Things To Do Today In London: Monday 25 July 2016

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Today's Things To Do In London is sponsored by Barry Humphries' Weimar Cabaret. Scroll down to find out more.

Remember, remember: A History of Fireworks in Britain, Museum of British Folklore at Compton Verney, 15 October – 11 December 2011 © Museum of British Folklore

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Things to do today:

BRITISH FOLKLORE: A new exhibition, The Ballad of British Folklore, opens at Christie's in South Kensington today. It charts the history of the Museum of British Folklore, a national centre devoted to promoting, celebrating and revitalising Britain’s seasonal customs. 25 July-1 September

PUNK EXHIBITION: Visit the bedroom of a teenage punk and discover what it meant to be a punk in the 70s with an exhibition at the Museum of London on which students from Central Saint Martins collaborated. Free, just turn up, all day from 10am (until 28 July)

THE GRUFFALO: Little ones can meet fictional creature The Gruffalo as he makes an appearance at Foyles in Royal Festival Hall — and get their hands on some free stickers and balloons too. Free (optional £5 goody bag which needs to be booked), just turn up, 1pm-2pm

ART AND ALCOHOL: Explore the role alcohol plays in our lives as characterised in art. The 30 minute tour at the Tate Britain explores works from the 19th century until the modern day. Free, just turn up, 1.15pm

SCARS OF WAR: War surgeon Gino Strada, humanitarian photographer Giles Duley, and Middle East Editor of Newseek Janine di Giovanni will discuss the economic, physical, psychological and envionmental impacts of war. All proceeds from this event will fund EMERGENCY's projects in Afghanistan. £17, book in advance, 7pm

MEME YOUR MONDAY: Let your imagination go wild at Drink Shop Do in King's Cross. They provide the images, you just have to come up with the puns to create your own meme. Free with a drink, just turn up, from 7pm

CONNECT 4 DATING: Play childhood classic Connect 4 and play your way into somebody's heart. Well, no promises, but you'll meet other singles at this twist on dating at The Ten Bells in Shoreditch. £10-12, book in advance, 7pm

NEW THEATRE: Watch five new theatre pieces at Etch Theatre's weekly Scratch night at the Peckham Pelican. Past performers include Paapa Essidedu (now playing Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company), and Mike Noble (the lead of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time). Pay what you can, just turn up, 7pm

LITERARY DEATH MATCH: Head to Southbank Centre to watch four writers go head to head. Each will be given the opportunity to read five minutes of their work before a panel of judges — inlcuding Hadley Freeman and Marcel Lucont — decide on a winner. £12, book in advance, 7pm

PHILOSOPHY BOOK CLUB: Discuss Plato's The Divided Line with other philosophers at Cecil Sharp House in Camden. Free (donations encouraged), just turn up, 7.30pm

COMEDY NIGHT: Carl Donelly shares his thoughts and worries as he starts a minor life crisis, and Bilal Zafar shares his experience of being mistaken for a Muslim-only cake shop, at a preview night of comedy at Pleasance Theatre. £5 (+booking fee), book in advance, 7.45pm


Save up to 33% on Barry Humphries' Weimar Cabaret

Live it up like it's the hedonistic Golden Years of the Weimar Republic, with Barry Humphries (aka Dame Edna) as he curates, presents and performs in a concert dedicated to the decadent music of the 20s and 30s in Germany.

The degenerate music (art considered harmful by the Nazis because it didn't support their ideas) will include pieces composed by Toch, Brandt, and Krenek.

There will be other extraordinary performances by acclaimed cabaret star Meow Meow, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and its artistic director, the violinist Richard Tognetti.

Barry Humphries' Weimar Cabaret runs 29/30 July and 2/3 August at 7.30pm at Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ. Tickets are £19-79 (+booking fee), but as a Londonist reader you can get up to 33% off with code LONDON. Book your tickets in advance from cadoganhall.com


Exclusive Londonist offer: See the London Library

London Library reading room
There's a chance to skip the queue and tour the fascinating London Library with our exclusive offer. Photo by Philip Vile

The London Library has been a place of solace and resource for some of the world's greatest literary figures: Arthur Conan Doyle, EM Forster, Harold Pinter, Rudyard Kipling, Laurence Olivier, Winston Churchill: you name it, they've been through the doors.

It's also a fascinating building, with 175 years of history, 17 miles of bookshelves and over a million books — some dating back as far as 1500. Our recent article — Secrets of The London Library — reveals some of the amazing finds that lurk behind its doors.

Normally only open to members, the Library runs occasional guided tours for the public — but they're fully booked until the autumn.

Fear not! Londonist readers can 'skip the queue' and get on a tour before then. We've partnered with the Library to run exclusive tours for Londonist readers in August. Tickets are £7.50 including VAT and booking fee, with tours running on 10 August, 17 August, 24 August, and 31 August, each starting at 6.30pm.


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Our daily pick of Funzing events

ROOFTOP PARTY: Party in a jacuzzi on top of Sanctum Hotel Soho to music from both resident DJs and special guests. £15, 30 July/6/13 August

POTTERY WORKSHOP: Use a wheel (like the one in Ghost) and make your own pot under the guidance of a pottery pro. £35, 30 July/6/13/20 August