Got a friend who’s always at a loose end? Know someone who’s coming to visit London? Forward them this email to make sure they’ve always got something to do in London. You can also subscribe to all of our newsletters (or pick and choose which ones you receive) here.
Listings
ART FAIR: London Art Fair begins at the Business Design Centre in Islington today. 128 galleries are exhibiting, and there is a programme of talks, tours and performances taking place throughout the fair. £18.50/£20, prebook, until 25 January
FILM CLUB: City of London’s Film Club looks at the plethora of films produced by the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA), aimed at pupils, students and teachers across the inner London area from the 1960s-80s. Free, prebook, 6pm
WHERE'S MY MUMMY?: The first PubSci (that is, science in a pub) meet-up of 2015 takes place at the Old King's Head near London Bridge. Guest is Dr Tom Booth from the Natural History Museum who will be talking about a 4,000 year old mummy mystery in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. Free (donations welcome), just turn up, 6pm for a 7pm start
MIKE LEIGH: Film director Mike Leigh (whose most recent work was Mr Turner), is at Genesis Cinema in Mile End for a Q&A session following a screening of his 1999 film Topsy Turvy. £10/£9, prebook, 7pm
NEWS COMEDY: What Has The News Ever Done For Me? is a comedy night aimed at those who never quite get round to reading or watching the news. Three comedians bring along a news story which they believe to be the most important of the last month — then have to put forward an argument for why they think the audience should care about it. At Aces and Eights in Tufnell Park, tonight's guests are Rachel Parris, Lee Kern and Andrew Watts. Hosted by Grainne Maguire. £5, prebook, 7pm
PETS AT WAR: Claire Campbell, a successful journalist and her co-author husband Christy, an expert on defence matters, are at Wandsworth Museum to speak about the research carried out for her book Bonzo’s War. What happened to pets during World War II? At Wandsworth Museum, 38 West Hill, SW18 1RX. £6, just turn up, 7pm
TESTAMENT OF YOUTH: Vera Brittain's famous book of memoirs has been made into a newly released film. Tonight, producer Rosie Alison, Mark Bostridge (Vera Brittain’s biographer who advised on the film), and Joanna Scanlan (who plays Vera Brittain’s aunt), are at the Royal Society of Literature to talk about the challenges of adapting the book into a film. £8/£5, prebook, 7pm
COMEDY: The Spectacular Spectrum of Now has a cracking night at Star of Kings in King’s Cross. Mr Susie tops the bill, alongside Dan Lees, Paul Williers and sketch from Lazy Susan and That Pair. £5, just turn up, 7.30pm
PET STORYTELLING: Natural Born Storytellers bring their often hilarious brand of storytelling to Camden Comedy Club, for a night themed around pets. Storytellers include David Pickering, Bruce Cochrane and Jennifer McLaughlin. Free, just turn up, 7.45pm
RENT DEBATE: There's a debate about the private rented sector at a Westminster council meeting tonight, and the proposing councillors would like members of the public to come along. The meeting is at Porchester Hall and the debate will probably start around 8pm. Free, just turn up, from 7pm
POETRY LUV: The monthly poetry and spoken word event is at The Proud Archivist in Haggerston, for an evening of performances by up and coming poets. £5, just turn up, 8pm
BLOOD: Today’s opportunities to donate blood are at St Olave Parish Hall near Fenchurch Street, Emirates Stadium, and the O2 Centre in Swiss Cottage. See site for terms and conditions. Scared of donating blood? Watch our video.
Find more London events in our Free & Cheap events listings. Want to see your event in these last-minute listings? Email us at [email protected] 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
There are a few tickets left for tonight's Stand Up For A Chair at Bloomsbury Theatre. Comedians including Alan Davis, Katherine Ryan, Al Murray, Susan Calman, Josh Widdecombe and Bobby Mair will raise money for a new wheelchair for teenager Hatty Greenway. Book tickets here.
From The Archive
Watching BBC's Wolf Hall adaptation tonight? Get warmed up by taking a look at the London locations which feature in Hilary Mantel's Cromwell novels Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies.
