Even though some people equate summer months with being the best time to visit London, it’s certainly not true this year. The famed city has an incredible lineup of events to close out the rest of the year and when we say incredible, we mean Benedict Cumberbatch onstage playing the title role in Hamlet. Aside from drooling over Cumberbatch, visitors can also check out Russian spacecraft artifacts at the Science Museum, get in touch with your violent side at the Museum of London’s The Crime Museum Uncovered exhibit, and check out some of Goya’s portraits. The roster of events is nearly endless, but we’ve selected our five must-see favorites to make it a little easier on you. You’re welcome.
Hamlet
Obviously, Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet is our top choice. The highly-anticipated play spans August 5-October 31 at the Barbican and as of publication, there are some scattered seats still available throughout its 12-week run. If you saw him on stage in Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein, you know what an amazing performance you have to look forward to. Don’t miss out.
Goya: The Portraits
On display at The National Gallery, Goya: The Portraits celebrates Francisco de Goya y Lucientes and his landmarks work. Considered to have redefined portraiture, over 50 pieces of the artist’s work are reappraised in the exhibit. Fans will also get a glimpse into his private life, from his beginnings at the court of Charles III in Madrid to his final days in France. The exhibition takes place October 7–January 10, 2016.
The Crime Museum Uncovered
Anyone who is fascinated by true crime TV shows will love this exhibit at the Museum of London, running October 9–April 10, 2016. For the first time, the Metropolitan Police’s Crime Museum will be showcasing never-before-seen items that were previously only viewed by police officials and invited guests. Established in 1875, the Crime Museum will feature objects from some seriously famous cases, like the Acid Bath Murderer of 1949, the Great Train Robbery of 1963, and the Millennium Dome Diamond Heist of 2000.
King and Country: Shakespeare’s Great Cycle of Kings
We may have already included Hamlet, but it would be a mistake not to point out The Royal Shakespeare Company’s upcoming celebration of Shakespeare’s 400th-year anniversary running November 7–January 24, 2016. In partnership with Barbican, RSC is showcasing the playwright’s greatest tetralogy of History plays: Richard II and Henry IV Parts I & II, and Henry V. The exciting part is that most of the original cast members are reprising their roles, most notably being David Tennant as the lead in Richard II.
Cosmonauts: Birth of the Space Age
Now that Pluto is back in the game, it is the perfect time to renew your appreciation for the cosmos. Held at the Science Museum September 18–March 13, 2016, the Cosmonauts showcase will include a collection of Russian spacecraft and artifacts that tell the story of how humankind started the space age. From the first Cosmist thinkers to predict mankind’s future in space to what it is like to actually live in space, this exhibit is a must-see for anyone interested in what lies beyond our atmosphere.
