On the 4th, 5th and 6th of June, Polo in the Park returns to its historic home at Hurlingham Park, in Fulham, where the game was first played in 1874. And there is fun to be had for everyone, with international matches for the sporty types, entertainment for the kids and even an after party organised by legendary Saint-Tropez club Nikki Beach for the glam set.

The first weekend of June sees the return of MINT Polo in the Park in Fulham, one year after the inaugural event sold out to 25,000 spectators as polo returned after 70 years to its historic home at Hurlingham Park, where the game was first played in 1874.

With eight global teams confirmed including London, New York, Buenos Aires, Paris, Geneva, Moscow, Durban and Sydney, Polo in the Park will bring the cream of the world’s professional polo talent to London.

However, Polo in the Park has adapted the rules of the game to introduce a new format of high-octane polo, with the aim of not only introducing the adrenaline fuelled sport to a new city audience, but also of making it faster and more exciting. read more

Built in 1995 in North West London, on the way to Wembley stadium, the beautiful BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (“temple”) appears despite its grey suburban surroundings as one of the most exotic destinations in London, and an architectural marvel definitely worth the visit. read more

Set in the most elegant hotel in London and designed by fashion supremo John Galliano, this has to be the most magnificent Christmas tree of the season: a good reason if needed to go to Claridge’s Arts Deco lobby and have a look at the result of this collaboration, a first in the Mayfair hotel’s 112-year history.

“I love to visit Claridge’s when I am in London, particularly at this time of the year, and I hope to bring a twist to the traditional tree, says the very talented John Galliano, creative director of Christian Dior since 1996. I want to combine the festive with the innovative, the spirit of Dior with the beauty of Claridge’s, and create something spectacular that will inspire the perfect start to the season!” And spectacular it is indeed, with sparkling painted paper leaves and elegant orchids in silver, white and blue, touches of crystal giving the impression of the tree being frozen and marvelous tropical creatures replacing the traditional baubles. Definitely worth the visit… read more

You might have read Keats poems or seen Bright Star, the latest film by Jane Campion which retraces his love affair with Fanny Brawne. So why not go and visit the house where he wrote his Ode to a Nightingale and fall in love with his muse, before dying of tuberculosis at the age of 25.

John Keats

Born in London in 1795, Keats is one of the key figures of the Romantic Movement, along with Lord Byron and Shelley, and remains one of the most popular poets in England. Despite being born in a rather modest family (his father was an ostler) and becoming an orphan at the age of 14, he put himself through medical school, while starting writing poems at the age of 19. He began to visit Wentworth Place -as the house was then known- in 1817, and then came to lodge in the smaller half of the house with his friend Charles Brown from 1818 to 1820. It was in the house that Keats met and fell in love with Fanny Brawne, his “bright star”, who lived in the bigger part of the house with her family and to whom he got engaged. This is also where, in 1819, he wrote some of his most famous poems, including La Belle Dame sans Merci, Ode on a Grecian Urn and Ode to a Nightingale. After contracting tuberculosis, Keats was nursed here by the Brawne family, but John and Fanny broke up their engagement as his health worsened. He left for Italy in 1820, as he was advised to seek warmer climates to try to cure his consumption. He died in Rome in 1821, aged 25, and was buried in the Rome protestant cemetery, under a tombstone bearing only the legend “Here lies One Whose Name was writ in Water”. read more

The Rolling Stones, The Clash, Santana, Pink Floyd, REM -and more recently Damon Albarn, Coldplay and Lily Allen- have all rehearsed or performed at “The Tab”, one of London’s most iconic arts and music venues. Built in 1888 as a church, it was turned in the 1970s into a community centre, thus becoming the heart of the Notting Hill carnival. After its recent refurbishment, this symbol of multicultural London offers the public a program including music, theatre, literature and exhibitions, as well as arts schools, children’s puppet shows and a bar and restaurant… and its famous Christmas Portobello Panto! read more

The global private members’ club and concierge service has taken over the historic house in 1 Greek Street to transform it into a stylish not-for-profit charitable members’ lounge and events place until the end of December.

Why go there?

Freemasons Hall, in between Holborn and Covent Garden, is one of the finest Arts Deco building in England. The headquarters of the United Grand Lodge in England, which were built between 1927 and 1932 as a memorial to the freemasons who died during World War II, are fully open to the public.

