Things To Do In London: Thursday 26 November 2015

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Things to do today:

DINERAMA: The bustling street food arena has had a winter makeover, including a roof to keep you dry, plus four new bars and pop-ups from some of London's best eateries. Shoreditch Yard, free before 7pm, £3 after, 5pm-midnight

PEPYS LATE: Get kitted out in a 17th century dress-up booth, then join in with a Dancing Schoole hosted by the Playford Liberation Front. Next hear Cringe comics read wince-inducing tales of their teenage Christmases, test your knowledge at a pub quiz by our very own editor-in-chief James Drury, and, of course, take a twilight tour of the marvellous new exhibition Samuel Pepys: Plague, Fire, Revolution, £15, prebook, members free, 6.30-10pm

LOST PALACES OF THE STRAND: The Strand was the medieval London’s Beverly Hills, lined with the luxury homes of the great and the good. This lecture looks at this period in the thoroughfare's history, focusing on those forgotten mansions and the eccentric characters who passed through their doors. Westminster Archives, £10, prebook, 6.30pm

SHORTS UP: See a specially-selected mix of short films, music videos and documentaries by filmmakers from London and further afield, projected on the big screen. Above The Arts Theatre, Leicester Square, £5, prebook, 7pm

THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER: A screening of the 1940s classic Christmas romantic comedy to get you in the festive spirit and make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The Water Poet, Spitalfields, free entry, film starts at 7.30pm

MUSICAL BINGO: Exactly like normal bingo, but instead of numbers, you have to listen out for songs before checking them off. As well as prizes for one, two and three lines, plus the full house, there'll be twists along the way, such as the chance to gamble all your winnings for a mega-prize. Concrete, 56 Shoreditch High Street, tickets £12, prebook, 7.45pm-11.15pm

COMEDY: You can never tell what’s going to come out of Ross Noble’s mouth as a general rule, so who knows what’s going to happen at this improv night. He’ll be joined at the Soho Theatre by guests including Suki Webster, Cariad Lloyd, and Niall Ashdown. £20/£17.50, prebook, 10.30pm

Foodie events booking now on YPlan:

Go on a microbrewery crawl in Bermondsey with London Brewery Tours

THANKFUL CHOWDOWN: The Great British-American Chowdown is an alternative celebration of Thanksgiving in the House of Vans, beneath Waterloo Station. A sort of Anglo-American tapas party, if you will. Tickets £25, 26 November.

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HUBER BEER PARTY: Alternatively, celebrate Thanksgiving being thankful for beer at the Huber Beer Party in Covent Garden. Tickets £6 with YPlan, and you'll get an ice-cold Huber on arrival, 26 November.

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MICROBREWERY TOUR: Bermondsey is packed with microbreweries making fine craft beer. London Brewery Tours will show you around so you can meet some of the makers and taste their hoppy nectar. Tickets £33, 28 November.

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GHANIAN SUPPER: Pull up a chair to the Chef's Table at Zoe's Ghana Kitchen in Brixton and embark on a five-course taste tour of Ghanian food in the company of the chef herself. Tickets £25, 30 November.

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CHOCOLATE SHOW: Tastings, demonstrations, shopping, smelling and drooling — all bona fide activities at the Chocolate Festival at Islington's Business Design Centre. Great for picking up Christmas treats or indulging chocoholism. Tickets £12, 4-6 December.

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THREE WINE MEN: What will you be drinking this Christmas? If your answer is more sophisticated than just "lots" you might enjoy a walk-around tasting and a masterclass or two at the Three Wine Men Christmas Tasting show at Church House, Westminster. Tickets from £27.50, 4-5 December.

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STREET FOOD FEST: The British Street Food Festival and Awards fill The O2 for two days with the UK's best vans, trucks and trailers parking up and serving great street food, along with other diversions like crazy golf and live music. Tickets are £7.50, 5-6 December.

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Good cause of the day:

THE PEACE GAMES: Flex your general knowledge muscles at this pub quiz, with questions on peace, current affairs, politics, sports, film, music and more. Compete for special prizes and tackle the bonus rounds with a twist. Proceeds for the event will help International Alert which helps those affected by conflict build a peaceful future. The Bread and Roses, 68 Clapham Manor Street, £6 online, £8 on the door, prebook, 7pm

For your commute:

Looking for something to brighten up the hours you spend wedged into a stranger's armpit? Subscribe to our podcast, Londonist Out Loud, and you'll always have the latest episode ready to listen to. Unfortunately we can't do anything about the smell emanating from that armpit. Sorry about that.

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