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Regal births
With Elizabeth I's birthday on Monday (happy birthday Liz!) and Elizabeth II becoming the country's longest-reigning monarch today, we nerds at Londonist present to you a map of where every single Royal since the Norman Conquest came and left the world. Lizzie number one was born in Greenwich Palace (now the Old Royal Naval College; see a very pretty picture on our Instagram) — any guesses which others were London-born?
Things to do
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WWI FINCHLEY WALK:
Blue Badge guide Mark King leads his popular and informative Finchley Goes To War walk from Henlys Corner to Finchley Central. On the 101st anniversary of the First World War Battle of the Marne, find out how the world-changing event played out in a small north London community. £10/£7.50, prebook, 1.30pm
ROLE PLAYING GAME:
London's experiential gaming company Handmade Mysteries has created Lady Chastity's Reserve: The Immersive Team Game, offering an unusual evening's entertainment, with bottled prizes to be won. At Four Thieves, Clapham, this evening and dates throughout September. £20, prebook, 6.15pm
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS TALK:
On the 70th anniversary of The Glass Menagerie's Broadway debut, Tennessee Williams biographer John Lahr speaks about the seminal American playwright. The Courtauld hosts this Royal Society of Literature talk on the genius who went on to give us Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and A Streetcar Named Desire. £8/£5 prebook, 7pm
JAZZ AND GIN:
Get £5 off an evening of 1920s jazz from pianist James Pearson and microdistillery Sacred Gin cocktails at Dartmouth House in Mayfair tonight. The Financial Times's hard liquor expert will be on hand to advise on which tipple goes best with the smooth soundtrack. £20, prebook, 7pm
WINE TASTING:
If your appreciation of wine goes beyond its medicinal properties, head down to Bedales Wines in Borough Market for a tasting and buying opportunity of 2016's best new grape juice. £27, prebook, 7pm
UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL:
Most news about Ukraine these days is pretty sad, so the announcement that a festival celebrating the place is coming to St James Theatre in Victoria makes a nice change. The Festival of Ukrainian Culture kicks off with Turgenev's comedy Ward of the Manor from the National Theatre of Kiev, performed in Russian with English live-dubbing by a translator in the auditorium. Also catch the accompanying free photography exhibition: Ukrainian Culture Today. Tonight and tomorrow night, from £25, prebook, 7.30pm
HACKNEY SHOWROOM:
LGBT theatre company Outlook presents Hookup as part of Hackney Showroom's Queer Show and Tell week until 12 September. The group does drama with a political edge and Hookup is no exception, promising to give voice to the untold stories of the older LGBT community. £8, prebook, 7.30pm
FILM FESTIVAL CLOSING GALA:
I Will Tell Film Festival closes tonight at the Old Carlton Cinema in Islington. See the best shorts, animations, documentaries and features on the theme Culture of Honour, plus an important award for films empowering women. Also hear from filmmakers and scriptwriters from the USA to Spain and Italy, and enjoy comedy and live performance. £10, prebook, 7pm
POP ART PAINTING CLASS:
Hone your Andy Warhol-esque brushwork ahead of the Tate Modern exhibition The World Goes Pop opening later this month. Paint Pop Art! at The Winchester in Islington includes a complimentary drink and all art supplies. £25, prebook, 7.30pm
COMEDY:
Michael Legge does his Edinburgh show at The Phoenix off Oxford Street, plus a Two Stupids set with Caroline Mabey (all the bits too stupid to make it into a proper show). There’s no entry fee, but there’ll be a collection for MIND so take some cash. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm
BIRDMAN AT LUNA CINEMA:
If you haven't already seen the zany multiple Oscar-winning film Birdman, make sure to catch it at Luna Cinema tonight. Battersea Park, £14.50, prebook, 7.30pm
BELLYDANCE CLASS:
Bellyfitness at North Finchley's Arts Depot promises to be a fun, flexibility-boosting and fat-busting class for women on Wednesdays throughout September and October, £9 (40 for five classes), prebook, 8pm
Good cause of the day
London-based homelessness charity Single Homeless Project provides support and accommodation to help street-sleepers get back on their feet. They're putting on a challenging evening of 'alternative TED talks', The Outsider Lectures at Union Chapel Bar, Islington. Hear from travel writers, sand artists and sex gurus, magicians, 'craftivists' and psychiatrists, with different perspectives on being an outsider. £15, prebook, 7pm
Thirsty for more?
If the wine-tasting and gin-drinking listed above aren't enough, head over to Londonist's painstakingly researched section on London's best pubs. Search by area name or pub features on our extremely handy map. If you know of any pub that could've been a contender, tell us at [email protected].
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.
