Always be in the know about what's going on in London by signing up to our free email newsletters.
Must-read stuff:
His big bong is one of the city's most reliable sounds, but there have been times when Big Ben has kept himself to himself. Find out more about The Silencing Of Big Ben .
Londoners are an angry bunch. But are we letting the bile get the better of us when we should just chill out? Here are 11 Trivial Things That Make Londoners Really Angry. Tuts at the ready...
Need a laugh? Take a look at A History Of London Pranks And Hoaxes.
Read all about it!
Catch up on all the day's biggest news stories.
Things to do today:
PACT COFFEE: A new pop-up from coffee masters Pact Coffee springs up in Old Street station for the next few weeks. Drop by to say "hi" on your way to work and pick up one of their lovely brews. 7.30am- 7pm, until 6 February
BACH TO BLUES: Catch the last of lunchtime concert series Blues To Bach at Dulwich Picture Gallery.. A selection of south London schools' best musicians fill the impressive Christ's Chapel with saintly sounds. Free, just turn up, 1.30pm
HAUNT-ED: Brand spanking new Stoke Newington gallery Haunt opens its doors for the first time with an exhibition from Scottish artist, William Dick. Hayley Carlyon provides a sultry soundtrack and there are food deals all evening so you can treat your eyes, ears and taste buds all in one. Free gallery entry, just turn up, 5pm
WHO OWNS LONDON: Camden People's Theatre hosts a panel discussion about the ownership of our capital city. As more of public London is becoming private, is this a genuine problem? Or a brave new world? Part of the Whose London Is It Anyway? festival. £5, prebook, 6pm
BURNS NIGHT CEILIDH: If yesterday's Burns Night inspired your Scotch side, get tartan-tastic once more at Streetwise Opera and The Passage's Burns Night Ceilidh. Live music, a caller on hand and a Scotch supper, och aye. £17 (£27 with supper), prebook, 7pm
COMEDY: Sketch trio, Beasts, are back at Soho Theatre all this week, ‘filming’ their show for a DVD. Naturally things won’t go to plan… Be there to see the carnage for yourself. £12.50/£10, prebook, 7.15pm
STANZA BONANZA: For more poetry than you can shake your sonnet at, fill your boots at Stanza Bonanza. This Wednesday, Walthamstow Forrest Poets meet Greenwich MeanTime Poets at The Poetry Cafe for an evening of poems galore. Free, just turn up, 7.30pm
CHOCOLATE EXTRAVAGANZA: Chocolate for vegans? Is this even possible? Ela, a Le Cordon Bleu chocolatier, shows you how, with truffles, pralines and bars — which you'll learn to make (and eat). She'll even share her dairy-free chocolate drink served in edible chocolate cups. You'll be Willy Wonka by the end of it. £35, prebook, 8pm
CLIMBING IRAN: Beautiful, majestic but volatile and remote — climbing Iran's mountains presents unique challenges. Join Shirin Sabestari as she discusses conquering Mount Damavand, Iran's highest peak and showing a film of the expedition. £5, prebook, 8pm
Browse and book more London events at our tickets site powered by YPlan.
Big London questions tackled by experts this week
How will we solve the housing crisis? And what responsibility should artists take for the negative effects of gentrification? These thorny issues and more are being argued over by experts at a series of debates at Camden People's Theatre from 19-31 January. Tickets £5, available from the website.
Win a year's free London travel!
If you were launching a new website about your life in London, what would your domain name be? Answer this question by entering our competition in association with Dot London and you could win a free annual zone 1-6 annual Oyster card. Yes, that's right — free travel for a whole year. Enter our competition and it could be you flashing a free Oyster.
Good cause of the day
The Earl's Courtiers present a night of thespian thrills — three one-act plays in aid of Earls Court Community Trust at Brompton Road's, The Troubadour. There'll be a special menu featuring Troubadour favourite, steak frites (usually only available on Mondays). With craft beers, wines and plays featuring comedy. tragedy and existentialism, what's not to love about this Sunday evening? 31 January, prebook, 7pm
