Things To Do In London: Wednesday 20 May 2015

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Secret London

Did a woolly rhino once stomp down your road? Was your manor once home to woolly mammoths? Take a look at this map of where prehistoric animal artefacts have been uncovered in London — one particular area has had numerous discoveries, including an intact mammoth skull.

Things To Do

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Attend a beginners' swing dancing class

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN:
Join the curator of Savage Beauty at the V&A, Claire Wilcox, for a lunchtime lecture about the life of fashion designer Alexander McQueen and this most recent exhibition about him. Free, just turn up, 1pm

CITY OF LONDON LIVERY COMPANIES:
London Historians holds a talk by Paul D Jagger, Freeman of the City of London and Court Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists. He'll be exploring the customs, traditions and ceremonies of the 110 Livery Companies and various other ancient institutions of the City of London. Londonist readers can get a ticket to this talk for the same price as London Historians members (£11 - saving £4 on the cost of a regular ticket). Prebook, 6pm

CROSSRAIL ARCHAEOLOGY:
The construction of Crossrail is resulting in one of the most extensive archaeological programmes ever undertaken in the UK, and there is a series of talks being held in conjunction with it. Tonight, hear about The Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company. Free, prebook, 6pm

PUBSCI:
This month’s PubSci at the Old King’s Head in Borough focuses on genitals. Professor Menno Schilthuizen from Naturalis Biodiversity Center and Leiden University talks about how the shapes and functions of genitalia have been moulded by complex Darwinian struggles. Donations welcome, 6pm

PIMLICO WALK:
On this guided walk, explore the Pimlico area using old maps. Follow the now buried River Tyburn to where it joins the Thames and hear the surprising story of Dolphin Square. £10/£8, prebook by emailing oldmapken@yahoo.co.uk, 6.15pm

CROWN JEWELS:
Robert Hutchinson is at Westminster City Archives to talk about and sign copies of his book, about the notorious Colonel Blood who stole the Crown Jewels in 1671. Free, prebook, 6.30pm

TASTING MENU:
Dine in 1901, a restaurant set in the former ballroom at Andaz Hotel in Liverpool Street. Enjoy a six course tasting menu consisting of starter, fish, sorbet, meat, dessert and a cheeseboard, with ingredients sourced from all around the UK. £99 for two, 6.30pm/7.30pm/8.30pm
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CHER CLAY:
Head to Drink Shop Do in King's Cross to celebrate pop legend Cher's birthday... by creating her likeness from clay. Ticket includes two Fruit Cup cocktails, and you can get another free drink if you turn up in a Turn Back Time costume. £12, 7pm
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CRAFT BEER TASTING:
Meet the brewer and find out more about the craft beer craze at Temple Brew House in Covent Garden. There's a blind tasting of six beers designed to develop your palate, and a chance to ask questions. £15, 7pm
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SWING DANCE:
Join a beginner's Swing Patrol class to learn the basics of Lindy Hop and Charleston to a soundtrack of vintage tunes. £10, 7pm
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CHARITY COMEDY:
Pauk Foot, John Robins, James Acaster, Robin Ince, Sara Pascoe, Terry Alderton, Johnny Spurling and Jon Richardson are all on the bill at the Bloomsbury Theatre tonight for this comedy show which raises money for Cancer Research. £17.50, 7.30pm
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SPEED DUETTING:
Speed dating meets karaoke at this singles event at Lucky Voice in Islington. Great idea or terrible idea? You decide. Ticket includes a free cocktail if the Tina Turner renditions get too much. £10, 7.30pm
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Share burger joy at Gourmet Burger Kitchen this week

Indulge in a tasty burger during your lunch break this week: GBK is offering you the chance to shout your burger loving friends a free lunch. Wait, what?

From Monday to Thursday this week, grab a burger and side from the GBK 15 Minute Lunch Menu (starting from £5.95) and treat your chosen friend with a second one for free. Choose from classic beef, cheese, chicken or veggie burger and accompany it with fries, GBK homeslaw or a salad.

From 9am today, click here to be in with a chance of grabbing a free burger for your friend. There are 250 available each day so make sure you’re ready!

GBK - LONDONIST IMAGE v1

Terms and Conditions: Buy any lunch menu and receive one free 4oz lunch menu to the value of £6.95. Offer does not include lunch menu upgrades to 6oz. Valid at GBK restaurants within the UK mainland only, until 21st May 5pm. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer, set menu or GBK app reward. Offer limited to 250 free lunches per day. Eat in only.

Today’s Things to do in London is sponsored by Gourmet Burger Kitchen.


Good Cause of the Day

Tonight there's a screening of Mahout-The Great Elephant Walk, a documentary narrated by Stephen Fry following an ex-London banker, who swaps life in the City for running his father's wildlife lodge in Nepal. All money raised goes to victims of earthquake victims in Nepal — including villages where the film was made. Book in advance, with a minimum donation of £20.

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.