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[title]Between August 20-25, it couldn’t be easier to get a free culture fix – and a feel good pick-me-up – in central London. Simply head to the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain at Piccadilly Circus and take in the newest work by artist Yinka Ilori MBE, presented by Art of London.
Titled ‘Good Things Come to Those Who Wait’, the artwork features two winged horses on plinths, towering a staggering 23 feet in the air. It’s inspired by Pegasus in Greek mythology, and hopes to encourage West End visitors to believe in their ability to make the seemingly impossible possible – which is a theme central to Ilori’s work at large.
The installation will mark the first time in 132 years that the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain has featured new sculptures, and it’ll have to be seen to be believed. The two Pegasus-esque figures appear primed for flight, and stand atop colossal neon orange plinths emblazoned with powerful affirmations.
See this phenomenal piece for yourself – and look out for exclusive colouring sheet giveaways, social media vox pops and more as you visit. While you’re at the fountain, too, don’t forget to explore the brilliant West End area, too. Here are some of our favourite things to do nearby:
See incredible paintings inspired by Greek mythology
If ‘Good Things Come to Those Who Wait’ gives you a taste for art inspired by ancient Greece, you’re in luck – the surrounding area is full of much more, as the Royal Academy and the National Gallery all house incredible examples of this type of work. Highlights include a plaster cast of the ‘Venus de Milo’ and ‘Laocoön and his Sons’, as well as John Flaxman’s stunning ‘Apollo and Marpessa’ sculpture at the Royal Academy, and the Venetian Renaissance figurehead Titian’s soft, breathtaking depictions of mythological scenes at the National Gallery, alongside Turner’s instantly recognisable ‘Ulysses deriding Polyphemus - Homer’s Odyssey’.
Satisfy yourself with a bite to eat
All the world is contained in the Heart of London and nowhere is that more obvious than in its fabulous selection of eateries. For brilliant Indian fare, Piccadilly’s Masala Zone is the obvious choice, while if it’s a Bavarian-style knees up on Shaftesbury Avenue you crave (who doesn’t?), you’ll want to head straight to Albert’s Schloss for schnitzel, sausages and steins. Instagrammers will love the pink-themed St. Martin’s Lane café EllaMia, while those in a hurry can try a grab-and-go bite from Empanada Circle on New Row – much better than a packet sandwich. And if you do happen to find yourself bewitched by the mythological art at the National Gallery, head next door to the National Portrait Gallery and take a load off with a drink and a snack at one of its cafés – there’s The Portrait Pavilion, or, to take things up a notch, the Breakfast at Tiffany’s-themed afternoon tea at Larry's.
Catch a world-beating West End show
Of course, you can’t talk about central London without mentioning West End theatre. If the artwork has you wanting to continue on a mythology-inspired journey, check out the fantastic ‘Hadestown’ at the Lyric Theatre. Featuring songs and lyrics by American musician Anaïs Mitchell, the show movingly retells the ancient Greek story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Elsewhere, head to the (appropriately named as its name derives from Greek) Criterion Theatre. Here, catch the smash it ‘Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)’. Or, if you’ve got younger theatre-goers to think of, try out ‘The Tiger Who Came To Tea’ at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
Learn more about ‘Good Things Come To Those Who Wait’, at Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain from August 20-25 and visit the Art of London website to discover more great things to do in the West End this summer.
