coronations, including those of Elizabeth II in 1953 and her father, George VI, in 1937.

The mosaic is said to be the best surviving example outside Italy of a rare type of stonework known as “Cosmati,” after the Italian family which created it.

“It’s a unique piece of art to Westminster Abbey but also to Britain itself — there are no other mosaic pavements like this in the U.K.,” Vanessa Simeoni, the abbey’s head conservator, said.

Experts from the abbey will guide the tours, which will run on some days from May 15 to July 29.

By SYLVIA HUI

British Museum Reportedly In Talks On Parthenon Sculptures

The British Museum has pledged not to dismantle its collection, following a report that the institution’s chairman has held secret talks with Greece’s prime minister over the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles.

The report by the Greek newspaper Ta Nea is the latest twist in the long-running dispute over ownership of the ancient sculptures, which originally stood on the Acropolis in Athens and have been a centerpiece of the British Museum’s collection since 1816.

Ta Nea reported Saturday that negotiations between museum Chairman George Osborne and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have been taking place since November 2021 and are at an advanced stage.

While the museum didn’t deny that talks have taken place, a spokesman refused to discuss the specifics of the Ta Nea story. The museum said it was prepared to “talk to anyone, including the Greek government” about a new Parthenon “partnership.’

“As the chair of trustees said last month, we operate within the law and we’re not going to dismantle our great collection as it tells a unique story of our common humanity,” the museum said in a statement released Saturday. “But we are seeking new positive, long-term partnerships with countries and communities around the world, and that of course includes Greece.”

The Greek government offered no comment on the report.

Although British authorities have rebuffed efforts to return the sculptures to Greece since at least 1941, there has been a change of tone recently as museums around the world seek to address concerns about the way ancient artifacts were acquired during periods of imperial domination and colonial expansion.

In July, Jonathan Williams, the British Museum’s deputy director, said the institution wanted to “change the temperature of the debate” around the marbles.

“What we are calling for is an active ‘Parthenon partnership’ with our friends and colleagues in Greece,” he told the Sunday Times. “I firmly believe there is space for a really dynamic and positive conversation within which new ways of working together can be found.”

On its website, the museum says it is willing to consider loaning the sculptures to Greece, but that successive Greek government’s have refused to acknowledge the museum’s ownership. There are no current negotiations about the issue, the museum says.

Speaking during a visit to London on Nov. 28, Greek PM Mitsotakis implied that some talks have taken place.

“I don’t want to speak publicly about the discussions that we have had,” he said. “But I think there is a better sense of understanding that maybe a win-win solution can be found that will result in a reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures in Greece, while at the same time also taking into consideration concerns that the British Museum may have.”

The issue is complicated by an act of Parliament that prohibits the museum from selling, giving away or otherwise disposing of any items in its collection unless they are duplicates or not needed for study.

The marbles are remnants of a 160-meter-long (520-foot) frieze that ran around the outer walls of the Parthenon Temple on the Acropolis, dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom. Much was lost in a 17th-century bombardment, and about half the remaining works were removed in the early 19th century by a British diplomat, Lord Elgin.
They ended up in the British Museum, which has repeatedly rebuffed Greek demands for their return.

Successive Greek governments have lobbied for the return of the British Museum’s share of the works, which include statues from the Parthenon’s pediments — the all-marble building’s gables. They argue that Elgin illegally sawed off the sculptures, exceeding the terms of a questionable permit granted by Turkish authorities while Greece was an unwilling part of the Ottoman Empire.

The British Museum rejects that stance — despite indications that public opinion in the U.K. favors the Greek demand — and has shown little willingness to permanently return the works.

The Parthenon was built between 447-432 B.C. and is considered the crowning work of classical architecture. The frieze depicted a procession in honor of Athena. Some small bits of it — and other Parthenon sculptures — are in other European museums.

By DANICA KIRKA

Royal Fans Give London Tourism A Bump Amid UK Economic Woes

LONDON (AP) — Royal fans have poured into the heart of London to experience the flag-lined roads, pomp-filled processions and, above all, brave a mileslong line for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to bid adieu to Queen Elizabeth II, who died after an unprecedented seven decades on the throne. And while they’re here, they’re packing hotels, restaurants and shops.

