Your cultural life in London

To encourage me to engage more: combined events such as music, art, street food and entertainment with lots of choice in areas that are well served by transport links.  Events in areas that span a larger area e.g. a mix of outside and indoor spaces so they are not overcrowded and encourage walking.  Events being run over a longer period to give more scope to plan attendance.  

I wish there were more outdoor concerts and music events in my area and also free art installations to view.  I usually find out about events from family and friends or news items on the TV.

My best experience has been visiting outdoor art installations and gallery exhibitions e.g. Antony Gormley at the White Cube in Bermondsey.  Because they represent good value for money, are easy to get to and encourage taking in historical sites and particularly architecture in and around London. 

Resident discounts would be really appreciated! Whether it's things within your own borough or all London boroughs. Or separate discounts for each.  

I think attending sports as a spectator should be included. It's a huge part of our culture. 

I think for many the barrier is the astronomical prices charged by many of the bigger venues while smaller, quirkier venues struggle to find funding. Even going to a local lido for a swim ( for example) for a family of 4 takes a serious chunk of money - never mind going to a theatre or whatever. 

One thing I love is the rise in museum and gallery lates we need more of these but obviously without the proper support of more transport, and paying workers a fair wage for working in evenings during the weekday. Othe wise visiting these places on the weekend is hell because of all the tourists. Also supporting the establishment of more local cultural hubs and venues. 

The cost of west end plays and musicals are astronomical especially if the lead actor is a celebrity. In addition a certain section of the stalls is now labelled as premium seats. Even tickets for The National Theatre have increased significantly. I can imagine costs are prohibitive.

It's now impossible for the vast majority of First language English speaking people to affordably rent or buy a home in Central or Suburban London.  Over the last Twenty years They have been forced out, their homes sold off to privatisation.  There are no longer any REAL Community Vibes in places like Notting Hill, West Kensington, Ladbroke Grove, Brixton.  Residents were once able to attend social and cultural events when the transport system wasn't great.  They shared cars and could afford to park them;  try doing that now.  So many larger Venues have been closed down due to extortionate rents; the same for the smaller REAL Community venues.  The talk of diversity is a facade, as is the talk of Community.  

City Hall needs to address the bigger problem of extortionate rents by excitable private landlords.  Landlords excited by the prospects of huge profits for basic flats and houses in central, urban and the suburbs and extending into the metropolitan areas.  

Why would a social event take priority over finding the money to pay for food and electric and gas and council tax when so many are on basic wages? 

Why would a cultural event encourage a single mother to participate when she is forced to stay on welfare because she wouldn't be able to afford official childcare were she to land a job?  

London is losing the vibrancy of young performers, artists and writers because they cannot afford to live here.  The effect is not immediate because there is considerable creative capital built up, but it is not being replenished; people are moving away or not coming to London, however much they would like to.  

A failure to invest in the arts now means London will be missing out on developments in 10 or 20 years' time.  This is not only a matter of missing out on culture, a failure to invest in accommodation and rehearsal spaces threatens the growth potential of immensely lucrative industries for our national economy:  in TV and film, gaming and the theatre.

Life is hard work, but without enjoyment it is nothong. I was never privileged to access Arts when young, but culture and community were just part of a healthy and balanced life. To now experience Art in all it's forms, to see new, different and experimental art, to see great classics for free or having made a small donation (always do when you can afford a £1 or more!) is such an opportunity. I spend my life ensuring that everyone who visits me gets a chance to see one of the galleries and / or museums.

Doesn't the term 'cultural' in these promotions and advertising of 'cultural events' predominantly refer to all cultures other than 'English' or British (England, Scotland, Wales, N.Ireland)?   

I work in a cultural venue but ironically rarely engage in them because I don't have much time to go to them, they don't tend to be open in the evenings after work and I don't like travelling into central London at the weekends, or I have other things on. I have missed the last couple of exhibitions at my institution because I haven't had time to go!

usually find out out about events from specific gallery/museum/venue websites and other general what's on type websites (e.g. Ianvisits, the Londonist, Eventbrite);

I'm probably more likely to go to an event if I know it's not going to be too busy or if numbers are capped to a bearable number depending on venue  size/capacity. I've found that even with a specific timed ticket my experience at exhibitions has often been spoiled by crowds of people in a small space.  

Also enjoy going to the British Museum - always something to see / do outside of the 'pay to see' special exhibitions. 

The most moving and memorable sights I've seen relate to the commemoration events for the Centenary of the First world War: Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red aka the Poppies at the Tower (Paul Cummins/Tom Piper); the Shrouds of the Somme (Rob Heard) at QEII Park and We're Here Because We're Here (Jeremy Deller) which was across the country not just London.  

There is insufficient support for music that's outside the mainstream. Lots of classical/opera/theatre/fine art/museums but minimal support for Folk, Jazz, blues, roots music etc.  These use grassroots venues and the artists in those genres need more support

I think Londoners who pay their rates here should be able to enter many of the venues either free or at a reduced cost.

When I go abroad, I have to pay for everything yet quite often locals are allowed in either free or for a small amount. There is no reason that non-Londoners should be able to visit our museums and galleries for nothing, this doesn’t happen to me when I go to other towns and countries, I nearly always have to pay for a ticket.  We should have something like a London pass where Londoners  get a vastly reduced entrance fee. 

We are lucky to be retired and well off enough to enjoy London’s cultural life but I think prices probably put many off. Recently we enjoyed the musical production “Standing at the Sky's Edge” and I was pleased to see a bus party of London school students attend. We need to open the Arts more to the young and the socially deprived. 

For the large well publicised events it is easy to find information. For the smaller or local events it is difficult in many instances to actually find out what is going ,where it is, how to get there and back  and how much it costs.  They tend not to be publicised all over London and even local events are difficult to find details about the event itself. There is also the continuing struggle regarding the closing of many live event venues and the cost of attending and/or hospitality. Public transport outside the centre of London tends to shut down after 11pm making it expensive to return to your base as you have limited alternatives.

I agree with Vincent 1234. I was recently in Venice, queued for 15minutes to enter St. Mark's Basilica and it cost 3 euros (5 extra if you wanted to see the jewelled altar cloth). I would like to visit Westminster Abbey again but I think costs for Londoners are prohibitive. I also went to the British museum this Monday - at least they do half price exhibition Monday afternoons for the over 60s- and found that to get in via the front entrance you needed a ticket, even the free one, or else go to the back entrance. I don't book in advance unless I need to and the exhibition on the Romans had plenty of access once in. Londoners are widely spread and the cost of travel coupled with the cost of getting into various places and eating puts people off. There is also not enough info on museums etc in other parts of London, Not everyone is on social media or on their computer all day. BBC London News also often tells you about events etc just when they are about to end!!

Architecture and religion are very important to me, but I deeply resent having to pay so much to enter St Paul's or Westminster Abbey. As a result, I (sadly) never visit either. I recognise the need for these locations to raise funds, but I feel strongly that, as a Londoner, I should be given cheaper (ideally free) access to both.