the BRIT LIST WHAT TO DO • WHERE TO GO • WHAT TO BUY TREASURES FROM
AFGHANISTAN This breathtaking exhibition at the British Museum, on until 3 July, displays 200 precious and unique pieces on loan from the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kapul. It highlights the country’s rich cultural heritage as the “Crossroads of the Ancient World”. www.
britishmuseum.org
V I S IT THE HOU S ES OF PA R L I AME N T
THE FAN MUSEUM,
GREENWICH The Fan Museum in Greenwich, London, is one of a kind. Japanese fans for formal ceremonies, Spanish fans for late-night fiestas, and French fans for Regency flirtations –this museum has them all and more. The current exhibition (until 24 July) shows the tiniest details of everyday life on the delicate leaves of fans from around the world. The following exhibition, from 2 August until 13 November, showcases the work of French fan-maker extraordinaire Sylvain Le Guen, with his deft fusion of traditional techniques and contemporary fashion trends. The museum is also organising a rare workshop opportunity, where you can see the artist at work.
www.fan-museum.org
Olympic inspiration A sleepy market town near a stunning gorge is the spark behind 2012 games
Everyone knows that the Olympics began in Ancient Greece, but they’ve not run consistently ever since. In fact, between AD400 and the mid-19th century they did not exist at all. The first modern games were held in the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock in 1850, an idea dreamed up by the local surgeon to promote “moral, physical and intellectual improvement”. In 1866 a national event was held in London, and the first modern international games were held in 1896. In the run-up to the 2012 games, Much Wenlock will have Olympic- related events and exhibitions aplenty, but in the meantime it’s also celebrating nearby Ironbridge Gorge’s 25th anniversary as a World Heritage Site (pictured right). It’s an interesting place to visit, as in addition to its natural beauty, this region played a key role in the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century.
www.visitironbridge.co.uk
Booking for the guided tours of the Houses of Parliament in the summer is now open. The 75-minute ‘Blue Badge’ tours take you behind the scenes at one of the world’s most
instantly recognisable buildings.
WWW.PARLIAMENT.UK
www.britain-magazine.com
• If calling Britain from overseas, dial your international code, then 44, and drop the first zero
BRITAIN 43
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