Visitors crowding into central London from as far away as the U.S. and India for the historic moment are giving a boost to businesses at a time when the British economy is facing a cost-of-living crisis fueled by the highest inflation in four decades and predictions of a looming recession.

“This is the history, you know, this happens once in the lifetime,” said Kanakkantt Benedict, who was visiting from India with his wife and filed past the queen’s flag-draped coffin this week. “So we became a part of it.”

The pomp and pageantry leading up to the funeral for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch underscored the royal family’s power as a global attraction, from an elaborate military procession for her crown-topped coffin drawing live viewers around the world to piles of flowers filling up Green Park near Buckingham Palace and gift shops hastily churning out souvenirs commemorating the queen’s life as people clamor for mementos.

Hundreds of thousands are expected to pay tribute to the queen in the four days that her body lies in state ahead of her state funeral Monday, pushing up demand for hotel rooms in central London that in some cases have doubled in price.

Hundreds of world leaders, from U.S. President Joe Biden to Japan’s emperor and empress, plus their entourages need places to stay as they arrive for the queen’s funeral. So do police officers coming from around Britain to help with security.

Occupancy levels could reach an all-time high of 95%, according to London-based group-booking platform Hotelplanner.com.

“That’s not surprising when you consider that the eyes of the world really are on the capital and the media, dignitaries and members of the public, just like myself, who just want to be part of such a historic occasion,” said Thomas Emanuel, senior director of hotel analytics firm STR.

All 35 rooms at the two-star Corbigoe Hotel in London’s Victoria neighborhood, near Buckingham Palace, were booked, duty manager Riaz Badar said.

“Nowadays, rooms are full in this area, not only in our hotel but around all the hotels in this area,” Badar said.

On the Thames, the Riverside Cafe that’s next to the mileslong, round-the-clock line for people to get a glimpse of the queen’s coffin, has been “extremely busy,” manager Zab Istanik said. He’s been opening two hours earlier than normal, at 7 a.m.

“We were busy like this when the Queen Mum passed away in 2002. But it wasn’t as busy as it is ... this week,” Istanik said.

Also on the route, Jason Rich’s food stall, Fed By Plants, was doing brisk business selling lentil burgers.

“It’s a long queue,” Rich said. “So definitely it had a good boost on the business.”

The U.K. was already an attractive place to visit as demand rebounds for international travel since the COVID-19 pandemic and the weakened pound, especially for American visitors, makes transatlantic travel more affordable.

University professor Chad Broughton, 51, who was visiting London from Chicago with two friends after a long pandemic delay, said their hotel room in the tourist-heavy Covent Garden neighborhood was pricey at 400 pounds ($456) a night.

But the trip to London was unique. “Seeing all these people queued up, seeing the reaction on BBC and just feeling this, you get a sense of how important it is to the people here,” he said.

Plus, costs were offset by the currency’s fall, friend Josh Walsman said.

“We’ve found everything to be a pretty surprising value,” Walsman, 51-year-old musician, said as they walked by Westminster Hall, where mourners inside paid homage to the queen and tourists outside snapped photos on streets closed to traffic.

Walsman said they went to a Champions League soccer match, had tickets for a play and a dinner reservation at the upscale Cinnamon Club Indian restaurant.

“We’ve been mostly spending our money at pubs,” he said. “The conversion rate has meant that each time a bill comes, it’s like, ‘Oh, I thought it was about 30% more.’”

The pound briefly slumped to a 37-year low against the dollar on Friday after U.K. retail sales volumes slid more than expected in August — a fresh sign of economic weakness.

The British economy is reeling from rising energy prices spurred by Russia’s war in Ukraine, driving the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. The government said it will cap energy bills for households and businesses, but prices are still painfully high. Inflation is the highest in the Group of Seven economies, at 9.9%.

With that backdrop, the money being spent by visitors offered a glimmer of hope.

“Speaking to our hospitality sector, not just our hotels, but restaurants, bars and pubs, they’ve had an awful three years because of this pandemic,” London Mayor Sadiq Khan said.

