Things To Do In London: Wednesday 19 November 2014

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It's World Toilet Day!

Listings

TOILET DAY: Today is World Toilet Day! This unusual festival has a serious underlying message about the importance of sanitation, and how much of the world still lacks basic toilet facilities. Learn more about London's loos with an Audio Loo Tour of London. Or by reading our histories about London poo? Or by visiting the World Toilet Day photographic exhibition at the Royal Opera House arcades.

ICE SKATING: Slowly but surely, London’s seasonal ice rinks are waking up for the season and quiet weekdays are the best time to visit. See what’s already open, or book ahead for the rest of the run-up to Christmas.

SOHO NOSES: Join City of Westminster guide Peter Berthoud on a guided walk around Soho and find out where the famous 'seven noses of Soho' are placed. On your way you will also see an unusual Victorian fund-raising device, some comic mosaics in an unlikely location and some 'secret' bars. £12, prebook, 11am

LUNCH BREAK: The Royal Institution hosts a lunchtime lecture about the history of Christmas lectures. The talk will be chaired by Frank James, Professor of the History of Science at the Royal Institution and Rupert Cole, a PhD student in the History of Science. Free, prebook, 12pm

SCIENCE IN A PUB: Join Dr Christopher Ramsey at The Old King's Head pub for a talk about the representation of venereal diseases in art. The event is presented by PubSci and is free entry (donations welcome). Free, just turn up, 6pm

GHOST WALK: Join Trails of the City on a Westminster Ghost Trail, listen to stories of long-dead celebrities, headless wraiths and mysterious doppelgangers. Meeting point is Embankment tube station. £8/£6, just turn up, 6.30pm

CINEMA AND MUSIC: Hackney's Numer 90 bar and restaurant hosts an evening of music and cinema, entry is free. Live music will start at 6.30pm and the screening starts at 8pm, presented by Future Shorts. Free, just turn up, from 6.30pm

IWM: Listen to Nick Childs, World Affairs Correspondent for BBC News, as he chairs a discussion exploring why soldiers fight, joined by a panel of experts at the Imperial War Museum. They explore how the training methods evolved since the First World War. £12, prebook, 7pm

ART TALK: Leighton House in Holland Park hosts a special panel discussion on the politics of exhibiting, organised by Mosaic Rooms. Comprising the panel are Henrietta Lidchi, Dr Nirmal Puwar, and Catherine Hahn. The museum is currently displaying A Victorian Obsession exhibition. Free, prebook by emailing rsvp@mosaicrooms.org, 7pm

FILM QUIZ: Create your team and test your cinema knowledge with Shortwave Cinema's film quiz, taking place in Bermondsey, this time with a rom-com theme. Teams must be max 6 people, follow @youchosepoorly for more information. £2pp, just turn up, 7.30pm

COMEDY: Gemma Whelan and Elf Lyons join Richard Sandling at the Betsey Trotwood in Farringdon to record the Perfect Movie podcast. Expect gags and recreations of favourite film scenes. £5+bf, prebook, 8pm

FREE TALK: Listen to Philip Barker who’s at Islington Town Hall talking about the power of language and spoken traditions. He examines how the linguist’s understanding of the relationship between language and reality often stands in contrast to such approaches to history. Free, just turn up, 8pm

BLOOD: Today’s opportunities to donate blood are at Bishopsgate Institute, Lewisham shopping area, St Mildred's Church in Lee, Ealing Town Hall and the usual donor centres. See site for terms and conditions. Scared of donating blood? Watch our video.

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This week’s Things to do is sponsored by CommuterClub.


Good Cause of the Day

Book your ticket now for a charity gig featuring comedy stars Jeremy Hardy, Tim Key, Josie Long, Mark Thomas, Andy Zaltzman, Nadia Kamil and Abdul Rashid. Their show takes place at Bloomsbury Theatre on Sunday 23 November, raising money for The Kurdish Red Crescent who are co-ordinating aid for refugees on the Syria/Turkey border. £15/£8, prebook, 7.30pm

From The Archive

Wondering where to find Northern food in the capital? We found out for you where to eat beef dripping, Kendal mint cake and Pease pudding.