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London For Families
Looking to get cultural this half term? Take a look at what's on at London's best theatres for children.
Things To Do
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FREE DIM SUM:
To celebrate its 10th birthday, popular Dim Sum restaurant Ping Pong is offering a free dish and drink to anyone who's willing to sing 'Happy Birthday' to the Maitre D. Easy, huh? The offer is valid only for today, across all eight London branches. Read more.
TWO COURSE MEAL:
Tuck into a two course meal plus Prosecco at Forge & Co. in Shoreditch. Sample menu items include ox heart burger, spinach and streaky bacon aioli, mature cheddar and chips. Vegetarian options available. £18, 3pm/4pm/7pm/8pm
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SHOPPING PARTY:
The Carnaby area has a shopping event where many shops and restaurants are offering discounts and holding special events including live music, fashion talks and a dreamcatcher workshop. Free, prebook, 5pm-9pm
AUTHOR TALK:
2 Willow Road, a modernist house in Hampstead designed by Erno Goldfinger and now owned by the National Trust, is open late as author Claire Fuller discusses how the house has inspired her writing. £9, prebook, 6.30pm
LOST RIVERS:
Tom Bolton, author of London’s Lost Rivers and Vanished City is at Putney Library to give a talk about London’s lost rivers, such as the Wandle and the Fleet, and what they can tell us about the history of London. Free, prebook by emailing charlene.coleman@gll.org, 7pm
BURLESQUE FESTIVAL:
Head to Dingwalls in Camden for Mondo Galactico, a show which is part of London Burlesque Festival. Expect intergalactic space vixens and sexy aliens. £10.10-£33.75, 7pm
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CITY SHIMMY:
Proud Cabaret in the City transforms into a 1920s speakeasy tonight for a decadent evening full of chic and burlesque splendour. Age 18+, dress to impress. Choose from just a show ticket, or a dinner and show ticket to tuck into a three course meal. £2-£25, from 7pm
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PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA:
Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra at Southbank Centre as they play Olivier Messiaen's Turangalîla-symphonie, the conclusion to the City Of Light: Paris 1900-1950 series. £15, 7.30pm
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TUNNEL CONCERT:
Violinists Mayah Kadish and Sara Cubarsi play a programme of mainly new music interspersed with some works by Schubert and Bartok arranged by the duo for two violins. Takes place in the Thames Tunnel Shaft at Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe. £10, prebook, 7.30pm
CLUB TROPICANA:
Guanabara in Covent Garden showcases world class circus talent with a Latin twist. Club Tropicana mixes percussion, samba and capoeira with a creative lineup of burlesque acts, contortionists and much more. Plus, tuck into a meal while you enjoy the show. £5-£19.95, from 7.30pm
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ANIMAL SEX:
London Fortean Society meets at The Vaults Bar at Dirty Dicks on Bishopsgate for a talk by scientist Menno Schilthuize about the evolution of animal genitalia, including penises that have lost their spines. £3/£2, 7.45pm
MAGIC HOUR:
Enjoy a Victorian style intimate magic show courtesy of award-winning magician Tony Middleton. Takes place at Grand Royale London Hyde Park on Queensway. £20, 8pm
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COMEDY:
One of the cleverest comedy shows we’ve seen in ages, Wembley Previews sees sketch trio Sheeps do the same sketch over and over again. For an hour. In different ways. Absolutely inspired, and now at the Soho Theatre until Saturday. £10-£15, prebook, 9.15pm
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Good Cause of the Day
Race for Life, the female-only running events which raise money for Cancer Research UK, launch in London this weekend with a 5k run in Regent’s Park. Events take place across London from now until October — find your nearest one and sign up.
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.