Budget hotel operator Travelodge said it’s ordered extra breakfast supplies for its 78 London hotels for Monday, saying it expects many mourners to start their day with a “traditional full English” breakfast. Pub chain JD Wetherspoon says it will keep its pubs in central London open Monday during the queen’s funeral.

Some analysts predicted the overall economic boost for the U.K. from the royal mourning period would be limited. That’s because it would be offset by supermarkets, retailers, hardware stores and other businesses closing for the funeral Monday, which has been made a public holiday.

However, renewed interest in the royal family could give an extended boost to the travel and tourism industry, said Tim Hentschel, co-founder and CEO of Hotelplanner.com.

“Yes, short term, the bank holiday will probably cut down productivity a little bit,” Hentschel said. But “the overall momentum that the U.K. is going to gain from all the tourism that’s going to flock here over the next few days and then over the next few months will far outweigh” the short-term loss.

Notting Hill Carnival Returns To London Streets After Hiatus

The annual Notting Hill Carnival has returned to the streets of London for the first time since 2019, with more than 1 million people expected to take in the music, spectacular parades, dancing and food offerings at Europe’s largest street party on Sunday and Monday.

The carnival, which celebrates Caribbean culture at the end of August every year, had to take place online for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The carnival traces its history back to 1958, when Trinidadian human rights activist Claudia Jones began organizing a gathering to unify the community after a series of racially motivated attacks on West Indians in west London’s Notting Hill neighborhood.

The event has grown from a festival drawing several hundred people to a huge annual street party, with tens of thousands of performers in the parade and more than 30 sound systems.

Celebrations began on Saturday night, as more than 1,000 people gathered to watch a steel band competition in west London.

Pepe Francis heads the Ebony Steelband Trust, which has been performing at the carnival for decades.

“Since the band has started, I’m on my fifth generation of people and there’s been a lot of changes,” he said. “But our members look forward to carnival every year and practice takes place regularly from year to year.”

“A lot of people have been waiting for it to come back,” Francis added.

Travelore News: London’s Tube Lines Hit By Strike, Day After Rail Walkout

LONDON (AP) — A strike by London Underground workers brought the British capital’s transit network to a grinding halt on Friday, a day after a nationwide walkout by railway staff. Another rail strike is scheduled for Saturday as the U.K. endures a summer of action by workers demanding pay increases to offset soaring food and energy price hikes.

No subway trains were running on most of London’s Tube lines because of the strike over jobs, pay and pensions by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, operator Transport for London said.

“It is going to be a difficult day,” said Nick Dent, TFL’s director of customer operations. “We’re advising customers not to travel on the Tube at all.”

There was also continuing disruption above ground as trains started to run again following Thursday’s strike by thousands of railway cleaners, signalers, maintenance workers and other staff. Only about a fifth of trains ran during the 24-hour walkout, the latest in a series of strikes on Britain’s railways.

“We’re very sorry that people are inconvenienced,” said RMT union General Secretary Mick Lynch. “We’re ordinary men and women that want to do our jobs and provide a service, but when you’re being cut to pieces by an employer, and by the government, you’ve got to make a stand.”

Transit unions accuse Britain’s Conservative government of preventing train companies — which are privately owned but heavily regulated — from making a better offer. The government denies meddling, but says rail companies need to cut costs and staffing after two years in which emergency government funding kept them afloat.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told Times Radio that “it’s a kick in the teeth” to the public for unions “to turn round after we provided 16 billion pounds of support for the railways and go ‘Right, well, the next thing we’re going to do is go on strike.’”

More public- and private-sector unions are planning strikes as Britain faces its worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. Postal workers, lawyers, British Telecom staff and port workers have all announced walkouts for later this month.

Garbage collectors and recycling workers in Edinburgh, Scotland, began an 11-day strike on Thursday, warning that trash will pile up in the streets as tourists flock to the city for the Edinburgh Fringe and other arts festivals.

U.K. inflation hit a new 40-year high of 10.1% in July, and the Bank of England says it could rise to 13% amid a recession later this year. The average U.K. household fuel bill has risen more than 50% so far in 2022 as Russia’s war in Ukraine squeezes global oil and natural gas supplies. Another increase is due in October, when the average bill is forecast to hit 3,500 pounds ($4,300) a year.

