Things To Do In London Today: 28 January 2013


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BOOKS: Today is the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice being first published. There are events happening around it, but none today (that we could find. Post a comment if you know different). But there’s nothing stopping you curling up with Lizzy Bennett instead. Or maybe even visiting some of the London locations.

GIVE BLOOD: Today's donation clinics are at Battersea Arts Centre and the West End Donor Centre (Margaret Street). Free, just turn up, check times

BAKING: It's the new rock and roll, don't you know. Head along to Fortnum and Mason's first floor bakery, which will be running all kinds of culinary demos. Runs till 7 April. Free, just turn up

WELFARE: It's 70 years since the Beveridge Report, the key document at the genesis of the welfare state. Toynbee Hall in Whitechapel holds a series of lectures to mark the anniversary, beginning today with NESTA's Geoff Mulgan talking about welfare today, and problems that still need solving. Free, prebook, 12.30pm

SCIENCE: A Cafe Scientifique event at the Royal Society explores all things genetic, looking at recent developments. Free, just turn up, 6pm

AUSSIE SKATING: Broadgate Circle's ice rink will hold an Australian-themed party tonight, to celebrate Australia Day (albeit a little tardy). Besides skating, you can watch Crocodile Dundee, listen to Aus music, drink Australian lager and say g'day a lot. £11.55, prebook (or limited turnup), 7.30pm

Random London Fact of the Day
The coldest natural temperature ever recorded in London was —21.1ºC in 1795. The highest ever seems to be at Heathrow Airport in August 2003, when temperatures reached 37.9ºC.

Good Cause Of The Day
Send tips to matt@londonist.com

CareTrade is a small London-based charity which aims to improve opportunities for young people with autism. 1 in 100 people have an autistic spectrum condition. Only 15% of adults with autism are employed. The charity is now working with Guys & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust to help young people on the autistic spectrum who would like to be employed but need more confidence, support, experience and skills to start applying for their first job. The course runs a like an internship. Students are in a work experience placement within Guy's & St. Thomas' four days a week, and in class one day a week studying towards an Employability qualification. Students work in three different departments over an academic year, meaning they get real experience in different working environments. If this sounds like a cause you'd like to get behind, please give generously via their website.

London's Weather
It's a game of two halves today. Monday begins cool but sunny. As the day progresses, it'll get warmer (reaching double figures), cloudier and windier, with frequent rain. By twilight, the weather will have transformed from kindly and calm to blustery and annoying...a bit like Peter Davison's 5th Doctor regenerating into Colin Baker's 6th. The wet and miserable Tuesday to follow suggests a McCoy on the horizon. BBC Weather has more.