A few things to know about Freemasons Hall

Few Frenchmen in London know more about films than Julien Planté. The former head of Programmes at Ciné-Lumière in South Kensington has become Operations Director and Head of Programmes of Cinémoi, the first and only UK TV channel dedicated to French cinema, launched in London last January. Here, he presents his selection of the Top Five movie theatres in London.

Ciné Lumière « This is my favourite movie theatre, not only because of its unparalleled selection of French movies, but also because it is a truly arty cinema, in the Parisian tradition, showing films that one wouldn’t normally find in the UK. On top of French new releases and classics, the management has chosen to concentrate on World cinema at its best, with a selection that includes a Spanish film festival and the Mosaiques festival, celebrating foreign directors from Africa and Asia.” 17 Queensberry Place, SW7 (South Kensington) read more

London is renowned for being one of the most haunted cities in the world, due to a rich history of gruesome beheadings, grisly murderers and street slayings. To celebrate Halloween this year, Chic-Londres -with the help of Visit London- is highlighting some of the spooky places you can visit near London’s underground stations.

Berkeley House

Nicknamed “The House of Horrors” for the number of scary stories attached to it, 50 Berkeley Square -nearby private club Annabel’s- is widely held as the most haunted house in London. It earned its title after a series of incidents in the 19thcentury, when a maid was driven to madness by apparitions and a gentleman died of fear after spending a night alone in the house. In 1887, two sailors broke in to spend the night there as a joke. After the apparition of a ghostly figure, one sailor escaped through the door, whilst the other impaled himself on railings below after jumping out the window. 50 Berkeley Square, W1 (Green Park) read more

The most glamorous and coolest international contemporary art fair in the world is back in Regent’s Park. For its seventh edition, it presents 165 of the world’s most exciting galleries and new work by over 1,000 artists. Chic-Londres had a preview on Wednesday 14th. read more

It is not every day that one can visit the working headquarters of the British monarchy. However, for the past nineteen years, while Her Majesty spends August and September at Balmoral in Scotland, the public has been able to access the state rooms, in which official functions and receptions take place. Don’t be put off by its touristy aspect, as this annual opening offers a unique occasion to have a glimpse inside one of the most recognisable buildings in the world and at the magnificent Royal collection, which includes paintings by Canaletto, Rembrandt and Rubens. read more

Oops! Sorry… You will have to practice your French on that one.

With participants such as legendary illustrator Quentin Blake (its patron), ex-Pogues musician David Coulter and cult author and film director (Gainbourg) Joann Sfar, the 15th South Ken Kids Festival, devoted to children’s literature and organised by the French Institute in London, should appeal to adults as much as to their offspring. From Wednesday 21 to Sunday 25 November 2012, it will be staging more than 30 public events including drawing duos, workshops, talks, films, theatre performances, live music and book signings. Culture and fun for the little ones: as good as it gets to keep them -and their parents- entertained…

To celebrate its 15th anniversary as well as its patron Quentin Blake’s 80th birthday, the South Ken Kids Festival will be welcoming a huge array of talents from both sides of the Channel. Apart from the legendary illustrator of the Roald Dahl books himself, participants will include Axel Scheffler, the award-wining illustrator of The Gruffalo, Joann Sfar, the creator of Little Vampire and The Rabbi’s Cat, considered as one of the most important artists of the new wave of Franco-Belgian comics (as well as director of the recent Gainsbourg film), and Tony Ross, famous for his strong-minded characters such as Horrid Henry or The Little Princess. read more

It is set to be a Royal sporting affair… or at the very least a princely one. Organised by the Queen’s nephew on the ground of Kensington Gardens, a short walk from Will and Kate’s palatial residence, the Global Champion Tour will see the world’s top fourty riders, including the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco, compete for the prize.

June is always a good month for equestrian prowesses, with Royal Ascot starting the races season and Mint Polo in the Park at the Hurlingham Club. This year, London’s horse lovers can rejoice as they will have one more event to enjoy, as Kensington Gardens is set to host the world’s leading show jumping Championship series. Organised by Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne and one of the Queen’s grandsons, the first ever UK event of the Global Championship will run from the 6th to the 9th of June and will see the world’s top 40 riders compete for the £640,000 prize fund. read more