Travelore News: New UK Rail Strike Brings Train Services To A Crawl

Britain’s railway network ground to a crawl on Wednesday after 40,000 staff walked off the job in a dispute over jobs, pay and working conditions. Train companies said only about a fifth of services across the country were due to run.

The 24-hour strike by cleaners, signalers, maintenance workers and station staff comes a month after the country’s most disruptive rail walkout in three decades brought trains to a halt across the U.K at the start of the summer holiday season.

The dispute centers on pay, working conditions and job security as Britain’s railways struggle to adapt to travel and commuting habits changed — perhaps forever — by the coronavirus pandemic. There were almost 1 billion train journeys in the U.K. in the year to March, compared to 1.7 billion in the 12 months before the pandemic, and rail companies are looking to cut costs and staffing after two years in which emergency government funding kept them afloat.

Negotiations aimed at resolving the dispute are deadlocked. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers says employers’ latest pay offer falls short amid soaring inflation — currently at 9.4% — and the worst cost of living crisis in decades.

It accuses the Conservative government of preventing train companies from making a better offer. The government says it is not directly involved in the dispute pitting the union against privately owned train-operating companies and the government-operated Network Rail infrastructure firm.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the union “will continue to negotiate in good faith, but we will not be bullied or cajoled by anyone.”

“The government need to stop their interference in this dispute so the rail employers can come to a negotiated settlement with us,” he said.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps accused union leaders of “trying to cause as much disruption as possible to the day-to-day lives of millions of hardworking people around the country.”

He said the strike had been “cynically timed” to disrupt a semi-final of the European women’s soccer tournament on Wednesday in Milton Keynes, north of London, and the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Thursday.

The union staged three one-day strikes last month that stopped services across much of the country.

More strikes are planned for Saturday, when train drivers are set to walk out, and on three days in August.

It’s turning out to be a summer of travel disruption, in Britain and around the world. Air travelers in many countries are facing delays and disruption as airports struggle to cope with staff shortages and skyrocketing demand for flights after two pandemic-hit years.

Truck drivers and Britons heading off on holiday by ferry faced hours-long waits at the port of Dover over the weekend amid delays caused by Brexit and a shortage of French border officials.

Britain’s Conservative government has put blame for the rail strikes squarely on the union, and has changed the law to make it easier for employers to recruit contract staff to do strikers’ jobs.

Polls suggest public opinion is split, with many people expressing sympathy for the rail workers.

“The workers have a right to strike,” said commuter Fabrice Kabamba at London’s Waterloo station. “As an employee myself, struggling to pay bills, I can sympathize with them.”

By JILL LAWLESS

UK To Host 2023 Eurovision After Ukraine Ruled Too Risky

Next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be staged in Britain, organizers announced Monday, after concluding it is too risky to hold the much-loved pop extravaganza in the designated host country, Ukraine.

The U.K. said the 2023 event would be a celebration of Ukrainian culture and creativity.

Ukraine won the right to host the glitzy pan-continental music competition when its entry, from the folk-rap ensemble Kalush Orchestra, won this year’s contest in May. Britain’s Sam Ryder was second.

The European Broadcasting Union, which runs Eurovision, said it had concluded that “regrettably, next year’s event could not be held in Ukraine for safety and security reasons.” It said Britain’s BBC had agreed to broadcast the show on behalf of Ukrainian broadcaster UA:PBC.

“The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest will not be in Ukraine but in support of Ukraine,” said Mykola Chernotytskyi, head of the managing board of UA:PBC. “We are grateful to our BBC partners for showing solidarity with us.”

The fate of the 2023 contest had featured in talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Johnson said the two had agreed that “wherever Eurovision 2023 is held, it must celebrate the country and people of Ukraine.”

“As we are now hosts, the U.K. will honor that pledge directly — and put on a fantastic contest on behalf of our Ukrainian friends,” Johnson said.

Ukraine has won the contest three times and hosted Eurovision in 2005 and 2017. The competition has been held in Britain eight times, most recently in 1998, the year after the U.K. last won.

The BBC said bidding to be the host city for the 2023 contest will open next week. London, Manchester and Sheffield all said Monday that they would apply.

