Things To Do In London: Thursday 16 October 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!

Grant Museum of Zoology, by Gabor Hernadi on Flickr

Listings

BLOOD: Today’s opportunities to donate blood are at City Temple in Holborn Viaduct, Sainsbury's in New Cross Gate, St John Vianney Parish Centre in Tottenham, Selhurst Park Stadium in Thornton Heath and the usual donor centres. See site for terms and conditions.

CHOCOLATE WEEK: Yep, our favourite week of the year is here. As you’d expect, there are plenty of events going on in and around London celebrating the good stuff. Get in the mood by visiting some of London’s best chocolate shops, or grab some last minute tickets to a chocolate fashion show at Salon du Chocolat.

ART FAIRS: Today, London sees the opening of two major art fairs, The Other Art Fair and 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair. Check out our suggestions and decide which one you prefer, you might choose both.

VET COLLEGE NIGHT: The Royal Veterinary College in Camden opens its door to the public and hosts a one-off event about supersize animals. Meet veterinary researchers, try out science activities and visit the college museum: see full schedule of events on the college website. Free, prebook, from 5pm

GUIDED WALK: Have you ever heard about the Great Fire of Westminster? The 1834 blaze destroyed the Houses of Parliament. On the fire's 180th anniversary, join Trails of the City for a guided walk that will take you back in time — meeting point is Westminster tube station. £8/£6, just turn up, 6.30pm

ART LECTURE: Head to the Dutch Centre for a lecture on painting master Rembrandt, with a special focus on his work portraying African people. The event is held in occasion of Black History Month. £10/£5, prebook, 7pm

GRANT MUSEUM: The Museum of Zoology hosts Focus on the Positive debate. Hear UCL researchers pitch their ideas, and you can actually help to decide which ones will get funded. Free, just turn up, 7pm

WAR MEMORIALS: The Churches Conservation Trust presents its annual lecture tonight at the Charterhouse. To commemorate the centenary of the First World War, author and journalist Clive Aslet gives a lecture about war memorials in London. £30, prebook by email, 7pm
CLASSICAL MUSIC: English Chamber Orchestra performs tonight at Cadogan Hall. The repertoire includes works by Mozart and Dvořák. £35-£10, prebook, 7.30pm

DIRTY LONDON: Bishopsgate Institute hosts a talk about London in Victorian times, with a special focus on ...filth. Author and Victorian enthusiast Lee Jackson explains why public cleanliness was often neglected during that time. £9/£7, prebook, 7.30pm

BANG SAID THE GUN: Expect poetry, spoken word, and an open mic at Bang Said The Gun. Tonight’s performances are by Kate Tempest and Sean Mahoney. At The Roebuck in Borough. £7/£5, just turn up, 8pm

ROYAL INSTITUTION: As part of Biology Week, the Royal Institution hosts a talk about malaria eradication. The panel discusses the attempt of Bill and Melinda Gates, started in 2007, to eliminating the malaria worldwide. £12/£8, prebook, 8.30pm

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.


Reader Offer

Love coffee? We recommend you try out Pact Coffee. We first met them last year and have since become loyal customers of theirs. This London start-up is on a mission to get the UK drinking better, fresher coffee by delivering it straight to our homes and offices. Now you can get your first 250g bag for only £1 with free next-day delivery, just use the code LONDONIST14X at checkout. Get yours here, or for more info and T&Cs click here.

BREAKFAST PACT

This week’s Things To Do In London is sponsored by Pact.


Good Cause of the Day

Glow Neon Fun Run takes place tomorrow and is organised by the Royal National Institute of Blind People. Participants will run or walk for 3km at Mile End athletic stadium: during the run, you will be sprayed by cannons filled with luminous goo-water. To experience the runners, there will be DJ music, no experience needed. Register now both as an individual or a team, tickets are £10pp, from 7pm

From the Archive

Football fun? Probably you will find some interesting facts reading one of these London football bloggers, who we rounded-up last year.