New Openings in London in 2014

    LONDON, ENGLAND, January 20, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A new indoor theatre at Shakespeare's Globe, the British Museum's GBP135 million extension, and Heston Blumenthal's new restaurant at the brand new GBP2.5 billion Heathrow Terminal 2 are just some of the exciting new venues to launch in London in 2014. To be among the first to experience London's brand new attractions, book one of the many London hotels on offer and stay in the city overnight.

Shakespeare's Globe welcomed in the New Year with the opening of its indoor candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, a 350-seat theatre named after its founder, on 9th January 2014. Opened in the year of Shakespeare's 450th birthday, the GBP7.5 million theatre launches with a programme of Jacobean plays, opera, candlelit concerts and anarchic comedy.

Also in January, on Friday 17th, Brooklyn Bowl, the trendy New York bowling alley where you can bowl, eat and drink while listening to live music and DJs - Adele, Kanye West and Elvis Costello have all played at the NY branch - opens its first overseas location at London's O2.

In March 2014, the British Museum opens one of the largest redevelopment projects in the museum's 260 year history. Located in the north-west corner of the museum site, the GBP135 million World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre will house the museum's first purpose built temporary exhibition space - the Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour Partners - which launches on 6th March with an exhibition on the Vikings.

The legacy of the Olympics continues to be felt in 2014 as The Aquatics Centre opens on 1st March, Lee Valley VeloPark - which includes The Velodrome - opens on 23rd March, the south of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the ArcelorMittal Orbit open on 5th April, and the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre opens in May 2014.

One of the most hotly anticipated buildings in London and one of the most controversial is the 'Walkie-Talkie' in Fenchurch Street. Due to open in March 2014, the distinctive top heavy building designed by world-renowned architect Rafael Vinoly includes a free-to-access sky garden which span three floors and includes a restaurant and cafe on the top floor at level 37.

2014 is also a significant year for the Imperial War Museum which closes for the first six months and fully re-opens in summer 2014 unveiling its new First World War galleries to mark the 100 year anniversary of the start of the First World War. The renovations include a new atrium housing large objects, new shops and a park-side cafe as well as a major new First World War exhibition.

Autumn 2014 brings the big reveal of the GBP17.5 million development project at the Wellcome Collection by Stirling Prize-winning architects Wilkinson Eyre. And construction is also underway on Information Age, a new GBP15.6 million gallery at the Science Museum expected to open in September 2014 that sets out to be the world's foremost celebration of information and communication technologies.

Of the new London restaurants launching in the coming year, Simon Rogan's takeover of Claridge's restaurant in April 2014, and Jason Atherton's City Social in Tower 42 are among the most exciting. But before that there's the Martin Brudnizki-designed Holborn Dining Room at the new Rosewood London hotel on High Holborn, and Gordon Ramsay's London House restaurant in Battersea, both due to open in February 2014. Alan Yau's Chinese gastropub Duck & Rice on Soho's Berwick Street is another hotly anticipated new arrival. And in June 2014, Heston Blumenthal follows Gordon Ramsay's lead and sets up an airport restaurant at the brand new GBP2.5 billion Heathrow Terminal 2 which opens as The Queen's Terminal.

At the end of the year the National Theatre's renovated Cottesloe theatre will reopen as the Dorfman theatre with better sight lines and increased capacity allowing an extra 27,000 people each year can gain access to what are often sold-out performances.

For more information on these and other new openings in London go to LondonTown.com where a wide choice of London hotels to suit all budgets, information on restaurants, bars and cafes as well as all the major attractions is provided.

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