Access All Areas June 2018 | Page 5

JUNE | WELCOME Colophon EDITOR Tom Hall CONTRIBUTORS DESIGNER Martin Fullard Sean Wyatt-Livesley SALES DIRECTOR SALES EXECUTIVE James Linin Ashley Armstrong PRODUCTION MANAGER SUBSCRIPTIONS EXECUTIVE Elizabeth Nixon Kayode Adedeji PRODUCTION ADMINISTRATOR Clarissa Lynch-Williams PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Duncan Siegle PUBLISHED BY MASH MEDIA GROUP Second Floor, Applemarket House, 17 Union Street, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 1RR. Tel: +44 (0)20 8481 11 22 SUBSCRIPTION: Free to qualified readers within UK, Non-qualified readers within UK - £50, Readers in Europe/Eire - £70, Worldwide - £105. SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES: Tel: 020 8481 11 28. Address: Access All Areas, Second Floor, Applemarket House, 17 Union Street, Kingston-upon-Thames KT1 1RR. The opinions expressed by contributors to this publication are not always a reflection of the opinions or the policy of the publishers. Information on services or products contained within editorial sections does not imply recommendation by Access All Areas. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without written authority of Mash Media. Subscribe on www.accessaa.co.uk A nervous groom, an unfeasibly long dress, David Beckham, horses, a poignant gospel Stand By Me, Beckham again, a fiery 12 minute speech with some royal side-eyeing. What a cracking day. Windsor’s Royal Wedding achieved what outdoor events in and around London should do: Make us take stock of our hallowed surroundings. Indeed, diverting Londoners’ attentions away from mentally vodooing the backs of slow-walking pedestrians’ heads, or studiously avoiding awkward glances on the tube is no small feat. The royal ring swapping, however, was just one extraordinary capital- centric event over the last month that prompted me to burst through the London bubble I’ve spent 15 years developing, and truly appreciate my home town and its surroundings. Other highlights included Dinosaurs in the Wild (p15), Neverland (p8), Arcadia (p12), and being sent to the Tower of London – not as punishment for snapping at a hesitant zebra crossing user – but to enjoy Historic Royal Palaces’ impeccable hospitality (p48). Meanwhile, the capital’s carefully curated green spaces also play a key role in its appeal. London’s “park life!” gets a well-earned nod (on p50) from none other than from Colin Chapple, AEG Live’s CEO, whose All Points East festival in Victoria Park brings an all-star line-up, and community engagement to The Big Smoke. Meanwhile, the Royal Parks’ Alun Mainwaring (p28) makes the mammoth task of curating mega events sound like, well, a walk in the park. So, let’s raise our glasses to the royal couple, but first and foremost, let’s toast to London. Tom Hall, Editor Keep up to date by visiting: accessaa.co.uk @access_aa @access_aa 05