Things To Do In London: Tuesday 11 August 2015

Sign up to our free Londonist Daily email to get today’s articles sent straight to your inbox at 5pm.

Learn how to drum at the Kirtland Centre in Mile End

The creatures of the Thames

We all heard about the boy who survived the jump off Tower Bridge recently. But what creatures were lurking in the water with him? Often we can't see beyond the murk and the only signs of life come from the seagulls that bob on the top, but the Thames is actually home to a rich diversity of sea life as we discover in our article exploring what lives in the Thames.

Things to do

Buttons provided by YPlan

POP-UP BICYCLE SHOP:
Join Lawrence Brand in Covent Garden who up and quit his job in order to devote his time to cycling and bike making. During the day you can design your own bike as well as make Possibility Pledges for the things you want to achieve in your life and be inspired by a screening of Lawrence's own 5,000km trip. In the evening listen to free talks about cycling, adventure and technology. There's a launch party on 13 August and events throughout August. Free, just turn up, until 24 August

ANIMATION COURSE:
A one day course for budding animation enthusiasts. Join professional animator Tom Hillenbrand at House of Illustration for a fun day of animation inspiration. Participants will try out 2D and 3D animation techniques and create a short film in a day, with a screening at 3.30pm. Suitable for ages 8-12, with spaces for 15 children. £35, prebook, 10am-4pm

CAT CAFE:
Make some feline friends at Cat Village in Shoreditch while enjoying lunch or coffee. Each visit lasts one hour — a great way to unwind at the end of a busy day. £9, prebook, 10am-8pm

Get Tickets

GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL:
Olympia is the venue for Britain's biggest beer festival: with over 900 ales, ciders and beers to choose from you'll be spoilt for choice. Line your stomach with pub snacks and there will be games and tutored tastings. Check out our guide to the rest of August's beer festivals for more boozy fun. Tickets cost £10 in advance (£8 for CAMRA members), or a couple of quid more on the door, prebook, 5pm-10.30pm

TRANQUIL TUESDAYS:
Unwind after a stressful day at work at St Christopher's Place near Bond Street with yoga accompanied by live music. The class will run for three weeks and each Tuesday features a different instrument. Free, prebook, 5pm-8pm

EVENING MEAL:
If you're in Covent Garden and feeling peckish this evening head to Little Water in Covent Garden for a delicious burger plus a free glass of wine or choice of flavoured vodka shots. £10.90, prebook, 7pm-10pm

Get Tickets

AFRICA DRUMMING WORKSHOP:
If you're feeling creative this evening then join in with this group drumming workshop at The Kirtland Centre in Mile End. Suitable for everyone from beginners to experts. £10, prebook, 7.15pm

Get Tickets

UNCAGED PARTY 60s SURF PARTY:
Spend the evening being entertained by a quality line up of comedy and cabaret at Sinbin at The Plough and Harrow in Leytonstone. £9.99, prebook, 8pm

Get Tickets

JAZZ:
Hear saxophonist Peter Wareham and his acoustic band at 606 Club in Chelsea. Don't miss out on the best music coming out of the contemporary jazz scene at the moment. Ticket includes a two course meal and a free glass of wine. £33, prebook, 8.30pm

Get Tickets

LUNA CINEMA:
London has gone wild for al fresco cinema this summer. If you haven't enjoyed the outdoors experience yet, tonight's screening is The Dark Knight at Victoria Tower Gardens. £15, prebook, 8.45pm

Get Tickets

COMEDY:
Jake Yapp’s breathtakingly short encapsulations of TV shows were one of the highlights of the recent Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe series. For the next two weeks he’s at Camden People’s Theatre looking in detail at BBC1. £9/£7, prebook, 9pm

TECH AND TACOS:
Join Technology Will Save Us for a workshop at Wahaca in Brixton. Participants will be making DIY thirsty plant making kits and you'll get to take home chilli seeds to fire up your own cooking. The ticket includes three tacos and a margarita. £20, prebook, 7pm


Good cause of the day

London's Air Ambulance has opened a competition as part of a campaign for a second emergency medical helicopter. The charity is calling on children under the age of 16 who live or go to school within the M25 to enter by submitting a name for one of the helicopters and a reason for why it should be called this. Entrants have until 28 August to submit their name and will win a visit to the helipad to see their name in all its glory. For parents and carers it's also an opportunity to donate to the campaign. Deadline is 28 August 5pm


Londonist on your phone  

Jazz up your phone with the Londonist logo phone case which can be purchased from our Londonist shop. Suitable for a range of popular devices including iPhone 6, iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S5. Did you know Londonist is mobile friendly too? You can keep up to date with everything we publish while you're on the go.

   

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.
2BB