Best Of Londonist: Tube Names, Mystery Pillars And 24 Hour Mice

Your Sunday morning best-of-Londonist weekly round-up, sponsored by National Theatre and their brand new show People, Places and Things.

London news

• Meet the four men who want to be the Conservative mayoral candidate.
• Time for a change — the London Clockmakers' Museum collection has found a new home.
• The launch of the long-awaited Night Tube could be delayed.
• Looks like Hackney's pubs and bars won't have to close at 11pm after all.
• Do stereotypes threaten London's future doctors?
• It's time to wax lyrical — London is looking for its next Young Poet Laureate.
• Library of historic print artefacts has confirmed it's not closing.

Curiouser and curiouser

• Lodnon is home to so many typos, we had to go back for round two.
• We've come up with a new Beaufort Scale... for pub cats.
• Richard Seifert: the famous architect who built a pirate castle.
• The hidden graffiti uncovered at Tate Britain.
• WON'T ANYBODY THINK OF THE 24 HOUR TUBE MICE?
• Part one of our search into what happened to the best London pubs of 1967.
• You asked, we answered: what are those red pillars next to Blackfriars Bridge?
• Camberwelly? Millhillbilly? Ovaloid? What to call the denizens of London neighbourhoods.
• How the tube lines got their names.
• Love a good nerdy fact? Watch the third instalment of Secrets of London's Canals.
• Why the Mole Man of Hackney was one of London's greatest eccentrics.
• Find out about the Huguenots of Spitalfields in this week's podcast.

Top reviews

• Exotic animals and peculiar stories in new book The Georgian Menagerie ★★★★☆
• Flamboyant and daring, Briefs Boys are more boylesque than burlesque ★★★★☆
• Double R Club eschews happy-clappy cabaret for a David Lynch-inspired experience ★★★☆☆
• A different look at apartheid-era South Africa, in My Children! My Africa! ★★★★☆
• Hetty Feather is touching, acrobatic and great for kids ★★★★☆
• Al fresco Pinocchio is anything but wooden ★★★★★

Intoxication, addiction and facing reality at the National Theatre

Coming to National Theatre from 25 August, People, Places and Things follows Emma. Once upon a time she was having the time of her life, but intoxication and reality aren't easy bedfellows. The first step to sobriety? Admitting she has a problem, but that's a big ask when reality is always one step ahead.

Written by Duncan Macmillan (1984), directed by Headlong's Jeremy Herrin (The Nether, Wolf Hall) and with music from electronic music pioneer Matthew Herbert, this co-production with Headlong and the National Theatre battles the reality of intoxication at the National's Dorfman Theatre. Tickets available to purchase online from £15.

This week’s Best of Londonist is sponsored by National Theatre.

Must-read articles

• Theatres, churches, bookshops, cinemas — London's best alternative boats.
• Don your wellies, it's where to get your feet dirty in London.
• Solo dining, why (and where) you should give it a go.
• Sex, Soho and friendship explored in this week's London short film.
• The story of Matthew's Yard, the Croydon hub born out of the 2011 riots.
• Road wars aren't just for vehicles — what type of London walker are you?
• London's East Asian art scene is blossoming.
• Join us for a step inside the food Narnia that is Khan's in Peckham.
• A new oasis is added to our London's Little Gardens series: Gibbon's Rent.

Things to do

• Free festival of arts is back at London Bridge this week.
• A spectacular display of tall ships returns to Greenwich later this month.
• Registration has opened for the annual and ever-popular Open House weekend.
• A barbecue-off comes to London next month, with Grillstock. Wash it down with some make-your-own beer.
• Steam trains! Steam trains!
• Join us in September for a Londonist event with special guests, all about how London Is Changing.

Tickets and offers

Buttons are provided by YPlan.

ROMEO AND JULIET: Watch Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film adaptation of literature's most famous and tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet, starring young Leonardo di Caprio and the excellent Claire Danes. Luna Cinema does it al fresco at Hampton Court Palace on 21 August. Tickets £17.

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PAINT LONDON: Join PopUp Painting at The Trafalgar for a creative night out dedicated to London. Create a unique urban masterpiece and drink some wine on 18 August. Equipment and materials provided, tickets £29.

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SECRET CINEMA: Get involved in The Empire Strikes Back. Go on, you know you want to. Secret east London location. 14 August and other dates in August and September. May the Force be with you. Tickets £78.

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BOAT PARTY: Go clubbing at sunset on the Thames with the Amor Summer Boat Party featuring Space Audiowhores and Seb Fontaine, all ending up back on dry land at McQueen London. 22 August, from 6.45pm. Tickets £15.

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CEILDIH: Try out the energetic, easy to follow, Scottish dancing with Ceilidh Club at Cecil Sharp House on 21 August. We challenge you not to grin as soon as you get jigging and reeling. Tickets £12.50.

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HORRIBLE HISTORIES: Whether you've a youngster to entertain or not, history reimagined and hamming up the nasty bits is funny and educational with Barmy Britain Part II from Horrible Histories at the Garrick Theatre. Tickets from £12.50 for dates up to 5 September.

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