This edition of Things to do is sponsored by Marble Arch Observation Wheel.
For your commute: London's unbuilt towers
London is home to all number of monolithic, towering structures: The Shard, Walkie Talkie, Cheese Grater and Gherkin to name a few, but what about the wacky designs that never made it past the drawing board? We recently shared London's unbuilt bridges, now check out the designs that could have transformed the city skyline in our Unbuilt London: Tall Towers And Strange Skyscrapers series.
Things to do
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CROYDON ROOFTOP CINEMA:
Croydon's only rooftop cinema opens this evening hosted by The Lost Format Society. Relax on comfy deck chairs and enjoy great films while you feast upon delicious street food washed down with a selection of cocktails and beers. £14, prebook, until 16 August
THE GIN LIBRARY:The Charles Dickens Museum holds a night in the Gin Library in Bloomsbury. Enjoy gin tastings surrounded by candlelight and live music. Book binding workshops will run throughout the evening. £24 +bf, prebook, 6pm
MAYFAIR TOUR:
Join City of Westminster Guide Joanna Moncrieff on a food and drink tour of Mayfair, which includes historical info and tucked away cafes and hidden foodie shops. Meet at Green Park tube station. £7.50/£10, prebook, 6.30pm-8.30pm
AFRICAN LATE:
Celebrate African culture at Horniman Museum in Forest Hill. Make the most of the warm weather and enjoy live music and dance in the museum's gardens. £5, prebook, 6.30pm
COCKTAIL MAKING:
Spend the evening perfecting your cocktail making skills at The Mews of Mayfair and learning about the history of your concoctions, to impress future guests no end. Your ticket includes a Bellini and nibbles on arrival, a demonstration of two cocktails and the chance to make one of your own. £30, prebook, 6.30pm
WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY LATE:
If you happen to be in Walthamstow this evening or struggling to get home, the William Morris Gallery is holding a special late night event inspired by their current exhibition on Russian typographer El Lissitzky. There will be Russian Futurist poetry readings and creative workshops. Sip on vodka from the artisan bar while listening to the DJ spin Eastern European folk music, 70s punk and Balkan Disco. Free, just turn up, 6.30pm-10.30pm
LIVE MUSIC:
Looking for something to do with a friend or partner this evening? Enjoy a sharing platter and bottle of wine for two while listening to live music in the beautiful surroundings of Dado54 in Farringdon — a 200 year old venue full of up-cycled furniture and charming character. £18, prebook, 7pm
SUPERHEROES ON SCREEN:
Tonight is the first of six lectures focusing on Superheroes on screen at Hackney Picturehouse. The six week course takes a closer look at superhero movies, exploring the history, tropes and development of the genre, and the business behind them as well as critical readings of the films. £70/£65 or you can book each week individually £12/£11, prebook, 7pm-9pm
FUNNY IN PROGRESS:
David Baddiel is trying out new material in the intimate surrounds of the Soho Theatre's upstairs space until Saturday. Big name, little venue: get to it. £12.50, prebook, 9pm
CLASSICAL MUSIC:
Classical music fans should head to St Martin-in-the-Fields, the beautiful church in the corner of Trafalgar Square, for an evening of stunning live performances of Vivaldi, Bach and Mozart. £8, prebook, 7.30pm
UTOPIA LIVE LATE:
At this special late night event anti-drag queen David Hoyle, circus director Paul Evans, artist Andie Macario and DJ Honey Dijon will be performing as part of Penny Woolcock's installation Utopia at the Roundhouse in Camden. The installation tells a diverse range of stories to uncover London's hidden narratives. £12.50, prebook, 8pm
STAND UP COMEDY:
The Comedy Store in Soho will be delivering laughs a plenty as tonight's lineup includes Andy Askins, Imran Yusuf, Dominic Holland, Sean Collins plus open mic spots for newcomers to have a crack. £14, prebook, 8pm
Take a ride on the Marble Arch Observation Wheel
Enjoy stunning views over central London as you take to the skies on the Marble Arch Observation Wheel. The Big Wheel has 36 enclosed, weatherproof (just in case) pods each seating six people, offering great views of the capital. Family tickets are available and Westminster residents get 20% off. Check the website for booking details and prices. Don't miss out!
Good cause of the day:
Providence Row is a local London charity that tackles the root causes of homelessness to help people get off, and stay off, London's streets. It's hosting an evening of art, music and food at The Dellow Centre on Wentworth Street where everything will be created by homeless and ex-homeless people. Support this great cause with a suggested £5 donation, just turn up, 6pm-9pm
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.
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