Things To Do In London Today: 3 December 2012

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GIVE BLOOD: See inside the historic Hop Exchange in Southwark, or the City Temple on Holborn Viaduct, while donating some blood. The West End Donor Centre on Margaret Street is also open. Free, just turn up, check website for times.

SPACE: The European Space Expo is at Horseguards Parade from today until 9 December...a good opportunity to learn about European activities in space. Free, just turn up, 10-6pm

CLASSICAL: Pop into St James Piccadilly for a free lunchtime recital featuring works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Chopin. Free, just turn up, 1.10pm

MUSICAL BINGO: Test your knowledge of Christmas music in at the musical bingo party in Concrete, Shoreditch. £8.05, prebook, 7pm

CAROLS: A fundraising event for Maggie's takes place at St George's Hanover Square, with a carol concert featuring Janet Ellis, Hermione Norris, Nicholas Parsons and Julian Fellowes. £35, prebook, 7pm

GIGS: Tickets still available to see Sharon Van Etten at Shepherd's Bush Empire...which is odd, cos she's great. Snap 'em up here. £16.87, prebook, 7pm

QUIZ: London Skeptics in the Pub hosts a Christmas quiz at the Monarch in Camden Town. £3, just turn up, 7.30pm

COMEDY: Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards Daniel Simonsen is part of the line-up at the Camden Head tonight, with other comedians Suzi Ruffell, Gráinne Maguire, Pattie Brewster and Tania Edwards. £1, prebook, 8.30pm

Random London Fact of the Day


It's often said that the Savoy on the Strand is the only place in the UK where cars must drive on the right. While the latter part is true, it's not the only place. As we've mentioned before, Hammersmith bus garage is right-side drive, though not often used by the public. Rafe Heydel-Mankoo tells us on Facebook, however, that The Hale in Tottenham Hale is a right-sided dual carriageway, a fact that Google Street View clearly shows (see above).

Weather

The Londonist barometer today predicts plenty of snow, a troupe of flying reindeer and a dubious-tasting chocolate 'treat'. Wait...hang on...that's no barometer. Who's been messing with our mantelpiece? The BBC suggests a slightly warmer day, cloudy, with the odd spell of sunshine. No mention of chocolate treats.

Secret Hidden False Rumour of the Day
Ebenezer Scrooge was based on Ebenezer Goodge, who once owned much of the land around Goodge Street Station. Goodge was such a miser that he refused to allow escalators to pass under his land, lest they draw heat from the properties above. This is why Goodge Street remains the only Northern Line station in central London with a lift.