Things To Do In London Today: Friday 17 May 2013

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GIVE BLOOD: Today’s opportunities to donate blood are at Hyde Park Chapel in South Kensington and St Olave Parish Church on Fenchurch Street. Free, just turn up, see site for times and conditions

ESTUARY: Museum of London Docklands' latest exhibition about the Thames Estuary opens today. Its dramatic landscape has made it a source of intrigue and inspiration for many years — have you seen the Red Sands military forts? Free, just turn up, until 27 October

PROPAGANDA: The British Library's new exhibition, looking at how governments have manipulated the truth for various reasons, opens today. £9, prebook or just turn up, until 17 September

ART: Wimbledon Art Studio's Summer Open Studios Art Show exhibits over 140 artists across various creative disciplines. You can go to browse the vast array of works, buy, or chat to the artists themselves. Free, just turn up, until 19 May

ARCHIKIDS: London's first ever family festival of architecture start today, with a series of fun and free events for your little ones around London's Square Mile. Free, just turn up, until 19 May

MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: London’s museums are once more opening their doors after dark. Tonight the Museum of London, UCL's museums, the Bank of England and Hampton Court Palace are all taking part. Until 18 May

OOooOOOooOoH: Helen East is back in Islington for a storytelling walk of ghostly traces and lost places, starting at Angel tube. Free, just turn up but spaces are limited, 2pm

TASTE OF SCANDINAVIA: Experience the food, culture and music of Scandinavia at Taste of Scandinavia in Haslemere Hall, Thornton Heath tonight. Skål! Free, just turn up, 7pm

NOSE: Wellcome Collection’s late opening is entirely devoted to the nose. There’s plenty to pick — nose jobs, olfactory science, perfumes, history’s most famous noses and, yes, the London Nasal Choir. Free, just turn up, 7-11pm

LOST LONDON: Phillip Davies, who compiled a recent tome on London's hidden interiors, gives a talk at Old St Pancras church on lost London. £10, just turn up, 7pm

COMEDY: If ever there was a Shoreditch comedian, Jessie Cave is not it: she’s slightly less hipstery and annoying. Bethnal Green? Whitechapel? Anyway, she’s doing her Bookworm show at the Soho Theatre tonight and tomorrow. £12.50/£10, prebook, 7.15pm

GREENWICH DANCE: Celebrate Greenwich Dance's 20th birthday with an evening of dance, circus and film in a cabaret setting, at their site The Borough Halls. £20/£16, prebook, 8pm

ROLLER SKATE: The Friday Night skate starts at Wellington Arch. Anyone who feels competent on skates is welcome to join. Free, just turn up, 8pm

ELECTRONIC MUSIC: Noise of Art’s 100 Years of Electronic Music is on at Village Underground tonight. £15/£12.50/£10, prebook, 8.30pm

ALTERNATIVE EUROVISION: Time Out Live’s Alternative Eurovision at London Wonderground features alternative cabaret acts Jonny Woo, Des O’Connor, Tricity Vogue, Sarah-Louise Young, Alp Haydar, Bryony Kimmings, Ria Lina, staging their own camp contest. £17.50, prebook, 9.15pm

Random London Fact of the Day
Mark Twain, better known for paddle steamer trips up the Mississipi, was one of the first passengers to ride the Central Line, as a passenger on the inaugural journey in 1900.  

Good Cause of the Day
Be a part of Red Cross Week with London's Red Shoe Walk on Saturday 18 May. This eight mile walk will take you through the heart of London and along the River Thames, so you can raise money for an excellent cause while exploring the city. A Samba band will be there to play you off and, though red clothing is encouraged, red shoe covers will be provided for those who are lacking in rubescent footwear!

London Weather
Today's weather is a bit like the 1969 film Battle of Britain: nowhere near as good as you'd expect it to be, and totally over-cast. Still, things could be worse. You'll rue the day when we're comparing the forecast to the plot of Breakdance 2: Electric Boogaloo.