Blog

October 2019 calls out to one of the most awaited events in London! The 63rd BFI London Film Festival - the biggest celebration of international cinema for the past year. The programme is a combination of the most versatile films, finely selected from the Cannes and other major festivals and prestige awards contenders from the famous US Studios.

Opening the festival is Armando Iannucci’s ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ starring Dev Patel, Ben Wishaw and Nikki Amuka-Bird.

In its 11th year, The London Restaurant Festival is back with the best chefs, restaurants and experiences for everyone! A meticulous line-up of mini menus, food events, tasting evenings and more - involving hundreds of the capital's best venues. Book exclusive (and keenly priced) 'Festival Menus' at the likes of Cinnamon Club, Helix at The Gherkin and Oxo Tower Restaurant. The 'Side Orders' schedule of events includes a Trainspotters film and food pairing screenings, a cocktail masterclass with Rake’s, and the ever-popular restaurant-hopping tours are back! Allowing you to eat your way around a four-hour restaurant crawl. 

Regent Street’s Motor Show returns on 2^nd November – the largest free motor show in the UK. Showcasing 125 years of motoring history, get up close to veteran, vintage, modern and even futuristic cars!

The London Photograph Fair returns to Marylebone on Saturday 5^th and Sunday 6^th October. Originally started in 1982, it has become London’s go-to marketplace for vintage photographs, photobooks and albums, showcasing classic photographs from 1840 to 2000.

Theatre-lovers may be mourning the end of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, but lucky Londoners have the chance to see the best of the summer’s shows. While the Fringe is crammed with shows of every calibre, only a very select few transfer to the capital, so you’re guaranteed exceptional quality.

Summer Streets is back! Head down to Regent Street on 18th August or 15th September for a traffic-free festival along this iconic shopping street in the heart of London. This year’s celebrations are particularly monumental because 2019 marks Regent Street’s 200th anniversary: established in 1819 as the first purpose-built shopping street in the capital, Regent Street is now synonymous with London and a world-renowned shopping and dining destination.

Grab your crew and enjoy a sustainable hemp picnic cruise along London’s canals this Summer.

Book a night stay at Mercure London Paddington now, just moments away from the Hemp Boatanical Experience.

Summertime is gig time! People from all over the city look for new things to do and see. Chilling at the park, going to summer markets, digging into new cafes and restaurants is what we all wait for through the year. 

Thankfully, The London Busking Company has decided to pour us in with free gigs as part of the Summer of Fun Programme of events! The gorgeous Lucy May Walker will be performing at the Floating Pocket Park at the beautiful outdoor venue where deckchairs and blankets will be provided for you to have a comfortable experience. 

The London Craft Beer Festival is back for its seventh year, and 2019 promises to be the best yet. Moving to the larger, trendy location of Tobacco Dock, this year’s festival boasts the biggest line up of breweries to date, making it summer’s unmissable beer event!

ANNUAL CHARITY REGATTA RETURNS FOR TWELFTH YEAR

July 2019: The annual COSMIC Dragon Boat Race will return to the Regent’s Canal for its twelfth year. The first starting pistol will sound at 17:00 on Thursday 25th July at St. Mary’s Bridge where traditional Chinese Dragon Boats will race for 100 metres until the finish line at Paddington Basin.

Enjoy the race and retire to Mercure London Paddington just moments away from the race, Book a night stay now.

PADDINGTON COVERS 2019

Book your tickets now for Paddington Covers 2019, grab your friends and family and get ready to party in the sunshine.

The 2019 line up

Friday 28 June Stevie Wonder, Bon Jovi, Madonna and The Rolling Stones

Friday 26 July Dolly Parton, Elvis, Adele and ABBA

Friday 30 August Bryan Adams, Take That, Ed Sheeren and Queen

BOOK a night stay at Mercure London Paddington to take advantage of all the action. 

For the last 10 years, Paddington Basin Canal has been home to the summer Dragon Boat Race. Once again this year, on Thursday 25^th July, fearless crews will take to the water to compete to be awarded Fastest Team, Runner-Up Team, and the highly coveted Best Dressed Team – all in aid of local charity COSMIC, Children of St Mary’s Intensive Care, which overlooks Paddington Basin.