A day with the Dickens Dynasty: Celebrating 100 years of the Charles Dickens Museum
Jun 10 2025- Attractions
- Last Updated on 10 June 2025
- Monica Costa
Monday 9 June 2025 was no ordinary Monday. In the heart of Bloomsbury, at 48 Doughty Street – the only surviving London home of Charles Dickens – history came alive in the most extraordinary way as the Charles Dickens Museum marked its 100th birthday. Even more poignantly, the day also commemorated 155 years since the passing of the great author himself.
To celebrate the centenary, the Museum opened its doors to the public free of charge, with a truly one-of-a-kind twist: the rooms were stewarded not by curators or volunteers, but by seven living descendants of Charles Dickens. Yes, seven. As a writer and editor, I had one of those rare pinch-me moments, finding myself not only in their presence but interviewing several of them throughout the day.
Gig review: Lela Soto – El fuego que llevo dentro at Sadler’s Wells Flamenco Festival 2025
Jun 07 2025- Attractions
- Last Updated on 07 June 2025
- Monica Costa
Last night’s performance by Lela Soto at the Flamenco Festival 2025 was spellbinding – a searing, traditional flamenco experience that reached deep into the soul and refused to let go.
Presented at Sadler’s Wells, El fuego que llevo dentro (“The Fire I Carry Within”) is more than a debut album – it’s a visceral, emotionally-charged tribute to the extraordinary flamenco lineage from which Lela Soto hails. As the daughter of Vicente Soto “Sordera” and granddaughter of Manuel Soto “Sordera”, Lela is flamenco royalty – and last night, she wore that crown with fire and grace.
Gig review: Queralt Lahoz at Sadler’s Wells, Flamenco Festival London
Jun 06 2025- Attractions
- Last Updated on 06 June 2025
- Monica Costa
Flamenco Festival has returned to London as one of the world’s leading platforms for flamenco. Over the past two decades, it has showcased both legendary artists and emerging talents, offering space for new generations of dancers, musicians, and singers to step onto the international stage. Since its founding, Flamenco Festival London has welcomed over 300,000 audience members across more than 300 performances, establishing itself as a key cultural event in the city’s theatre season. Last night’s performance by Queralt Lahoz at Sadler’s Wells Flamenco Festival was mesmerising — a powerful, contemporary flamenco fusion that deeply moved and completely immersed the audience. With her signature blend of flamenco, soul, bolero, and hip-hop, Lahoz stripped things back for En acústico, offering a raw, deeply personal experience that still burst with emotional intensity.
