Things To Do In London: Wednesday 24 September 2014

If you’ve not already done so, you can subscribe to these daily listings and have them delivered to your inbox at 7pm each evening, so you have enough time to plan for the day ahead. Alternatively, subscribe to Londonist Daily to hear about events further in the future. And help spread the word to your friends who haven’t discovered us yet!

BBC Singers perform tonight to celebrate their 90th anniversary. Details below

Listings

BLOOD: Today’s opportunities to donate blood are at City Temple in Holborn Viaduct, outside County Hall in Belvedere Road, The Old Town Hall in Stratford, Chiswick Town Hall, Wimbledon Sacred Heart Presbytery and the usual donor centres. See site for terms and conditions.

PARLIAMENT: Londonist readers get 20% off midweek guided or audio tours of the Houses of Parliament during party conference season. Book tickets online through Ticketmaster, in person at the box office or by phone on 0844 847 1672 and use promo code LMIDD20

EXHIBITION: Ostia Antica starts today at the Estorick Collection in Highbury and Islington. This exhibition brings together the art of two very different eras: fragments of ancient statuary and mosaic from Ostia Antica (a large archaeological site located close to Rome) and the abstract sculpture and painting of Umberto Mastroianni. £5/£3.50, until 21 December

BEER FESTIVAL: The Bricklayer’s Arms Welsh Beer Festival kicks off today, featuring more than 100 different beers available over five days. Notably, each beer in the festival’s figurative ton of ales will originate from Wales, which is no mean feat. £2 (deposit), just turn up, until 28 September

LITERATURE FESTIVAL: Soho Literary Festival kicks off today with a wealth of activities going on. Not sure what to go to? Here’s our pick of events. At Soho Theatre, all events £9, prebook, until 28 September

MUSIC IN A CHURCH: The BBC Singers today mark the 90th anniversary of their formation. Join them for a special concert inside St Giles’ Cripplegate. £10, prebook, 6pm

MUSEUM LATE: The Science Museum hosts its periodical late opening, this time the theme is magic and illusion. Expect magical trickery and live music, a pub quiz, comedy shows and a silent disco. Free, just turn up, from 6.45pm

STANZA BONANZA: The Norwich and Tonbridge poetry teams go head to head in the Stanza Bonanza at Poetry Cafe tonight. Free, just turn up, 7pm

CINEMA NIGHT: Shorts On Tap presents Rocket Science Choice, a cinema evening featuring 7 sci-fi short films, for free. The event takes place at Juno in Shoreditch — there will be special hosts during the evening. Free, prebook, 7pm

ART TALK: My Gallery Experience panel discussion takes place tonight at Ziferblat London, close to Old Street. Panelists include Londonist contributor Tabish Khan and artist Lucy Sparrow — you may remember her latest installation Cornershop. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm

COMEDY: The Big Wednesday Comedy Club takes place tonight at The Charterhouse Bar in Barbican. Acts confirmed are Kevin Shepherd, Nicky Wilkinson, Chris Stokes, Paul McMullan, Michael Stranney, Ian Lane and Matt Smith. £7, prebook, 7.30pm

TALK: Steven Pinker is one of the world's leading authorities on language and the mind. Join him in conversation with Oliver Kamm for an evening of discussion on writing, why it’s hard to do well and how we can and should do it better — the event takes place at the Emmanuel Centre. £30, prebook, 7.45pm

Find more London events in our Free & Cheap events listings. Want to see your event in these last-minute listings? Email us at hello@londonist.com at least 48 hours before the event, and we will consider it for inclusion. Note: due to high volumes of email, we can’t always reply.


Good Cause of the Day

Book your ticket now for the charity gig Songs for Our Sisters II on Saturday 4 October at The Russet in Hackney, from 7pm. Expect an evening of song, music and dance from around the world to raise money for a safe house on behalf of the Tanzanian Development Trust. Tickets are just £5 online or £6 on the door.

From the Archive

Have a look at these rather funny pictures from The Great Gorilla Run back in 2012. If you're wondering why people were monkeying around, well it was for charity.