Founded in 1956 to help unite a continent scarred by World War II, Eurovision has grown to include more than 40 countries, including non-European nations such as Israel and Australia.

Organizers strive to keep pop and politics apart — banning overtly political symbols and lyrics — but global tensions have often imposed themselves on the contest. Russia was kicked out of this year’s competition because of its invasion of Ukraine in February.

By JILL LAWLESS

Colorful Pageant, Street Fests Cap Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

LONDON (AP) — A colorful street pageant celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s life and highlighting Britain’s diversity paraded through central London on Sunday, the final day of a long holiday weekend honoring the monarch’s 70 years on the throne. Royal fans were hoping to see another glimpse of the 96-year-old queen later at Buckingham Palace, where the parade ends.

With the ringing of bells at Westminster Abbey, a spectacular military parade featuring 200 horses began the ceremony as they marched down the Mall to Buckingham Palace. They flanked the gold state coach, a gilded carriage that transported the queen to her coronation 69 years ago.

The queen wasn’t taking part in the pageant — though a virtual version of her, drawn from archival video from her 1953 coronation, was shown at the coach’s windows.

Some 6,000 performers were parading along a three-kilometer (nearly two-mile) route lined with a sea of Union flags, telling the story of the queen’s life with dance, vintage cars, vibrant costumes, carnival music and giant puppets.

Some of Britain’s best-loved cultural exports were here, from the Daleks in “Doctor Who” to James Bond’s Aston Martins. Celebrities including singer Cliff Richard danced and sang from open-top double decker buses meant to represent the sights and sounds of each decade from the 1950s onwards.

Organizers say the pageant is expected to be watched by 1 billion people around the world.

The keenest royal fans braved the wet, chilly weather and camped out on the Mall overnight to secure the best view of the pageant. Some came for the celebrities who will be performing, while others wanted to be part of a historical moment.

“It’s part of history, it’s never going to happen again. It’s something special, so if you are going to do it you’ve got to go big or go home,” said Shaun Wallen, 50.

The queen did not join her family in the royal box watching the pageant. Nor did Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, who made their first family trip to the U.K. since they stepped away from royal duties and moved to the U.S. in 2020. The couple has largely stayed out of the limelight during the Platinum Jubilee events.

The monarch hasn’t appeared in public for the Platinum Jubilee events since Thursday, when she smiled and waved on Buckingham Palace’s balcony with her family. She has limited her appearances in recent months due to what the palace describes as “episodic mobility issues.” She also had COVID-19 this spring.

Still, she delighted the country when she appeared in a surprise comedy video that opened a concert Saturday staged in front of Buckingham Palace. In the video, the monarch had tea with a computer-animated Paddington Bear — and revealed that, just like the furry character, she was partial to marmalade sandwiches and liked to keep them in her handbag.

Diana Ross and the rock band Queen headlined the star-studded tribute concert Saturday night, which also featured Rod Stewart, Duran Duran, Alicia Keys and Andrea Bocelli.

The celebrities paid tribute to the queen’s decades of service to the U.K. and the Commonwealth. Prince Charles, her eldest son and heir to the throne, highlighted his mother’s role as a symbol of unity and stability through the decades.

Addressing the queen as “Your Majesty, mummy,” Charles said: “You laugh and cry with us and, most importantly, you have been there for us for these 70 years.”

On Sunday, Charles and his wife, Camilla, mingled with crowds at The Oval cricket ground in London for a “Big Jubilee Lunch.” Millions across the country likewise set out long tables, balloons and picnic fare for similar patriotic street parties and barbeques.

Later Sunday, celebrities including singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran will belt out “God Save The Queen” outside Buckingham Palace as a finale to the pageant. Many hope that the monarch will make a second balcony appearance to cap the weekend of celebrations.

Years Late, London’s ‘Game-Changer’ Subway Line Set To Open

LONDON (AP) — Andy Byford points out the cathedral-like ceiling, the crystal-clear acoustics, the “pureness of the aesthetic” that surrounds him.

The head of London’s public transport system is rhapsodizing about a subway station — part of a new line he says will be “the envy of the world” when it opens this month.

