Things To Do In London Today is sponsored by London Restaurant Awards 2016.
Must-read stuff
- The Overground is not a tube line.
- Know about the Londoner who made aviation history?
- How London's alleyways got their names.
Things to do today:
DESIGN BIENNALE: Utopia by design is the theme for the installations, artworks, prototypes and designs on display at Somerset House's London Design Biennale. £15, book in advance, all day from 11am (until 27 September). We gave it ★★★★★
FIRST WORLD WAR: Historians and writers are among the speakers at The National Archives' talk about the impact of the war on British life. £8, book in advance, 5.30pm
ART VIEWING: The Koppel Project Hive hosts an art exhibition influenced by the landscapes and history of Colombia. Free, book in advance, 6pm
DESIGN TALK: British homeware company founder Emma Bridgewater speaks about design and inspiration with journalist Fiona McCarthy at Liberty. £10, book in advance, 6pm
WILDLIFE GARDEN TALK: Environmentalist and broadcaster Chris Baines explains how to make your garden a wildlife haven, at Holland Park Ecology Centre. Free, book in advance, 6pm
STAR TREK: To celebrate 50 years of Star Trek, a panel of scientists and trekkies separate fact from fiction at The Royal Institution. £14, book in advance, 7pm
PERFORMANCE ART: Commemorate the 140,000 Chinese soldiers who fought in the first world war with four short performances at China Exchange. £5 (+booking fee), book in advance, 7.30pm
Free invitation to London Restaurant Awards
Calling all foodies: you can get your hands on free tickets to the capital's leading restaurant awards next Monday lunchtime.
Restaurant guide Harden's is presenting 12 awards at a blow-out ceremony at Leicester Square's Hippodrome Casino, and wants you to join them.
Hosted by BBC London presenter Nigel Barden and introduced by Harden's co-founder Peter Harden, the awards are not just about recognising posh places, with categories for Top Streetfood, and Top Cheap Eat, alongside those for Top Gastronomic Experience.
The event is strictly invitation-only but you can get your hands on two tickets and rub shoulders with the great and the good of the capital's restaurant scene — apply now.
London Restaurant Awards 2016 are taking place at Hippodrome Casino; 12.15pm, 12 September.
Good cause of the day
ART EXHIBITION: Rich Mix's visual art and photography exhibition Birds Crossing Borders features work created by people in the UK and the Calais Jungle. There's also a free drop-in art workshop on 8 September, 6pm-8pm. Free, just turn up, all day (until 9 September)
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Our daily pick of Funzing events
EAST LONDON TOUR: Take a guided wander of east London, discovering everything from street art to poetry. £25, 10/17/24 September
CHOCOHOLIC EXPERIENCE: Make your own truffles, energy balls and cake pops at a chocolate-fuelled workshop — get your tickets now. £29, 24 September/16 October
