Things To Do In London Today: Thursday 18 July 2013

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Listings

BLOOD: Today’s opportunity to donate blood is at Rye Lane Chapel (please use the rear entrance of the church). Free, see site for terms and conditions

ARCHITECTURE: Richard Rogers is an international architect who has had a huge impact on the London skyline. Richard Rogers RA: Inside Out at the Royal Academy reveals the man behind the buildings. And see our roundup of his London buildings. £8, prebook, until 13 October

HEIST STREET: A campaign, head-scratchingly called somewhereto_ re:store (the high street heist), launches today at 53-55 East Street, Elephant and Castle. It is a six-week youth-led high street take over of five disused shop spaces that allows young people to inject their entrepreneurialism into our struggling high streets. Today the first store sees a live art installation, a short theatrical production and live music. Free, just turn up, 9-11am

INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL: Back for a fourth year is the London Indian Film Festival, delivering films from a variety of genres across the Indian subcontinent. See website for full listings, until 25 July

BRAZILIAN STREET ART: Brazilian urban artist Derlon showcases his art in his first UK exhibition, From Manguetown, at 71a Gallery by Old Street from today. Free, just turn up, until 23 July

FOLK MUSIC: The Bedford in Balham hosts The London Folkfest from today. Day tickets from £12, prebook, until 21 July

TOUR DE FRANCE: Londoners get to enjoy the Tour experience at The Fan Park in Canary Wharf. Watch the battle for free on a giant screen and nibble on some French produce. Free, just turn up, until 21 July

BEER FESTIVAL: The Lamb London Beer Festival focuses on local London breweries, including Redemption, the Ha’Penny Brewing Company and Camden Town. Free, just turn up, until 21 July

TANGO ORCHESTRA: The London Tango Orchestra is based in Paternoster Square this afternoon, so you can learn the tango basics from professional dancers or simply sit back and enjoy the scene. Free, just turn up, 12-2pm

SHOW’N'TELL: Take part in the great American tradition of show and tell at the Grant Museum of Zoology, where UCL researchers will show off an unusual object from the museum’s collection and tell you what they know about it. Free, just turn up, 1-2pm

WALK IN THE LIGHT: Walk in the Light is a week of events at the National Theatre honouring the contribution that black artists have made to British theatre over the past 50 years. Today David Harewood and Gary Wilmot talk about their careers, and writer Bonnie Greer, playwright Winsome Pinnock, actor Hugh Quarshie and director Paulette Randall join Burt Caesar to discuss their experiences of this period. £4/£3 per event, prebook, 3pm and 6pm

UNIVERSE LATES: The excellent Visions of the Universe exhibition at the National Maritime Museum opens late every Thursday for specially selected live music from Trinity Laban. Tonight, Masters’ violinist Nadine Nagen is joined by oboist Lenia Christodolou and pianist Irina Lyakhovskaya, in performing works by Bach, Bloch and Debussy. Free (although if you want to see the exhibition too that costs £8), just turn up, 6.30pm

AUTHORS: Christopher Fowler is at Foyles chatting about his new thriller Plastic with Chocolat author Joanne Harris. £5/£3, prebook, 6.30pm

EASTERN EUROPE: The Romanian Cultural Centre in London presents two comedy performances highlighting the preconceptions people often have regarding Eastern European people. Free, prebook, 6.30pm

COMEDY: London’s comedy scene is mainly Edinburgh previews right now: this time it’s Richard Herring, putting the final touches to We’re All Going To Die (cheery) at the Lost Theatre in Wandsworth, £11.25 / £9), prebook, 7pm

GLOBAL PROBLEMS: Join scientist Stephen Emmott as he launches his new book, 10 Billion, at the Science Museum. Emmott argues that we have become the cause of every global problem we face and are heading towards planetary emergency. £10, prebook, 7pm

MUSIC: Bowjangles, a comedic string quartet, performs at Brunels' Thames Tunnel Shaft (where it is significantly cooler than above ground). £11, prebook, 7.30pm

MUSICAL BINGO: It's a gospel choir special tonight at Musical Bingo, as London gospel choir Singology performs its own special round. £8, prebook, 7pm

VAMPIRES OF LONDON: A heavily illustrated presentation and film clip selection explores London's Highgate Cemetery as a locus of horror in the 1960s and 70s cinema, led by William Fowler (BFI) and Mark Pilkington (Strange Attractor Press) at The Last Tuesday Society. £7, prebook, 7pm

WRITING: Read and evaluate four new pieces of script writing and offer feedback to the writers themselves as part of Genesis New Writing Night at Bar Paragon. Free, prebook, 7pm

BRAINWRAP: Brainwrap Comedy cinema night is an evening of short comedy films from new and established comedians/filmmakers, at the Bussey Building in Peckham. £5, just turn up, 8pm

BOOZE AND ICE CREAM IN THE SUN: Alternatively, just enjoy the sunshine. Check out one of the best rooftop bars in London. Or try one of the places in our list of best ice cream vendors.