“It really gives people a sense of grandeur, but there is also a sense of calm,” said Byford as he showed journalists around Liverpool Street Station on London’s gleaming new east-west Elizabeth Line, due to open on May 24.

The 19 billion-pound ($23 billion) mixed overground and underground railway, named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, is three-and-a-half years late and 4 billion pounds ($5 billion) over budget. But Byford says it will be “a game-changer” for Britain’s pandemic-scarred capital city.

“I think when it opens it is going to be a huge morale boost for London, post-COVID,” said Byford, who is commissioner of Transport for London. “What could be a greater symbol of London’s emergence from COVID than this spectacular railway?”

Yet there’s a question mark over whether London still needs the Elizabeth Line.

Since ground was first broken on the project — also known as Crossrail — in 2009, London has been through recession, a rocky British exit from the European Union and a coronavirus pandemic that shut down the city for months and transformed work and travel patterns, potentially for good.

Tony Travers, a professor of government at the London School of Economics, said the Elizabeth Line “is a remarkable and beautiful thing.”

“But it was built — after a lot of effort and over a very long period of time — for a different economy,” he said. “Its entire economic case was very heavily predicated on the continued growth of the economy of central London.”

Britain’s biggest infrastructure project for decades, the new line involved digging 26 miles (42 kilometers) of new tunnels under Europe’s biggest city — uncovering 68,000-year-old mammoth bones, Roman ruins and the skeletons of medieval plague victims along the way.

It was scheduled to open in late 2018. But with just months to go the launch was postponed, and then postponed again as workers struggled to finish 10 new stations and link up three separate signalling systems on the western, central and eastern stretches of the 60-mile (100-kilometer) railway.

In 2020, the builders turned to Byford, a veteran public transport executive who ran the Toronto Transit Commission and then the transit authority in New York, where he was nicknamed “Train Daddy” as he grappled with the Big Apple’s often frustrating subway and bus systems.

Byford has staked his reputation on getting the Elizabeth Line up and running.

“It’s had its challenges,” he acknowledged. “This has been a labor of love for us. We’ve sweated blood over this thing.”

The largely underground central section from Paddington Station in west London to Abbey Wood in the southeast opens to paying customers this month, days before the U.K. celebrates the queen’s Platinum Jubilee, though it won’t be fully integrated with the aboveground eastern and western legs until the fall.

Builders say the Elizabeth Line will provide a speedy new link between Heathrow Airport west of London, the City financial district in the center and the Canary Wharf business hub in the east.

For anyone who has ridden London’s cramped Underground, parts of which are more than 150 years old, the scale of the new line is a pleasant shock. The spacious trains can carry more than 1,000 passengers each. They are also air conditioned, something that’s a rarity on London’s sweaty Tube. The tunnels seem to curve on forever and the stations soar — Paddington is 10 stories high and as long as the Shard, London’s tallest skyscraper.

Crossrail’s builders are proud of the attention to detail, from the purple patterned fabric on the train seats to the playful station design touches, like a ceiling of Liverpool Street Station in the City that is striped to evoke a banker’s pinstriped suit. Lighting is cool in the concourse, warm on the platforms — a “nudge” to subtly encourage people towards the trains.

The Elizabeth Line opens in a city, and country, facing economic uncertainty, with the war in Ukraine fueling record inflation and the city center still quieter than before the pandemic as many officers work at least part time from home. The line’s expected ridership has been scaled back from a predicted 250 million people a year before the pandemic, to about 200 million a year.

The transit network, London’s circulatory system, needs even more investment. But Britain’s Conservative government is focused on spreading economic opportunity from the wealthy south of England to the poorer Midlands and north, and is reluctant to spend money on the capital city — especially since London is a stronghold of the opposition Labour Party.

A planned Crossrail 2 that would slice through London from southwest to northeast is on hold, though Crossrail chief executive Mark Wild hopes it will be completed one day.

He is certain the new line will help get London back on track.

“If there’s ever going to be a railway that’s pandemic-proof, it’s this one,” Wild said. “It’s airy, fast, the stations are cathedral-like, the air’s fresh. It’s modern, clean. If there’s ever a railway that can stimulate a return to the office, it’s going to be this one.”