Benham and Reeves Residential Lettings

Historic ships have always occupied a fond place in the national consciousness which is to be expected when one considers the proud island heritage that Great Britain has. The tall and graceful lines of the Cutty Sark were up to five years ago, a potent symbol of this sailing prowess and entrepreneurial spirit that helped build a worldwide empire. However a disastrous fire almost wiped her out as it lay in its Greenwich dry dock and it was feared that she would be lost forever but thanks to public money, generous donations and a world-class renovation effort, the Cutty Sark has been restored to her former glory and is once again open to visitors.

Built in 1869 the Cutty Sark was what is known as a "tea clipper" which is the term used for the fast sailing ships that brought tea from China via the South African cape. She held many nautical speed records until a combination of the Suez Canal and steam ships rendered her obsolete. Notwithstanding, she remains a fine example of nineteenth century sailing achievement recognized by H.M The Queen when she presided over the reopening of the famous Greenwich site last month.

www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark

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Ballet Revolucion bring their incendiary form of dance fusion to Sadler's Wells' West End outpost and the director/choreography team of Aaron Cash and Roclan Gonzalez Chavez are determined not to let fans down. The music is full-on and the movement is full-bodied with the dancers being accompanied by a superb live band who play a blend of traditional Latin rhythms and global pop covers.

They show flashes of their classical training but otherwise treat the audience to a dazzling succession of shoulder snaps, body rolls, acrobatics and even martial arts. One cannot deny that Ballet Revolucion have come up with a winning formula in lending their distinctively Cuban flair and elasticity to a more internationally mainstream package and they come to the capital at exactly the right time as the winter blues become a distant memory.

www.sadlerswells.com/show/Ballet-Revolucion

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One could be forgiven for forming the opinion that the bestselling non-fiction book in British publishing history would be virtually unstagable owing to its ambitious scope and sheer length, yet it is a testimony to the ingenuity of Alexandra Wood's adaptation that it manages in 90 minutes to capture the very essence of Juang Chang's modern epic. The key to this success are the stunning visual backdrops which chart China's tumultuous march from peasantry to World economic power via the terror and exhilaration of Mao's "Great Leap Forward" experiment.

Wild Swans is Chang's autobiographical account of three generations of women, their struggles, love lives and ultimate survival in the face of the every type of oppression that the communist party can bring to bear. Thought provoking and at the same time uplifting, we are never allowed to lose sight of the human struggles that go hand in hand with national upheaval.

www.youngvic.org/

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Intense, funny, super smart and emotionally connected, Robbins comes across as a combination of best friend and ideal dinner party guest as for three and a half days in May, he offers to put his thirty years of experience as the world's foremost Peak Performance Coach at the disposal of eager Londoners. More than a life coach, more than a motivational speaker Anthony aims to increase business effectiveness, re-vitalise relationships and transform lives.

An enthusiastic proponent of Neuro Linguistic Programming, he has worked with everyone from sports stars to presidents and is renowned for enabling his listeners to harness the power of their minds in order to move forward and prosper. The event takes interactivity to a whole new level as Tony and his team encourage audience members to conquer their fears by walking on hot coals, but this is much more than a mere stunt, the idea being to shake up the thought processes in such a way that what is learned lingers long after this encounter with the "high priest of human potential".

www.anthonylive2012.com

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The month of May is a busy one for the headquarters of English football as it hosts a series of season-ending finals. The first Saturday of the month is the big one as Chelsea take on Liverpool in the final of the FA Cup and it will be up to the Londoners to keep the last piece of major silverware from heading north.

On subsequent weekends, Wembley becomes the epicentre of joy and heartbreak as various teams from the lower leagues battle for places at the Premiership high table. Fans from all over the country, who would normally only see the national stadium on television, pour into this corner of Northwest London in order to cheer their side on to glory. It's a fabulous day out for provincial supporters and shows that the game continues to flourish at grassroots level.

www.wembleystadium.com

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Andrew Lloyd Webber's exhilarating new production of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium is set to be a pure West End smash hit. It features the added romance of having in Danielle Hope a star who has been plucked from 9,000 other hopefuls live on TV via a much publicised talent contest and now sings and plays the iconic role of Dorothy made famous by Judy Garland in the 1939 film.

The familiar cast of Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, and Wicked Witch of the West are present and correct, as too is Toto the dog. However, the best 21st century effects money can buy sometimes steal the show, notably in the Tornado scene but with Michael Crawford starring as the Wizard, good old-fashioned star power will ensure a lengthy run is on the cards.

wizardofozlondon.co.uk/

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Located in the heart of London's financial district at 34 Threadneedle Street, the Mercer has a good, serious buzz set off by a sober, almost monochrome decor and a short but assuredly versatile menu.

The ambience is unmistakably 'City', as British as a Bulldog and you can expect snappy delivery of food and a happy set of wine options. The room has a vaguely pre-war Manhattan feel, with high ceilings, glossy black columns, big mirrors and hanging globe lights.

The tables are well spaced, the seating comfortable and the formally dressed waiters are friendly and knowledgeable – especially regarding the use of carefully sourced seasonal British produce. The Mercer was launched three years ago amidst the gathering clouds of the economic downturn but has gone from strength to strength by dint of getting the basics and their customer's requirements spot on.

www.themercer.co.uk/

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As a post-work, hair-down, ties-off socialising spot this watering hole fits the bill handily if a bit rowdily. The name suggests exclusivity, but The London Cocktail Club is open to all except the bland, the biased and the boring.

The music, consisting as it does of pumped up rock anthems is loud, extroverted and unashamedly cheesy with the energetic staff only too eager to encourage those customers wishing to sing along, punch the air or throw ill-advised dance shapes. However, when it comes to mixing cocktails, they apply a serious professionalism to an eclectically inspired drinks menu, the highlight of which has got to be the Bramley Apple Smash. This rustically themed beverage consists of gin, elderflower and apple, served imaginatively in a cloth-topped jam jar with a biscuit chaser and is well complemented by the various bar snacks and sharing platters on offer. Never has the combination of strong liquor and informal karaoke been so charming and such fun.

www.londoncocktailclub.co.uk

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