Things To Do In London: Tuesday 17 March 2015

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Brunel's London

Tunnels, bridges, viaducts and even the largest ship the world had ever seen — how much of London would be completely different without the influence of Isambard Kingdom Brunel? We've mapped the London locations with links to the engineer.

Things To Do

It's St Patrick's Day. Photo: Frida Fabbrini

ST PATRICK'S DAY: The luck o'the Irish returns again. Celebrate the day of Ireland's patron saint with a pint of the black stuff at one of London's best Irish pubs, or pick from the other special events, including live music, a tea dance and painting.

SHOREDITCH FESTIVAL: Music for Youth’s London Rock, Pop and Urban Regional Festival plays at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. Ten bands from the local area will perform. Free, 5pm

SWAN LAKE LIVE:  Enjoy a three course meal and a screening of ballet Swan Lake live from the Royal Opera House at One Aldwych. £49.50, prebook, 5.45pm

WAR POLITICS: At the Museum of London, Gresham College hosts a lecture about the reasons for the radical political changes that made the First World War the seminal catastrophe of 20th century Europe. Free, just turn up, 6pm

CHARLES RENNIE MACKINTOSH: The Royal Institute of British Architects holds a talk about the famous Scottish designer in Westminster. A panel including Professor of Mackintosh Studies Pamela Robertson and TV historian Dan Cruickshank discuss the factors that contributed to Mackintosh's success. £15/£10, prebook, 6.30pm

LIBRARY TOUR: Take a free guided tour of Bishopsgate Institute’s Library, led by Stefan Dickers, the Institute’s Library and Archives Manager. Find out more about its history and the collections relating to the history of London. Free, prebook, 6.30pm

PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY: City & Cripplegate Photographic Society hosts an evening with Tim Andrews, a barrister who took up photography when Parkinson's disease forced him to give up his job in 2005. At St Joseph's Church Hall near Old Street. £5, just turn up, 6.45pm

LIVE LONDON: Head to Banking Hall in the City for an evening of politics and entertainment ahead of the election, with guests including MPs David Lammy and George Galloway, and Amol Rajan, editor of The Independent. Free, prebook, 6.45pm

ALAN JOHNSON: MP Alan Johnson is in conversation with Guardian journalist Lucy Mangan at Elmgreen School in Dulwich, in an event organised by Dulwich Books (copies of Johnson's book will be on sale at the event). £10, prebook, 7.15pm

COMEDY: Pay what you want at this fundraiser for the PBH Free Fringe at Star of Kings. Comedians on the bill include Liam Williams, Mike Wozniak, Lou Sanders, Ed Aczel and more. Free/donation, just turn up, 7.30pm

JUST: Writer Ali Smith was awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours List. To celebrate, Kidbrooke Theatre Company puts on a performance of her 2005 play, Just, at Greenwich Theatre. The play is about an innocent woman who discovers a body and finds herself accused. £12/£10, prebook, 8pm

POLITICAL LOLS: Chris Coltrane hosts London’s friendliest political comedy night at the Black Heart in Camden, with guests Bridget Christie, Alexander Bennett and Liam Williams (who’s a busy lad tonight). £3, just turn up, 8.30pm


Good Cause of the Day

The Barnardo's charity shop in Marylebone High Street is looking for volunteers to commit to working one day each month. The shop often sells designer pieces and receives regular donations from celebrities including Dame Shirley Bassey and Andy Serkis. Interested? Call 020 8498 7320 or email retail-volunteering@barnardos.org.uk.

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.